22lr Vintage Rifle Accuracy - Continue to be Amazed

[VaTom]

My collecting (accumulating) has recently turned from handguns to older .22 rifles. My last two purchases have been a Marlin Golden 39A (1958) and a Remington 572 (1977). I purchased both at local auctions and they are in excellent condition. I mounted economical rim fire 4X32 scopes (Bushnell and Simmons) on both after cleaning up and testing firing. After sighting in at 50 yards I continued to be amazed at the accuracy shot after shot with these rifles. I went to the range Tuesday with the Remington 572 for the first time and was shooting 1/2" groups at 50 yards from a bench just resting it on a plastic Birchwood Casey "nest rest". I was using CCI Mini Mag round nose.

My two other .22 rifles are a recent Model 60 Marlin and a S&W M&P 15-22. While these rifles are accurate, it seems the vintage ones are more consistently accurate shot after shot. They both have longer barrels also.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

I like vintage and antique guns, more so than anything manufactured in the past 50 years or so.

My Winchester Model 1885 Winder Musket is a .22 Short single-shot rifle, originally intended for military training use about 120 years ago. Shooting from the bench it will consistently shoot 1/2" groups at 50 yards.

My Marlin 39A is about 50 years old. Just about any .22LR ammo will provide pinpoint accuracy as far as my old retired eyes can identify the target. My elder son has forcefully stated his claim on the Marlin!

My true favorite is the Winchester 62A, manufactured in 1939. From the bench it will put every single shot into a postage stamp-sized group at 50 yards. Younger son has voiced his claim repeatedly.

These are all original unaltered rifles with factory iron sights. Perfect for small game use, great fun at the range anytime.

Years ago I had a Winchester 52C, US Property marked. Truly outstanding .22 rifle that I foolishly let get away from me! Also had a nice little Stevens Favorite .22 single-shot that I wish I'd had the good sense to hang onto.

I also have a 1970's vintage Savage-imported Anschutz Model 164 bolt-action .22LR equipped with an old steel-tube Weaver K3 with post and crosshair in Redfield steel rings. Scary accurate to 100 yards, just as long as I do my part right. Different critter entirely, built around the old Anschutz 64 action used for match rifles, but with sporter-weight barrel and European walnut Monte Carlo stock. Just about as good as .22's get. I expect the arguments among the grandkids will be fierce, as they have all had fun learning with it.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

My Buddy Milt gave a senior Remington 22 to my Son.
I replaced the aging Weaver scope and cleaned the bore.
It’s Amazing how well this old gun shoots!

 

[jag312]

A Marlin Golden 39A (1958) and a Remington 572 (1977)? You consider these as old rifles? I was born before 1958, and I don't consider myself to be old. Do you want to try my Winchester Model 52 from 1929? Or how about my much newer Mossberg Model 46B from the late 1940s? The Mossberg is accurate with just about any ammunition I put into it, and the Winchester Model 52 made it's reputation as a target rifle. My "new" Winchester 9422 was made in 1975, and it knows how to shoot.

 

[Lee Barner]

I like them too. I've culled down the accumulation over the last few years. one of my most accurate i'll never sell is a Marlin 99, basically a 60 with walnut stock. I have a vintage Weaver KV 2.5-5 scope on it. when I do my part, 3/8" five shot groups at 50 yds. one of the most accurate I have ever owned was a 1928 Winchester 52 pre-A with the ladder rear sight. took many a pasture poodle(prarie dog) out to 100 yds with that one. lee

 

[BAM-BAM]

I like vintage and antique guns, more so than anything manufactured in the past 50 years or so.

My Winchester Model 1885 Winder Musket is a .22 Short single-shot rifle, originally intended for military training use about 120 years ago. Shooting from the bench it will consistently shoot 1/2" groups at 50 yards.


Also had a nice little Stevens Favorite .22 single-shot that I wish I'd had the good sense to hang onto.

.

I've got a 1887 "Winchester 1885" low wall (?) in .22short..... Ive never shot ........ 9lb IIRC and a "at best" OK bore.

Also still have my take down Steven's Favorite..... that my Dad gave me as my first rifle in 1962/63 ......had all the springs replaced about 10 years ago and both my boys fired their first shots from it. It's in the 'white" and I refinished the the stock and forearm in the 80s. It's (was) about Minute of chipmunk at 20-25yds.......

Both now hang on my home office walls.................................

My 1963/64 511-X Scoremaster a Christmas gift from my Dad ....... still see occasional use........ but my "go to" rim-fires for the past decade are several CZ 452/453s in .22lr, .22mag and .17hmr...... my favorites are their FS/mannlicher stocked guns.....they make me

A 452 FS/mannlicher in .22mag with a Leupold 1-4x20 scope is my "Walking in Penn's Woods" rimfire!!!!!!!!

 

[Drm50]

We live in a different world now. I'm 68, when I was a kid a 22
single shot BA could be had for around $20. It didn't matter if
it was a Win or a Stevens, they were expected to be accurate.
If a rifle didn't shoot, and it happened occasionally, they would
be returned for replacement. That's how things operated before
the throw away generation came along. Today you have to pay
premium money for a good 22 that will preform like the older
models. I have had literally hundreds of 22 rifles in my life from
older models such as Stevens Favorites and up through just
about all the repeaters you can think off. I never had one that
didn't shoot decent unless it had suffered some kind of abuse.
Not all them were match grade but some shot surprising well.
Now when you buy a run of the mill 22 you don't know if it will
shoot well enough to be practical. A good example of this is the
Ruger 10/22. I bought one when 1st out and several more in
the 60s and early 70s. They were excellent shooters even the
original carbines with barrel bands. Today due to the Bean Counters the 10/22 has suffered and is nothing special compared
to the other 22s on the market.

 

[29aholic]

I have a Remington 512 with a 6X Lyman Junior Targetspot on it that will basically shoot one hole at 50 with bulk pack ammo.

I have several Winchester 52's that will average under 1/2" at 100yds.

 

[turnerriver]

I have a nice collection of vintage .22 rifles and all of them are much more accurate than I am. And they're all fun to shoot.
Regards,
turnerriver

 

[Ole Joe Clark]

I have a Marlin model 80 DL that I purchased from a friend at least 50 years ago. It has a horrible trigger but will shoot much better than I can hold it. Also have a 10/22, the cheapest grade, that I bought new last year and it amazes me how accurate it is. The stock is short so it just fits my wife. When she is feeling good she can out shoot me with it.

Love a good .22.

Have a blessed day,

Leon

 

[Mals9]

I am a fan of vintage .22's. I have Marlins from the '40's to the 70's. They are all very accurate.
Leon you can swap of the sear spring on the 80DL and that trigger will be about 3 lbs.

Mals

 

[PALADIN85020]

I've found good accuracy from many of the earlier .22LR rifles of almost any make. This 1956 Winchester Model 75 sporter will give phenomenal groups out to 100 yards. Like their big brothers, the Model 75 target rifles, these had the match chamber and twist designed solely for the LR round, and the headspace was carefully calibrated. The bolt was marked with the rifle's serial number. It's the most accurate .22 I own, even though it was manufactured 62 years ago.

Many rave about Winchester's Model 52 sporter, derived from that company's primo target rifle, but I favor the Model 75 sporter, which was much lighter for field use. Ideal for small game.

John

 

[PALADIN85020]

We live in a different world now. I'm 68, when I was a kid a 22
single shot BA could be had for around $20. It didn't matter if
it was a Win or a Stevens, they were expected to be accurate.
If a rifle didn't shoot, and it happened occasionally, they would
be returned for replacement. That's how things operated before
the throw away generation came along. Today you have to pay
premium money for a good 22 that will preform like the older
models. I have had literally hundreds of 22 rifles in my life from
older models such as Stevens Favorites and up through just
about all the repeaters you can think off. I never had one that
didn't shoot decent unless it had suffered some kind of abuse.
Not all them were match grade but some shot surprising well.
Now when you buy a run of the mill 22 you don't know if it will
shoot well enough to be practical. A good example of this is the
Ruger 10/22. I bought one when 1st out and several more in
the 60s and early 70s. They were excellent shooters even the
original carbines with barrel bands. Today due to the Bean Counters the 10/22 has suffered and is nothing special compared
to the other 22s on the market.

The earlier Ruger 10/22s will give surprising accuracy. This Ruger International model came from a special run for a distributor in 1995 - premium wood with a polyurethane finish. Pictured is a 10-shot group fired rapid fire at 25 yards - using nothing-special Remington Golden hi-speed hollow points. I like it a lot; it's 23 years old this year.

John

 

[BAM-BAM]

Got three 10/22 Internationals....... a early 90s in green/black stock (Birthday gift from my wife) and two others from special runs in the early 00s (Got them both 'used" as you couldn't hunt with a semi in Pa and they are not conclusive to a lot of modifications) .....non of my wood is that nice; but they are all good shooters.

 

[Vulcan Bob]

Yup, you cant miss with vintage .22LR rifles. Even the cheapo ones are built like tanks compared to some modern jobbers. My old Mossberg M- 44 US can drive tacks if you any handy.

 

[Fishinfool]

Modern semi-auto .22's are fun to shoot, but a lot of the older steel and walnut rifles just ooze class, and are accurate to boot. The old Mossberg pictured is a favorite. Ragged one hole groups at 50 yards with ammo it likes, peep sights and all.

Larry

 

[Drm50]

I had a Ruger International with Mannlicher stock that I bought
back in late 60s from a short run. Rifle is still in family, I had to
give it to my Sister in Law to pay off a bet. After 3 nieces she
had one in the oven and she always liked that rifle so I bet her
it was going to be another girl. I lost and had to pay up.

 

[VaTom]

Great information from you guys. Ideas for my next purchase! Have only been collecting since I retired 4 years ago (born in 1953). Learned to shoot at boy scout camp back in early 1960s on single shot boot action 22 rifles it cost 5 cents for 10 rounds and a target! Dad got us a Remington 572 and furthered our shooting abilities as kids. Many dads, uncles, and Scout leaders were WWII or Korean vets and taught us how to shoot and take care of our guns back in those days. As gunnery Sgt Ermy says " I like wood and steel on my guns".

 

[Daimler1989]

I had a british Enfield No. 8 .22 l.r. for quite a time. Build in 1958 IIRC. Though it had a very good screw adjustable ladder sight, I had a 4x32 scope installed. Shot 15-round groups at 50 meters from a simple bag rest you could cover with a 1/2" patch. After a few trips to the range I was so bored by this accuracy that I didn't use it much furthermore. Sold it 2 years ago for the same reason. Great rifle, but not as much a challenge as my 1885 High Wall 45/70...

regards from Germany
Ulrich

 

[Ole Joe Clark]

I am a fan of vintage .22's. I have Marlins from the '40's to the 70's. They are all very accurate.
Leon you can swap of the sear spring on the 80DL and that trigger will be about 3 lbs.

Mals

Thanks. Tell me more, what spring to purchase, source etc.