Nothing Like a Classic .22 Rifle

[Jebus35745]

Saw this gun 2 years ago at a gun show and I thought about it frequently since. He quit setting up at Berea because of health problems. The owner comes to the NE Ohio Bunch, I call him about twice a year to see how he’s doing. Asked him last summer if he still had the gun for sale and it was, he never got back to me on the price. Finally connected again with him and bought it.

I shot it Tuesday morning after I met him and he went back home. It wouldn’t feed ammo from the tube so I shot it single shot. Used the peep sights that were on it. It did great but it was 50 ft indoors. After I got home I took it apart, cleaned it and lubed it. It now feeds good and I put a scope on it.

These old basic .22 rifles are great shooters. They were cheap but well made. It took me back to younger days when I walked the woods with a .22 rifle enjoying the outdoors. This one was made abt 1949. It’s a Mossberg 146 B with the early “T” bolt. Tell us about your classic old rifle. Larry

 

[Bozz10mm]

So whacha got there?

 

[armorer951]

I have a Marlin 39A that my parents gave me when I turned 13 in 1964. Very accurate, reliable and well built rifle that I hope to hand down to my son one of these days. Still enjoy shooting it. If taken care of....these rifles can be handed down for generations.

Still has an old 4x Weaver scope mounted.

At this point, I'm hoping my freedom to carry and shoot it endures as long as the rifle does.

 

[6GUNSONLY]

Looks like a Mossberg. Lovely.

 

[Bozz10mm]

I could kick myself for not taking my Dad's Remington 512 after he passed.
Mom offered it to me back in 1975. I think he bought it in 1951 or 1952 and I'm sure he never put more than a hundred rounds through it.

 

[crsides]

To be honest, i picked these up in the last two years as my classic 22 rifle bug kicked in.
Rem 12C target


Brno model 1 from 1946


Marlin 39A. 1939 gun, the first yr for the 39A.


Sold my Anshutz 54 sporter at tulsa in Nov, and a nice browning auto from 1958 sold last week.

Love those old 22 rifles.

 

[Screwball]

I actually just traded a shotgun to my father for two long guns... one being a Winchester 62 that my uncle owned.

Receiver dated to June of 1931, which predates the Model 62 by about a year. Has a later 62A bolt, which dropped the screws for the firing pin stop for pins. .22 Short Gallery Gun, with matched halves.

When I got it, thought the magazine tube was welded to the barrel. Grime and rust held it all together. Taking the bolt apart, must have shot a ton of ammo, since the lead was unreal. Barrel looks good, and after changing a spring and cleaning the wood, I have a nice (might not be pristine, but worth a lot to me) and functional rifle that is almost 88 years old.

 

[borntxn]

Winchestar 62

Here's my dad's old squirrel gun from the late 40's to early 50's. He passed in 1955 and I finally inherited it in 2001 or so after my brother passed. It's an interesting Winchester 62A Gallery gun (.22 short only}. I'll pass it down to my son and grandson.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

My 7th grandkid is on the way, so I pick up all the "Classic" 22's I can. If I can afford to keep them in ammo we all will be happy!

Ivan

 

[BAM-BAM]

Still have and use my first a 1963 Remington 511-X Scoremaster my Dad gave me for Christmas.

If your looking for a new yet classic rimfire rifle you've got to look at the CZ 452 offerings...... old world classic looks and build with walnut stocks ..... and most seem to shoot 1moa....... .17hmr .22mag along with the .22lr.

 

[Andyd]

Larry,

it seems that we share a love for classic rimfire rifles and handguns. I love Anschutz 54 sporters, particularly the short versions with set triggers.





But the newer ones aren't shabby, either.

 

[BAM-BAM]

Nothing prettier than a mannlicher........ I've got a couple.

Ruger International in .243

Three Ruger 10/22s

Four CZs..... 452s in .22lr,.22 mag and a 527 in .223/5.56

 

[schutzen-jager]

Still have and use my first a 1963 Remington 511-X Scoremaster my Dad gave me for Christmas.

If your looking for a new yet classic rimfire rifle you've got to look at the CZ 452 offerings...... old world classic looks and build with walnut stocks ..... and most seem to shoot 1moa....... .17hmr .22mag along with the .22lr.

FYI - the 511X models were only produced between 1965 + 1967 - there is a date code on l/s of barrel near receiver that will tell the year + month of actual production -

 

[Jebus35745]

Lot of nice guns showing up, try to get them out and have fun with em. Yes, these are great guns to start young kids shooting.

Although more of a target gun, gonna mention a BSA Martini Cadet. Have enjoyed this one for years, it’s a 12/15 model. Has a 8x32 scope on it. On Rimfire Central yrs ago, someone put some smelly stuff on a target and was shooting “flies” at 25 yards. This is the 3rd Martini I own but the only one in .22. Have a Hammerli free pistol in .22 and it’s a small Martini action. Larry

 

[292]

I have my great grandfathers Savage 6a. It was said that my great uncle Dan could shoot pennies out of the air with it. I owe y’all a picture.

 

[BAM-BAM]

FYI - the 511X models were only produced between 1965 + 1967 - there is a date code on l/s of barrel near receiver that will tell the year + month of actual production -

Long time ago.....I'll check it out.......

Dad bought the property in the Laurel Highlands in early spring of 63..... I spent a couple years/summers with a turn of the century single shot Steven's Favorite......... was on the JV Rifle Team in 9th Grade, 66/67...... and I had been shooting the 511 at least one summer.........

so ya probably was 65 ....... would have been 11 in my first year of Jr. High (7th Grade)

 

[Drm50]

I've got several 22 rifles and only two aren't old classics. A early 10/22 and a Ruger 77/22. It use to be when you bought a 22 you expected it
to function and shoot reasonably for practical use. I've owned hundreds of
older 22s and I can't recall any that weren't accurate. They all aren't target guns. I have bought some nice old 22s cheap because feed system on Tube Mags were fouled up. This is usually because owner was prying on
a jam and bent some thing. Today a good 22 to equal the old ones is $500. They would not be able to make and sell the old classics for twice that.

 

[oldIrish]

Still have my Dad's Remington Model 33, single shot, bolt action, that he
got as a teen in the early 30's. My brother and I include it in our summer
trips to the range just to remind us how enjoyable a slower pace can be

 

[DWalt]

My favorite classic .22 is the Remington 550-1. It was the first .22 rifle I could call my own (1956). I sold that one about 25 years ago, and I still don't know whatever prompted me to do that. Last year I ran across one in very good condition at a reasonable (for today) price, and it's even from 1956 according to the date code. So of course I bought it. They aren't seen too often even though there were many of them sold. At least to my mind, it is the finest .22 semiauto ever made. And not a piece of plastic on it except for the buttplate. It sure brings back a lot of good memories whenever I shoot it.

 

[BAM-BAM]

Today a good 22 to equal the old ones is $500. They would not be able to make and sell the old classics for twice that.

As I stated above ..... check out the CZ 452 line; while CZ is now offering the 455 and 457 lines ...... there still seem to be new 452s coming into the market. 452s are great rimfires with classic looks in the $350-550 range.

If you can find a CZ453 grab it as they come with single set triggers....like CZ centerfire guns.

You are correct to get a gun better than a CZ will cost you another $500