Remington 541

[Richard Simmons]

Anyone got one? Dad bought one back in the early 70's. IIRC it was a 541-S and in addition to being quite an attractive rifle it was pretty darn accurate and more than a little expensive for a rimfire.

I've kept an eye out for one locally but have never run across one. Was wondering anyone has or had one and if so would they be kind enough to share some pics and opinions on it? TIA

 

[Drm50]

I had one 10 yrs ago, my brother has it now. I had the 541S,
pretty gun, no issues with it. Was not what you expect for accuracy. Wasn't bad for a sporter 22, but not a target gun. I was
kinda peeved with the plastic magazines. For the money Rem
could have used steel ones. They worked ok. I had bought a 513
Rem and let my bro have the 541s, he swears by it. Going down
his place this weekend, if I remember will take pic. Rifle did best
with CCI Green Tags.

 

[Richard Simmons]

I remember the mags. Seems like it came one, maybe two 5rd mags. I think Dad tried to order 10rd mags from Remington but they either never came or were the wrong ones. Back then with no internet things were a lot slower to purchase and there wasn't much in the way feedback or reviews outside of magazines.

 

[growr]

I shoot a Remington 541T in rimfire silhouette matchs locally, it shoots nearly as well as my Anschutz 54MS ( I haven't shot any 40x40's with either ...but the 541 has delivered many 38/39x40's . Both are equipped with Weaver T-16 scopes.

I don't load through the magazine however, I prefer to single load it to feel the cartridge seating in the chamber.

 

[smithrjd]

I just bought one on consignment from the LGS. $600 which was a price I could not pass on. They are a quality 22LR, at the time one of Remington's most expensive. The magazines are cheap plastic but work for the most part. Stay away from the 10 round ones they don't.. Mine at its first time to the range keep several types of match 22LR into 1/2" or less at 50 yards. So they are accurate. The triggers are wonderful considering they are a Remington.

 

[s&wchad]

They're great guns!

I own a few 541's. One of my favorites is a customized 541S and another a later HB 541T. Both shoot really well and will accept Model 10C magazines. I also came across a metal 10 round magazine that fits, but I have no idea who made it.

This is a standard 541S in the bottom of the case:

This is my customized 541S:

If I get some time, I'll take and post a photo of my 541T HB.

 

[Dillyp]

There is a flawless 541-t at a LGS for $800. A fair price IMO. If it were an s I would already own it. I had an s a couple years ago but like a fool I sold it. $800 will buy a revolver I don't yet own so...

 

[Drm50]

I think a magazine for any of the 500 series rifles will fit the 541.
I don't remember what the model number of the Rem, that my
brother sold when he got the 541s off me was. He sold it with
the plastic 541s mag and kept the steel clip from his old gun to
use in 541s.

 

[smithrjd]

I am unaware of any steel clips that fit the 541S, the model 77 from other models will fit but it is plastic. There are aftermarket clips being made, but have not seen a true metal one yet.
Might be a bad thing to post, not sure but; rimfirecentral is the best place for info. Just like this is the best place for S&W info.

 

[jdlii]

I owned one of the early 541S models with the engraved receiver. It shot CCI standard velocity and Ely Ten X to the same point of impact into virtually one hole groups at 25 yards. I bought my Dad a later model 541S with the satin finish stock and it shot equally as well.

I even acquired a 540 target model to shoot prone at 100 yards for long range practice and it would hold the 10 ring of the SR1 repair center with CCI standard velocity. It helped me learn how to shoot prone. I believe it that the actual model was 540 XR but, I could be wrong. This was a single shot model.

 

[Richard Simmons]

They're great guns!

I own a few 541's. One of my favorites is a customized 541S and another a later HB 541T. Both shoot really well and will accept Model 10C magazines. I also came across a metal 10 round magazine that fits, but I have no idea who made it.

This is a standard 541S in the bottom of the case:

This is my customized 541S:

If I get some time, I'll take and post a photo of my 541T HB.

I'd love to see a photo if you have time

 

[BB57]

I have an early Remington 541S.

It's nice enough to be considered an higher end mass production .22 Rimfire. The wood is nice, it uses a fake rosewood tip and the checkering is pressed but nicely pressed, and the engraving is machine engraved, but the rifle is still very attractive. And it's a very nice adult proportioned .22 LR sporter.

As someone noted above the plastic magazines are a pain. They tend to crack on the seam and then start puking out bullets. The 5 round mags are better than the 10 rounders, but they are hard to find - and much more expensive.

Accuracy wise, mine is a solid 1.5 MOA to 1.75 MOA rifle with 5 shot groups at 100 yards with mid grade ammunition like SK Standard Plus.

It will not shoot as well as either of my Model 52R Sporters or my CZ 453 American or CZ 453 Varmint which are 1 MOA to 1.25 MOA rifles under the same conditions. It shoots slightly better than my much less expensive, but still adult proportioned CZ (the other CZ) 99 Precision / Remington Model 5, and about the same as my Savage Anschutz Model 64 Match.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

I have one, shoots better than I can. Yes, those plastic magazines are tacky, but function. Recall an article in one the gun magazines/annuals where the author described how to bed the stock and turn it into a real tack driver.

 

[loc n load]

Bought one on this forum a couple of years back, LNIB, mounted a 50 year old wide view 4x Redfield on it. With WW super X HP's, it shoots ragged 1 hole groups at 50 yds. Great rifle. It has accounted for several dozen fox squirrels here in the hardwoods.

 

[smithrjd]

They only have one action screw, in the front of the trigger guard. Have read the trick is to install another action screw at the rear of the trigger guard as well as free float the barrel and bed it about 2" up the barrel. Kind of mixed about doing this to mine, as it is in excellent condition and these things are getting in to the collector realm now. Mine is not free floated, a dollar will not pass far. From the pictures in the thread it looks like the early ones had ebony and the later ones rosewood tips? I have rosewood, I think 1980 model by the codes.

 

[BB57]

You are correct, they do seem to shoot better with a second screw added to the rear of the receiver - based on reports I've seen over at rimfire.com.

I did glass bed the receiver in mine and under the first 2" of the barrel, free floating the rest, but I did not add a second screw.

The advantage of doing this is that it doesn't change the external appearance at all.

It shoots a bit more consistently this way, but as noted it's still not in the same accuracy class as my CZ's and Model 52s.

To be honest I think the barrel is the limiting factor. Mine is not as accurate as some, but I suspect I just have one at the not quite as accurate end of the normal distribution curve - and even at that it's still pretty accurate for a .22 Sporter.

 

[smithrjd]

I have a CZ 452 Silhouette in a Manners stock with a worked over trigger, the Remington is not as accurate but close. The Remington's trigger as stock is every bit as good. Decisions decisions..

 

[Richard Simmons]

I have an early Remington 541S.

It's nice enough to be considered an higher end mass production .22 Rimfire. The wood is nice, it uses a fake rosewood tip and the checkering is pressed but nicely pressed, and the engraving is machine engraved, but the rifle is still very attractive. And it's a very nice adult proportioned .22 LR sporter.

As someone noted above the plastic magazines are a pain. They tend to crack on the seam and then start puking out bullets. The 5 round mags are better than the 10 rounders, but they are hard to find - and much more expensive.

Accuracy wise, mine is a solid 1.5 MOA to 1.75 MOA rifle with 5 shot groups at 100 yards with mid grade ammunition like SK Standard Plus.

It will not shoot as well as either of my Model 52R Sporters or my CZ 453 American or CZ 453 Varmint which are 1 MOA to 1.25 MOA rifles under the same conditions. It shoots slightly better than my much less expensive, but still adult proportioned CZ (the other CZ) 99 Precision / Remington Model 5, and about the same as my Savage Anschutz Model 64 Match.

Great photo! That's one of the main reasons I liked this rifle as a child. Even though I was only 12 or so at the time I recognized it as an adult/full size .22. Made me feel like I was handling a centerfire rifle.

 

[steamloco76]

During the late 90's and early 00's I competed in a local sporter .22 LR rifle league where we shot milk caps for dead center and also five round groups. First shot, cool barrel repeatability was key. My Remington 541T HB failed miserably, as it suffered from cold barrel syndrome. The first round fired from a cold barrel was always far outside a group or sight in. We fired one round every twenty minutes or so. The 541 printed all over the place. Another shooter had the same issue with her 541S. Apparently this is a known issue with some 541s. I switched to my Marlin 880SQ and had no such issues.

 

[black1970]

The 541-S will out shoot the 541 T all day long. By that I mean the S is uncanny accurate. Believe me, I know.