Old Remington 510T, to tap or not to tap?

[Jackal]

Hi guys, i have an old Remington 510 TargetMaster single shot. It was rusty, beat up and the stock looked like a platic surgery mistake. I refinished the stock and cold-blued all the steel after stripping the rust. Turned out quite good for my first refinish project. However, that said, WOW can it shoot. With the origional open sights, i can cut trap clays in half all day long at 50yds. But ive been thinking. If i can do that well with sights, what can i acheive with a 3-9x scope? Only one problem. This rifle is not drilled or tapped. I do not have the equipment to do it myself, so it would be done by a smith. My main question is this: Should I drill and tap a classic gun, or just leave as is? I welcome any opinions or experiences.

 

[kjeff50cal]

As they say "it is your gun"...... If it was in the condition you describe and you refinished it. you may well set the date for the gunsmith (a goood gunsmith) to drill & tap it for a scope (find an old Weaver 4X to top it). BTW the third option is an aperture (peep) sight. It would be more in keeping with the lines and history of the rifle.

 

[rangerruck]

I woudn't do it. Saw one like that today, at the gun show in Pasdena, that was going for about 300 bucks. It was all origional of course, I would imagine that if you ever went to sell it, drill and tap, would lower it's value.

 

[Gator]

Go ahead! The refinish, especially the cold blue, has already diminished any collector value it may have had (not that one in the condition you describe would have had much to begin with). If D&T'ing will increase your enjoyment of the rifle, go for it.

 

[Terrierman]

It is your rifle and I think you should configure it so that it makes you the happiest. Given the refinish work, I doubt that being drilled and tapped would negatively change the collector value of that fine old piece. There's a 512 in my gun cabinet, but I didn't have to change anything on it to mount a scope as it was a later model with grooved reciever. They really are nice accurate rifles, enjoy it in good health.

 

[hps1]

Nice rifle! As has been said, due to the refininshing, it is not a collector; were it me, I would mount the scope if it would enhance my enjoyment of the rifle. (Of course, I am a shooter, not a collector. Altered a pristine pre-64 Mod. 70 National Match rifle because that is what I intended to use the rifle for .)

My first rifle was a 510 which I was given in 1948 IIRC. I taught my wife and son to shoot using that rifle and later put it in a surplus 513T target stock cut down; drilled and tapped for redfield receiver sight and added a forend stop. Made the cutest little boy's target rifle, a miniature single shot 513T. Taught my grandson & grandaughter to shoot it and it now belongs to them.

The 500 series Remingtons were very solid little rifles and excellent shooters.

Regards,
hps

 

[aspen]

I learn to shoot on one. My grandfather took me out when I was 8, I remember it like yesterday. While he has given me most of his guns over time, he still is holding on to that one, as well he should, he loves it. While I have many 22s there is nothing like that old Remington. I am not worried, it will stay in the family, that’s all that matters.

You have resurrected a fine rifle, do with it as you please, but in my humble opinion there are some things in this world that should be left they way they were designed. There are plenty of Rugers 10/22 in this world to put scopes on. I have a Remington 33 single shot, that was my dads and now it lives in my safe. I have a 3 month old son, one day it we be his and he will learn to shoot as I did with is grandfather teaching him.

Nice looking rifle, thanks for sharing.

 

[Starter52]

Drill and tap it.

 

[sm]

Great Gun!

Personally I would not. I still like shooting these 5XX guns as it with factory sights.

Also great for new shooters learning to shoot with orginal sights - correct basic fundamentals and all that.