Anyone collect competition .22 cal. Target rifles?

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Rembrandt

Rembrandt

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For some inexplicable reason find myself fascinated and drawn to Competition .22 target rifles. Maybe its the extra effort by manufacturers to display high quality barrels, triggers, and sights for precision shooting. Most are too heavy for any other use other than what they were designed for. The tricked out adjustable stocks say so much about the ergo dynamics required to make the shooter comfortable and consistent.

Maybe its for Biathlon, 3 position smallbore, silhouette, benchrest, or something else....I find these rifles take it to a new level of accuracy.

Hope to pick up a 40X and an Anschutz someday.

1936 Winchester 52 Speedlock International stock with Al Freeland hardware and Lyman Target Spot.

52 I-1.jpg 52 I-2.jpg 52 I-4.jpg 52 I-7.jpg 52 I-10.jpg
 
strictly target? take a look at the precision/olympic targetairguns! They give nothing up to the rimfires at their game :) They are also incredible!
 
Some years back the LGS had several 52’s and the equivalent Remington (37 maybe?) models that were traded in. Higher end, pure target models. At the time I was into the “quantity over quality” thing and passed them up. Still regret it.
 
redneck2 said:
Some years back the LGS had several 52’s and the equivalent Remington (37 maybe?) models that were traded in. Higher end, pure target models. At the time I was into the “quantity over quality” thing and passed them up. Still regret it.
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Ugh, I know the pain- passed over a Kimber (forget the model) full comp. target gun a couple years ago for $1100. It seemed like a lot of dough at the time, but now I kick myself. IIRC, it had some sort of military markings too....... "US Property" maybe?

Do M1922s count?
index-73.jpg
Ive seen quite a few with globe sights or external-adjustment scopes but I dont know what, if any, classes they would have been in or of they were competitive at the time.

Ok, upon further review-
The Kimber was a M82 Govt.-
wm_7128447.jpg
According to a few closed auctions which date back to that time, $1100 actually was a bit high, so I dont feel so bad. Seems like it would be a fair price in todays market though.
 
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I passed up some really nice ones a few months ago at an estate sale. The .22’s went for more than the bigger stablemates, including a couple tricked out Palma rifles. Kinda surprised by that, especially when thousands of match Palma rounds were also available. But, the state of the art has come a long way in 20 years, and I’m honestly not sure how a match winning competition rifle from yesterday-year would compare to an off the shelf Bergara/Savage today.
 
Hammerli was the big name back when when I first got into competitive target shooting. But the price of these handmade Swiss rifles was about the same as two dozen bicycles or even a fancy motorcycle, and well beyond my teenage bank account. But I finally acquired this one when shooting on the university's varsity rifle team. The rifle is still competitive, but I'm not. DSC_0596 (2).JPG DSC_0601 (2).JPG DSC_0605 (2).JPG
 
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I have a Marlin 2000L I bought new back in the 90s. It’s not an Anschutz but it is a damn fine shooting rifle. My best is my FWB 300S 177 cal. I’ve only shot it indoors at 15 yards but it will literally shoot through the same hole time after time. The most incredibly accurate rifle I’ve ever shot. It’s the one on the left. 0072C268-C229-457B-873D-A1F812977BFE.jpeg
 
NIGHTLORD40K said:
Do M1922s count?
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Short answer: Absolutely they count as target rifles. The government supplied M-22's were the life blood of many high school and gun club marksmanship programs. High schools with ROTC programs usually had rifle teams that competed with other teams in regional and state competitions. Many shooters who had their first target shooting experience with the M-22's became lifelong target shooters went on to compete in national and international (Olympic) rifle tournaments. If there is a target rifle hall of fame the Springfield M-22's should be an honored member. Here is a M-22 with its matching "Big Bro" C-style '03.. 21A_2833 (2).JPG 21A_2836 (2).JPG
 
Vintage rifles like these Model 52 "C" (top) and "B" series are still somewhat competitive and it does my heart good to see them on the range. Especially when equipped with a vintage target scopes like this Lyman Super Targetspot..
The "B" rifle is equipped with Wittek-Vaver Micrometer-Dial rear sight, which was considered the Rolls Royce of iron sights in 1930's-'50's, until replaced by the less expensive and more flexible Redfield Olympics on the "C" 52.. DSC_0072 (2).JPG DSC_0016 (2).JPG DSC_0019 (2).JPG
 
Rembrandt said:
For some inexplicable reason find myself fascinated and drawn to Competition .22 target rifles. Maybe its the extra effort by manufacturers to display high quality barrels, triggers, and sights for precision shooting. Most are too heavy for any other use other than what they were designed for. The tricked out adjustable stocks say so much about the ergo dynamics required to make the shooter comfortable and consistent.

Maybe its for Biathlon, 3 position smallbore, silhouette, benchrest, or something else....I find these rifles take it to a new level of accuracy.

Hope to pick up a 40X and an Anschutz someday.

1936 Winchester 52 Speedlock International stock with Al Freeland hardware and Lyman Target Spot.

View attachment 977698 View attachment 977699 View attachment 977700 View attachment 977701 View attachment 977702
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That is beautiful. I have a 540XR. Not as nice as your Winny. That's a work of art.
 
Sebastian the Ibis said:
I passed up some really nice ones a few months ago at an estate sale. The .22’s went for more than the bigger stablemates, including a couple tricked out Palma rifles. Kinda surprised by that, especially when thousands of match Palma rounds were also available. But, the state of the art has come a long way in 20 years, and I’m honestly not sure how a match winning competition rifle from yesterday-year would compare to an off the shelf Bergara/Savage today.
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. The Anschutz and Remington 40X would be the modern competition and I would bet on those two. I would bet on a Winney 52 over either Bergara or Savage. I would be interested in seeing range reports.
 
I have shot benchrest matches in several locations for about 10 years. I have probably shot with 50 to 100 different guys. The majority of the crowd uses Rem 40x. A few use Anschutz 54 or Winchester 52D rifles. Those 3 dominate the matches without one being better than the other. I have seen a few Savages compete and have never seen one outshine the 3 aforementioned rifles.
 
Holding this 541X Remington for a friend while he completes a move from California back to the United States. He got it years ago for $300. Brand new, (still is, never fired) in the box , in an aluminum foil type wrap. Complete with all accessories. It is U.S. marked.
 

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tark said:
Holding this 541X Remington for a friend while he completes a move from California back to the United States.
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Boy, your friend may be upset that you unpacked his new rifle!.......:)

I do not own one yet but would like an accurate rim fire rifle someday. Would bring me back to the early seventies when my sister and I competed. We made it to the 1973 Junior Rifle Championship Meet!
upload_2021-2-15_20-13-29.png

Don't know what I would purchase but Offhand has posted some nice rifles!
 
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