A good .22 is tough to beat

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I've been collecting firearms for years and I can honestly say I do not have a quality 22 rifle in the barn with the exception of a WWI 22short training rifle that my dad left me when he passed away. It's still at my parents house and I should collect it one day. I did some research on it and it's a US Property marked Winchester Low Wall 22 short musket. One of these days I'll have to get it and hit the range to see how the ole lady shoots.
 
I'll try again....Three of my favorites. A Remington model 34, a 514 and a Winchester model 60. The 34 is very accurate, the 514 as well and the 60 keyholes everything, because is has no rifling. It is marked for shorts, longs, and long rifles on the barrel but the model 60 was never offered as a smoothbore. The barrel is also 1" shorter than it is supposed to be and it is uncrowned at the muzzle. Factory screw up, I assume.
 

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For sheer good looks my Browning BL22 in grade two. Slim and graceful as a ballerina.The Ruger 10/22 an early one with walnut stock. For accuracy and reliability my S&W Model 41 followed by my Ruger Mark IV then of course there’s the High Standard Military HD. For economy in 22 semi auto there’s the Beretta Neos and my only 22 revolvers the H&R Sportsman and the Ruger Single Six.
Now if I can just find the ammo to feed them............!
 
tark said:
I'll try again....Three of my favorites. A Remington model 34, a 514 and a Winchester model 60. The 34 is very accurate, the 514 as well and the 60 keyholes everything, because is has no rifling. It is marked for shorts, longs, and long rifles on the barrel but the model 60 was never offered as a smoothbore. The barrel is also 1" shorter than it is supposed to be and it is uncrowned at the muzzle. Factory screw up, I assume.
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Your 34 is much prettier than mine. I’m still on the hunt for the Lyman 55r peep sight.
 
I have several 22s but my favorite is a Ruger 77/22 made in 1986 that came with the factory open sights. It will shoot 10 shot groups at 50 yards that measure just over a half inch. And do it group after group with a cheap straight tube Bushnell scope. Then there is the Marlin 39A made in 1989 bought for $200 used. And a Marlin 981T with nylon stock and tube feed. And last my Marlin 783 and 883 22 mag rifles. The 783 is a walnut stocked gun I bought new in 1983 and the 883 is a stainless steel with laminate stock I bought used for $135 from a pawn shop.

Also 3 Ruger 10/22s for some semi auto fun. Plus two Marlin model 75C carbines. The short versions of the model 60.

There is nothing more useful than a good 22 rifle and a pocket full of rounds and some big woods or an open prairie to go explore and shoot in.
 
I think my funnest is my Henry .22 Golden Boy, just because I shoot shorts, longs and .LR that are low and high velocity. Everyone giggles when I let them fire some Aguila Super Colibri rounds and it makes little noise. I own the Henry, an old Remington 550-1, Marlin 60 SB, and now a JM stamped Marlin 60 squirrel stock. I am missing the required Ruger 10/22
 
Savage BTVSS heavy barrel, thumbhole stock (I have to take a pic apparently)
Mossberg 340BB - bolt action cub scout training rifle from the old days when you could still do that (within their rules)

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Offfhand
This Steyr Mannlicher is a pleasure to shoot and the set triggers makes it even nicer.
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Your Steyr Mannlicher is one of the most beautiful looking .22s I have ever seen! Thanks for sharing it with us!
 
I recently obtained a used Zastava "Model CZ 99 Precision". The action is stamped FN Herstal. I put a Weaver K4 scope on it (not needing a greater magnification).

Here's the main part of it. (Don't have the ladder handy to get a full picture right now.)
22 lr Model CZ 99 Precision.JPG
It is used and has normal handling dings and such. Nothing I consider outrageous.

This is a five shot group, the first group I fired after sighting in.
Target is a 25 yard pistol timed and rapid fire (NRA 2700) center. CCI Standard Velocity ammunition. Over a rest (6x6 with carpet wrapper) at 50 meters. I cannot be sure, but I think the high and right shot was likely me in a hurry.
Zastava sight in targetJPG.JPG
 
Barbaroja said:
Your 34 is much prettier than mine. I’m still on the hunt for the Lyman 55r peep sight.
Click to expand...
My 34 and my 514 are 99% guns and the Winchester is absolutely brand new. It has an interesting story. I found it at a gun show and I got it for $100. The seller was honest and told me it was worthless because "It couldn't hit a dinner plate at 50 feet." His grandfather bought it years ago to shoot rats around the farm. When he couldn't hit any, he set the gun in the closet in disgust and bought another gun. It sat in that closet, untouched, for decades. When its owner passed on, the grandson got permission to sell it and I grabbed it. The gun had had less than a box of shells run through it! The blueing is flawless and the wood is the same. I have run a few 22 shotshells through it, and it does pattern nicely. As a pristine example of an old classic Winchester, it is beautiful. As a practical, useful firearm, it is worthless. But it is still pretty to look at, and that makes it worth a hundred bucks to me.

The 34 and the 514 were acquired from another collector's widow, who just wanted to get rid of them. She was desperate for cash and I gave her more than they were worth, to help her out. The butt plate on the 34 was case hardened, curiously enough, and as you can see the case colors are pristine. Whenever I find an old 22 that looks to be in exceptional shape I always look first at the butt plate. They were often made of plastic or hard rubber or some other material that did not hold up well. When the gun looks good and the butt plate doesn't...... well, that is a red flag to me. The butt plates on the other two are both as new.

Now, I am a collector, and we collectors are kind of anal about shooting classic high conditioned firearms. I shoot the two Remingtons because they aren't exactly "classic" guns. They were made in the hundreds of thousands. They will never be worth more than the joy of shooting them gives me. I would shoot the Winchester if I could figure out what it is good for, besides admiring.

You have a good eye, Barbaroja. The rear sight on the 34 is indeed a 55R
 

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tark said:
My 34 and my 514 are 99% guns and the Winchester is absolutely brand new. It has an interesting story. I found it at a gun show and I got it for $100. The seller was honest and told me it was worthless because "It couldn't hit a dinner plate at 50 feet." His grandfather bought it years ago to shoot rats around the farm. When he couldn't hit any, he set the gun in the closet in disgust and bought another gun. It sat in that closet, untouched, for decades. When its owner passed on, the grandson got permission to sell it and I grabbed it. The gun had had less than a box of shells run through it! The blueing is flawless and the wood is the same. I have run a few 22 shotshells through it, and it does pattern nicely. As a pristine example of an old, non classic Winchester, it is beautiful. As a practical, useful firearm, it is worthless. But it is still pretty to look at, and that makes it worth a hundred bucks to me.

The 34 and the 514 were acquired from another collector's widow, who just wanted to get rid of them. She was desperate for cash and I gave her more than they were worth, to help her out. The butt plate on the 34 was case hardened, curiously enough, and as you can see the case colors are pristine. Whenever I find an old 22 that looks to be in exceptional shape I always look first at the butt plate. they were often made of plastic or hard rubber or some other material that did not hold up well. When the gun looks good and the butt plate doesn't...... well, that is a red flag to me. The butt plates on the other two are both as new.

Now, I am a collector, and we collectors are kind of anal about shooting classic high conditioned firearms. I shoot the two Remingtons because they aren't exactly "classic" guns. They were made in the hundreds of thousands. They will never be worth more than the joy of shooting them gives me. I would shoot the Winchester if I could figure out what it is good for, besides admiring.

You have a good eye, Barbaroja. The rear sight on the 34 is indeed a 55R
Click to expand...
Yours is truly a beautiful example of a 34. I just stumbled upon mine in a pawn shop while looking for a bolt action 22 for squirrel hunting. The 34 was priced right and after going home that evening and learning more about it, I was there the next morning to take it home. The cartridge feeding system on it was interesting, unique, and from what I found reading what little info is online about this model, very reliable with all lengths of .22 shells. Just about everything I read mentioned something about the outstanding accuracy of these rifles and I have found that to be very true.

Mine looks like it’s been well used over it’s 87years. The end of the magazine tube was repaired, its missing the original stock, little pitting and the bluing is more brown than anything now. That said I’ll never part with it and plan to keep shooting squirrels with it until one of use gives up, I’d imagine it will win that race.
Think I may have to take it out and shoot it today.
 
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