Old Browning .22 Rifle Help

I wanted to have it cleaned up/ inspected to get it to an operational condition

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All that gun needs is clean it and shoot it!

Very little ever goes wrong with them if you don't dink around with the takedown adjustment ring without knowing what you are dinking with.

Here is an owners manual that covers everything you need to know in case you didn't get one.

http://media.browning.com/pdf/om/22semiautomanual.pdf

If you post the serial number we can tell you what year it was made.

rc

It may have a 3/8" grooved receiver for a tip-off scope mount.
I can't tell from your pictures.

Otherwise, Browning sells a scope mount that goes on the barrel.
http://www.opticsplanet.com/browning-sa-22-base-gloss-finish-12333.html


However that aperture sight that somebody put on it is about as good as a scope, if you take the time to learn how to use it.

Right now, it appears it has the elevation slide set well past "Shooting Way High".

It needs to be sighted in.


IMO: The slim trim Browning .22 Auto is better used without optics weighing it down.

Very few rifles have ever been made that point any better or faster with open sights.

rc

If that's a 6T on the label, the serial number dates it to 1966.

We sold a bunch of them around that time. It was the most reliable .22 autoloader on the market until the Remington Nylon 66, and that was a lot nicer and better made rifle than the Remington. A lot of folks considered the extra cost well worth it.

Jim

Yes.
The Browning .22 Auto was, and might even still be the "Cadillac" or "Rolex" of .22 semi-auto's.

It for sure was back then!

.22 semi-auto's from Winchester, Ruger, Remington, Savage, Mossberg, etc. sold in the 1960's for around $50.00 then.
The Browning sold for around $90.00, and was well worth it.

All Browning firearms in the 1950's, 60's & 70's were as good as you could buy on a working mans wages.

rc

Very light and easy handling, very reliable, and very accurate. It's about my favorite plinking rifle. From the pic and the way the Williams receiver sight is mounted, yours appears to have the grooved receiver for .22 scope tip-off mounts. I went with the Browning mount that replaces the rear sight on the barrel, since I think it reduces or eliminates the chance of the scope losing its zero from taking it down. It's worked fine for me for years, anyway, without needing rezeroing between field trips.

You have yourself a champion rifle there! I have one in the safe right now, beautiful shooting/handling rifle, bought mine about 25 years ago, finest shooting rifle I own. You will not be disappointed with this firearm!! Congrats on a nice find, and as you've been told, just go shoot it.

I bought mine in 65 while I was in the AF in Dover Del, think I paid $65 new. My Father in Law liked it so much he bought one too. I still have mine, my son has inherted his. They are still beautiful and shoot great.

Still made - do a search on galleryofguns.com

That looks like a higher grade with the scroll work on the receiver.

I have the same gun but in stainless. Pictures of it on THR somewhere with the scope mount.

There has never been a stainless Browning .22 Auto.

All Grade I (standard grade) Brownings of the time had the blued scroll engraving.

The Grade II had more engraving, and was matt grey nickel finished.
http://www.gunauction.com/search/displayitem.cfm?itemnum=9340076

The Grade III had full deep relief engraving, matt nickel finished, and better grade wood.
http://espanol.cabelas.com/product/...?destination=/browse.cmd?categoryId=109187280

rc

There has never been a stainless Browning .22 Auto.

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There is one in a case sitting 10 feet behind me.

I love when people are dead wrong but speak with such authority.

Now I guess I need to find the pictures.

Pictures of the gun that was never made . . .

Bought in 2005. Stock is synthetic. Made in Japan version.

Couldn't find posts here, may have been over on rimfire central.

Yeah I know the scope ruins it . . . .

Very cool gun though, can't go wrong, lucky find for OP.

This one has a stainless barrel and nickel reciever.

I have two, one is my Fathers, Belgian made 3/8 dove tail in the reciever. The one I recieved when I was 11 is a Japan model that is drilled and tapped for a barrel mount. I agree with RC about forgetting a scope mount.

The Japan model also has a gold buck under the trigger guard the early ones do not.

I love when people are dead wrong but speak with such authority.

Now I guess I need to find the pictures.

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I guess you do.
I'd Love to see it!

I have every Browning catalog going back to 1960 up until 2002 or so.

And as far as I recall, they have never listed a stainless .22 Auto, barrel or otherwise.

Unless it's something Miruku just did in the last few years or something?
I need to see one before I believe they did it.



PS: O.K., I believe it.
I was wrong.

They did do it in the last few years apparently.
Plated carbon steel receiver with stainless barrel.
http://www.gunauction.com/search/displayitem.cfm?itemnum=10194772

In my own defense, I was thinking Belgian Brownings like the OP ask about.
There certainly were no stainless steel ones of them!

rc

Very nice find. One day I'll have the kids look in our attic (lol).

With that peep sight I'll betcha you're going to need a taller front sight even at it's lowest setting unless it's already been done (can't tell from the pictures), but that's normal.

I'm jealous!!

Shooting it, you need to crank your off arm out to the side a little bit.
If you support it directly underneath, it WILL throw hot empties in your shirt cuff.

However would I know something like that?
I can't imagine, mercy me.

Get it back tomorrow??

Where did it get off too?

rc

OHH!

I See said the blind man!!

Never mind!!


But myself?
I'd have took it with me, wherever you went
And slept with it under my pillow!!

rc