Been on a rimfire kick

[Gary W. Strange]

In August of 2019, I had back and neck surgery. While I was recovering, I was supposed to walk. I didn’t like walking around the block or on the track at a local park. I got bored just walking, like that. I started taking a rimfire handgun or rifle, and walking on roads and trails on some property we had bought. We have since built a house on it. I enjoyed walking and shooting the rimfire, whatever, I had with me. I owned a few rimfires, but nothing like I have now. I could not shot a hard recoiling gun, and still can’t shot but a few rounds. I got really interested in rimfire handguns and rifles, and started buying some. I got to noticing how really well made some of the old model rimfires were made. Back in the day, a rimfire was not just a truck gun. Manufacturers took pride in their rimfires. Some are just a joy to own and shoot. My latest is the Colt 3rd series Match Target Woodsman. It is a little gem. Now days, it seems, the manufacturers are trying to make The cheapest, whatever, that will shoot. Below is some of what I have picked up over the last few years. I am on the lookout now, for a Remington 513S or a 541S. I need something from Remington in the mix. It is just neat to see how well made and finished, these old rimfires are built.

 

[Jeff olson]

In August of 2019, I had back and neck surgery. While I was recovering, I was supposed to walk. I didn’t like walking around the block or on the track at a local park. I got bored just walking, like that. I started taking a rimfire handgun or rifle, and walking on roads and trails on some property we had bought. We have since built a house on it. I enjoyed walking and shooting the rimfire, whatever, I had with me. I owned a few rimfires, but nothing like I have now. I could not shot a hard recoiling gun, and still can’t shot but a few rounds. I got really interested in rimfire handguns and rifles, and started buying some. I got to noticing how really well made some of the old model rimfires were made. Back in the day, a rimfire was not just a truck gun. Manufacturers took pride in their rimfires. Some are just a joy to own and shoot. My latest is the Colt 3rd series Match Target Woodsman. It is a little gem. Now days, it seems, the manufacturers are trying to make The cheapest, whatever, that will shoot. Below is some of what I have picked up over the last few years. I am on the lookout now, for a Remington 513S or a 541S. I need something from Remington in the mix. It is just neat to see how well made and finished, these old rimfires are built.

View attachment 1110722 View attachment 1110724 View attachment 1110725 View attachment 1110726 View attachment 1110727 View attachment 1110728 View attachment 1110729 View attachment 1110730 View attachment 1110769 View attachment 1110770

Love that anschutz!

 

[Slamfire]

Love your Colt's and that Springfield M2. A new shooter brought out his like new Springfield M2 to the local smallbore prone match. I think the rifle is capable of shooting Sharpshooter, maybe low expert scores. The stock is based around the service rifle, and so are the sights. That Lyman 48, to adjust elevation you have to unscrew the friction screw, which is slow. But the thing was neat, and he did get some good clusters.

 

[jar]

One of my favorite 22s is my Remington Speed Master model 241. This one was made after the war in 1949 but it's still among my most enjoyable and accurate 22LR.

 

[tominboise]

One of my favorite 22s is my Remington Speed Master model 241. This one was made after the war in 1949 but it's still among my most enjoyable and accurate 22LR.

I have one of those myself, along with a 121. They are both great shooters and remind me of 1970's boys life magazine ads, when I handle and shoot them.

 

[Jeff olson]

One of my favorite 22s is my Remington Speed Master model 241. This one was made after the war in 1949 but it's still among my most enjoyable and accurate 22LR.

I also have a 241 made in 1949. Has to be one of the nicest remingtons I own.

 

[jar]

I have one of those myself, along with a 121. They are both great shooters and remind me of 1970's boys life magazine ads, when I handle and shoot them.

What was really wonderful was the fact that I could even find great rifles rebranded as JC Higgins or Ted Williams and every Christmas each of us got to look through the Sears or Monkey Wards catalogs and circle things we would like Santa to bring us.

Like this JC Higgins 28 that is actually a High Standard.

We all knew that Santa had all the catalogs and that would be a great starter for a nine or ten year old scout.

 

[45/30-06OKIE]

I have a CZ 457 Pro Varmint in 22lr and it's a fun rifle to shoot cause its accurate, and if I didn't know better I'd say it has negative recoil lol. I'm waiting for my Efourm 4 on a SilencerCo Sparrow for it, the 60gr Aguila stuff is very quiet as is, so I imagine it will be Hollywood quiet with a suppressor.

 

[792mauser]

Love me a good rimfire.
Got a threaded 10-22 that is a hoot to shoot.
Pffft pfft pfft pfft pfft pfft pfft pfft pfft pfft click

A well made 22lr is a joy.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Love that anschutz!

Ahhh....I was wondering what that was. Nice.

 

[tominboise]

I also have a 241 made in 1949. Has to be one of the nicest remingtons I own.View attachment 1110815 View attachment 1110816

I like your rear sight. Unobtanium anymore.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I have a 541-S. It's an attractive gun. It shoots very well for a sporter. I don't know if a 541-S used price is worth 2-3 time what a new CZ costs, though.

 

[Remington1911]

In August of 2019, I had back and neck surgery. While I was recovering, I was supposed to walk. I didn’t like walking around the block or on the track at a local park. I got bored just walking, like that. I started taking a rimfire handgun or rifle, and walking on roads and trails on some property we had bought. We have since built a house on it. I enjoyed walking and shooting the rimfire, whatever, I had with me. I owned a few rimfires, but nothing like I have now. I could not shot a hard recoiling gun, and still can’t shot but a few rounds. I got really interested in rimfire handguns and rifles, and started buying some. I got to noticing how really well made some of the old model rimfires were made. Back in the day, a rimfire was not just a truck gun. Manufacturers took pride in their rimfires. Some are just a joy to own and shoot. My latest is the Colt 3rd series Match Target Woodsman. It is a little gem. Now days, it seems, the manufacturers are trying to make The cheapest, whatever, that will shoot. Below is some of what I have picked up over the last few years. I am on the lookout now, for a Remington 513S or a 541S. I need something from Remington in the mix. It is just neat to see how well made and finished, these old rimfires are built.

View attachment 1110722 View attachment 1110724 View attachment 1110725 View attachment 1110726 View attachment 1110727 View attachment 1110728 View attachment 1110729 View attachment 1110730 View attachment 1110769 View attachment 1110770

Que the get off my lawn.....

I fine darn near everything made today is cheap. Now cheap and garbage are not the same thing. Today so much is done with plastic pellets and CAD/CAM machines. It is done to make something as inexpensive as possible....and it shows. As we are talking 22's here, the Ruger Wrangler, how cheap can they make it. You look at it, pick it up, work the hammer, and in general the gun and it just feels cheap. Now in the same price bracket you look at the Heritage and do the same thing side by side and you think, this feels like a "real gun". There is something here in my hand.....it just feels right. I can't explain it past that. You move up in the Ruger world to the other 22 revolver, and now again it feels like a real gun again. More....crisp.....sharp.....I don't know, I hate the word better but it just feels better. Pick them up side by side and you will know what I am talking about.

Now that does not mean Rugers Wrangler is not a serviceable little gun, it is. But you can just feel a difference in them. And again when you pick up anything that is older you feel that same "better" again.

I just bought an A5 20, I was shooting an 1100 20 of roughly the same vintage. The wife shoots a new SA-08, it just feels cheap, so much plastic there is just not a feel of "quality"....again whatever that means.....to the weatherby. It has never failed her, and she has put hundreds of rounds through it, sometimes 1000 rounds a month and never a single issue. But it just feels cheap next to the other two "old" guns. She likes the older guns, but does not want to cut down the stock to make it fit her, and it is also a hard no in just buying a replacement stock, she is funny that way, wants everything original.

I hear you, last weekend a guy that was out shooting asked me what was the last new gun you bought. That A5, got it a couple months ago. No not new to you but new new.....oh....ahh............not sure. I don't think I have bought a new gun in 10 years. I guessed at the heritage 22....and today I think that is correct.

 

[sparkyv]

Nice pick ups, Gary W. Strange!

Below is some of what I have picked up over the last few years. I

. Now days, it seems, the manufacturers are trying to make The cheapest, whatever, that will shoot

This modern 22LR ain't so cheap.

 

[Spats McGee]

You can never have too many .22s.

 

[doubleh]

I saw a Colt Woodsman during Sunday's gunshow visit priced a t $795. I also saw a High Standard Victory for the same price. The Colt was in pretty good condition, the HS a little better. On down the tables I found a S&W K Mddel 22 that was really nice for only $2,000.00. I have a bunch of different 22 handguns and didn't ever try to haggle on any of them. If I had it would have been the HS Victory and when they were in production I really had a desire for one but just didn't feel I could afford it. A wife and 2 kids came first.

 

[Remington1911]

There is just something magical about the old 22's. Not sure what it is.

When I bought my "pre-woodsman" I was told only shoot sub sonic ammo in it unless you change the spring. Even the "standard vel" we have today is hotter then anything back when it was made.

I am not sure if that is true or not, but I do follow that advice. The gun runs just fine on the sub sonic, and seems to shoot real well also.

On to that a bit, one thing I have found is without exception the old guns like the slower moving ammo over new "speedy" stuff. And in the guns that take longs as well as long rifle, the longs shoot much better again, but they do not move fast.

It is quite fun dinging steel at 100 yards with it, even that close it takes long enough to tell between the bang and the ding. Bang.........ding. Something about that is just fun.

 

[Gary W. Strange]

Nice pick ups, Gary W. Strange!



This modern 22LR ain't so cheap.View attachment 1110859

No punt intended. They say S&W is making better revolvers now, than ever.

 

[Gary W. Strange]

In August of 2019, I had back and neck surgery. While I was recovering, I was supposed to walk. I didn’t like walking around the block or on the track at a local park. I got bored just walking, like that. I started taking a rimfire handgun or rifle, and walking on roads and trails on some property we had bought. We have since built a house on it. I enjoyed walking and shooting the rimfire, whatever, I had with me. I owned a few rimfires, but nothing like I have now. I could not shot a hard recoiling gun, and still can’t shot but a few rounds. I got really interested in rimfire handguns and rifles, and started buying some. I got to noticing how really well made some of the old model rimfires were made. Back in the day, a rimfire was not just a truck gun. Manufacturers took pride in their rimfires. Some are just a joy to own and shoot. My latest is the Colt 3rd series Match Target Woodsman. It is a little gem. Now days, it seems, the manufacturers are trying to make The cheapest, whatever, that will shoot. Below is some of what I have picked up over the last few years. I am on the lookout now, for a Remington 513S or a 541S. I need something from Remington in the mix. It is just neat to see how well made and finished, these old rimfires are built.

View attachment 1110722 View attachment 1110724 View attachment 1110725 View attachment 1110726 View attachment 1110727 View attachment 1110728 View attachment 1110729 View attachment 1110730 View attachment 1110769 View attachment 1110770

Some more, that I could not get to download, yesterday. I was reading a book on rimfire firearms, a while back. In it it talked about shooting was a big pastime in the early to mid 1950s. Manufacturers made high quality rimfire firearms because they were in high demand. They put as much effort in their rimfire stuff as they did center fire firearms. When Ruger come out with his .22 auto pistol, it pretty much rang the death bell for the Colt Woodsman and others. Ruger could make his .22 much cheaper and it was and still is a good design. Colt and others could not make their .22s at price point, to sell as cheap as the Ruger .22. Forged parts, hand fitting and finishing just pushed them out of the market. The rimfire rifles of that era went the same way. It’s like the Winchester pre 64 switch. The firearms industry changed after 1964. There were cheaper way to build and make firearms, that did away with the hand fitting and finishing. We have gained a lot, being able to buy cheap firearms that work, but we lost a lot too.

 

[e rex]

You have some very nice pieces!!!

 

[wesmonster]

I'm shooting my rimfires much more over the past few years, mostly due to ammo costs but also cause they're fun and a full day of shooting is easy on the shoulders as well as the wallet.
Most of my long gun collection was fairly new rimfires like Ruger Charger & American Compact, HK MP5-22, Beretta ARx-160, AR rimfire upper on a dedicated lower, etc. til my Dad, who's in his 80's but still in good health, gave me his collection of 20 odd rimfire rifles he picked up from yard sales, flea markets and auctions over the years. Mostly older Marlins, Remingtons and Savage/Stevens. And at least half of em will outgroup my Rugers. Nothing super rare or collectable, just nice examples of firearms made when good craftsmanship was affordable.
A few of the standouts are Marlin 80DL & A1DL, Remington 514 Sportmaster & 552 Speedmaster (this one's been in the family since I was a kid and may be the most reliable semi auto loader ever), Savage 87B, and a Mossberg 42M-B military trainer. A lot of these are made back in the 40's to 50's.

 

[mavracer]

You can never have too many .22s.

Unless you're trying to tread water lol.
22s are the fountain of youth.
Old

Or new

 

[Jeff olson]

I can't resist a .22 rimfire thread. I just can't. That being said, here's a few more. The Sako P72 is one of the finest rifles I have. The trigger is unbelievable and accurate??? Crazy. The Remington 541T does not get used much. It was an unfired gun when I got it but I had to give in. They are right up there with some of the best. The Savage 29A. I absolutely adore it simply because of the history of this one. Found it leaning up against a tree while checking traps as a kid. A mess to say the least. My dad restored it to its present state. I'll never, ever let it go.

 

[wesmonster]

A .22 rimfire pump is a thing of beauty.
For me I can rapid fire a pump much easier than a bolt or lever action.
And you'd be surprised how many .22 shorts will fit in a magazine tube, the original hi cap mag.
And I'm a fan of magazine tubes for rimfires, may be a bit slower to reload, although there's some nifty gadgets to speed that up, but with a decent lifter they run any combo of shorts, longs & long rifles.

 

[bannockburn]

Gary W. Strange

That's one awesome collection of .22 handguns and rifles you've got there; I especially like the Colt Match Target Woodsman, the Browning Nomad, S&W Model 41, and the High Standard Victor!