Call me Crazy, .22 crazy

[kBob]

I know some of you guys are gonna say I got skinned but I just got a rifle I have wanted for a while.

About two decades ago a bud and I were in a gunshop on the way back from "a major show" and all I had left was lunch money....fortunately we had just filled the trucks tank before finding this place accidentally.

Well there on the rack was a nice old Remington 510 with a Lyman rear and bead bladed front. It was for an even then ridiculous low price and I did not have it. Buddy looked at it and lamented that he lack a few bucks being able to buy it himself then paused and ask me to lend him the rest. Long two hour drive home without lunch later and he has the gun and I make a PB&J and settle in. Yes, I have the toys I bought at "the big show" but the one that got away is always the best.

Couple of years later and buddy is moving into a new house with a new baby and asks me to buy a pair of Mausers at a good price. I needed Mausers like a hole in the head, but thought they were neat and he needed money so they mostly set in my safe for over a decade. I shot the little Swede short rifle a bit early on, but even then surplus was getting scarce I did not really want to reload a new caliber so it just sat there.

Now I was just on the auction sites and saw what Swede Short rifles go for and what Remington 510s go for, so have at it guys tell me I am crazy as a loon.

A buddy has back a rifle he regretted selling and I have one that got away, and one I am far more likely to shoot.

I will clean her up and give her some wax and feed an see if I can get her mug shot on our line up, but mainly, well I just dug out some old subsonic target stuff and I am busy right now.

-kBob

 

[badkarmamib]

Congratulations! Like you said, it was one that got away, and if you appreciate it more than the money or trades, then I believe you did well. Value is subjective. Enjoy it!

 

[bannockburn]

Photos Bob, must have photos! Have got to see what the net result of this long term hankering has brought about!

 

[redneck2]

We can’t tell you what will make you happy. Only you can do that.

 

[bearman49709]

Last deer season one of my brothers gave me our uncles 510-P made in 1939, he bought it new.
Growing up it was always at our house and I thought it was my dads until my mom told me it was her brother's. In the 1970's she tried to give it back but he said to keep it.

 

[kBob]

..and now the fun begins...pulling the trigger to release the bolt is not working! I am wondering if one of the screws for the Lyman rear might be protruding just far enough into the receiver to keep the bolt from coming out. Wife pulled up as I was heading out to the bullet trap so I have still not shotit....un loading groceries and such ARE important.

BTW bolt functions, then when trying to remove bolt by pulling trigger it goes back further and stops ALMOST with the handle free of the receiver The handle IS NOT in contact with the sights and the amount of space available should allow the handle to clear.

Maybe an old Army 513T manual might have some help so I am headed to "The Stacks" if I don't write back in the next day or two a book case may have fallen on me or a mutant silver fish may have gotten me.

-kBob

 

[Labguy47]

Some receivers have a button on the left side toward the back that has to be pushed down in order to remove the bolt. Others you need to pull the trigger. I am not familiar with all the variants but I do remember some from being with the Marines.

 

[fpgt72]

I am crazy as well then.

 

[Hasaf]

It is great to have a shootable gun that one just feels good about.

I have the 22 that my father got when he turned 15. 1946, the immediate post war production. Of course it is a "never sell." If I get hit by a bus, my daughter (30) has laid claim to it, and she also considers it a "never sell."

There are some that are just not to be parted with.

I recall looking at the DCM .22 rifles and for some reason I didn't like them. I don't recall why. I do keep my eyes open for a cheap pump action .22; but I prefer bolt action.

I also just ordered a CZ-455, the bad news is that it is at the LGS I frequent in Salt Lake and I wont be home until December. At least it is already paid for; so I just need to pick it up.

 

[kBob]

Well I pulled the Lyman 57 rear sight (Nickel slot screws and no locks but good detent clicks) and the bolt popped right out. Fortuanately I am not anal about .22 bolts so once detail stripped and cleaned it might make it until next decade sometime before another good cleaning requiring it out.

No firing pin dingus on the breech face (yay!) But the barrel made me think of escape tunnels in WWII German prison camp movies. Rifling and grooves look ok but full of "dirt" near the chamber and dry white leading near the muzzle. Muzzle looks good

Barrel marking ID the gun as "The Targetmaster" 510 and the barrel mounted rear sight is missing and no blank installed in either the cut or screw holes. Barrel letters are "E" with a space and shift in level and "SS" if this means anything about Date of manufacture or some such I would appreciate any information.

I have not checked for barrel clearance from the stock but the 510 bolts the stock and receiver together unlike some other .22s that go barrel to stock so it may not be as important to check for and can play with that after the first few groups if necessary.

Looks like the ejector may block cleaning from the breech but I will have to try to rod it to see. I plan on some brass brushing with solvents and then a host of patches and maybe (thanks to the fact I know the guy liked copper clad bullets that were cheaper than decent lead 40 grain target and match ammo) a shot of some copper scrubber or another until it looks clean. Then May haps some near fifty year old Remington White Box match would be just the thing for this old girl!

Now if I can just recall what I did with Wax and feed..... (Ballistoil was in the bathroom, so no telling)

-kBob

 

[Texas10mm]

I grew up shooting a Remington 510. It was the only one of my fathers guns I didn't get when he died.

For nostalgia I'd love to find one.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

I have always loved 22s. Call me crazy but I have over 60 firearms chambered in 22 s, l, or lr.
Finding a gun that makes you happy is better then owning one worth money that you don't care for.

 

[jmorris]

I am guilty of owning more .22’s that anything else.

The last two 510’s I bought for $65 and $35. I was going to chop up the $35 one for a little girl but after I refinished the stock and shot it, I couldn’t bring myself to messing it up.

I wound up making her a 16” barrel for a contender and can instead.

 

[doubleh]

I'm another that loves 22s and own more of them than all my center fires combined. Low stress shooting at low cost. What's not to like.

If you're happy with the gun trade you did good. Simple as that.

 

[Offfhand]

I don't qualify as being called "Crazy about .22's" but I admit to having a few of them that hold my fascination. Including ones shown here: A Browning autoloader, Steyr Mannlicher, vintage Marlin M-39 with original Marlin scope and a "sporterized" Rem, M-37...

 

[kBob]

I am having fun tinkering at any rate.

Got to looking at the butt plate and noticed it was a bit proud of the wood all around. Thought maybe the wood had shrunk at first but with the butt plate off and looking at the angles I think someone in the dark past ,ore likely closer to that October 1947 barrel date than to today cut off about 3/4 of an inch of stock.

Finally got the bolt out. One must not just pull and hold the trigger back, but change safety positions while doing so. Pulling the bolt back flips on the safety, so it must be flipped back off to remove the bolt. Also while that safety thing was causing the bolt to stop before it hit the Lyman 57MS rear sight, they actually did have to come off to pull and replace the bolt.

Today I took the bolt out back, twisted it to uncocked and flooded it with Magic Kraut Licorice Fairy Juice, OK, Ballistoil and left it sitting in the mid day sun for three hours. Upon checking black goo had dribbled into the paper towels it was propped up on.

Mean while as that ejector still looked to be in line with a rod I cut a bit of plastic trimmer line and made a quicky pull through and pulled a few patches of Ballistoil and a few dry patches through the bore. Bore looks much less like a waste and now, though still a few spots I think a brush might help.

Bringing in the bolt, I found the caked on crud I had been unable to scape off the bolt face wipped off with the dirty paper towel. The extractors now move freely and a dental brush got everything out frome between their hooks and the bolt face. Re cocked the bolt (had to use padded vise grips on the body and twist the bolt handle) got it back in and re installed the sights.

Cocking when bolt opening is much easier.

First four shots were all minute of bullet trap at 50 feet using some old CCI CB Longs I had laying about. BTW the report with those things was less than the clank of the bullet hitting the trap. No paper in the holder so no definitive accuracy report....but I think those squirrels that ate this year's figs (and someone is chewing on the wires in the new mini van) could be in for a horrific waking nightmare once I get a good zero.

Having fun and I have found the old Sony Camera.....now I just have to find the old Sony Charger!

-kBob

 

[Jackal]

Just shot a rabid wild mink with my 510...

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

Offfhand,
Thanks for posting those pictures. That Mannlicher, and the others, is a beauty.
I hit the "Like" button, but I was really thinking there needs to be a "Lust" button...

 

[SwampWolf]

but I admit to having a few of them that hold my fascination. Including ones shown here: A Browning autoloader, Steyr Mannlicher,

I used to have a Steyr like yours but mine didn't have a set trigger. I paid $400.00 for the little Mannlicher and sold it for a grand a couple of years ago (to help finance the purchase of a new AR-15). Still regret the transaction but I did get $100.00 each for two spare magazines I was smart enough to buy @ the cost of four bucks per when I first bought the "Zephyr" in the early seventies.