Classic American Rimfires?

[Sav .250]

Remington,model-511. Clip.

 

[Pacsd]

I like my model 60, 10-.22, & the Nylon Remington but, I think I like the old model 783 tube fed .22Mag. best.

 

[CB900F]

Fella's;

Another vote for the Marlin 39 in first place. But, considering BRNO too, I'll also throw a vote for the CZ452.

900F

 

[snakeman]

10. springfield 03
9. m1 garand
8. winchester m70
7. remington 700
6. ruger m77
5. weatherby mk V
4. savage 99
3. marlin 336
2. winchester 94
1. winchester 1873

 

[natman]

10. springfield 03
9. m1 garand
8. winchester m70
7. remington 700
6. ruger m77
5. weatherby mk V
4. savage 99
3. marlin 336
2. winchester 94
1. winchester 1873

Classic rifles all, but none of them are RIMFIRES.

 

[BisleyBlackhawk45]

The very first .22 semi automatic....Winchester model 1903. Obsolete cartridge today but IMHO One of the prettiest little rifles ever produced....and John Moses didn't design this one.

 

[rodinal220]

Stevens Crackshot,Remington 12 series

 

[ColtPythonElite]

One of my classics:

 

[76shuvlinoff]

My 56 and 77 39As. I also have a Marlin 60. I think it is the most vastly underrated .22 semi auto.

 

[Onmilo]

Classic American Rimfires

The title alone sums it all up.
They are ALL classic!

 

[HOWARD J]

62 years ago I purchased my first rifle
Took a street car downtown & bought a Savage Model 22/410 ( later named Savage 24V )
22 over 410
It was a fun gun for a first weapon

 

[snakeman]

Oh rimfires! duh!

I'll go for 5 on this round.

5. winchester 9422 22 mag
4. marlin 39
3. marlin 983 22 magnum (my favorite magnum)
2. ruger 10/22
1. henry lever 22 standard configuration (my favorite non magnum)

 

[Cee Zee]

considering BRNO too, I'll also throw a vote for the CZ452.

I'd have to check but I'm pretty sure those aren't "American" Rimfires.

 

[mach1.3]

My collection includes my classics.
Remington 550-1
Winchester 74
Marlin 39A
(3) Marlin M60s
Remington M34( I love tubular mags)
Ruger MKIII Target/Competition 5.5"
Ruger SS Hunter 6.88"
New yesterday CZ American 455 combo

I'm always looking to build on my .22 family.
If I could just find the 1600 rd. ammo can of CCI .22 Mini-mags in 40 gr. RN.

 

[SwampWolf]

Quote:
I would argue that the Winchester Model 52 has just as much "stature", if not, more.

The 52 was a classic and had just as much stature as the 40X right up until the time the 40X came along. And some people held onto the notion that they were just as good. But the 40X quickly proved they weren't. You might notice that I didn't mention "stature". What I said was the 40X did more for accuracy than any US rifle and that's true. Yes the 52 with it's beautiful lines and hand crafted quality was a true classic. All I said was the 40X became (and remains) an even bigger classic. And that is true all day long. Remington did to Winchester what Winchester had done to other rifle makers. They made a relatively inexpensive (compared to the super expensive European rifles for example) rifle that could hold it's own with any rifle when it came to accuracy. Well Remington was cheaper and more accurate. They pretty much put the 52 out of business by doing the same things the 52 had done.

Consider the equipment list for the ARA National bench rest competition. There are 116 contestants listed. Of those exactly one person uses a Winchester "54" action. 22 people use a 40X action. There's a reason for that. The 40X is still making a dent in our shooting culture while the 52's and 54's have become collector's items more than top notch shooters. Yes they were classics for a long time. But the 40X became "the" classic US rimfire and it still is.

The op did not ask which rifle was/is the most accurate. He asked:

I would like to know what folks here consider the classic american made rimfires?

"Classic" for me means something that has been around a long time or maybe has had a major Impact on the shooting scene, something that still appeals to many shooters today.

It's a matter of opinion, of course, and my opinion remains that the Winchester Model 52 has been, is and will always continue to be seen by most classic .22 rimfire rifle aficionados to be more of a "classic" than a Remington Model 40x wannabe will ever be. And that, my friend, constitutes "stature" in the world of classics.
It is conceded that the word "classic" doesn't necessarily always translate into being the best; it only means that most serious collectors/shooters view it as being something more than a rifle just making a well-deserved record on the range; it's something more, something special in terms of looks, handling, workmanship, accuracy, reputation, accuracy, durability and reliability. Not many firearms ever reach the level of being a true American classic. The Winchester Model 52 is one of the few and I would argue that the 40x just doesn't measure up, no matter how well it shoots.

 

[Cee Zee]

The op did not ask which rifle was/is the most accurate. He asked:

I stated what I think and I'm sticking by it. You can think a rifle that was proven to be inferior to another rifle is more of a "classic" all you want. I don't think that way. You can argue whatever you like. Just not with me. It takes 2 to argue and I'm not playing. The 40X is clearly the greatest American rimfire of all time. IMO that makes it "the" classic US rimfire rifle. Bye.

 

[twice barrel]

Sears Model 25
High Standard Sport King

 

[.22-5-40]

post #55 implied that the Winchester 1873 was not a rimfire..The winchester 73' was that companies first rifle chambered in .22 short and long..( the long-rifle didn't make it's debut until 1887). and I believe the first repeating American .22 rifle.
Other classics are Ballard No. 3, Colt Lightning, Remington rolling blocks, and the various Stevens from full-blown off-hand schuetzen match rifles to plain hunting guns.

 

[content]

Hello friends and neighbors // The .41rf, Swiss Vetterli would be a Classic Military Rifle.


In use by the Swiss from 1869 thru 1890 the 12 shot(11 +1), bolt action, rimfire is still available in America but often converted these days to shoot centerfire.

Several videos are posted at youtube.

 

[Cee Zee]

There were also lots of stalking rifles in rimfire cartridges .22-5-40. But I still tend to think of those and the Schuetzen rifles as mostly German or Austrian rifles by design. I know lots of US companies made them but the designs and the competitions were strictly Prussian. I'm storing a stalking rifle for a friend right now while he spends the winter in Florida. He wanted it locked in my safe along with a few other classics. It's a .22 Hornet though so no rimfire cartridge and it's not American either. It is a fantastic shooter though. And it will be up for sale as soon as my friend, who has a machine shop, makes some scope mounts for it.

And some of you guys are still missing the "rimfire" and "American" parts of the OP's question. A Swiss centerfire really doesn't qualify does it?

There have certainly been lots of classic American rimfire rifles. And they keep making new ones too.

 

[content]

I think you missed both the fact that the Swiss is a .41 RIMFIRE used as an AMERICAN sporter since the 1890s, like mine, just not American made.

 

[Cee Zee]

You were talking about it being converted to a centerfire. That's why I said that. But I still wouldn't think it was an American classic because it isn't American.

 

[Ibgreen]

Winchester 1906
Winchester 62A
Marlin model 60
1868 spencer 56-50 rim fire repeating rifle

 

[MCgunner]

If the Browning SA22 isn't on the list, it darn well should be.

Belgian rifle? Japanese rifle? Was it ever made in the USA? I love the gun, just sayin'.

 

[Smith357]

Winchester, 52, 75, 62, 63, 9422, et et
Stevens 44 1/2
Remington #4 Rolling Block, 37, 513, 541, 40X et et
Marlin 60, 39a,
Ruger 10/22
Mossberg 44
Kimber 82