In praise of the Remington Speedmaster

[Col. Plink]

Just took my first trip to the range yesterday with a Speedmaster I picked up on vacation last week. She's the epitome of "not good lookin' but boy can she cook!"

I gave it the acid test right out of the case: alternating rounds Remington short & Federal bulk long rifle, she ran like a top and was already sighted in!

Noticed a little drift left with CCI minimags at 100yds. With the iron sights I could make them flush for the lr's and then elevate the front sight fully for the shorts and get both on target at 100. I don't think you can get better performance or have more fun for the money. I can see this model might become a collector's niche for me if I'm not careful!

So are there any special tips on care and feeding for this old girl that any other owners can pass on? Any and all recommendations appreciated!

 

[VA27]

Which 'Speedmaster', 550 or 552?

 

[BrocLuno]

Sounds like a very fun day. Old 22.s are kick in the pants

I think the Speedmaster was the follow-on to the Model 12? You might look for one of those with an octagonal barrel. Shoot well, digest ammo like yours and look old school cool.

This is one kind of gun Remington knew how to do well

 

[NCsmitty]

The Remington Speedmaster series were always good rifles and still bring a premium when you can find them.
Congrats on an enjoyable day.



NCsmitty

 

[Col. Plink]

Speedmaster 552.

Yes, I'd love to be able to justify a 'creampuff' version; but at the price and performance I'll just have to be satisfied with what I have for awhile.

Can't wait to find out how many shorties it'll hold!

 

[content]

Hello friends and neighbors // Congrats, they are getting harder to find.

Don't hesitate to mix short, long,lr in the same tube, it will feed them fine just changes POI a bit as you saw.

Especially fun when it is your buddies turn to shoot

 

[LeonCarr]

My first rifle was a 552A Speedmaster. After about 100,000 rounds, it started misfiring about every other round. Sent to Remington, they fixed it, sold it (cheap) to my best friend whose son still shoots it today.

Good guns.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

 

[Col. Plink]

one question: There's a piece inside the receiver, closest to the ejection port, that looks like it's been beaten by flying shells a bit and could possibly do with some filing. Anyone know if this is common or perhaps best left alone? thanks!

 

[Smaug]

How about some targets to prove it?

I bought one and it turned out to be a non-feeding piece of junk. Glad you fared better.

 

[Col. Plink]

I have a dead can you can check out! He dangled at 100yds until I aim at the right edge to compensate. LR's & shorts were pretty much hitting the same place at 50...

 

[skoro]

I bought a new 552 Speedmaster back in 1989 and put a Bushnell scope on it right away. It's a real fun plinker, alright.

 

[DM~]

I've owned my Speedmaster since the 70's, and it never fails to feed, fire or function perfectly every time. It's been a GREAT 22 rifle.

DM

 

[fiddleharp]

Great classic rifle: If you're right-handed!
If you're the adventuresome sort, just try shooting one of these 552's left-handed.
You'll get one hell of a surprise.
If you shoot it without the "shell deflector", you'll get blasted with a facefull of hot grit and if you're not wearing shooting glasses and keep your right eye open, you'll also probably end up in the emergency room.
On the other hand, if you have the shell deflector mounted on the gun, the piping-hot shell and grit will blast your right wrist and forearm.
Definitely not a "lefty-friendly" rifle.
However, if you're right-handed, enjoy!
After all, it's a right-handed world, isn't it?

 

[DM~]

I've never noticed that problem, and i'm left handed. I do have the deflector on...

DM

 

[P-32]

I enjoy the SpeedMaster 552 I got from my father before he passed. My ex son in law brought out a fancy 20-22 he was proud of. The 552 and CCI standard put him in his place.

I like my Win 61 over any Rem 12.

 

[VA27]

The 552 is a good gun but it's set up different than the old 550. The 552 is sprung to fire shorts and has a rubber bumper inside the receiver to keep LR's from beating it to death. Try some CCI Target shorts, they're almost as quiet as CB caps.

The 550 with the floating piston (if it's clean and properly lubed) will cycle 22 Short CB's.

 

[Col. Plink]

Speedmaster 552

 

[surfinUSA]

I've always found the 552 speedmaster to be a beautiful rifle ever since a friend had one in the 60s.

Real sights, fires short, long and Long rifle.

Accurate and reliable what more can you want. They're expensive but I think they're worth it.

 

[Col. Plink]

I went a little wild with mine and put a 3-9x Bushnell on it that had come on a Savage MkII I got from Dick's.

With that scope, I can kick quarter-sized rocks around the 50-yd berm with alternating rounds of LR and short. What a hoot!

 

[content]

Now your talkin!

 

[Jeremy2171]

I've got a 50yr old 552 that hasn't missed a beat yet!

 

[Col. Plink]

These are aluminum receivers, no? Mine's got some extensive wear and was thinking about having it anodized. Any thoughts?

 

[VA27]

Sounds like a plan to me. I think one done in HAIII natural (sort of a gray-green) with parkerized steel would look good.

 

[ISO1600]

big speedmaster fan here.
I found a 1961 model at a pawn shop for $160 back in January and picked it right up. I dont think it had ever been cleaned- wouldn't function for crap initially, but once i got the bolt clean it has been great ever since. Feeds Fed Bulk best.
I've had two CCI Mini Mags blow up in the chamber- i hate those things. The Mini Mags also dont feed too great, since they are covered in that waxy junk.

 

[pump .22s]

Don't forget the earlier Remington 241 Speedmaster that was pre model 550. Built on the Browning patent like the previous model 24. All the Speedmaster series are known for durability, reliability, and accuracy.