Is this an insane price or for real?

[chaim]

I need your help guys. Is this guy high or do I need to sell one of my .22 rifles?

Hmmm, I was looking at some used gun prices and a local dealer was selling a Remington 581 (bolt action .22lr) for $410 with a Leopold scope. Is this guy high or is that gun actually worth that? My gut says it isn't. Don't get me wrong, I love mine- it is my only 100% reliable rimfire and it is exceedingly accurate. However, I don't see $410 (ok, without the used scope I guess it means $270-320). Heck, I bought mine new just over 2 years ago for $210 at Walmart.

If this guy's price isn't all that insane I guess I'll have to sell mine. Mine is in pretty good shape (there was very light rust on the barrel from storage in a climate controlled storage unit but it has been removed and you'd never know it had been there and there are one or two minor nicks in the stock that could be pretty easily sanded out and refinished- or left alone really). I only have a nice (but cheap) Tasco scope on it. So if that guy's price is at all for real I guess I should be able to sell mine for $250-300 fairly realistically. If so it really isn't worth that much to me (it was barely worth the $210 I spent at the time and now there are other options I'd rather have for that). Heck, even if I could sell it for what I paid ($210 w/out scope), or close to it, I'd rather sell it and use the proceeds towards a CZ .22 bolt rifle.

 

[cratz2]

Are we talking the standard barrel weight or the heavy barrel version? Seems a tad high for the standard barrel.

 

[dakotasin]

leupold scopes, even used, bring a premium and may be why the gun is priced as such. it depends on the model...

 

[JohnBT]

That would be my guess too. A 3-9EFR would be worth, oh, $275.

I wouldn't pay the $165 the Blue Book says the gun is worth, but I've seen them around here for $200 or so. (I'm not badmouthing the 581, but I already have a 541-S.)

Funny thing, the BB says the original 581(1967-1983) is worth $165 in 100% condition, but the newer 581 Sportsman with a hardwood stock is worth $200. And I always thought older was better.

John

 

[Mike Irwin]

Leopold scope?

That's a one of a kind item! Get it!

If, however, it's a Leupold scope, they're a lot more common.

The combination of the two, depending on what scope it is, however, could make this a fair deal, or a very good deal.

 

[chaim]

Leopold scope?

That's a one of a kind item! Get it!

If, however, it's a Leupold scope, they're a lot more common

Hmmm, we must be related. I never noticed before that you are as much of a smart aleck as I am.

OK, so it sounds like that one is probably priced in line, not because the rifle is necessarily worth all that much but because the scope may be a $200 scope even used. Does that sound about right?

If so, I guess my newer 581 with a decent but cheap Tasco on it probably could go for close to what I paid (maybe I could get $200). If that is about right I'm not sure. Maybe I'd be better off holding on to it.

It is an accurate gun (very) and 100% reliable with any .22lr ammo (something that never seems to happen). It just isn't as nice as I'd now like. Other than buying a new stock are there any options to make it nicer (I'm not sure premium stocks are even available)? I'm not very competent when it comes to woodworking type stuff but I should be able to handle stripping and refinishing. Are there any finishes or oils that would make this cheap mass produced stock look nice?

Also, I've been interested in CZ rifles for a while now (I love the pistols so I guess that is natural). Would a CZ rimfire be much of an improvement, outside of cosmetics, over these guns? Would it be worth it if I could sell this and buy a CZ w/ no extra money? What about if I had to pony up $50? $100?

 

[Mike Irwin]

Chaim,

It's not out of line at all for a good condition used Leupold to bring $200 more more, depending on the model and condition. You didn't by chance get a look at the model & power, did you?

I've been offered as much as $500 for my used 6.5x20 Vari-X III.

As for the rifle itself, sorry, I don't know that much about them, or if there are nicer stocks available.

 

[DeBee]

Let's say you picked up a CZ American. You'd almost surely have to upgrade the trigger like everyone on rimfirecentral does, then add a scope...

That's the wildcard- the scope- varies the total cost of ownership quite a bit. Since I used my 22s a great deal, I delight in having high quality optics on them i.e. Leupolds. Also, I am usually shooting at something small so I want good glass to see the target. I like the 3x9 EFR and the 4x12AO thin duplex.

Frankly, I don't think the CZ would be a considerable improvement over a Remington 581. Maybe you could save up and flat out buy the CZ and test it against the Remington instead of dumping it...

Unless you are very skilled at refinishing rifles, I would just rub on a coat of wax and continue to take care of the Remington- any modification of the original finish is going to decrease the value.

Keep us informed.