The local Academy has a Marlin 60 (the gun I learned to shoot using) for $150. Remington 597s are available for $199 and Ruger 10/22 for $209. I think any of them would be a better investment that an old Nylon 66. While it may have some attraction as a "curiosity", I still wouldn't pay more for it than I would have to pay to get a comparable rifle new.
Nylon 66 Worth It?
- Thread starter Panzerschwein
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351 WINCHESTER
Member
I don't know how much a nylon 66 is worth in that condition, but I do know they are the most reliable, trouble fee semi auto .22's ever made. Remington told their engineers to come up with a new .22 that would function under just about any condition anyone could throw at it. My first nylon was bought new in the late 60's. I shot the snot out of it, mostly with Remington's famous golden bullet. Other than a few duds, and a few failures to fire due to crappy ammo, the gun never failed. That was my dedicated truck gun for almost 20 years and I never cleaned it. The only fault I can find with the design is that it does not scope well. The barrel is not rigid with the receiver and changes in pressure to the barrel or forearm will change poi. I'll never forget the first time I bought a box of Stingers when they first came out. That was a real game changer. They would shoot clean thru a hand tossed quarter.
Old Shooter
Member
I had one when they sold for $49.99 if that says anything about the timeline. Mine ran great, no problems at all. Traded it for something some years later but don't remember just what for. Numrich lists most parts for it as still available so browse thru and pick up whatever you think you might need, or don't. My experience with them is you won't need anything if it is running well now. (I would buy it if I could talk them down a bit just for the piece of firearms history. They were plastic when plastic wasn't cool.)
kBob
Member
Once again THR time out got a long kBob post/novelette.
Anyhow I never found any Remington Nylon 66 to be a Jam-o-matic.
I do not doubt others experiences, I just have not had that experience myself or known anyone personally that has had such bad experiences.
In my experience, including shooting them on an indo 50 foot range with multiple shooters from a college rifle team they are not as accurate as say a Marlin Model 60 or even 10/22. They were more accurate than CObray .22 adaptors fired in a host of M-16A1 rifles though.
I have wondered but lacked patience to find out if varying the tension on the barrel holding screw (It tightens a yoke that holds the 66 barrel in the stock) might tune the 66 some what as it can on some traditional guns.
I did have some issues with a CBC GR8 copy from Brazil ( I guess that is really southern Mexico ;-) ) that WAS a jam-o-matic. I striped it down to see why and the ejector was completely missing. I took the ejector from a Nylon 66 I had and placed it in the GR8 and it ran like a top. Ordered a new ejector from Numerich (paid more for postage and handling than the part) replaced the first in its original rifle and the CBC GR8 now goes bang and feeds itself....but is less accurate than the Nylon 66 with every ammo I have tried.
Part of the accuracy problems MUST be that the rear sight and scope rails are mounted on that removable sheet metal cover. Once saw a Nylon that the rear sight area of the cover was snapped off on and tried to buy it to try fixing a rear sight on the barrel itself. Shop would not budge on the price though which was high if the gun had been pristeen.
I wish the rear sigh had a bigger screw/slot on the windage adjustment.
I rather like the Browning style "load through the butt" magazine as I never end up pointing the muzzle at my face while reloading with that. Loads very fast if you have prepoured loading tubes of anysort available as a kid we used sections of TV antenna folded shut on one end, drilled through on the other and a bobby pin shoved through the holes. You could go for the 14 but I found ones just long enough for seven traveled better. Today I have some old Whammo brand plastic tubes and some aluminum arrow shafts for the same.
-kBob
Anyhow I never found any Remington Nylon 66 to be a Jam-o-matic.
I do not doubt others experiences, I just have not had that experience myself or known anyone personally that has had such bad experiences.
In my experience, including shooting them on an indo 50 foot range with multiple shooters from a college rifle team they are not as accurate as say a Marlin Model 60 or even 10/22. They were more accurate than CObray .22 adaptors fired in a host of M-16A1 rifles though.
I have wondered but lacked patience to find out if varying the tension on the barrel holding screw (It tightens a yoke that holds the 66 barrel in the stock) might tune the 66 some what as it can on some traditional guns.
I did have some issues with a CBC GR8 copy from Brazil ( I guess that is really southern Mexico ;-) ) that WAS a jam-o-matic. I striped it down to see why and the ejector was completely missing. I took the ejector from a Nylon 66 I had and placed it in the GR8 and it ran like a top. Ordered a new ejector from Numerich (paid more for postage and handling than the part) replaced the first in its original rifle and the CBC GR8 now goes bang and feeds itself....but is less accurate than the Nylon 66 with every ammo I have tried.
Part of the accuracy problems MUST be that the rear sight and scope rails are mounted on that removable sheet metal cover. Once saw a Nylon that the rear sight area of the cover was snapped off on and tried to buy it to try fixing a rear sight on the barrel itself. Shop would not budge on the price though which was high if the gun had been pristeen.
I wish the rear sigh had a bigger screw/slot on the windage adjustment.
I rather like the Browning style "load through the butt" magazine as I never end up pointing the muzzle at my face while reloading with that. Loads very fast if you have prepoured loading tubes of anysort available as a kid we used sections of TV antenna folded shut on one end, drilled through on the other and a bobby pin shoved through the holes. You could go for the 14 but I found ones just long enough for seven traveled better. Today I have some old Whammo brand plastic tubes and some aluminum arrow shafts for the same.
-kBob
Bush Pilot
Member
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- 2,401
Good luck finding that much .22 ammo these days LOL
351 WINCHESTER
Member
I remember reading that article when I was a kid. That was a factor in buying my first nylon. As I recall he hired 2 or 3 boys to reload the three rifles that he used. The wooden blocks were a little over 2" square (2x2x2). The secret is in the toss!
Almost twenty years ago, when my grandfather passed, my uncle gave me Grandpa's Seneca Green Nylon 66 with the following brief story.
"Your Grandpa Hated this gun. When your Grandma gave it to him a long time ago, he graciously accepted it and treated it like a prized possession. Which it was since it came from her. But, he always thought a gun should be wood and steel."
I shoot the gun occasionally, fondly remembering Grandpa. It does shoot well, reliable and accurate. For a gun he hated, he sure took good care of it. But that's my Grandpa, even a gift that wasn't what he wanted should still be treasured because of the thought behind it.
For some more info on the Nylon 66 line, I found this article from American Rifleman's website a few years ago.
"Your Grandpa Hated this gun. When your Grandma gave it to him a long time ago, he graciously accepted it and treated it like a prized possession. Which it was since it came from her. But, he always thought a gun should be wood and steel."
I shoot the gun occasionally, fondly remembering Grandpa. It does shoot well, reliable and accurate. For a gun he hated, he sure took good care of it. But that's my Grandpa, even a gift that wasn't what he wanted should still be treasured because of the thought behind it.
For some more info on the Nylon 66 line, I found this article from American Rifleman's website a few years ago.
I still have a model 77 that uses a clip. I wanted a 66 but could never find one. My first nylon was a 10c with a clip. The family is a unique rifle even today. The clip fed rifles are very fussy on ammo, use the wrong stuff and they will jam.
They were never accurate with a scope and best using the iron sites. I took quite a few squirrels over the years with mine.
Some like these guns and others don't. They're ok for short range shooting, I can attest to that.
They were never accurate with a scope and best using the iron sites. I took quite a few squirrels over the years with mine.
Some like these guns and others don't. They're ok for short range shooting, I can attest to that.
kBob
Member
joed,
Are clips for the 77 available these days and did they ever make a high cap clip (not that I would want one, just curious)?
A friend/shop owner once offered me a deal, a real good one actually, on a host of the Nylon series rifles. I thought the little butter knife handled single shot bolt action would make a great rifle for a private plane. Unfortunately a college student living on GI bill and handouts couldn't scape up the money.
Anyone have a picture of the whole family?
-kBob
Are clips for the 77 available these days and did they ever make a high cap clip (not that I would want one, just curious)?
A friend/shop owner once offered me a deal, a real good one actually, on a host of the Nylon series rifles. I thought the little butter knife handled single shot bolt action would make a great rifle for a private plane. Unfortunately a college student living on GI bill and handouts couldn't scape up the money.
Anyone have a picture of the whole family?
-kBob
OP
OP
Panzerschwein
member
Thanks all!
With luck, I'll have my Nylon 66 by the end of the week. I think I got a good price on it at $250. I know some wouldn't ever pay that for a plastic gun, preferring milled and blued carbon steel and oiled American walnut instead. But, I have always been drawn to them ever since I heard about them. I am drawn to kind of unique and oddball guns and am not in the age range were "wood n' steel" is the most important thing about a gun. I realize that many plastic guns can be good.
When I found the one at Cabelas the other day and examined it, then picked it up and put it to my shoulder, it pretty much sealed the deal. I went home and found one on Gun Broker for a much better price. It should be arriving by the end of the week. I've been studying on how to just get it apart enough to clean it (won't go any further) and I have a can of "synthetic safe" gun scrubber and a .22 bore snake coming from Amazon. God willing, I'll get the little gun clean and hit the range before next week.
Look forward to a range report!!
With luck, I'll have my Nylon 66 by the end of the week. I think I got a good price on it at $250. I know some wouldn't ever pay that for a plastic gun, preferring milled and blued carbon steel and oiled American walnut instead. But, I have always been drawn to them ever since I heard about them. I am drawn to kind of unique and oddball guns and am not in the age range were "wood n' steel" is the most important thing about a gun. I realize that many plastic guns can be good.
When I found the one at Cabelas the other day and examined it, then picked it up and put it to my shoulder, it pretty much sealed the deal. I went home and found one on Gun Broker for a much better price. It should be arriving by the end of the week. I've been studying on how to just get it apart enough to clean it (won't go any further) and I have a can of "synthetic safe" gun scrubber and a .22 bore snake coming from Amazon. God willing, I'll get the little gun clean and hit the range before next week.
Look forward to a range report!!
kBob
Member
If you have trouble getting that snake in that itty bitty ejection port,
Loosening the screw under the mid stock allows the barel to be pulled out to allow cleaning from the rear. Trick to putting it back in is doing so with the gun top down.
Just thought you might like to know.
-kBob
Loosening the screw under the mid stock allows the barel to be pulled out to allow cleaning from the rear. Trick to putting it back in is doing so with the gun top down.
Just thought you might like to know.
-kBob
kbob, The clip fed models came with 5 shot clips and there was a 10 shot available. I picked the last one up in 2005 but would bet you can still find them. I never heard of more then 10 shot clips sold for these.
Still have my 77 and doubt it has more then 200 rounds through it. Wish I'd kept the 10c too but sold it in a moment of stupidity.
Never figured out why I couldn't find a 66. However, I do recall at some carnivals they had model 66s that fired 22 shorts. That was back in the 60s.
Still have my 77 and doubt it has more then 200 rounds through it. Wish I'd kept the 10c too but sold it in a moment of stupidity.
Never figured out why I couldn't find a 66. However, I do recall at some carnivals they had model 66s that fired 22 shorts. That was back in the 60s.
tark
Member
The local Scheels near me had one NIB with all original papers and the original bill of sale. The gun and box were so pristine they looked like the day they left the factory. They jokingly decided to put in their "premium Gun Room" and slapped a $799 price on it.
It sold in two days.
It sold in two days.
OP
OP
Panzerschwein
member
Guys my Nylon 66 arrived:
MY GOD IS IT EVER SWEET!!!
It was raining down here, so I stuffed some shells in the butt and ran down to the creek and popper off 14 rounds and my little steel gong. Fed and fired all of the Remington Golden Bullet 36 grain hollow points perfectly and hit the gong every time!!! I wish it weren't raining otherwise I'd a put more rounds through it.
It handles every bit as good as the one at Cabelas and was about half the price. It's in nice shape, made in 1969. Boy is this ever JUST what I was looking for!!! I can't wait to shoot it some more!!! Looks forward to the full range report soon!!!
MY GOD IS IT EVER SWEET!!!
It was raining down here, so I stuffed some shells in the butt and ran down to the creek and popper off 14 rounds and my little steel gong. Fed and fired all of the Remington Golden Bullet 36 grain hollow points perfectly and hit the gong every time!!! I wish it weren't raining otherwise I'd a put more rounds through it.
It handles every bit as good as the one at Cabelas and was about half the price. It's in nice shape, made in 1969. Boy is this ever JUST what I was looking for!!! I can't wait to shoot it some more!!! Looks forward to the full range report soon!!!
CapnMac
Member
There is a youtube video, Nylon 66 Complete Disassembly, which not only shows the field strip, but also taking it down to ever y part out of the thing. Far more informative than the owner's manual.
A (now late) buddy of mine bought one, and I bought another about a week later from the same shop. The serials were within 200 of one another. Mine would shoot most anything, but has always "liked" Winchester plain round point best. My buddy's only "liked" Eley 10X (ouch)--to shoot the same group size.
Mine still shoots 1/2 minute of coke can all day long.
A (now late) buddy of mine bought one, and I bought another about a week later from the same shop. The serials were within 200 of one another. Mine would shoot most anything, but has always "liked" Winchester plain round point best. My buddy's only "liked" Eley 10X (ouch)--to shoot the same group size.
Mine still shoots 1/2 minute of coke can all day long.
Phaedrus/69
Member
Congrats! Like that '66 I was also made in 1969! I'd love to nab a specimen that nice at that price.
I'd love to nab a specimen that nice at that price.
birdshot8's
Member
Cooldill, that rifle looks to be in perfect shape. My buddy had one when we were kids, I believe he paid 49 dollars for his. I do not remember it ever jamming, we were kids and shells were 50 cents a box. I do remember making an unbelievable shot on a duck, during a camping trip. We were poling a small and leaky jon boat across a swamp. When we looked for the gun it was in the bottom of the boat. I drained the water by holding it barrel down for a few seconds. The unbelievable part of the shot was I was aiming at the big part of the duck but somehow hit the duck in the head. Upon retrieving our duck, I told my buddy I had hit right where I was aiming, and complimented his gun by saying it sure shot straight.
rodregier
Member
I've read that the Nylon 66 is legendary in level of difficulty for full disassembly/reassembly.
That may color your choices in buying a heavily-used unit.
(Which would be most of the remaining units available).
That may color your choices in buying a heavily-used unit.
(Which would be most of the remaining units available).
351 WINCHESTER
Member
These rifles are easy to take apart for normal cleaning. Take off the dust cover (receiver and barrel along with the ejector and don't go any farther.
kBob
Member
CBC GR8
No good pictures I am afraid, just the one.
Pulled the CBC gun out of the safe this PM and gave it the once over.
First the "GR8" designation appears no where on the gun I could find but that is how I saw them advertised by FIE for a bit and the tag on the gun when bought said that.
The serial number where it appears on the cover and under the muzzle begins with the letters GR and the letters under the barrel are white filled.
The stock seems pretty much Nylon 66 with some odd fitting, high in some places and low and others and might not be the same chemical mix as the US guns.
The stock is a glass black with white lines and diamond. The barrel and cover are blued.
The front sight is black without a white block on the face of the post.
The magazine tube seems a bit long so that when the follower tube is inserted and locked its thumb piece sticks out slightly beyond the butt of the rifle.
But look at the attached picture. The trigger is not a plastic lump. It appears to be steel and the trigger pull feels better than any Nylon I have ever picked up. I am tempted to swap a US barrel into the gun to see if the Brazillian barrel is to blame for the less accuracy than the squish trigger (by comparison) US guns. Might be an interesting project. Or better yet maybe installing the Brazillian trigger assembly in the US rifle might make the US rifle even better.
Can I get a "HMMM"?
BTW the serial number is on the cover just out of the left of this picture as it is on serial numbered US 66s.
-kBob
No good pictures I am afraid, just the one.
Pulled the CBC gun out of the safe this PM and gave it the once over.
First the "GR8" designation appears no where on the gun I could find but that is how I saw them advertised by FIE for a bit and the tag on the gun when bought said that.
The serial number where it appears on the cover and under the muzzle begins with the letters GR and the letters under the barrel are white filled.
The stock seems pretty much Nylon 66 with some odd fitting, high in some places and low and others and might not be the same chemical mix as the US guns.
The stock is a glass black with white lines and diamond. The barrel and cover are blued.
The front sight is black without a white block on the face of the post.
The magazine tube seems a bit long so that when the follower tube is inserted and locked its thumb piece sticks out slightly beyond the butt of the rifle.
But look at the attached picture. The trigger is not a plastic lump. It appears to be steel and the trigger pull feels better than any Nylon I have ever picked up. I am tempted to swap a US barrel into the gun to see if the Brazillian barrel is to blame for the less accuracy than the squish trigger (by comparison) US guns. Might be an interesting project. Or better yet maybe installing the Brazillian trigger assembly in the US rifle might make the US rifle even better.
Can I get a "HMMM"?
BTW the serial number is on the cover just out of the left of this picture as it is on serial numbered US 66s.
-kBob
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Mosin Bubba
Member
- Joined
- Jul 5, 2012
- Messages
- 1,936
You got a good gun at a good price. I bet you'll love it.
Nylons are no more difficult to disassemble and reassemble than any other firearm. But, the person working on it needs to know what they are doing.
Think of it this way, if you aren't a cardiac surgeon you would attempt open heart surgery on your family. If you don't have the skills necessary you don't rebuild a Hemi.
Think of it this way, if you aren't a cardiac surgeon you would attempt open heart surgery on your family. If you don't have the skills necessary you don't rebuild a Hemi.
OP
OP
Panzerschwein
member
I did not find the basic field strip hard at all.
You just unscrew two screws, remove bolt handle, take off cover, take off barrel, and the bolt comes out then you pull the trigger and the striker comes out. Nothing hard about it.
You just unscrew two screws, remove bolt handle, take off cover, take off barrel, and the bolt comes out then you pull the trigger and the striker comes out. Nothing hard about it.
Last edited:
expat_alaska
Member
I read your range report:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=810050
No surprises for me there.
I am not surprised by this gentleman's comment either. Seems to concur with your viewpoint, and mine.
Years ago my BIL had a JC Higgins .22 autoloader (have no clue as to the model or the manufacturer) that would not function after his disassembly/reassembly.
I took it apart and after about 20 minutes of puzzlement I realized that one of the bolt-actuating stamped-steel parts could actually be installed upside-down and the rifle reassembled, only to act as a magazine fed single-shot. Corrected, it ran like a champ.
But, I digress.
Back in the day my CBC GR8 was fed a diet of Remington standard velocity 40 gr LR and Federal high velocity 37 gr HP LR rounds, several bricks worth when a brick sold for $7.50 (which was then outrageous because we could buy them in the late 60's for $5.00/brick ).
I, for one, am glad you are enjoying it. Kudos on your find!
Jim
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=810050
No surprises for me there.
I am not surprised by this gentleman's comment either. Seems to concur with your viewpoint, and mine.
Years ago my BIL had a JC Higgins .22 autoloader (have no clue as to the model or the manufacturer) that would not function after his disassembly/reassembly.
I took it apart and after about 20 minutes of puzzlement I realized that one of the bolt-actuating stamped-steel parts could actually be installed upside-down and the rifle reassembled, only to act as a magazine fed single-shot. Corrected, it ran like a champ.
But, I digress.
Back in the day my CBC GR8 was fed a diet of Remington standard velocity 40 gr LR and Federal high velocity 37 gr HP LR rounds, several bricks worth when a brick sold for $7.50 (which was then outrageous because we could buy them in the late 60's for $5.00/brick
). I, for one, am glad you are enjoying it. Kudos on your find!
Jim
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