Old accurate 22lr autoloader

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mtlucas0311

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I'm not really into Rimfire rifles (I primarily shoot bullseye and service rifle) but I've been shooting some CMP Rimfire Sporter matches lately and am thinking about picking up a new "O" class rifle or two. I'm not at all interested in another 10/22, or anything modern for that matter. What old (50's to 70's) auto loading 22's have you found to be the most accurate. I'll use the Marlin model 60 as a solid basis as that's what I'm using now and have had very good results with. I've been looking at the Remington 522 BDL, looks nice and has nicer sights than my Marlin. Anybody shoot one regularly?

Mike.
 
The 10/22 has been around since the 70's. I have one made in 1974 the is a tack driver. Some designs stand the test of time.
 
I have a Browning Semi Auto that's very accurate as is an older Remington Speedmaster made under the Browning patent - loads through the buttstock, bottom eject, takedown, etc.
 
Recently my neighbor dragged over an old Remington Model 550-1 with the innards in a brown paper bag. Someone took it apart and couldn't get it together. :) I cleaned the rifle up and took it down my basement to test it. While 35 feet is hardly much that rifle drilled the target. Surprise me as the trigger is nothing to get excited about.

I liked the rifle so much I wanted one. Unique in that it uses a floating chamber and easily shoots 22 Short, 22 Long and 22 Long Rifle. Something we don't see much of in a 22 semi-auto rifle. Friend of mine owns Northfield Gun in Northfield, Ohio and I stopped at his shop. Jim has a mountain of used stuff and plenty of 22s from cheap to I can't believe it cost that much. I found two, one with beautiful wood but crap metal and one with crap wood and real nice metal. He laughed and sold me both for $150 out the door. I dragged my new found rifles home, cleaned them up and swapped parts.

I have shot several Remington Model 552™ Speedmasters and really like those also. They carry a higher price tag but are great shooters based on my shooting a few. I have seen a few sweet ones in the $500 neighborhood, give or take.

Ron
 
My Winchester 490 shoots very well. It is full sized for adults, has good sights and the trigger is a little heavy but breaks clean. I have been told that parts are not to be found, but I'll shoot it until it dies.

I have had a couple of Marlin 60's that shot good but , like already stated, the sights are a bad joke.
 
Not sure if maybe they just appear small, do the Winchester and Brownings "feel" small when shouldered?

I think the sights on the 552 are better than the 550-1. I did read that the 550 was a more robust gun, do you agree?
 
Look around for a Mossberg 151/152 series. There are several models and sub variations. From full stock with receiver sight to compact carbine. I have "many" and they are great old style rifles. They generally will out shoot a generic, stock, boring 10/22.
 
Not sure if maybe they just appear small, do the Winchester and Brownings "feel" small when shouldered?
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No, the a browning SA-22 has a full size stock, and fit most anyone perfectly.

I've never met anyone who didn't fall in love after shooting one.

They are exceptionally accurate, very easy to take apart for cleaning, and 100% reliable.

But much as I love them, they were never intended to be match rifles.

Still, for 'Sporter class', they would certainly hold their own.

On another note.
About 5 years ago I had a Marlin 39A lever-action come through to shop for a detail cleaning.

Someone in the past had mounted Redfield aperture Target sights on it.
It was a one hole rifle testing it in my basement.

rc
 
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Rimfire Sporter is kind of like service rifle in that the rifle only has to be "so accurate" to be on a level playing field as everything else. The same target is used for the entire match and has an X ring the size of a nickel. If it can hold the X ring at 50 yards that's all it takes. My model 60 can do it without much trouble which is why I'm using that as a benchmark.

The Weatherby MKXXII looks really nice too, any experience with one?
 
mtlucas0311 said:
Not sure if maybe they just appear small, do the Winchester and Brownings "feel" small when shouldered?

I think the sights on the 552 are better than the 550-1. I did read that the 550 was a more robust gun, do you agree?
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I would agree to that, even with my limited time with a 522 BDL. The rear sights are nothing to get excited about. Funny as the one I repaired for the neighbor's friend was using a small ground nail as a rear sight elevator. :) Actually pretty slick and I replaced it with a good elevator. The 550 is robust and the difference between a 550 and 550-1 is the latter went to a single extractor. Keeping in mind, the 550 is not an expensive or high end rifle.

Ron
 
You've seen the model 60's rear sight, right!!! LoL! I made it a little more usable by deepening the tiny notch in the rear blade with a small, thin cut off disk in my Dremel. A little sight black and it's at least similar to the Bo-Mars on my leg gun, you really only can do so much though.
 
My Weatherby XXII auto is a nice rifle. I have not pushed it hard enough to see how it would perform at CMP Sporter, I usually shot my 54 sporter with the extra time allowed a manually operated repeater in rapid fire.
 
Many a squirrel has felt the wrath of my Winchester 77. It is plenty accurate and a good size gun for adult shooters.
 
If you find a nice Winchester 74, they are pretty good rifles. Used for home guard and some were used as sniper rifles by commando's in WW 2. I have one that was run over back in the 50's. If was shot enough that the trigger was worn out. After some minor repairs and a new trigger it is up and running and shoots very well. Not as accurate as my CZ 452, but what is. Probably give or take as good as your model 60. It is better than my Marlin 795. About dime size or a little more at 25 yards.
I recently shot a match that I won, the guy in second was shooting an old stock 10/22. The older ones were very good.
 
Warning beware of new Remingtons i bought a 572 pump 22 in march 2015. it went to 2 warranty repair centers over 3 months, it was giving light firing pin strikes. The 552 and the 572 are very similar. if you are going to use open sights they both now come with REm Hi-powered rifle sights that are big and blocky and will cover the whole squirrel up at 25 yds!! I put scopes on my 22 so it is not a problem for me.

if i were going to buy a new 22 auto it would be a Browning SA-22, these run about $600 the REm 552 and 572 are $550 ish new. The Browning is a premium product built to last and is the most accurate 22 in my arsenal of about 10- 22 rifles. i mounted a Leupold 2x7x 40 Var -x 1 on it and it is a rodent killing machine it likes CCI mini mags.

i have a 550-1 Rem bought new in 1963 or so. it is a very nice rifle but needs cleaning after a few hundred rounds. it is accurate but not like that browning SA-22.

CZ makes good products they make a 22 auto but i have no experience with that model. I have a CZ527 in 223 that is a tack driver.

Incidentally i bought that 527 and the BA-22 on RC Models recommendation!!and am very happy that i followed his advice!!!

FYI :lots more info on 22s at Rimfire Central forum.

Good luck,

Bull
 
"The 10/22 has been around since the 70's. I have one made in 1974 the is a tack driver. Some designs stand the test of time."


I just picked up a Ruger 50th anniversary 10/22 that I stocked and sighted like an M1 carbine. But 1964 was the birth year of the 10/22, not 70's.
 
Anschutz model 520 or 525 gets my vote.
I have a cheap Tasco red dot on mine for my wife to shoot and at 25 meters, I can shoot 10-round ragged holes in the target.
 
Lots of love for the old Winchesters, I may have to see if I know somebody with one and try to get them out to the next match and take it for a spin. I still need to dig up an old 552 as well.

There is very little chance I'd buy a new rifle for open sight class. I don't have a lot of interest in new rifles. They just don't appeal to me like rifles from the 50's, 60's, and 70's. I really do feel that time period was the golden age for target guns. I can't bash them, I shot a 593 at Perry this year with a Remington 597 I bought on sale for $100 pry 7 years ago and never shot until now. I just like old steel and wood guns.
 
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