Whats up with a Nylon 66?

[Russ Jackson]

Am I missing something? I go to a gun show and people are asking 4 and 5 hundred dollars for a plastic 22. They sold for less than $80 and were considered a budget priced 22. I had several of them over the years and they shot good but nothing special. I can think of a lot better ways to spend $500 on a 22. Why have they become collectible? They had to make them by the millions. Should I run out and buy one before they hit a $1000? You can buy a Browning take down for about the same price.

 

[CountryUgly]

Cause folks looked at them like you are just now and said it's a cheap plastic rifle and proceeded to abuse, break and toss them away. Kinda looked at like a throw away rifle. Since the tons of them that were produced were treated this way there isn't a whole heck of alot of the "good examples" left and they have come to command a high price. Glad mine was taken care of

 

[AlexanderA]

The Nylon 66 has achieved a cult status. I don't understand it myself, but who can account for taste?

 

[Sniper66]

I have asked the same question. It is a mystery to me, but then some people collect beanie babies...go figure.

 

[Naybor]

Cause they were the first of the synthetic stock rifles. Also, they were very reliable. Back in the 60s Remington hired a trick rifle performer who shot at at over 100,000 2 1/2 inch blocks with a brace of six Nylon 66 rifles ~ with only 8 misses. He had 5 people reloading the 5 while he used the sixth.

This was 100,000 shots with 6 rifles with NO malfunctions.

Now, I do really wish I had mine back. It also spent a few years with me ~ with no malfunctions.

Yup, It's now a classic, and deserves to be.

Edit: Just found this: http://www.chuckhawks.com/rem_nylon_rifles.htm

The shooter's name was Tom Frye ~ shot 100,010 with only 6 misses~

 

[USMC8541]

It was the most fun rifle I ever had. Easy to shoot and easy to load

 

[WNTFW]

I have one or 50% of one. My brother & I co-own it. It is a great lightweight .22lr for women & younger kids not used to shooting. Some of the collector value of it is nostalgia. It won't do anything for me I can't do with another rifle.

One pet peeve of mine is the windage on the rear sight uses a tiny flat bladed screwdriver. The Nylon 66 could be described as low maintenance.

 

[mac66]

I think I am at fault. About 15 years ago I started collecting them and compiling every thing I could find about them. About 10 years ago I started a yahoo group and about 7 years ago I moved everything over to and started www.nylonrifles.com as a way to document that information in one place.

People my age got interested in them again because of the nostalgia factor and they became popular. Heck, I can't even afford to collect them anymore.

And yeah, the whole reason I collected them is because they were cheap, POS plastic rifles. Who'd a thunk they would become so popular?

If you do happen to have one, go over to www.nylonrifles.com. We have Field Service Manuals, assembly manuals, lots of articles, even a video on how to assemble them and a forum.

 

[urbaneruralite]

The list of tang safety, tube fed, semi-auto .22s is pretty short. Also, its a good .22.

 

[gbran]

I still have mine. Dad gave it to me new in the early 60's.

 

[Deltaboy1984]

They are farmer proof tough! My uncle had one in Mohawk brown and another in Black. They were a blast to shoot! He lubed them with ATF.

 

[Pacsd]

How lucky can a guy get? Year and a 1/2 ago a guy GAVE me a Mohawk 10c. It had been laying around his place, but he had no use for it as he was not a gun guy. Besides his ex fathr in law gave it to him NIB. Later I learned he was kind of a ball card collector. I gave him several cards. One was an early Al Kaline.

 

[browneu]

It was my first rifle. I'm not sure what happened to it as I left it when I moved out. Grandparents are gone and so is the rifle. It brings back some good memories.

Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2

 

[elkdomBC]

have used my 66 for many years, fired 1000;s of rounds, no problems, it is still in near mint condition,, wouldn't sell it for $500, what would replace it ?

also have a Plastic stock semi-auto .22 Cal Armalite AR7 survival rifle in pristine condition and I wouldn't sell it for $500 neither .

both keepers IMHO

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

Remington designed it from the ground up to be the most reliable .22 semi auto under the harsest of conditions. I got my first one after reading about Remington's trick shooter who shot about 100,000 hand thrown 2 1/2" wooden blocks with 6 misses as I recall. No jams. Those guns really shined when cci brought out their stinger ammo in the mid 1970's. I went from shooting junk Remington ammo to outstanding stinger ammo. I know the guns are cheap looking, but they are light and they work. I had one in my truck for at least 2 decades and never had a problem. They are about as bullet proof as a gun can get.

The only negative that I have found is they don't lend themselves to scope mounting due to the receiver not ridgid with the barrel. Slight pressure to the forearm will shift your poa all over the place.

Personally I would not pay what they are asking for these days, but back in the day they were cheap just like glocks.

 

[kBob]

I keep hoping that the "last models" made in Brazil will bring the money the originals do.

I wanted a 66 for Christmas in 1966 but my Dad saved 5 bucks by getting me a Savage instead.....so if we ever have time travel I might see about dropping and extra fin in the candy dish on his dresser around the first of December 1966.

-kBob

 

[benEzra]

They are collectors' items, very reliable, and (as mentioned) the first of the polymer-receiver guns.

The only downsides are (IMO) the lack of a detachable magazine, and the lack of a solid base for a scope (the receiver cover tends to shift under recoil unless the scope is very light).

FWIW, I had a slightly scratched 1966 150th anniversary commemorative edition that had been my great-uncle's, and sold it a couple years ago for $800. I saw examples with their original boxes going for $1200+. The plainer models don't fetch those prices but I'd still not be surprised to see $400-$500 for a rack-grade model.

 

[Sav .250]

Your right about price. Those puppies command top dollar. Especially, if in great shape.
I see-um at my Gun Shows and wonder ,what`s the big deal. Some where along the line they`ve gathered a following. If your thinking of buying one,save your money.

 

[Carl N. Brown]

I go to a gun show and people are asking 4 and 5 hundred dollars for a plastic 22. They sold for less than $80 and were considered a budget priced 22.

Using the Wikipedia inflation calculator, US $1 in 1960 had the buying power of about $7.50 in 2010. Adjusted for inflation, a rifle that sold for $80 in 1960 would cost $600 today.

My allowance in 1960 was $2 a week. That easily paid for a double feature of "The Giant Gila Monster" and "The Killer Shrews" plus popcorn, two large Reeses peanut butter cups, softdrink at the Rialto Theatre plus the latest issue of Famous Monsters of Filmland magazine at the newstand across the street.

I can remember Marlin 336C advertized at 68.88 (what I paid for my first one, unfortunately sold to make a house payment during hard times in 1984.)

That said, I bought a Nylon 66 in 1996 for $50 at a pawn shop. It needed minor repair (somehow the previous owner lost the extractor and its spring, $13 in parts from the local gunsmith). It has proven to be very reliable and accurate, and will often be the the only gun I take on a trip to the mountains.

 

[lovethosesooners]

One of my lessons learned-don't sell my guns or I end up regretting it later!

Had the black/chrome 1977 model, fun very low maintenance .22 (in fact, not sure I EVER cleaned mine and it never missed a beat!)

Think I paid less than $120 when I bought it new......

 

[BCCL]

I had the external magazine "Nylon 77" version, wished many times I had not sold it, great guns.

If you think the semi-auto versions are collectable, try finding the bolt action and lever action Remington Nylons!!

 

[JohnBT]

I bought a Nylon 76 lever off an auction site about 10 years ago and gave it to my uncle (long story beginning with him giving me a Marlin Mountie 50 years ago.)

I paid too much for it - almost $450 - but it was a shooter in very good condition and he'd been looking for one.

Before I forget, thanks for starting the nylonrifles site.

John

 

[kBob]

Well if we are gonna do "If I knew then what I know now...." in 1979 a gunsmith friend offered me a 10,11,12,and 76 for a total of $100 and promised they would be worth "something" in the future. The were all visably used and I was a college Student about to take a commission at the time so poor and worrying about what I was gonna do with all the "stuff" I already had when I went to live with Uncle Sugar.

Wish I had decided to eat more Mac and cheese that month......

I have informed Dad that his 66 in the box with decal on the stock with all papers belongs to his grandson or I will dig him up if he dies before he gives it to The Boy.

-kBob

 

[Steve H]

Still have the one my dad bought me back around 1961. Great fun gun. I sold one a few years ago at one of our garage sales. Butt stock was busted in half. Shoulda kept it. got a whooping $125 for it.

 

[JTW Jr.]

I have one a friend gave me a few years ago... still havent fired it. Might be time to clean it up and see how it runs.