Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Rimfires In Defense Of Gunshows - Remington 541-T

You know on second thought I don't think I will defend gunshows again here like I usually do, I will just relay how happy I was that I got up early Saturday morning loaded up my stuff and two mature (old!) gun-nuts and headed north to the Whitehall, Montana gunshow.
We got there just at the opening and I sped around the small show coming to a screeching halt at a table with a MINT condition Remington 541-T heavy barrel laying on it!
The price was $425.00 and that would have been fair enough but I just had to haggle.
I ended up getting the nifty little Rifle for $360.00 cash and the table holder threw in a ten shot magazine (to go with the factory five shotter) and a gun case to boot.
The trigger on this 541-T is right at perfect and rather light.
That should work perfect for what I have in mind for it.
Gopher Hunting!
I plan on mounting a Leupold 6x18 variable with A/O on it.
I stopped at my LGS on the way back from the show and ordered a set of Leupold bases for it.
I have plenty of rings on hand already.
I was so excited with my find there at the show that I let a Leupold M-8 straight 6 power scope slip by me ($170.00!)!
I have shot a number of Remington 541's over the years and they all have shot well.
I will have to train myself to learn to live with the cheap, funky plastic magazines again though!
The barrel code indicates January 1994 manufacture - hard to imagine how a 20 1/2 year old gun has stayed in such pristine condition for so long?
I will let you all know how this 541-T shoots as soon as the bases get here.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

smokin good price, congrats on a nice find.

FyrepowrX: Thanks for that, and I was just thinking (I so often think dreadful thoughts - I don't know why?) that I am sure this Rifle is going to shoot best with the Winchester 40 grain Power-Points (hollow-point gray boxes)!
The reason that this is a bad thought is because I have NOT seen any of this ammunition on a store shelf in going on 24 months now. And I don't have much left (1,200 rounds or so).
I really like this ammo in several of my heavy barrel 22's.
Thanks again.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

One of my favorite rimfires of all time. I think I have 5 or 6 in different variations. Well done on the price and I'm sure it will shoot well. They usually do.

I believe I would go to every show that came to town. 700.00 rifle for 360.00. Sounds like a good deal to me. Hasbeen

You lucky a$$hole. I've had a 541-s since the late 70's and love it. I put a Leupold 3-9 EFR on it a while back.

I can't tell you the number of squirrels that have fallen to it. You must be SOME haggler. You stole that sucker!

No justice! A decent 541T is a quest rifle. And you got it for less than the scope that's on it.. It ain't fair!

But if it had to be someone why not you? Good job!

Nice snag. If I took a wild guess I would say RWS Subsonics or the new Norma Tac-22 will shoot very small holes.

I've walked miles of gun shows. Have not made that good of deal. Hasbeen

A screaming deal. Well done.

My best was a colt coltsman L461 Sako in 223 with a vx3. 3.5x10 for 325...
It was on a table around the corner against the wall where there wasn't much traffic. I couldn't believe it was still there. It is flawless condition too.

I had a 541T. It was a good shooter, but I always felt that the cheesy plastic magazine wasn't worthy of the rest of the gun. I always thought that the steel 500 series Remington magazines should have been incorporated into the design of the 541T. The factory plastic 10 rounder never would work right either.

those plastic mags are about the only thing i didnt care for on the 541's, poor feeding with several brands of ammo from those mags, but the guns sure shoot well!

Sagerat22: Pardon my slow reply I have been up in the high country at Elk camp - I am home now with sore feet and legs.
I am still waiting for the ordered bases so I can put this Rifle to test.
I looked at the magazines again this morning and just marvel at the cheesiness of them!
The last friends 541-T I shot belonged to Ron Kesselring and he has a Weaver 6x20 scope on his (IIRC) and it was a Gopher killing machine.
He asked me to keep an eye out for magazines for him.
He only had the one five shotter.
I have NOT found any as yet but my local gunshop has a 10 shot Remington Model 77 magazine in bubble wrap (new) for $15.00 it looks exactly like the two I have now and I may buy it as a back up once I compare side by side.
I actually think removing the plastic magazine release and just firing the Rifle single shot with no magazine at all would make me feel better.
I wonder if anyone makes a steel magazine for the 541 series (Wiseners?)?
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Rainierrifleco: MAN that was a great deal!
That scope would be about worth that!
I am not to familiar with that Colt Coltsman - is it a sporter weight or Varmint weight barrel.
Sometimes people just move things without researching their worth.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

I have seen talk of someone potentially making steel magazines. But, as far as I know, it hasn't happened. Used 5-shots magazines are going for about $50 on eBay. New 10-shot magazines are $15-20; but, are considered less reliable. I haven't tried it yet; but, I bought a 10-shot one as a back-up and figure I could use it at the range to save the 5-shot for hunting.

Varmintguy.
That coltsman is the L461 salo vixen...only dif from sako was blond wood and the colt medallion in the stock...and yes this is a sporter weight version. Chambered in 223 which is odd as I can only find that rifle in the books chambered in 222 and 222 mag..
This rifle was on a table that a family was mor than likely selling off an estate.. Most of the guns there were right on book value... Bet they didn't find the colt and didn't know it was just made for colt by sako...
Sometimes you just get lucky that's what keeps me going back to the shows..

I saw a 541-T in a LGS today for $799 with a sling and a cheap scope. So, yeah, you got a bargain! Seems to me $360 isn't too much more than I paid for mine when it was new!

I'm told by a rimfire gunsmith that if you are going to use the 10 round mags, don't load them full. 8 rounds loaded helps it work more reliably. Why that is, I have no clue...

I have a cigar box full of 5-round and 10-round mags. They all seem to work the same. It's the age that wears them down.

The Apache (Nylon) 77 mags work just as well.

OSU_Sig: Thanks for that tip!
I will keep it in mind - once Varmint season commences again.
The Leupold bases came in today and I bought them, came home, sure that I had rings on hand but turns out I only had matte finished rings.
Back to town for some Leupold medium gloss rings and now the Rifle has a scope (I switched desires for now to a Weaver KT-15 - straight 15 power) and all lined up well and double bore sighted (with two different bore sighters).
We are hosting 5 German fisherman here at Rancho Varminto tonight so had to help prepare dinner this afternoon.
DEAD CALM here all day - wouldn't you know it!
Will shoot tomorrow unless high winds appear from somewhere.
Thanks again for the partial loading tip.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Rainierrifleco: Thanks for the comeback - I bet that is a SWEET rig!
Enjoy that gunshow find.
I often (twice a year or so) travel from SW Montana to the Puyallup gunshow - I visit relatives and friends whilst out in traffic land!
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Msquared: I recall seeing a new Remington 541-T at the police range that my police guild owned out in the tide flats of Seattle.
The range had an F.F.L. and they would buy pistols and Rifles for sale to members at CHEAP prices.
Anyway the year was approximately 1992 or so and that 541-T Rifle was marked $295.00!
I passed on it and it soon sold.
I bought a Remington 700 PSS in 223 Remington from them instead and it was priced at $335.00 back then.
I wish I had scrimped somehow and bought them both as the 541-T had a VERY nicely figured stock.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

I went ahead and did some shooting with my new 541-T yesterday even though the wind was NOT still.
As I feared, the 541-T "prefferred" the ultra-hard to find Winchester Power-Points in 40 grain configuration over every other hollow-point bullet I tried!
Drat on that, but I am thankful it shot so well and again the trigger was just superb at 2 pounds 2 ounces (now that I got my trigger pull gauge on it) - very consistent and very crisp with NO creep.
Due to air movement I shot groups at 25 yards only yesterday.
The 40 grain Winchester Power-Points made one hole groups at that distance - one of the groups measured .185" for 5 shots there at 25 yards.
The bulk pack Federal hollow-points made groups just at twice that size and the 37 grain Winchester hollow-points were only slightly better than that.
I am going to have to come up with a "source" for the Winchester Power-Points before next spring!
By a giant coincidence into my local gun shop yesterday comes another Remington 541 this one though is the 541-S Custom Sporter model (made in June of 1977). It did not last even 1 hour on the rack as one of my Hunting/gun trading partners bought it on sight at a hair over $500.00 - it is in 95% condition and has an EXCEPTIONAL trigger pull on it!
I have not seen one of these Rifles for sale for a long time and here in short order two of them come along.
Never rains but it pours I guess?
Anyway I am thrilled with the accuracy of the 541-T and determined to find more Winchester Power-Points by next spring.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

VG, Nice find.. I had a light and heavy barreled 541.. Let them both go for some reason.. but they were fine rifles.. I would buy another even at the 500 dollar price.. Mine shot CCI hollow points very well.. I find it interesting you use WW Power Points.. I honestly have never seen much of that ammo around here at ANY TIME!! I had about 1000 rounds I picked up some where, and over the years shot a brick of it.. It was good stuff.
It is one I would like to get a few more bricks of.. We may make a hunting trip back east this year in the late fall... Will watch for some.. IF I CAN REMEMBER LONG ENOUGH, I will pm you if I make a find.. Some time when you have a few minutes, I would like to know some of your favorite shows in Montana.. I have made a couple in Billings.. They were awesome compared to our shows.. I enjoyed just looking even if I didn't buy anything..
Have a good fall..

WyoCoyoteHunter: That Billings gunshow is a good one - I see they are having 4 (four) gunshows there in Billings this year.
I plan on doing the Great Falls show this weekend as its usually well attended and perky.
I can recommend you travel to the annual August Missoula Gunshow (they held their 59th annual show there this August) held at the College, but the Missoula gunshow held at the poorly lit and smallish fairgrounds (October 3rd, 4th and 5th) would probably not be worth your travel and time!
The Butte and Helena gunshows are now smaller than they used to be.
Of recent I travel to gunshows in Washington, Idaho, Oregon and Wyoming (the Winchester show in Cody) as well as all the Montana gunshows I can make.
Thanks for the fall well wishes - I think fall is one of my 4 (four) favorite seasons in Montana - in other words I love all the seasons here in Montana.
This, coming from a human who lived the first 49 years of his life in a region that had ONE season and that was wet and gray year round!
Maybe I should more directly andswer your gunshow question.
I have done gunshows in Montana at Lewistown, Kalispell, Twin Bridges, Dillon, Big Timber, Helena, Great Falls, Bozeman, Whitehall, Anaconda, Wisdom, Wise River, Hamilton, Livingston, Stevensville and Missoula and I have done the best, over the years, at the August Missoula show.
I again think, that show, would be worth your time and expense to travel to.
Enjoy your September/October as well.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

There is just something special about good .22 rifles. Congratulations!

VG, Thanks...

5sdad: I agree with you completely 5sdad.
I do admit to this recent sadness that I endure from time to time nowadays - I literally get the urge to go do some 22 rimfire shooting with one of my "good" 22's and I change my mind because of worries over replacing the munitions I might go through.
I have not as yet tried the humble Remington Golden Bullets (hollow-points) in my new 541-T.
I have about 2,000 of them on hand - maybe they will shoot in my new Gopher Getter (the 541-T)?
Next month will be 2 full years of this rimfire "shortage" situation.
I will be glad when this situation is over.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

I know what you mean. When I get a chance to visit my son, we still go out to the gun club (both members) and shoot .22s along with the centerfires, but there is always that nagging thought about diminishing what has become a non-renewable resource. Best, John

5sdad: This morning I was able to render inert the first Varmint with my new 541-T!
Said Varmint made the mistake of alighting/standing on top of a fence post long enough for me to go to my gun vault room open it up go to my gun safe get my Rifle then go to my loading room and get the appropriate ammo and walk outside to take a hand clamping rest on my house corner.
The shot was a simple one at about 40 - 45 yards - but boy did some black and white feathers fly at the shot.
No more nest robbing from that cretin.
That incident this morning reminded me to relay to you all the difficulty of loading one of my magazines with ammo - I think the opening is out of specs or my ammo is big at their bases?
And on occassion the next loaded round in both of my current magazines jumps up out of its proper position in the magazine with the base of that cartridge pointing upwards and then that round is unable to load into the chamber?
This has happened about 8 or 10 times now out of 150 or so rounds loaded.
These magazines don't show much wear at all but do not work at an fair or acceptable level - I will get some more magazines soon and also open the Model 77 magazine from its bubble wrapper next chance I get and try that one out.
Take the bad with the good I guess?
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Good report - enjoy!

WyoCoyoteHunter: Left Dillon way before sunrise and in a driving rain yesterday for the Great Falls, Montana gunshow.
We got there near the opening bell and spent several fun and interesting hours there before heading to Scheels and then back south to the sport shops in Helena.
I sold several items out of my back pack including ammo, a scope, a fly reel, two knives and a range finder.
Profits from sales way more than paid for my share of the costs.
I did buy a knife and a new in the box Redding 220 Swift "bushing" "neck" type resizing die.
I paid $15.00 for that.
I have NO idea what this die does but for that price I will figure out something to do with it.
Then I found a fellow from Billings was blowing out some 55 grain 22 caliber Nosler Ballistic tips at an asking price of $15.00 a box - I got a bunch of those.
I did bid on two guns and a scope but no luck there.
The show advertises 600 tables and I was gonna count them but was to busy - I would say nearly 20% of the tables were antiques and toys and such but those were even some quality offerings.
I came within an eyelash of buying a wall mounted all original and mint condition crank telephone for $200.00!
The 450 or so gun related tables kept me busy all day!
I did buy a 1977 Weatherby catalog for a pittance and a Handloader issue #3 (with Elmer Keith on the cover in a reclining position shooting one of his 44 Magnum pistols as it rested on his shin) for a dollar!.
There was no reasonably priced 22 rimfire there at the show (and not much of that!) nor was there ANY avaliable in the towns I travelled through.
Lots of quality S&W older revolvers there and MANY nifty old Winchesters and a couple of Colt revolvers - all priced strongly!
I wanted to relay to you that I thought this September Great Falls show is well worth doing.
Good luck if you decide to try it next year.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

I took my 541 out for a spin today, forgot just how accurate it is. Im lucky as the preferred ammo is Fed 510's and I stocked up in 08 before king dick head got in office. Mine is topped with a VX-II 4-12 AO, its also a sporter barrel with 3 action screws. Mine will also give ya a nice first shot flyer, easily fixed by hand loading the 1t round

Passport: I am happy for you and your accurate 541.
I am not familiar though with the "Federal 510's".
Are they a target round or hollow-points?
For many years I used the Leupold 4x12's with the A/O feature on many of my 22 rimfires - great scopes these.
Slowly (sadly) over the years I robbed them off and put them on centerfire Varmint, Antelope and Deer Rifles.
I am also puzzled by your Rifles tendency to "flyer" the first round whenst loaded from the magazine?
Do you have any possible theories as to why that is so?
Do what works - is my motto.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Top round gets tilted up and shaves some lead off when chambered. My 511 does the same thing.

VG, Thanks again.. I may check with you come spring on prospects.. We usually spend time in Mt. during the spring and sometimes in the summer.. Next yr. our travel plans for Aug. should be pretty open.. We are thinking of skipping the Sept. and early Oct. hunts here and doing some bird hunting and fishing in other states.. I have a young golden that is developing in to and outstanding bird dog.. At my age, I am more interested in packing out a couple grouse, than an elk..
We have enough cow seasons, I can probably take an elk on my return.. Thanks for the tips on the gunshows.. Like I said, I loved the Montana shows.. Keep up the good work..

I agree our gunshows have become flea markets.

WyoCoyoteHunter: I do not have a 2,015 Weapons Collectors Society of Montana gunshow calendar as yet but in 2,014 there in Great Falls, Montana our association sponsored a 200 table gunshow in March and then in late April they sponsored a 600 table gunshow at the same venue.
I would expect the same come 2,015.
The Weapons Collectors Society of Montana has a web site under that name and I am sure in a month or two (if not already happened) they will have a 2,015 schedule for your perusal.
"They" say that Montana is the cheapest state in the union for a non-resident to Hunt waterfowl!
I think all you need is a state waterfowl stamp/license and a Federal stamp which most bird Hunters already have.
I am not sure about the Montana non-resident upland bird licensing needs.
Good luck with your dogs this fall.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Fed 510's are a solid 40 grn bullet at 1240 FPS IIRC. Never had a rifle that favored them as the best load but my 541 LOVES em!

If you google "Federal 510" you will get gobbs of intel

Passport: I did a search for the Federal 510's and you are right lots of info showed up - including one article that referenced the Federal 510's as previously being known as "Federal Lightnings".
I have shot some of that (few boxes).
Thanks again for the info.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Your recent luck on 541's sounds similar to mine. You may recall my posting a while back about a 541T heavy barrel I picked up at the LGS for $399. It wasn't until I got home with it I noticed the "Voelker Match" stamp on the barrel . What I didn't post was a few months later, a second 541T showed up at the same shop but with the sporter weight barrel. I had to give a little for this one, but still under $500. I've read the sporter barrels often shoot better than the heavy models. I haven't shot the sporter model enough to say, but my initial thoughts are it shoots as good, if not better than the Voelker.

JGray: Thanks for the update on YOUR good luck regarding the 541's.
I have seen just two of the 541 Sproters in use and they both did indeed shot quite well.
I have a partial box of C.C.I. Green Tag ammo that I may run down my 541-T's barrel just to see if it shoots any better than the Winchester 40 grain hollow-points do?
Enjoy your pair of 541's.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

I haven't done any formal testing in over 20 years with it, but, my 541-T always preferred the Federal Gold Medal shells (the middle grade, standard velocity ones) over CCI, Remington or Winchester's target stuff. Things like Wolfe, Lapua and Eley weren't affordable or available when the rifle was new and I was testing. That rifle pretty much keeps everything inside a 1/2" dot, but, usually puts the Federals through the same hole on a calm day. Of course, I haven't seen any since the shortage began.

Believe it or not, I use Remington Golden Bullets for squirrel hunting. With my 541-T, it still keeps them touching at 50 yds and offers more power than the target shells on tough old fox squirrels. I recently bought some CCI MiniMags and CCI Standard Velocity and found they shoot similarly.

My 541T Voelker has shot it's best with Federal Gold Medal Match ammo. I was a bit disappointed that Win 40 gr PP won't work in the tight "match" chamber. I have trouble chambering most CCI ammo also, so pretty much need to limit this one to target type ammo.

JGray: Well thank you for the heads up on the Win 40 gr PP's!
I have not had any troubles as yet with them?
When you say they "won't work in the tight chamber" do you mean they are inaccurate or that they won't function (fire, extract, eject etc)?
I definitely WILL be on the lookout for any troubles related to a tight chamber - I am assuming that perhaps all the 541's have the tight chamber you describe?
Thanks again.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

It's mostly just difficult to close the bolt. My understanding is the tighter match chambers are also shorter so that bullets engage the rifling when the bolt is closed. I believe Voelker shortens the barrel on the breech end and recuts the chamber - not something you'll see on a factory rifle. The Win PP has a lot of lead exposed and is the most difficult to chamber. The Win PP also fails to extract so I've had to push the empties out with a cleaning rod or pry them out with the tip of a pocket knife.

It's a non-issue in a factory chamber, so you should be fine. That's one of the reasons I grabbed the sporter model with factory chamber - everything works fine in it. A co-worker has a Cooper that is similar - they told him they could open up the chamber so any ammo would work, but may lose some accuracy.

JGray: Thank you very much for the information - its much apprciated.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

I don't see a problem with the tight chamber and ammo not extracting. It is doing exactly what it is designed to do.

Exactly - it's my "target" rifle and gets match ammo. The sporter is for field use and shooting whatever ammo is handy. No complaints...

Howdy all,

Not a gunshow but a gunshop report. Two years ago I was heading to Cody and I saw this little gunshop in Greybull. I stopped and lo and behold there were two acorns on the rack. A 541-T with the sporter bbl and a Win 52b reproduction. The Rem was wearing a leupold 6.5 x 20 and the Win a leupold 2x7. I looked at the Rem first. $650.00. With scope I asked? yep. Rifle was immaculate, scope had a couple scratches. How much for the Winchester? $550.00! again, with the scope? Yep! Do you take credit cards? nope! Hold on! My coworker was still in her car, I asked for a three hour loan of 1250 bux and I was off to the races. As I was filling out the 4473's a guy sitting at the table told me that the rifles were his and what they liked to shoot. Consignment guns, I felt bad for just a minute. As I handed the shop owner the check he reached into the desk drawer and handed me 4 extra 5 rd mags for the remington and three for the winchester! Wyoming lottery won that day. Remingto likes cci SV and the Win loves fed bulk pak from Walmart.

Nice combo!

Excellent!

GoWyo: Great pair of Rifles you caught there.
Good for you!
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

This will be my first post here but I think it's an appropriate place as I am a .22LR nut, and my 541T standard is my favorite squirrel killer. I have a NULA Model 20 .22LR on order right now so maybe it'll have a little competition when it gets here.

At any rate, congratulations on your fantastic find. 541's are beautiful, accurate little guns. It's a shame Remington doesn't produce them anymore. Of course the price they would have to ask for them today would probably price them out of most folks range.

Mine has the sporter weight barrel and shoots most everything well. I just wish somebody would manufacture real, metal mags for them. I bet there would be guys lined up to buy them.

Enjoy your new rifle!

Dryfly24,

Welcome! You are undoubtedly right about metal magazines. As is, people are fighting to pay $50 for the plastic ones on eBay!

Glad to hear that the sporters are also accurate. My HB doesn't balance well when carried with the shoulder sling and I've wondered about adding a sporter if the right opportunity ever arose!

Dryfly24: Thanks for your report and your well wishes.
Yes indeed "I" would get in line for a steel magazine for my 541!
I, like you, also am a 22 L.R. nut - have been since I was 8 or 9.
And welcome to you to both the Campfire and the Rimfire site.
Enjoy.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

GoWyo I own both and they are both amazing firearms. Great grab!!