Saw a Savage Anschutz M54 sporter the other day; it had a barrel sight doughnut like a pre-64 Model 70 and a banded front sight with two pins through the sight base. Action was really, really smooth and the rifle looked to be in good condition overall; not altered in any way but certainly shot quite a bit.

So, how do these guns shoot? Anything in particular I should take a closer look at on the rifle before buying?

Savage and Anschutz had a marketing deal worked out, Savage sold Anschutz here, and Anschutz sold Savages in Europe. All that changed was a little stamping on the barrels.

That's probably one helluva rifle, the 54s are as good as any rimfire ever made.

I have one like that and It shoots extremly well. I have kept the open sights on it and I use it for squirell hunting. In good condition they sell for $500.00 -$700 . Go to wwww.rimfirecentral.com they are the experts on this stuff. One more thing I am in the market for another one of those if you decide to pass it up well, please send me in that direction. Thanks

Yeah, I'm in the market for a S/A M54 Sporter for $500 - $700 too!! Nice, original ones, go for a lot more than that!

Probably should keep my mouth shut but Cabels in Allen, TX had one Thursday. I looked it over but it seemed a bit rough for the $589 they were asking. They can deal better once its been there 30 days but I doubt it will last that long.

I just noticed I made a mistake, I missread the question and thought he was asking about a Savage/Anchutz 64 sporter. I purchased my 64 sporter from Chaimpion Shooters in Ohio for $425.00 I have personally never seen a Savage/Anschutz 54. So I have no way of knowing there resale value. Sorry.

Thanks guys, this one is definitely a M54 as it has the separate, side mounted bolt stop. Going to have to give it some more thought but I think it might be just the thing for the NRA rimfire sporter competition.

I recall both of them quite well. They were the best rimfire Sporter one could find in the mid 70's. Even then Model 52 Sporter was getting difficult to find for any sort of reasonable price.

I bought a like new one last year for $800....it later sold later on GunBroker for $1700... It was just beautiful but after buying it I remembered why as a kid I didn't buy one then...just "too formal" for lack of a better word.

If you can find one for under a grand in VG+ condition they are well worth the money.

Bob

Yeah, I finally justified the cost last year ($850). They are top-of-the-line sporters. Just Sweet in every way. I use mine for hunter-class silhouette, the gun alone improved my scores by 20%.

The 54 actions and featherweight barrels are great, and bomb-proof, so real-world shooting will be good no matter the exterior condition (barring fire or terrible neglect). Value variance is mostly about the condition of the stock.

I have handled the Model 54 actioned sporters, but never fired one. I have used their target rifles based on the 54 action. The sporters get the same lapped barrels, just lighter. Even with my ordinary skill level, I used a Model 1413 through college winning small bore indoor competition. In calm conditions you can print some amazingly small groups at 50 yds. when you are on. I even wrote a letter to the factory asking if they could convert one of my target rifles to a sporter, but they said no. I still can�t afford one.

I've got a Savage Anschutz 54 sporter. It's larger than the average 22 with a "floppy pancake" cheekpiece and really nice dark wood. The stock fits extremely well, so beauty is as beauty does. It's extremely accurate.

As others have pointed out, the 54 Sporters were top of the line sporting rifles, just imported by Savage. If the bore and crown have been taken care of, it will be an outstanding shooter. I have one and it still shoots right with my newer 54 actioned Anschutz rifles.

Here's the M54 Sporter I picked up; stock is pretty beat up but the metal is in fine shape and the action, after cleaning out what appeared to be years of accumulated crud, is super smooth. Accuracy with cheap Blazer 22lr rounds was encouraging. I've got some Wolf Match Target coming for a real test later this month.

While no expert, I have a S/A M54 Sporter in 22 WMR that has a banded and pinned front sight; a collector told me that those were early rifles that had the banded front sight and are more desireable.

My 22 WMR is about an inch @ 100 M with the Remington 33 gr load; it's my favorite small field woodchuck rifle.

If the crown is good and you're happy with the finish charge on.

A banded front sight 22LR is on my short list; I've only seen a couple and they were priced @ 900.00 - 1200.00.

Good luck.

Anschutz 54's are argueably the most popular rimfire benchrest rifles ever. I have a 64 match, a 54 match, and an 1827 and they shoot amazingly well. Some 54's are getting imported recently so prices are affordable right now.

What can you tell me about a Md 141 Anschutz? saw one the other day, looked kinda like a Weatherby, sam type forarm cap. it was in 22 long rifle.

The 141 is based on the mod. 64 action. The Wby is also. The 141 is an Anschutz imported by Savage starting in the 60's. these are fine rifles. Hasbeen

I have a 141 in .22 winmag. Got it for Christmas in 1965, God bless Mom. The local woodchucks that had pretty much gotten the range on .22 lr's took a real shellacking that spring. A few years back I sprung for a Leupie 3-9 EFR rimfire scope for it. It's the last gun I'd let go of.

Many years ago I purchased a prewar M/54 sporter at a gunshow, it had a Mannlicher stock and double set triggers. No rollover cheekpiece, skipline checkering or polyurethane finish, it was finished in strict classic style. It was marked simply "Made in Germany", and was one of the finest .22's I've ever owned and I've owned several Winchester M/52 Sporters.

Great thread, gentlemen. Just couldn't remain lurking in the bushes. Clearly, many of us suffer (enjoy) the same rimfire affliction. I presently house and feed four SA 54s. (A fifth was sacrificed for textbook money in the 70s. Still, I weep...) All are in the skip-line, roll-over, configuration. I like the looks of the conservative low-combs, but shoot mine better. (Better cheekweld with scopes.) All have been in long rifle, except for the lone .22Mag that has been my favorite companion in the squirrel woods since1970ish. All are sub-minute with their favorite loads. (All shoot groups up to four times larger with disfavored ammo. You simply must experiment!) I have, or had, 52Sporters, Kimbers, Sakos, et al., but still most often choose a 54 when the harem is summoned. The earlier rifles, as noted, are older, rarer, and more more painful in the purchase, but have not proven any better shooters (variations on perfection?). BTW, the Savage-marked rifles tend to be priced lower thanidentical "pure" Anschutz models. Also, the current Anschutz production is MUCH more expensive, even though now lacking the banded sights and that beautiful sculptured trigger guard. I don't believe you will be displeased with a good condition SA 54. (BTW, still lusting after a full-stocked 1730 series. Just unwilling to ante-up...) Pax

xgboy:

I know it's been 9 years, but ...

welcome to the 'Fire.

Thanks TJM. Some are merely, uh, um slow to commit.?. This 54 thread dragged me, resisting, from beneath my favorite rock. Drop your guard for an instant... I''ve been a regular shooter since age seven, like most, beginning with a .22 single shot. Probably even chose a law enforcement career because I thought it might involve free ammo. (Only very partially correct.) While I spend more time and lucre heating up centerfire rifles and handguns, rimfire time is somehow more 'pure' shooting. A day afield with a 54Annie is always exciting, instructional, satisfying. Supremely accurate sporters, the 54s can claim the bragging shots - leaving me to assume full responsibility for the misses. They are nearly pure target lineage, with accommodations for the woods. The .22 WMR, using 'solids' is a magnificent performer on bushy-tailed tree rats and other edibles. Sadly, it has been driven from the product line by the .17s, alas. In the woods, its added range and impact over the long rifle is all one can ask (or use, really). In the hickories, if you can see that perfect shot, the 54 can make it - leaving me as the only uncertain element. No, this old Boy Scout has never outgrown a really good rimfire, and the 54 Anschutz may well be the best. Well, I AM prejudiced... Pax