K22- I like that a lot. Can you give me some details as to what you've had done? I just want the ugly birch/beech stock gone. I would like a nice walnut. And it needs reblued. But I don't know where to begin looking for a stock? Or should I just have the current stock sanded down and refinished? Is there anything you can do to make beech/birch whatever it is more aestheticcally pleasing?
Ky, love that State, its my origin.
The stock was an old Bishop stock I had from many years ago when they were still in business. Numrich's used to offer one very close to it. I finished the stock and pillar bedded it. Added a second action screw, replaced the trigger with a 541 3 screw. Went through a bunch of triggers trying to find one I liked.......reworked the original, then a Canjar, then reworked a Timney 788 Rem., then had a 581 setup with adjustment screws, and finally the 541 trigger. The action was faced and threaded along with the bolt plus lapped the lugs. Then a 541T sporter barrel was slugged, shortened to an aol of 21", rechamber to a Win. D52 match chamber and a 11 degree crown. I still haven't gotten around to checkering the stock, but thats next.
Yea that's a good bit more than I ever wanted to sink into this. However. You have a very nice piece there. What's the deal with the second action screw?
It started out as low cost project. I had given up on getting the 541's I owned to shoot with my KDF K22. I had this 581S that shot quite well, matched the 541's, so I installed it in the Bishop stock. Without bedding and only 1 action screw it would not stay seated in the stock. No matter how tight the action screw was you could grab the barrel, push it from side to side and watch it pivot on the action screw. The second action screw stopped that, but bedding would have also. But I believe that the second action screw keeps the action from being in a bind. Then along came a very nice 541 barrel and you can figure out the rest of the story.
I have owned a few of the 581 and 541s models, the 581 is good for the price,although I feel the 541 s models are now over priced for what you actually get, like any production rifle its luck of the draw as to the accuracy of either model...I had 2 541s models that were dogs in the accuracy dept (bad chambers), I had a few others that were great, same for the 581 models
I have a 581 I bought new in the late 70's. It's always been very accurate. The trigger was a bit stiff, but several thousand rounds later it's quite decent. About ten years ago someone on Rimfire Central was offering unfinished 541 stocks for about $35. I like the looks much better than the original birch stock.
Fellow by the name of John Reed from Tennessee makes a steel magazine for the 541/581. He can be found on Rimfire Central. I have a couple of his mags on the way.
Sometimes, the air you 'let in'matters less than the air you 'let out'.
Late to the party. Once I figured out that my first LH 581 was a keeper (15+ years ago), I sent it off to have it black teflon coated. Eventually had it cut and threaded for a suppressor that it now wears continuously. Recently put a Timney 788 trigger on it. The Timney trigger required a fair amount of wood removal before everything fit back in the stock properly. But, a lot smoother than the original trigger. Have not shot the 581 for groups after installing the trigger.
As noted above trigger control/weight is important. Anschutz trigger is turned down to about 16-17oz. Timney on 581 is right at 2lbs.
All of the 58X's shoot really well. And the trigger is a true trigger assembly. They can be worked and an aftermarket 788 trigger can be installed too but I think it needs to have a little wood removed or something. I never did it so I'm not sure. If I sound a rightie with a good bore fore $100 I'd buy it just on principle.
Work is what you do to finance your real life.....
... I think it needs to have a little wood removed or something. ...
The 788 receiver has a larger OD than the 581. As a result, the 788 safety lever sticks out further to the right than the factory 581 safety. The 788 safety lever also seems to have a bit more rotational travel to the rear to fully engage the safety with a solid "click".
I had given up on getting the 541's I owned to shoot with my KDF K22. I had this 581S that shot quite well, matched the 541's, so I installed it in the Bishop stock. Without bedding and only 1 action screw it would not stay seated in the stock. No matter how tight the action screw was you could grab the barrel, push it from side to side and watch it pivot on the action screw. 
The second action screw stopped that, but bedding would have also. But I believe that the second action screw keeps the action from being in a bind. 
