Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Rimfires OK "Old Timers" - learn me up some....

Hey Middlefork Miner - you know that you poached that 550-1 straight out of my backyard, right? lol


You should post a pic. I'd love to see it.

Yes, there is an important difference but first let me correct my mistake with the model numbers that I was referring to.
I should have said the MODEL 541T and the MODEL 541T - HB.only because those are the models that I'm used to seeing and are more recent production.
The 541T is a sporter and the 541T - HB has a heavy bull barrel.

The Model 541S is a different model for more than just cosmetic reasons.
While the 541S may have been an older production model, it's reported to have had a better trigger and accuracy and probably even better cosmetics than the 541T.
I didn't mention it because I'm just not as familiar with it - I'm only familiar with the T and T-HB models.
I'm not sure that any Model 541S had sights even though its a sporter.
At least some of the 541T had sights.
The 541T - HB is more of a bench rest or heavy varmint type of rifle that can out shoot both of the 541 sporters.

Thanks for bringing the 541S Model to my attention and my mistake with the model numbers.
There's information that can be Googled about their differences which I learned from.

Just picked up a Win model 63. My dad had one maybe 50 years ago. Neat accurate well balanced gun. Put it up against anything made today.hopefull the picture shows.

https://m.imgur.com/account/Hikerbum/images/4aovUiW

I was gifted a M1903 Winchester, in pieces, all there, sewer pipe bore. Debating whether to go through the hassle of lining the barrel and changing/altering internals to use .22LR ammo or just put it together and keep it original- and never shoot it because .22 Auto ammo is non-existent in shooting quantities.

Kragman1: If I were looking for a "scopeable" oldy and a goody to recommend to you I would go with the bolt action Winchester Model 69 with grooved receiver.
I have and do own many of these Rifles and the ones I have shot all were pleasingly accurate.
Good luck in your worthy pursuit.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

I would like to add to my prior posted list, a couple of nice old school 22 lr pistols. There are a ton but a couple I will mention because of personal experience is a Ruger Mark II slab side ( yea I know not that old but getting close to classic status.) Another would be a older Dan Wesson revolver from the late 70’s or early 80’s. Why I let that one go is beyond me but I was young and impulsive at the time. And of course a S&W revolver has to be in the mix.z

Good question - would you all say that the Ruger original models and Mark I pistols should be considered classics these days?
I feel like I do, especially the early target and government models.

I was only thinking of rifles when I first posted, but that was short sighted. Can't ignore all the High Standards, Colts and Model 41's can we? Or the Smith revolvers and three screw Rugers.

Or the Dan Wessons

Looked at an old Walther single shot once that was pretty cool. Can’t remember the model number but it was a sporter version of the 98 style trainer. Rear sight was mounted in a groove on the barrel and it had large grooves in the receiver for mounting a scope. Externally adjustable trigger too.
But I hate the big flag 3-position safety, and this one had some pitting near the end of the long heavy barrel too.

I wanna say it was Sport Modele V or something like that. I’m sure there’s a slightly more modern version with a different safety that is more scope friendly.

gnoahhh.....FWIW Aguila makes it and it’s still available as far as I know but of course it’s pretty expensive.
I picked up some for my 1903 and it shoots pretty good. Fun little gun just like it’s offspring (Model 63).

PennDog

I'll try to remember to take a pic... it's a great shooter too...

Thank you. I know its a hassle to post pics but I hope you get one through....

I'm not much help, as my only old .22 rifle is a 1957 39A. Still shoots pretty good. Damn things are getting up there in price tho. Keeping this one. Good luck in your endeavor.

I haven't shot either of my 40X customs yet, but my Remington 37s all shoot lights out. My old CZ452s were pretty good shooters.
I did have a nice 10-22 custom that really shot well, but gave it to a friend.

Hi Birch

Just curious - as made by Remington, which would you say is the more accurate rifle: the Model 37 or 40X?

Remington earlier 500 series 22's with grooved a reciever, all metal, and wood. no plastic.
Can be had very reasonably, well made, and are good shooters.

I hear you. Those 03/63's were/are probably the epitome of what a .22 autoloader should be.

I never judge a .22 autoloader by how well it groups on paper. What matters is how well I can keep an empty beer can bouncing with one (what, you didn't think I shoot full ones did you?) and how well I can dispatch a squirrel running across an oak limb. If it'll slop 5 into an inch-inch and a half at 50 yards I'm good to go. If you miss with the first shot you have a second go with just a twitch of the trigger.

Not to hijack my own thread, but to me a good squirrel rifle has a special place in gun heaven, because it has to excel in both objective and subjective ways.
Mine would be my old Remington 552 because of how it shoots - a combination of free swinging, good trigger and accurate.

But they're not exactly vintage, right? I like to think that the 550's handle the same, but that may be fantasy.

So, which vintage semi-autos make the best squirrel rifles?

I recently pickd up a nice Winchester mdl 75 and put a Redfield Alaskan 4x on it. Man that is an accurate gun!

Marlin 56