Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Rimfires Most desireable .22?

What are some of the most desireable, collectable (or valuble) .22 RF rifles?

I normally don't pay much attention to .22 RF, though I do have a couple Winchester (M61, 63, and 9422). Are any European makes particularly sought after?

For myself a BSA International MKIII. Took a few years to find a good one. Anshutz is another one.

Remington 40-x sporter single shot or repeater.

Original Win 52 or 75 sporters, Win 52 E International?

"Desirability" is in the eye of the beholder. They can be pure high end, or just plain interesting or nostalgic to a buyer. A well-made , well-designed firearm is always interesting, and desirable. It doesn't HAVE to be rare or expensive, or " investment grade. " I enjoy my Winchester 310. It's just a nice well-made, accurate, simple, and relatively low-cost rifle.

I recently sold a nice Win 52c target rifle ( not a sporter), and shooting my Anschutz 1411 more. The reason? It's easy to put a scope on my grooved receiver Anschutz 1411. I didn't want to drill and tap my Win 52c. The Win 52c may be more "desirable" and have more upside collector potential than my Anschutz 1411, but TO ME being able to easily mount a scope on my Anschutz makes it more desirable.

To thine own self be true. Own what floats your boat, and meets YOUR criteria for "desirability.".

One I had to have was a Win model 63.

Steyr Zephyr

Most .22 shooters don't know what this is.

Winchester 1873

Collectors grade Kimbers. Stunning and Big $$

Yeah, Winchester '73 .22 Long Very Desirable !!!

I stand by H&K's--270 and 300

The Zephyr is a beautiful and very accurate .22 bolt action rifle. I want one.

Winchester 52B Sporter, Springfield 1922 M2 and Anschutz 64 Mannlicher with DST.

Depends. Desirable in what way?

My picks/opinions:

For flat-out accuracy, Anschutz, Winchester 52B/C/D/E, BSA International, IMO. I've used them all and have settled on an International for the long haul.

For aesthetic nostalgia, Springfield M1/M2, Winchester 52A, Stevens 417 Walnut Hill. I love my M2 and Walnut Hill for their accuracy and for being products of my favorite era in gun making, but when the chips are down and I need to "dot the i", I reach for a top-tier gun above. Remington 37 fits in there somewhere too, as well as all the 52 Sporters.

Don't overlook the custom jobs put together by the .22 pros in the 30's-40's. A Ballard, Win 52, Stevens, etc. with a Johnson barrel for example will hold its own with the new stuff and has a certain coolness factor.

Hunting/plinking rifles: the sky's the limit, bounded only by your personal tastes.

Steyr Zephyr: definitely on my "some day" list!!

Autoloaders, chassis rifles, etc. etc. leave me cold. Mere machines without character or soul (to apply human traits to an inanimate object).

As posted above most desirable varies. If talking about a single most universally well know brand for quality in rimfires non model specific I’d go with Anschutz. I’m not always a fan of the stock configurations and more European look Vs classic American style or wood quality for dollar spent. But across a variety of shooting sports Anschutz is universally recognized as a gold standard brand in the rimfire world.

At the moment it seems the Remington 40X Sporter F grades are pretty close to the top of the heap. You can expect to pay in excess of $10K for one if you can find one...

The Winchester 52C sporters are going up in price recently and have gone from around $2.5K to around $5K in the last few years. 52B Sporters are also climbing, but aren't nearly as rare as the 52Cs and are priced accordingly...

Colt snake pistols are getting out of reach for most collectors these days. Expect to pay $2.5K or more for a nice Diamondback if you can find one these days...

I wouldn't call Anschutz a collector even though they are one of the best rimfires made at any time... since they are still made and you can still order one from the factory any way you want it... still a bit pricy, but affordable compared to the others mentioned..

There’s only a couple I haven’t seen talked about yet that I can think of really and that’s the Dakota 22 and the Anschutz Cooper.

Lots of fine rifles already listed. I will add one, Remington 513s.

Manny

I got a Steyr Zephyr for Christmas 1969. I wanted DSTs but go the single trigger becausse my Father felt that DSTs were dangerous under the best of circumstances.

Something like an engraved Sedgley High Wall. 52 sporters also fit the collectible bill. Canyon Creek 1700 series Anschutz. Engraved Colt Woodsmans and D-backs.

Then there's NFA stuff like Tippman 1919s, AM 180s, and 10/22 conversions.

Collectable and desirable, IMO, may not be the same thing.

I had a 40X sporter (with a mag), chamber was too tight for regular ammo, went down the road. Now as a collector, it's an expensive rifle and if I had kept it, would have made some money. But, if I don't like'em, they go down the road.

Had a Win 52 sporter, an older one, not the new one. It was accurate, just too heavy, it went down the road.

I had a Kimber of Oregon, nice rifle, was accurate, just not as accurate as the above or the one below.

Now, I have a Cooper Classic with Kahles rimfire scope. It's the best of them all and it's a keeper.

Trigger is exceptional, accuracy is first rate, as accurate as any listed above. It's not heavy, and it's easy on the eye. The Kahles rimfire may be one of the best rimfire scopes, but you can't find them. I'm fortunate to have this one.

DF

I'm not even a rimfire shooter and I know what this is. Nothing groundbreaking here.

How about the Kimber 82, a fine and accurate .22. Good trigger and it feels like a rifle.

Any love for Nula?

This is your huckleberry.


https://www.gunsinternational.com/g...arwin-hensley-22-lr.cfm?gun_id=101776258

……..to all the ones mentioned so far I’d add Mausers (201 and 340s/350s (a 360 if you a can find one!!)). Working on a Winchester 1885 lowall that I hope to have ready for some of the shoots gnoahhh frequents.

PennDog

Kimbers definitely desireable and highly collectible.

I forgot about my Mausers . The sporter that was made to compete with the Win 52 was the Mauser Mm410b. The bolt lift so high scope has to be very high also. But shoots good with irons.

Walther long BBL Sport Modells interesting also.

Dirtfarmer mentioned the Kahles rimfire scopes. I have a couple 2X7 , funny thing not marked rimfire , but 50YD parallax. One could take a Kahles 2x7 AH and adjust the parallax to his likeing. These scopes , in my mind, are the best rimfire scopes out there..

I replaced a 2x7 leupy on a Zephyr and it improved accuracy beyond belief. The clarity and quality of the glass is superb. I don't often use that word.

Hit nrun,

Very nice '73.

Many, many years ago I was at the GS in Vegas at the long gone Riviera. Met this tall dude in a top hat and he was holding a '73 in .22 Long that he had redone for a customer . Doug was owed $ 1700.00 for it and that is what he was selling for.

It was a 3 day show and I shot my wad every day..............

Mine's not marked rimfire either. I was told it was a rimfire scope when I bought it years ago. And as you note, it has the 50 yd. rimfire parallax setting. But parallax can be adjusted.

And, I don't think you've over sold it. It is everything you say it is.

DF

Like to hear about the accuracy and with what ammo in the Cooper above, and about the Zephyr.

Nice rifles guys.

My Cooper shoots most ammo very well, isn't picky.

High end target stuff may edge hunting ammo, but its ability to handle a wide variety of ammo is just another reason why I like this Cooper.

DF

Guess on my part, but one that does this is ain't a bad place to start.

That'll work....

DF

Very nice. What’s the distance. Hasbeen

Well, as long as you can't see the powder burns....

It's Kosher...

DF

Dont laugh but of all the 22s I own, my Winchester 320 would probably be the last to go. Silly accurate and feels like a light well balanced deer rifle. I believe these were the predecessors to the kimbers and even use the same mags.

LGS had a 310 on the used rack, didn't bite because of it being a single shot. Thought better of it and went back a week later and it was gone. But they had the 320 on the rack then. Snatched it up.

Kimber of Oregon, Custom Classic and Super Grade, are pretty collectible.

Cisco, what’s the story on the Zephyr?

Cisco have a Mm410b that was sporterized by Johann Springer in 1949 - classy rifle and has period scope also installed by Springer…….was given to me by a good friend in his will. Bolt handle altered but not really necessary with the scope that was used (Hensolt with straight tube that is sub 1”). By far and away my “most desireravle” .22👍

PennDog

PennDog,

Sounds like a keeper. That is the best way to aquire guns and gold.

Best,

Chuck

Chuck is keeping all those beautiful Zephyrs to himself.

Can't blame him ...I would too....


I'll add another vote for the old Mausers...classics that shoot

350...340...410...and others

I'll continue to keep my eye out for a 52 sporting

I would add a Remington 541s to this list. They don't hang around long when one is up for sale.

Nice info and DD - great shooting!

The next one…

There a several on my list, Cooper, Zephyer, but my KDF K22, Mauser 201, and Kimber Classic K22 (Yonkers) are my favorites. A Sako Quad Hunter I have rates pretty high also.

Good Morning All,

The story on the Zephyr................

Bought the 1st one 50 + years ago, for $ 100.00, from a bicycle buyer for Sears. He was at Steyr picking out bikes and the Austrians gave it to him. Not being a shooter he sold it.

It is not grooved SN < 300. I have several others . Steyr started grooving somewhere around SN 500.

Lovely little rifles , and generally quite accurate for the short peckered little rifles that they are.

3 are scoped . 1 with the aforementioned Kahles 2X7. Unless hunting, and I do not do a lot of paper punching....except to sight in , I shoot CCI standard Velocity at paper. I generally shoot at 100M. As for groups , I don't remember , generally keep a

good record of CF ammo and rifles.

2 of the Zephyrs were bought on this forum. I used to run an ad on the much maligned Armslist as a buyer of my favorite rifles.. I do not do that anymore.

I bought a rifle from guy in CA or AK , don't remember, that was a Steyr Zephyr "Standard". Same action, different BBL , non-checkered plain carbine stock. I turned that into a custom . Pacnor tapered octagon BBL . Mannlicher Schoenauer style stock

like they used on the 56 models , with the big scalloped cheekpiece. Straight grained English Walnut. Spiffed up with skeleton pistol grip cap and buttplate to match.

Enough on the Zephyrs.......... 52 Sporters were mentioned . Had several . They are clunkers , but beauties , Like top heavy babes on the slightly + size . Got rid of the 52 Originals and Made up some customs, that's were it's at for me . I like the 52 C

Target rifles because of the excellent triggers. Again tapered octagon BBLS and good wood .

I had 5-6-- 52 repos, again , well made beautiful heavy clunkers. Gun shop called yesterday my last 52 repo was fitted up with an old B&L Balvar 6X24 .

Heading for a funeral..........

Best,

Chuck

I have /had Klienguenthers, Mausers. all the 580 and 541 series Anchuest,etc.......and my favorites arent on the list.........77/22's and 10/22 are all i need

Back in the late 60’s I was smitten by the Weatherby XXII auto loading rifles.
Their beautiful stocks and adult sized feature were well ahead of their time.
Of course I couldn’t even begin afford one and had to make due with an old Stevens single shot....

A couple of years ago I happen to run into one at a used gun shop and was able to make a very reasonable deal.
It’s a Berreta made model with the deluxe stock and the signature forend and pistol grip contrasting wood caps.
I mounted a Leupold rim fire 3x9 on it and it’s become my favorite ground squirrel shooter.

It no doubt won’t shoot along side some of the great .22 bolt guns that have been mentioned, but it’s accurate enough and is a real pleasure to use.

The one your Grandfather owned...... and if your lucky and he had brothers theirs as well..... Family history is a real pull.

Anschutz 1710 Meister Grade

LGS had two of these on consignment with 6.5 -20 Leupold scopes on them for $2500 each... had to pass as they sellers wouldn't budge on the price...

I would agree, though in my family lineage only two 22's made it down to me... a Monkey Wards single shot that will pepper my face every time and a Woodsman Sport that still sits in a place of honor in the vault.

And thanks ALL for your input, opinions, and experiences.

I think I'll start looking for an early Winchester 52.

I seem to be able to find some Target 52s in the $1K range. Should I really expect the "Sporters" to generally inflate to $3K?

Original 52 sporters are already at that stage... The repros aren't there and probably won't be for quite some time.... expect around $1k for the repro sporter 52's

Chaser'

I'm a big fan of the model 52. One in good condition can be had for that price point if you're patient and are looking at the target or repro Sporter models.

Are you wanting single shot or the repeater?

That will help narrow down the year.





We shoot several varieties including repros and they are a blast. I like mine affixed with period scopes.


Good luck with your search.

Dirtfarmer, That's a beauty. Too bad it's wrong (right) handed.

Well, a bunch have been through my hands-Mod52A, 52D, custom 10-22, Karl Kenyon Martini, and I still have 2 40x customs, a Rolling Block, 2 mod 37 Remington's one of which was Mike Walker's personal rifle, a Walther KK300 that is my present BR rifle, and a work in progress 1913 Anschutz the UK shooter, Jon Hammond shot in the Olympics. It is being turned into a BR rifle.

I forgot my first-A mod65 H&R leatherneck.

A dreamy assortment, Butch!

A note of caution to purchasers of early 52's. If it's a pre-Speed Lock version (circa 1930), be sure to verify that it doesn't have "the crack of doom". The LH bolt lug seat, at the rear of the action, was thin walled on them and prone to developing cracks which won't effect strength much (the RH lug is beefier and actually takes the brunt of the force), but may well affect accuracy by allowing the bolt to do a microscopic jutter on discharge. The crack is reputedly caused by repeated application of the safety, if that appliance is tight. Winchester corrected that fault when they adopted the Speed Lock.

It took me three years of looking to find one for less than $3K and it's only there because it was D&T'd and I don't think the seller really knew what they had. It also wasn't much under $3K.

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbt...9472/winchester-52a-sporter#Post16709472

I've owned a large number of .22s over the years, but other than the Remington 33 I inherited from my father, the stable is down to a BSA Martini Model 13; a custom small frame Martini built on Greener take-down action, a Mauser Model 340B and a Walther Sportmodell Meisterbuchse with the Olympic style stock. Of those, other than the Remington, the last one to go would be the custom Martini, which I had engraved by Ken Hurst (the former head of the Colt engraving shop).

You’re going to have to define “desirable” … do you want one that looks pretty or one that will shoot lights out? Because some of the Kimber’s they put out back in the day are nothing short of eye candy!!! Now if you want a factory rifle that will flat shoot I’d say you want a big action Anschutz! I have both, Kimber is a fine rifle and looks beautiful but won’t shoot nothing like My Anschutz 54 Match will!!! If you don’t have a 54 Annie and enjoy accurate rifles that’d be my pick!

What about a Cooper? Those are beautiful rifles and they tend to shoot well.. Expensive though.

I hear good things about the CZ 452 and 453, though I haven't seen one mention in 4 pages.

Coopers are very nice and shoot well and have wonderful wood but they do have their problems. I had to send one of mine back because the ejector fell out. They had to replace it and tighten things up. Good customer service.

I am shooting much better accuracy with my Anschutz. Scopes and mounting matter.

Many to choose from!

Ken Hurst engraved one of my rifles. He did great work, may he RIP

I "had" a nice 1922 M2 Springfield. Should have kept it.

I updated one of my favorites last week, a military training rifle, .22 LR caliber Lee-Enfield No.2 MkIV with the addition of a kinda rare BSA/Parker-Hale rear aperture target sight.





(Single shot rifle, and the empty cartridge case falls off the extractor and into the hollow .303 magazine. Actually takes quite a few shots to fill it before dumping it out.)

Another vote for the Cooper (should be no surprise there). I have a first year Cooper 57M with a two digit Ser. #. I also had to have a Belgian Browning T-Bolt, which I added this year. I've wanted one since I was a teen and I found one made in 1966 that was in pristine condition. It was a salt gun that Browning restored to new condition and which the owner then put away. That was very desirable to me.

Always on the lookout for original Winchester M69s. Prefer the M69 over M69A but will buy either if the money asked is right.

Yes. I was wondering why it wasn’t on here..

Wow....that is the most desirable in a stable of very desirable .22rf....

CZ makes very nice rifles but they are fairly "common". The 452 and 453 have been discontinued but are still fairly readily available with a little digging.

I have a 452 Ultra Lux and have owned 453's in .22 and .17 HMR, they work well with the set triggers (on the 453's). They are not in the same league as many mentioned previously though. The 453's are scarcer and do have a following with some demand.

I have an Anschutz 54 Match and that gun will shoot circles around any of my CZ's. One of the most precise and crisp triggers I have ever felt.

Original Winchester 52 Sporter

A while back I took a deep breath and made the leap into a pre-war colt ace.
I’ve not regret it since

Some nice ones pictured! Thanks for posting!

In order I have owned a Browning T-bolt T-2 Deluxe from 1969, (beautiful but not super accurate), a Winchester 52E heavy barrel target, a Winchester 52A standard target, a Remington 512, a Browning .22 Auto takedown, a Winchester 75 target, a Remington 541 KS and a Winchester 69A.

The only ones I have today are a Cooper 57M Classic Sporter with a Leupold VX3 4..5-14x40 w/AO and VH reticule. Also a Ruger 10-22 Sporter with the nicest wood I've ever seen on one, upgraded with a custom Shilen barrel and Timney trigger. And finally a very nice CZ 455 switch barrel American Sporter.


As per accuracy, the Winchester 52's, the Cooper Sporter and the Remington 541 KS were tops. For looks the Cooper Sporter, Ruger Sporter and CZ455 American are tops in my book and why they are in the safe, (but get used too).

Remington 40-X Sporter (repeater)

A lot of great rimfire .22s. Many European brands such as Anchütz, Feinwerk, etc.
The US has a lot of great designers, such as Vudoo, Rim X, Volquartsen, Cooper , among many others.

Also pistols such as SW model 41, Volquartsen, Browning target.

Good post buttstock. Here's one I really like. I've shot a lot of 22lr's, but none of them every gave me the satisfaction this one does:



It shoots about MOA with the ammo it likes.

Very nice. My cheap Savage MK1 FVT did that on its first group:


The reason it was not in the X-ring. Its always a damn good sign when it does that with the first 10 rounds... You know it's a keeper when that happens..

I'd like a Cooper, but will have to wait for the wife's demise.

A Colt Woodsman would be nice

I guess I've taken a different tact. My collection of desireables consists of many that I wanted as a kid, but could never afford.

Savage Anschutz 54 sporter, Annie 1720, Win. 52 sporter (Repro), Rem 541T sporter, 582, 581. Sako M78, P94S. The CZ 452's have filled in for Brnos. Semi's- BAR-22 , 10/22-10/22 Mag, HK-300, BRNO zKM 611. Marlin 39's, M1894M .22 mag...many Pistols, Revolvers. I love the .22/.22 mags. They provide the most diversion of any calibers for all shooters.

452 FS is my current fav, mainly because my son won state 4H with it in sporter class his final year. That or his 581 that he used for 8 years up to that point. As for lusting, I recall the Cooper anschutz in a full stock version. I'd take out a loan to get one of those.

Why yes, yes they are.....

Nice collection Huntsman, I've got a #3 and #4, too.

It's just fun reading this entire forum as 22's are just FUN!

I've gone through various Anschutz models, 1922 Spflds, M52's. I still use a 40x I had D'Arcy Echols stock with one of his edge stocks, and a real nice Mauser 340, and recently picked up a BSA International MKII I plan on putting on a diet

But I have just about as much fun with my daughters Marlin 39, my son's Win M90 or my Win 9422

A Cooper M57-M Jackson Squirrel Rifle is one of my dream Rimfires

I brought home two yesterday that have been at the top of my life long "grail" list (especially the bolt gun!).

Winchester 52B sporter and Winchester 61 in 22 mag.
Both high conidtion.

There aren't a lot of things that excite me as much as getting a new (to me) gun that's been on my list.

Still want another Marlin 39a, but not at the price they're bringing.

I've lost track of the number of .22 rifles I've owned, but the current ones I purchased and are still in residence are a pre-war Mauser sporter (a Model 420, if I recall correctly), a BSA Model 13 Martini action and a Walther Sportmodell with the Olympic style stock. I still have my dad's Remington Model 33, too, but that's one I'll hand down to my son and hopefully on to his offspring after I'm gone.

Jsg those are both beauties!

At one time I owned a Griffin & Howe custom Springfield 1922, foolishly let it go when I was offered twice what I paid for it.

Hard to say which is my favorite 22...because they all have a special place.

It would probably be a close tie between a Mauser, a Kimber, or the Zephyr.

Or the 52 or 40x

But the Vudoo is hard to ignore.

Pistols would be a Walther, 41, a Woodsman, or a Colt

I sold the most desirable ones:

Marlin 39 Mountie
Browning A-Bolt
Browningchester 52