Can't recall ever reading or hearing about one of these; 580, 581, 582s not being very accurate. I don't recall hearing this near as much about their immediate predecessors the; 510, 511 & 512 Remington's. I've never seen, other than photos, handled or shot one of the 580 series. Are they that much different in design or quality than the older (510, 511 or 512) rifles?

581 and good ammo, very accurate combo. Highly recommend if you find a clean one.

The 580 series was basically a 22 version of the old 788s. Cheaper wood, finish not as nice, more function over art. Never heard much bad said about them. The old 510s were walnut stocks, nicer bluing. I run across both, but I have never ran across a really nice one locally.

Very fast lock time, stiff action, nice balance. Kind of light, slender , hurts it a bit for holding the thing still. Counting my son's rifles, I've shot 5 of them, all around 3/4" or slightly less for 5 shots at 50. Try one out., if you can. Nice rifles. I had mine at the range yesterday. A guy with a Ruger Precision 22 wanted to trade, after he shot it.

Bought my 581 when I was 14(62 now) and killed a truckload of bullfrogs and cans and bottles at the dump when I was a kid. Ow with a scope it is still a very accurate rimfire.

I've owned a few of each and think that the 580 series was a significant leap forward accuracy wise from the 510 series.

When Remington made the 510 series, they were competing head to head against better designs from Winchester like the Models 69 and 72.

Remington introduced the 580 series around the time that Winchester dropped the Models 69 and 72, replacing them with the Models 121/131/141 .22 bolt guns. Even the most loyal Winchester man will probably agree that they were a giant step back from the quality of the 69 and 72.

The 580 series triggers are among the best any American manufacturer has put of a basic sporter style rimfire bolt gun..

I've got a 582 I'm working on. Birch stock, I removed the finish, special walnut stain and Tung oil finish. While I was at it I made a sort of Schnabel for end on the stock. I think it looks good, but looks to be mahogany now instead of birch. I free floated the barrel, so I'm working on getting a second screw in front of the trigger assy, right where that tiny screw is in the middle of the floor plate on the 581, the 582 that screw is there but the plate ends there and it's got a lug under the barrel. Mine shoots good enough for a light 22, I don't know if what I'm doing will help it, but right now it will hold 3/4" or better with good ammo at 50yd. I've got a cheap enough Bushnell 3-9 on it.

I have owned and shot both 500 series and 580 series rifles. I recently sold a very nice 540X which Is a target rifle that has the same action as the 580’s. Even with a fantastic trigger, it did not shoot nearly as well as a 60+ year old 513.

260Remguy,

It isn’t very often that I “disagree” with you but I’ve never met a 580 series Remington that could hold a light to the few 513S sporters that I’ve had over the years (the 513s that I’ve had will shoot with some of the best .22 sporters I have including Cooper, Anschutz, and others of that ilk) - the 580 series might have a edge in the trigger department but that’s only because the 510 series triggers are notoriously bad. That said 580 series triggers can be altered to be really good triggers but stock they aren’t much to write home about - now 540 series triggers are a whole other ballgame. The 580 series rifles I have have/had all shot pretty good (around 1/2” at 50 yards) but can typically be made to shoot better with a tuned trigger.

That’s just my limited experience (sample size) obviously others may have had different results.

PennDog

Bought this off a friend about 15 years ago for $100, including the Tasco! Shot a crapload of gophers with it until I switched it out for the .17 HMR. It is a pretty good shooter, a pleasure to shoot. Not fancy, they are very plain. Basically made to kill sch!t. If you are thinking of buying one, I would get the tube fed version as the 10 rd banana magazines are a pain.

I've never owned a 513, just 511s and 512s.

I've never owned a 540 and have always assumed that they were just a target version of the 580 with a different style of stock, barrel, and sights.

I've had a couple of the fancier 541S and 541Ts pass through, but none made enough of an impression on me to remember any specifics about them other than that I sold them for a little more than I paid for them. It could be that I had one of the Miroku 52 Sporters at the same time and liked it better, particularly the non-protruding magazine.

I wouldn't consider Anschutz or Coopers as being "basic sporter style rimfire bolt guns". I was thinking in terms of the contemporary basic sporter style rimfire bolt guns made by American manufactures during the same years that the 580 series rifles were in production, 1967 thru 1999.

I keep three groups of rimfire bolt guns around:

Heavy contour target rifles like Remington 37s, 40Xs, and Winchester 52s..

Higher grade sporters from Anschutz, Krico, Miruko, and Winchester.

Basic sporters from Marlin, Mossberg, Remington, Savage, and Winchester.

I can only comment on my experience and feel comfortable standing by my assertion that "The 580 series triggers are among the best any American manufacturer has put of a basic sporter style rimfire bolt gun." even if my experience is contrary to your experience.

Different rifles, different shooters, different criteria for what constitutes a good/better/best trigger.

260Remguy,

Understand the different experience thing and my experiences have certainly been limited - do have experience with all the models mentioned and also agree that Anschutz and Cooper hardly fall in the class of basic rimfire sporters (not sure where I said that though?).

I have/had at least a dozen or so 580 series rifles and NONE of the triggers have been less than 5lbs stock - one was 9😬. Of roughly the same amount of 510 series rifles I have/had the triggers were generally between 3-6 lbs stock.

Really not trying to be argumentative and it’s probably just my unfortunate experience and thus general distaste for 580 series triggers (and actually 510 series triggers as well.....if the 513S’s that I have had quality triggers they would be right up there with my best .22 sporters - accuracy wise) that illicited my response. No offense meant in any regard and appreciate your experiences - just offering mine in contrast.

PennDog

I bought one of the last left hand 581 made. The trigger was heavy, so I took it to a smith the first month. When I got it back it had a clean 2.25 pound pull. It routinely puts 5 of any decent ammo in one hole at 25 yards. It will remain in my possession until I die. After that who knows since there are no other left handers in my family.

Left handedness usually skips a generation, so be on the lookout for left handed grandkids. I got one, out of 4. He's a brain, who would not appreciate my guns. My left hand 581 had a decent trigger, made better with a lighter spring. Pretty sure it had been worked on. Got it used. It is very nearly the equal of my lh CZ452 American. That is a very good rifle.

they say only 10% of people are left handed. I would say 40% of people that shoot guns are left handed. watch video's, look at pictures of gun advertisments. I would say more than half of the people in those are left handed. last time I was at the gun range 3 out of 9 were left handed along the shooting benches. I dunno if being left handed makes you more prone to be a shooter. If I was left handed I actually think I would try to learn to shoot right handed to save the hassle.

I got my left hand wife a couple of left hand bolt rifles. I had never had one. Made a believer out of me. Shot a few deer right handed, to get around brush and stuff. Better angle. Wasn't easy..

Well, I am 69 with a 2 year old granddaughter and a grandson to be born any day now. I have given my son instructions regarding the passing down of my left hand guns. Maybe the grandson will be left handed, if so he will hit the jackpot and get any of my left handed guns he wants. A couple will go to friends and in-laws, but the family can sell what they can't use and put the money toward buying something they desire.

I have a 541 THB and the first shot out of a cold barrel is always high and left. It doesn't matter if the barrel has been fouled previously, if the barrel is cold, it throws the first shot. Knowing this, it is ok as a target gun as I would just dump a few rounds downrange before engaging a target, as a squirrel hunting gun, it's useless. I've bedded the action and free floated the barrel with no improvement. I've heard this is not uncommon for the 500 series Remington rifles.

Cooper57m: I have several Remington 500 series rimfire Rifles (including two 541-T's!) and NONE of them exhibit this "eccentricity" that you describe.
I am going to pay more attention to your reported phenomenon - as I use them for small game and Varminting almost exclusively and once they are "sighted in" at the range and ammo decided on - they just get used on said game.
Approximately how "high and left" is the first round?
Thanks for any further info.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Next time your at the range shoot all left handed then tell us how that worked out for ya.
Better yet try it hunting in the field

Varmitguy,

I have had the same experience with several 541s (mine and others).....seems to be fairly common. I do use my 541s for squirrel but dump a shot prior to actually shooting at a squirrel and then all seems good - they are great shooting rifles as long as your aware of this trait and watch the torque in the action screws.

PennDog

Sent 4 541-THB's back and forth to Remington in the 1990's who kindly refunded my money.Barrel's NG. 4 1/2" flyer's with some.Had 2 NYS benchrest champ's scratching their head. Save your money and buy Anschutz.

It's been awhile since I shot it. I put a Lyman target receiver sight and a globe front sight on it for my son to use when he was is Boy Scout and bought a Cooper for myself. As I recall, that first shot is out about 1" to 2" at 50 yds. A local gunsmith was the one who told me that he had seen others that did the same thing. I was inquiring about what could be done to correct it and was told there is likely some stress in the barrel and that re-barreling was about the only sure fix for it. Since it was used for targets, and, a couple warm-up shots took care of it, I decided against re-barreling it.

As a past NYS rimfire benchrest champ and past Unlimited Class National Benchrest Champion and an inductee in the IR50/50 Hall of Fame myself, it had me scratching my head. For those wanting a great shooting sporter the Anschutz and Cooper are both excellent, but pricey. Heck, my old Montgomery Ward 842/Mossberg 346K makes a better squirrel gun than that 541 THB.

I am the most casual of casual shooters and almost always bring a .22 rifle to the range with ammunition proven to be accurate in that rifle to warm up with prior to shooting my center-fire rifles. The rifles that I bring along for warming up with most frequently are an Anschutz-Savage 141, a Marlin XT-22VR, a Tradewinds (Krico) 311A, or a Winchester (Miroku) 52 Sporter.

From what I've read, first round flyers in a .22 rimfire are often caused by a build up of wax or lead right in front of the chamber. One local non formal match even allowed a "1 shot sighter" into the dirt, partially to combat the problem. After the first shot the build up softens enough that the next bullet through is not sized by it. Some people report success of eliminating it by using one of the fire lapping kits. I have also read some reports that although fire lapping didn't eliminate the problem that in did cut down the amount that the bullet may deviate, i.e. a 2" flyer cut down to 1" or whatever.


A 10/22 with an Adams and Bennet Barrel that I used to own had the first shot flyer. After the first shot it would do pretty good. I sold the rifle before reading of the cure so I did not have a chance to try it myself.

What you read was mostly incorrect. The reason for a first shot flyer, even in a quality match gun, is that the barrel is not seasoned or completely coated with wax/lube. Every top benchrest rimfire shooter I knew cleaned their barrel after every target ~ 40-50 shots. The reason for this is that it is easier to repeat a clean barrel condition than some varying degree of a dirty barrel condition. The lead/carbon ring build up in the leade is a problem, but regular cleaning with a brush keeps that at bay. That ring does not soften and will swag the bullet down in size, which we don't want. During a match I would put about 5 rounds down a clean barrel off target and off sighters, into the berm to thoroughly coat the bore with the wax/lube of the ammo that I was using that day. After that, I would go to my sighters to confirm consistent groups and to get a handle on the wind conditions. When everything was settled down and conditions were figured out, I would then go to my record targets. This is allowed in all the sanctioned rimfire events. Once a good barrel is properly conditioned with lube, the accuracy will be good up to and until the lead ring forms or until the barrel is too fouled. When that happens is a guess, which is why most would clean after every target and then shoot a couple foulers before going to the record targets. I know of no one in competition that used a fire lapping round. Our match barrels were perfectly lapped by our gunsmiths, no need to bugger that up. Just cleaning with a couple passes of a brass/bronze brush after every 40-50 shots is enough to keep that lead/carbon ring at bay. For the average non-match .22 rimfire, it's not an issue as they are not required or expected to shoot the .1-.2" groups that are expected from a match rimfire to be competitive.

My 541 THB will shoot a cold barrel flyer, then settle down. However, if left to cool, even after the barrel has been conditioned/fouled it will throw another big flyer. This is not typical or expected.

It is not just an matter of handiness but also eye dominance. I'm left handed but right eye dominant so I shoot right handed.
I knew a right handed person in the Army that shot left handed because of eye dominance.

The 541-t hb I owned once upon a long time ago had had to have the barrel bedded and the action free floated to shoot well.
After that it was a1/4" rifle at 50 yards.

I have had about as much experience with ACCURATE factory 22 LR rifles as anyone as I have been shooting them for over 60 Years. IMHO the 580 series rifles are WITHOUT a doubt one of the best/if not the best BANG 4 the buck

I currently own 3- 580,5 -581's 3 and 541's each and every one of these will average 1/2" --3/8" or better for 5/5 shot groups at 50 yds . One particular 508 has had minor mods and it will shoot with my Voleker 541 w/Lilja bbl- it has been glass bedded ,2 action screw, bbl shortened and 541 trigger.

I have seen NO measurable difference in the earlier Walnut stock rifles vs the later Birch ones the triggers although different both respond equally to polishing and spring mods .

I no longer have any of the HB 540 models although they are also very accurate-- I had one that my Smith turned the bbl to sporter contour and placed in a 580 stock and in Virginia late 80' shot a lot of "Bottle Cap" matches and won more that my fair share

In searching for a 580 series one thing to do if possible use a tight fitting patch on a GOOD one piece rod and check the bore in the area of the STAMPINGS on the bbl and check for roughness as the bbl is sooooo thin in that area that it moved into the bore- U will B able to feel -my 580 has NONE the bore is as smooth as the 541's

Good Luck

Jim


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And Anschutz is just another name for fancy Savage...

I picked up a 581 right port left bolt several years back that shoots very well !!