Need advise on Grandfather's rifles

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redraif

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Hello all, this is my first post here. Hopefully I'm posting this in the right area.
I need some advise from those with more experience...

first the back ground...
My grandfather passed away almost 20 years ago and Grams moved in with Mom. Along with her came 2 rifles of his and they have been there since. The other day, Mom decided she wanted to sell my grandfather's rifles to get my grandmother some extra money. Well she asked me about selling them.

I had no idea she even had them and I had never seen the guns myself. Being the grand daughter, he ASSUMED a girl would have no interest in seeing guns. (well he was quite wrong) Anyway, I asked a guy I knew if he might be able to help me get some info on them. He asked me to get some pictures and he would see. Well I got them home and expected to find some old beat up rusty hunks... What I found was quite the opposite.

The history of the rifles...
These were his hunting rifles. Mom remembers whenever grampa used them he always cleaned them after. They were always kept in the house and in cases. He always babied his guns. And boy did it show. There is no rust, the wood is in prefect shape.

The guy I know wants to buy them, but I find myself not wanting to part with them. Grandpa took such meticulous care of them. Maybe I should buy one or both and keep them in the family... I know grandpa would want the rifles to go to a person who will care for them like he did. That I will definitely do. And yes, I have always had an interest in guns. Its been $ that has kept me from having one.

So now on to business...
I ask you all here what you think about these rifles. Should I try to keep both or just one? Which one is better if I can only retain one? Both are semi-automatic. For me that is definitely a plus.

1. Mossberg 151K (1950-1951)
2. Remington 550-1 (Feb. 1960: if I understand the barrel code)
(pics to follow)

From what I have read, the Mossberg only uses the .22 lr. The Remington notates s, l, and lr. I assume this means it can use a variety of ammo?

Seems alot of folks rave about the Remington, even over the Ruger 10/22, so I was leaning that way. But alot of folks say the Mossberg is great. That being said I would like to shoot both to see if one feels better for me that the other. What is the best ammo to get for each one?

Mossberg: I have read Federal Champion Target ammo- standard velocity (Dick's Sporting Goods), high velocity (WalMart).
Remington: No idea...

Thank you for any help you can give!
 
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pics

Remington:
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Very nice.

If you want to sell them, look them up in the Blue Book of Gun Values.... your library might have a copy, as will any gun dealer.
 
WOW... I've never seen a pair of rifles that old that look that well cared for. for actual value and what is better I haven't a clue but most guns from that age either worked or nobody bought them, people had less understanding towards mediocre gun manufacturers than they do now. the one that lists several if I'm not mistaken just means that it can take 22 short. 22 short was very common in shooting galleries back when it was culturally alright to hand a child a rifle at the fair booth and tell him to knock the bottles down instead of handing him a baseball. some guns were able to cleanly cycle both 22 short and 22 long rifle but the recoil is so light that most just become a form of bolt action, requiring you to manually cycle each round. 22 short was also very popular in town where neighbors don't like you shooting those pesky squirrels...less noise.
 
Nice rifles. Regarding value, check the selling prices on Gunbroker, Guns America or some of the other websites. The Blue Book is typically not that accurate for market value. Unfortunately, .22's are usually at the lower end of the gun price spectrum, even older classics (exception for some Winchesters). I grew up with a Remington 550. Shorts were once cheap and my Dad let me shoot shorts assuming I could do less damage. Great gun but I screwed mine up trying to make it shoot full auto when I was a creative, yet pretty stupid teenager. My first attempt at gunsmithing!
 
I like that Mossberg, and that old Remington. They have been taken care of, it looks like to me also. I have an old 151k and I love it, There is a thread called "Lipstick on a Pig" that I did when I refinished the stock and did some internal work on it, it shoots wonderfully and looks nice too.:)
 
As for your moral dilemma, to keep or not to keep, since that is the question, I'd say keep!

But I have a soft spot for multi-generational considerations, and consider what it would mean to your kids one day to have their great grandfather's rifles to go shoot! I know that would mean a lot to me as well as my kids.

Although I don't have any firearms from my ancestors, I do have knives, and old desk, and pictures. My kids love them, as it provides a tangible connection to a generation who, for the most part, checked out before they were born.
 
First off, welcome to the playpen. :)

I still have fond memories of my Remington 550 from back in the 1950s. It always reliably fed Shorts, Longs and Long Rifle.

I suggest finding the value, paying Grandma, and then keeping which one of the two you like the most. The better of the two would be the one with which you can most easily hit a target.
 
Grandpas rifles

Not sure about the values, but they appear to be in vgc. If memory serves me the Rem marked s,l, lr had to be adjusted by the shooter when using the diff .22's The one I used when a kid which appears the same and has that larger knurled knob on the end of the receiver was turned in or out to pre load the ejection spring for low to higer velocity rounds, which was kind of unique. TL
 
if it was me would keep both but if you decide to keep only 1 of them keep the mossberg..course that gun has some sentimental value to me so may be biased lol....on another note if you decide to sell the mossberg keep me in mind would love to have it
 
Never saw a Mossberg like that before but my in-laws had the 550 and it shot to point of aim out to 50 yards with any ammo we fed it. What I found on the Mossberg was it being sold in like new condition for $130 2 years ago. Since its for your Grandma I think I would offer her $150 for each gun and see if she would take payments as you could afford them, say $50 a week or every other week. I know they made at least 750,000 of the 550 so it's a pretty common gun.
 
First off, welcome. Both very nice condition firearms.

If you are interested in taking up shooting as a hobby, I would say shoot them both, pick the one you like the most and shoot it a lot, and sell the other one. If you are looking for mementos of your grandfather, unused guns are a terrible testament to anyone.
 
I think Old Grump is in the ball park on values. Both are very nice .22's , I wouldn't mind having either one. If there can only be one, the Remington would be more versatile. As you observed it can use either .22 Short, 22 Long ( kind of rare bird to day ) or .22 Long Rifle. .22 Shorts are nice for close quiet work, the .22 Long Rifle will work for up to dog size animals ( no, I'm not advocating shooting the neighbors dogs , just a comparison ), but like Robert Frost in his poem ( The Road not Taken ) the Mossberg is very accurate and would serve equality well. I also admire your desire on keeping at least one. Good Luck and shoot safe:) BTW, thank you for the wonderfull clear pictures, it makes life so much easier:)
 
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