Old .22 caliber rifles
- Thread starter Mauser8mm
- Start date
Microgunner
New member
I've got a Winchester mod 75 Target.
Very cool old rifle, well made, accurate and affordable.
Very cool old rifle, well made, accurate and affordable.
bedbugbilly
New member
Old??? 60s to 80s???? OMG!!! Now I'm feeling old myself!!! 
There are lots of "vintage" 22s out there. I once had a nice collection of them but liquidated them a number of years ago. The problem is, there are so many makes and models. The collection I had was pretty much "youth rifles" - inexpensive rifles from the early 1900s to the 1930s and 40s - single shots that were intended for "first rifles" for a kid. If I was going to collect again, I'd probably pick one or two brands and concentrate on the different models in those lines. The nice thing is that you can still pick them up at flea markets, garage sales, etc. - sometimes but not always at a cheap price.
At the time, I was also picking up vintage 22 ammo boxes that I displayed with them. They are an interesting thing to collect as well. When I was a kid, shorts, longs and long rifles were what we had. I don't even know if longs are even made anymore. If you start collecting 22s from the years you referred to, you might keep your eyes open for ammo boxes from that period. There are a lot of brands that were available then that are no longer available.
Advertising is also a neat thing to display with a collection - especially if they are for the guns you have. In the 50s and 60s when I was a kid, there was a vast array of guns advertised in a lot of different publications.
Good luck with your collecting - as you find 'em I hope you'll post some photos of your "finds". Enjoy!
There are lots of "vintage"
22s out there. I once had a nice collection of them but liquidated them a number of years ago. The problem is, there are so many makes and models. The collection I had was pretty much "youth rifles" - inexpensive rifles from the early 1900s to the 1930s and 40s - single shots that were intended for "first rifles" for a kid. If I was going to collect again, I'd probably pick one or two brands and concentrate on the different models in those lines. The nice thing is that you can still pick them up at flea markets, garage sales, etc. - sometimes but not always at a cheap price. At the time, I was also picking up vintage 22 ammo boxes that I displayed with them. They are an interesting thing to collect as well. When I was a kid, shorts, longs and long rifles were what we had. I don't even know if longs are even made anymore. If you start collecting 22s from the years you referred to, you might keep your eyes open for ammo boxes from that period. There are a lot of brands that were available then that are no longer available.
Advertising is also a neat thing to display with a collection - especially if they are for the guns you have. In the 50s and 60s when I was a kid, there was a vast array of guns advertised in a lot of different publications.
Good luck with your collecting - as you find 'em I hope you'll post some photos of your "finds". Enjoy!
My dad had bought a rifle like the one in your first post, but I dont remember it being a model 511. He paid like 15 dollars for it at a garage sale and refinished the stock. It looked very nice like yours and brings back memories. My brother now has that rifle and I have a Remington 541-S we would shoot at thumbtacks at 50 yards and both rifles could hit them all day long. Nice rifle you have there.
Don't overlook old Mossbergs and Marlins from the 40s and 50s. They were better made back then especially the Mossbergs.They are also easy to find and not that exspensive.
Also, store brand .22 rifles are another source of good cheap rifles. Collectors haven't caught on to these so the prices haven't been driven up. You can often get a store brand rifle cheaper than the exact same name brand rifle.
Another thing to consider if you are going to buy old .22s is parts availability. You may find a old gun that you really like for a good price but it may need a little work. Firing pins, feed mechanisms, and springs are some of the parts that may need replacing.
Taking some dummy .22 rounds to try in the gun also helps. Its not a completely accurate test but at least you can see if it feeds and ejects properly.
Also, store brand .22 rifles are another source of good cheap rifles. Collectors haven't caught on to these so the prices haven't been driven up. You can often get a store brand rifle cheaper than the exact same name brand rifle.
Another thing to consider if you are going to buy old .22s is parts availability. You may find a old gun that you really like for a good price but it may need a little work. Firing pins, feed mechanisms, and springs are some of the parts that may need replacing.
Taking some dummy .22 rounds to try in the gun also helps. Its not a completely accurate test but at least you can see if it feeds and ejects properly.
AssaultTortoise
New member
I was interested in the same thing this summer. I decided to go to each gun-show in the area with whatever free spending cash I could ($200 or less) and find the best deal at the show. I bought a really nice mossberg and a nice Marlin 81dl that needed restored for very little money. Its fun walking around scoping deals. If its a big show take a note pad and write down gun/cost/table# of everything you like. Make a few rounds around the show before you make a decision. Half the fun is finding and dealing on them. The site linked has been a big help as well. http://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/index.php
Cheap is a relative thing, but if the OP is considering '60s to '80s era .22 rifles, the Marlin 66 ought to be right up at the top of the list. There are scads of them out there and with a little looking, you should be able to find one in great shape for under $150.
And how about a Ruger 10/22? They're kind of the epitome of that era's .22 rifles, I think. Both are about as simple as a semi-auto rifle can be, parts are plentiful and they're easy to find.
And how about a Ruger 10/22? They're kind of the epitome of that era's .22 rifles, I think. Both are about as simple as a semi-auto rifle can be, parts are plentiful and they're easy to find.
Nice DUB! I love those old pump guns
My Dad has his old Western Field #41 repeater. My great grandfather bought it for him to hunt rabbits with on the farm when he visited as a boy. Dad and I take turns knocking 410 hulls of fence posts at 50 yards with it when we shoot together
I got bit by the bug also. I'm getting into collecting the different models of the Mossberg trainer rifles. I didn't relies there were so many different variations of the models. I saw one a couple weeks age while doing research into what to start collecting. My love of mossbergs in general, along with the history of these sealed the deal.
This is the one I just picked up on GB to kick off the collection. It's in the process of shipping, the wait is all but unbearable. It's a late 50s manufacture 151M.
next on the list to add is a US Property marked 1940s 42M mag feed bolt action. In addition to the rifles themselves, there is a whole slew of original accessories, advertisement and telescopic sights to collect.
If you like the old mossys like I do, this site was VERY helpful to me in my research. http://home.epix.net/~damguy/
My Dad has his old Western Field #41 repeater. My great grandfather bought it for him to hunt rabbits with on the farm when he visited as a boy. Dad and I take turns knocking 410 hulls of fence posts at 50 yards with it when we shoot together
I got bit by the bug also. I'm getting into collecting the different models of the Mossberg trainer rifles. I didn't relies there were so many different variations of the models. I saw one a couple weeks age while doing research into what to start collecting. My love of mossbergs in general, along with the history of these sealed the deal.
This is the one I just picked up on GB to kick off the collection. It's in the process of shipping, the wait is all but unbearable. It's a late 50s manufacture 151M.
next on the list to add is a US Property marked 1940s 42M mag feed bolt action. In addition to the rifles themselves, there is a whole slew of original accessories, advertisement and telescopic sights to collect.
If you like the old mossys like I do, this site was VERY helpful to me in my research. http://home.epix.net/~damguy/
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mxsailor803
New member
I guess I came from the wrong era. Grew up in the 80's but love guns from the 70's on back. I actually got into collecting the remington 550's and 550A's. Something about them just put a smile on my face
Mike Irwin
Staff
Hey Dub, is that an optical illusion, or does the top rifle really have that much drop at the stock?
Here's one that is probably unknown to most. It's a Marlin 50. Manufactured from 1932 to 1934 with a total production of only a couple thousand. Magazine fed, open-bolt, semi-automatic and I've read the first semi offered to the civilian market. Has a tendency to go rock and roll with a little wear on the sear which probably contributed to it's demise.
When I got this one it was rusty, had a broken stock (in two pieces) and was missing a couple of parts. She still fires fine and has a nice shot group.
~Craig
When I got this one it was rusty, had a broken stock (in two pieces) and was missing a couple of parts. She still fires fine and has a nice shot group.
~Craig
