Remington 511X

Status
Not open for further replies.
G

gunner2

Inactive
I recently bought a Remington 511X. I need help determining if this rifle is a one of a kind. The date code is AL - which means that it was made in March of either 1942 or 1964. Next to the date code are the numerals 31 or 34, I can't tell. I tend to believe it was '64 because of the font of the lettering on the barrel and Remington and Scoremaster are side by side. Also, the 511 A & P were discontinued in 1963. But the 511X was introduced in 1965 and production ended in 1966. But that doesn't help me because the oldest date that this rifle could be is 1964. The stock appears to have Remington custom checkering and it doesn't appear to ever had iron sights (though the barrel has screws in place where the sights should be. The top of the receiver is grooved and it came with Weaver rings. The gun looks almost new. Could I have the prototype of the 1965 production line of 511X's?
 
My Blue Book and an old Gun Trader's Guide say the 511X was introduced in 1964, not 1965, so I think you have a first year model. Why would Remington need to prototype a gun they had made for 20 years with no difference except sights? I figure the "X" models were parts cleanup guns made to keep Remington in the .22 bolt action business after the Nylon 11 had flopped and until they could get the 581 going.

I think yours would have been shipped with sights that were unscrewed and the holes plugged for scope use.

The checkering is a different matter entirely. I guess it could have been ordered from the Custom Shop with checkering, or it could have been done to a Remington pattern aftermarket. I have a checkered 788 but the style and quality say it was almost surely done aftermarket.
 
Thanks for the information!! But, the problem is that everyone seems to have different dates for the introduction of this rifle. 12 Edition of Modern Gun Values, says that the 511X was introduced in 1965, discontinued in 1966. When I called around to local gun shops, they told me the same thing! And they said that they were getting the info from the Blue Book. To make matters even murkier. When I called Remington, they told me that the gun was manufactured in '42!!!
 
I have no doubt the 511X was introduced in 1964. It is shown as a new model in the 1965 Gun Digest, which would have been in final form, if not on the shelves, before the end of 1964. 1965 would have been the first FULL year of manufacture and that may be what some sources are going by.

The clerk at Remington just did not look closely enough at the chart to see that their date codes recycle.

Suggest you advertise it on one of the auction sites and see if it brings in enough to retire on. Not.
 
OK. But I don't have a desire to sell the rifle. I bought it for my son who shoots sporterifle. It is a very accurate and can shoot the same hole from the bench. My concern was that if this is truly a rare rifle, I would probably put it away and buy him something else to compete with.
 
The only rarity I can tell is the checkering. If you could PROVE it was factory, you would have something unusual. I don't know if I would let that keep me from letting my son shoot it.

You might get more information at rimfirecentral.com
Pictures would be a big help.
 
Agreed, I intend to let him shoot it. If you want I could email you pictures but I don't know how to put them in this forum.
 
Hope this helps...

There is an excellent reference book out there on all Remington .22s by John Gyde and Roy Marcot called "Remington .22 Rimfire Rifles". It states the 511x was produced in '64, '65,'66, and '67, with 29,120 rifles total for those four years. The previous versions of the model 511 (A,P, SB) were manufactured from 1939-1963 (interrupted for WWII) with a total of 381,267 guns made.

The 511 was dropped in 1963 when the Nylon 10, 11, and 12 bolt action .22s were to be released. The slow customer acceptance of the new "plastic guns" caused Remington to quickly update their "wood and metal" .22 bolt actions as not to lose sales. These guns were called the Model 510X (bolt action single shot), 511X (bolt action clip fed), and 512X (bolt action tube fed). They were released for sale in early 1964.

There are 3 differences from the old 511 series. The 511X has an untapered barrel of 0.62", the barrel is 1" shorter at 24", and the sights are the same as the Nylon 66 rifles. All X guns have grooved receivers for scope mounting.
 
This thread is nearly 7 years old. The original poster hasn't been here in over 3 years.

There's no reason to resurrect a thread this old.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top