Shooting Gallery 22's
- Thread starter BrittB
- Start date
The gallery guns most common were the Remington model 12 b. These were chambered in .22 short only and were marked "Gallery Special". The other 2 were Winchesters. First was the model 1890 in .22 short. Next was the model 62 which was a slightly up-dated model 1890. The first model 62's had octagon barrels then became round barrels. These were also chambered in .22 short only. They are pretty easy to distinguish because the loading port on the magazine tube had a triangular shape, which was odd...Some of the last gallery guns even used Winchester model 61's but only for the last few years of their existence. These were also a pump action that were hammerless....All of the above rifles were pump actions...John
I came into a Winchester 61 built in 1938 not so long ago. I have other 22 rifles but the 61 has fast become one of my favorites. 61’s demand a premium price but then they are slick, very fun to shot and well made. I don’t think a person would hurt themselves $ wise with a 61.
Price wise it depends on the rifle. A grooved Receiver brings more than a non grooved receiver. A 22 Mag brings more than one which will shoot Shorts, Longs and Long Rifles. A pre-war brings more than a post war. There are a couple of other things which change the price. The one I have would be worth around $1450.00. I stole it and paid about ½ that. It's a nice example of a 61 that shoots Shorts, Longs and Long Rifles.
Price wise it depends on the rifle. A grooved Receiver brings more than a non grooved receiver. A 22 Mag brings more than one which will shoot Shorts, Longs and Long Rifles. A pre-war brings more than a post war. There are a couple of other things which change the price. The one I have would be worth around $1450.00. I stole it and paid about ½ that. It's a nice example of a 61 that shoots Shorts, Longs and Long Rifles.
I had a Winchester M 1906 I got from my step father that only fired 22 shorts. I traded it off at a gun show for my Ruger Blackhawk 44 mag and never looked back. One I could rarely find ammo for and the other has taken deer. I am happy with the trade off although some have told me I'm nuts. If I have a gun it has to be one I can shoot.
aarondhgraham
New member
My first rifle was the 1890 pump,,,
Way back in the dark ages (circa 1961) I bought one at a farm auction for $5.00,,,
The magazine rod was missing and the wooden pump handle was split,,,
So it was a clumsy single-shot but man was it accurate.
I had to aim high for sure,,,
But laying down I could hit Coke bottles at 100 yards.
My father was a phenomenal shot with any .22 rifle,,,
He could barely hit the ground with a .30 rifle,,,
He was absolutely terrible with a pistol.
But with that rifle and .22 shorts he was deadly,,,
I saw him hit a groundhog at 130 yards,,,
We paced the distance off together.
When I went into the Air Force I gave it to my youngest brother,,,
I think he swapped it off for a bag of weed.
Being so beat-up, mine wouldn't bring this kind of price,,,
But I believe they are going for around $1,200.00 and up nowadays.
The Evil Pawn Shop has a nice one hanging on it's wall,,,
It's marked "Not for Sale" though,,,
Wonder why?
Aarond
Way back in the dark ages (circa 1961) I bought one at a farm auction for $5.00,,,
The magazine rod was missing and the wooden pump handle was split,,,
So it was a clumsy single-shot but man was it accurate.
I had to aim high for sure,,,
But laying down I could hit Coke bottles at 100 yards.
My father was a phenomenal shot with any .22 rifle,,,
He could barely hit the ground with a .30 rifle,,,
He was absolutely terrible with a pistol.
But with that rifle and .22 shorts he was deadly,,,
I saw him hit a groundhog at 130 yards,,,
We paced the distance off together.
When I went into the Air Force I gave it to my youngest brother,,,
I think he swapped it off for a bag of weed.
Being so beat-up, mine wouldn't bring this kind of price,,,
But I believe they are going for around $1,200.00 and up nowadays.
The Evil Pawn Shop has a nice one hanging on it's wall,,,
It's marked "Not for Sale" though,,,
Wonder why?
Aarond
I grew up with a Rem 12 and a Marlin 39A, both '40's vintage. Between my brother and I, it was pretty much an even match every time. I'd be inclined to stay away from a carnival rifle, likely to be shot out and worn from lack of regular maintenance. Remmy 12's show up, get one of those.
I've not shot the Henery but I do know they seem to have a following with their lever guns any ways. If I did not have the 61, and knew how fun the pumps are I might have to look at a Henry too. I would more than likely go after the 22 mag model. Gun Broker has all models of the pump 22 rifles. You might find a deal there.
There's a nice looking 22 short pump right here at TFL: http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=454125
There's a nice looking 22 short pump right here at TFL: http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=454125
Last edited:
Art Eatman
Staff in Memoriam
Fall of 1953, I lived in a rooming house in downtown Corpus Christi. It was upstairs over a shooting gallery. The gallery closed each night at around 9PM so folks could get to sleep. 
Yeah, Rem 12s and Win 61s and 62s.
Odds are, a modern repro would be a fun shooter, once the best-working ammo is found.
Yeah, Rem 12s and Win 61s and 62s.
Odds are, a modern repro would be a fun shooter, once the best-working ammo is found.
I think that the last time I saw a shooting gallery was about 1962 here in Indiana at a fair.
The guns of that type are pretty pricey now. A Remington model 12 Gallery Special in good shooting condition will run from about $350 to over $700. Winchester model 62's are fairly common but run from about $350 to around $900. Model 1890 Winchesters in .22 short will be from $400 to about $800. Remington 121's run from about $375 to over $700. Winchester 61's seem to start about $400 and go up to about $700. I sold a Remington 121 last winter for $400. It was very nice and first year production. Sold a Winchester 62 for $500 that was about 97%. Recently bought a beautiful Remington model 12C for $350. Wouldn't take $800 for it. Almost perfect condition inside and out. Shoots fine. I have always liked and collected pump .22's.
BTW, the above prices are what you can find them selling for at gun shows, etc. They are good shooters but don't expect to find mint ones for those prices. They run quite a bit more. I bought my Winchester 61 at a garage sale about 1984 for $40. Grooved receiver model, too. I have put thousands of rounds through it. Added sling swivels, also. Never intend to sell it so why not....
The guns of that type are pretty pricey now. A Remington model 12 Gallery Special in good shooting condition will run from about $350 to over $700. Winchester model 62's are fairly common but run from about $350 to around $900. Model 1890 Winchesters in .22 short will be from $400 to about $800. Remington 121's run from about $375 to over $700. Winchester 61's seem to start about $400 and go up to about $700. I sold a Remington 121 last winter for $400. It was very nice and first year production. Sold a Winchester 62 for $500 that was about 97%. Recently bought a beautiful Remington model 12C for $350. Wouldn't take $800 for it. Almost perfect condition inside and out. Shoots fine. I have always liked and collected pump .22's.
BTW, the above prices are what you can find them selling for at gun shows, etc. They are good shooters but don't expect to find mint ones for those prices. They run quite a bit more. I bought my Winchester 61 at a garage sale about 1984 for $40. Grooved receiver model, too. I have put thousands of rounds through it. Added sling swivels, also. Never intend to sell it so why not....
As I recall, most every shooting gallery I ever saw at a carnival midway, fair or amusement arcade as a boy used a pump action of one sort or another. I do recall seeing at least one which used a Browning-type .22 semiauto, but whether they were real "gallery model" Brownings or Remington Model 24's I can't recall fifty-some years later. IIRC, most of the larger U.S. manufacturers produced at least a couple of special .22 Short-only "gallery" models during the period when shooting galleries were a staple in the amusement business.
The very first real firearm I was allowed to shoot was a Winchester M62 at a shooting gallery in Santa Cruz, CA when I was five or six. I still have a special soft spot for a slick-handling little RF pump to this very day.
The very first real firearm I was allowed to shoot was a Winchester M62 at a shooting gallery in Santa Cruz, CA when I was five or six. I still have a special soft spot for a slick-handling little RF pump to this very day.
Ideal Tool
Moderator
Hello, BrittB. There was another type of "shooting gallery" in the time period, or slightly before what you are refering to. There were quite a few shooting clubs located under the saloons in downtown N.Y.C. around the turn of the
19th century. The most famous was the Zettler Bros. I have a story of a rifle that was used in those long bygone days: The dealer/collector I purchased it from had just gotten it from an old gentleman in his late 80's. It was his fathers gun. He said he could remember as a very small child, his dad carrying this rifle in a heavy canvas case, along with a small leather "shooting kit" with plenty of ammunition, and boarding the streetcars to attend the weekly matches of a Sunday afternoon...Could you imagine someone walking down Broadway today, carrying a firearm and ammunition? It was a very differen't..and probably better world.
Anyway, this rifle started out in life as a 34" brl. long-range Ballard..3 didget serial #, probably chambered in .44-100 for 1000yd. shooting at Creedmoor or Seagirt.
Sometime around the turn of the century, this mans father sent it to Stevens to be fitted with a 1/2 oct. 28" match barrel, with scope blks. in .22 L.R. This brl. is numbered to frame. A Stevens checkered forend, with palm rest was fitted..also # to frame. Double-set triggers installed, the C.F. breech-block converted to R.F. & re-cased in Stevens mottled case-colors. A small Swiss buttplate, also case-colored was fitted & # to frame. Rifle has checkered pistol grip of fancy grained walnut, A short range vernier tang sight & interchangeable appa. globe front. Has a match chamber & mint shiny bore. With Lapua match, at 50yds, it will put them into a ragged hole not much larger that a .22 bullet.
The father, Mr. Brooks, was president of the Long Island Rifle Club for many years. With rifle, I have several large photos of him sitting with H.M. Pope & Lucian Cary.
This is one rifle I wish very much could talk!
19th century. The most famous was the Zettler Bros. I have a story of a rifle that was used in those long bygone days: The dealer/collector I purchased it from had just gotten it from an old gentleman in his late 80's. It was his fathers gun. He said he could remember as a very small child, his dad carrying this rifle in a heavy canvas case, along with a small leather "shooting kit" with plenty of ammunition, and boarding the streetcars to attend the weekly matches of a Sunday afternoon...Could you imagine someone walking down Broadway today, carrying a firearm and ammunition? It was a very differen't..and probably better world.
Anyway, this rifle started out in life as a 34" brl. long-range Ballard..3 didget serial #, probably chambered in .44-100 for 1000yd. shooting at Creedmoor or Seagirt.
Sometime around the turn of the century, this mans father sent it to Stevens to be fitted with a 1/2 oct. 28" match barrel, with scope blks. in .22 L.R. This brl. is numbered to frame. A Stevens checkered forend, with palm rest was fitted..also # to frame. Double-set triggers installed, the C.F. breech-block converted to R.F. & re-cased in Stevens mottled case-colors. A small Swiss buttplate, also case-colored was fitted & # to frame. Rifle has checkered pistol grip of fancy grained walnut, A short range vernier tang sight & interchangeable appa. globe front. Has a match chamber & mint shiny bore. With Lapua match, at 50yds, it will put them into a ragged hole not much larger that a .22 bullet.
The father, Mr. Brooks, was president of the Long Island Rifle Club for many years. With rifle, I have several large photos of him sitting with H.M. Pope & Lucian Cary.
This is one rifle I wish very much could talk!
If I wanted a gallery gun type shooter I would suggest the savage 29A or 29B. They don't command the premium of the original winchesters, but they are every bit as good and in my opinion a slightly better design. If you want a magnum, get a used rossi or a new taurus with the horrible non traditional safety lever on top.
Update to the story, I bought a Winchester model 1906. This rifle is a beauty and so fun to shoot. The stock has been replaced somewhere in it's life and it now has a well done pistol grip type stock. The receiver wasn't modified for this stock and I'm considering ordering a replacement from Boyd's stocks or finding a nice original one. It has been reblued sometime in it's life and done very nicely too. Also, it appears that sometime in it's life, it's had a new barrel installed as the serial number list it as a 1909 and the barrel has a 1911 patened date on it. No matter, the new one is perfect and it still has the original sights. What an awesome little .22!
Major Dave (retired)
New member
Would you advise blueing
a Win Mod 62 in good shape, but with absolutely no original metal finish?
I inherited it from my parents, who were the original owners.
The action is slick and still very tight.
It has a round barrel.
Shoots shorts, longs, or long rifle.
Stock has no splits or cracks, and perhaps 75% original finish.
What do you think?
a Win Mod 62 in good shape, but with absolutely no original metal finish?
I inherited it from my parents, who were the original owners.
The action is slick and still very tight.
It has a round barrel.
Shoots shorts, longs, or long rifle.
Stock has no splits or cracks, and perhaps 75% original finish.
What do you think?
Being the sentimental type personally, I'd leave it as it is and just try to preserve its present condition from deterioration. Being a family heirloom would have special meaning to me, and I'd consider it very differently than I would most any other old .22 that I might pick up for regular recreational use.
If one can afford it, there are some very skilled and knowledgable 'smiths who are capable of restoring it to a condition virtually indistinguishable from the way it came out of its original factory box. If it were mine, and "pretty" mattered that much to me, that's the way I'd go rather than simply have it refinished. Sort of a tribute, as it were, to the memory of the folks it came from and a legacy for those who are to follow.
But like I said, I'm the sentimental sort. OMMV.
If one can afford it, there are some very skilled and knowledgable 'smiths who are capable of restoring it to a condition virtually indistinguishable from the way it came out of its original factory box. If it were mine, and "pretty" mattered that much to me, that's the way I'd go rather than simply have it refinished. Sort of a tribute, as it were, to the memory of the folks it came from and a legacy for those who are to follow.
But like I said, I'm the sentimental sort. OMMV.