Old .22s?

[leghog]

In my mind, the finest .22LR double action revolver ever made. S&W M17. This is my favorite range revolver regardless of manufacturer or cartridge.

 

[mete]

I did a trigger job on a friend's M17 then took it out for squirrels. There was no challenge at all !!!

 

[WRGreen]

Old .22's have a charm of their own. Brings back memories of days when rifles and pistols were for hunting, pest control and plinking, not armegeddon 'tacticool' assult. (hi-caps are fun too though) Fearmongering internet auction price gouging profiteering on ammo has to stop. It is killing the shooting sports better than a Washington special interest lobby ever could.

 

[338375]

This is my favorite 22.... My grandfather bought this new. I wasn't very old when he bought it, but the first time I saw it, I couldn't stop looking at it.
He made me a deal when I was about 14 years old. If I would help him build a garage for their travel trailer, he would give me the pistol.
I've had it ever since. I have a couple old Ruger Single-Sixes that are great pistols, and they get used when I go out in the desert, but this one only gets shot every couple years or so now. I actually shot it quite a bit when I was in my teens.
The action on it is as smooth as glass...

 

[nickortizzle1035]

I just found this one in the back of the safe. 1930's H&R Sportsman Double Action. Probably gonna sell it since I had kind of forgotten about it anyways.

Damn I want that!

 

[leghog]

My one target rifle. Winchester M75.

I bought the proper irons (Lyman 57 rear and 17 front) for it, but they are lost somewhere in the house. I'll find them sooner or later.

 

[Cereal_killer]

I have a couple beautiful old .22lr's, one is a 1979 Browning BL-22 (lever gun) which belonged to my uncle who I'm named after (he was killed by a DUI a few years before I was born) and the other is a much older Mossberg 151(b) semi-auto with a tube mag that was my great grandfathers. It was a Manlicher but the front part of the stock was missing so I finished it off about 8" shorter and cut the barrel down to 20" and re-crowned.

It's got a set of Tech-Sights on it (peep sights) and is my most accurate .22lr far outshooting all my modern .22's.

 

[leghog]

I have a couple beautiful old .22lr's, one is a 1979 Browning BL-22 (lever gun) which belonged to my uncle who I'm named after (he was killed by a DUI a few years before I was born) and the other is a much older Mossberg 151(b) semi-auto with a tube mag that was my great grandfathers. It was a Manlicher but the front part of the stock was missing so I finished it off about 8" shorter and cut the barrel down to 20" and re-crowned.

It's got a set of Tech-Sights on it (peep sights) and is my most accurate .22lr far outshooting all my modern .22's.

Here's my Mossberg 151M. Bought it in Hawaii from a now dead friend. Only autoloading rifle I own.

 

[Cereal_killer]

Beautiful! Mine is modernized (I know some people will find that appalling but it wasn't a candidate for restoration so I turned it into a cool little rifle for my kids).

I don't want to tell you yours needs any work, or to change anything your happy with, but if you made the loading port in the stock black (just the beveled part) that would look totally awesome!

I also modified mine to allow ejecting a live round from the chamber (surprisingly that wasn't possible factory, once chambered it had to be fired to clear it, a little work on the trigger/sear and you can hand cycle rounds.)

 

[leghog]

I also modified mine to allow ejecting a live round from the chamber (surprisingly that wasn't possible factory, once chambered it had to be fired to clear it, a little work on the trigger/sear and you can hand cycle rounds.)

No modification necessary. If the rifle is functioning properly, you can manually extract and eject a live/unfired cartridge without first firing it. It did not leave the factory only able to manually eject after firing firing the cartridge. Sounds like you didn't so much modify yours as you repaired it. Sound like your sear engagement was off or the surfaces worn.

 

[Cereal_killer]

No modification necessary. If the rifle is functioning properly, you can manually extract and eject a live/unfired cartridge without first firing it. It did not leave the factory unable to manually eject without first firing.

Mine definitely did, [mine is a 151M (b)] and I also thought there's no way it came like that so before modifying it I did lots of trying different parts, Scott from classicfirearmsandparts hooked me up sending me different parts to compare and try and it definitely didnt allow ejection of a live round (as stupid as it is to make a gun like that). As with any modification of a critical part like the sear/trigger parts I did alot of research before touching anything with a tool, like I said I with Scott from CFAP and another local guy I was recommended by my gun club as being exceptionally knowledgable on these old mossberg .22's and he verified this particular gun was operating as intended before hand.

Another very interesting thing about my gun, its from the '48-49 (I forget the exact year of production) but its got some factory date stamps in a few locations that say "1938". This particular rifle is very strange, almost like it was pieced together pre/post production. It also has no serial # (just to be clear NOT A REMOVED #, it was never given one).

 

[leghog]

It was neither designed nor made that way. All properly functioning Mossberg M151Ms will allow you to eject unfired cartridges.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZFXSn5RtAI

 

[leghog]

Another very interesting thing about my gun, its from the '48-49 (I forget the exact year of production) but its got some factory date stamps in a few locations that say "1938". This particular rifle is very strange, almost like it was pieced together pre/post production. It also has no serial # (just to be clear NOT A REMOVED #, it was never given one).

The 151M-B/151M(b) was made from 1948-1954. The first 151Ms were made in 1946. Since serial numbers on .22Lr rifles were not required before the Gun Control Act of 1968 and because Mossberg did not use serial numbers on the 151ms, there is really no way to more precisely date the year of manufacture within the production date ranges without other paper work or knowledge of when purchased.

 

[Bigfatts]

The 151M-B/151M(b) was made from 1948-1954. The first 151Ms were made in 1946. Since serial numbers on .22Lr rifles were not required before the Gun Control Act of 1968 and because Mossberg did not use serial numbers on the 151ms, there is really no way to more precisely date the year of manufacture within the production date ranges without other paper work or knowledge of when purchased.

I have also never seen a Mossberg with dates stamped on it, so whatever the 1938 number is- it isn't a production date. To my knowledge anyways.

 

[TWBryan]

I've got a few myself, Marlin 39A (1967) ,A Mossberg 340K, my father's Remington 121 Fieldmaster, a Winchester 77. I've also got a Marlin Gallery pump,I think 20A. I've an H&R Sportsman ,but not near as nice as the picture I saw earlier. I don't have a S&W 17 ,I've got the Taurus clone the model 82. Of course a couple Ruger MKII's,but they aren't that old.

 

[Bigfatts]

Had to put a new dehumidifier in the safe and thought I would pull a few out and rub them down. Only a fraction left of my collection but here's a few:


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From L to R and a little about them:

On the L is a Westernfiled marked Mossberg Model 50. This on will probably hit the chopping block. I bought it on a whim and just never did anything with it. I only use semi autos for hunting and don't like to run the real hot ammo through the old ones so I may not keep it. Nice little rifle though.

Next is the Mossberg 146b with the old barrel bolt knob. This is my favorite and best shooting .22 I've ever owned. Out shot all my heavy barrel guns, even the Win 52. So much more accurate than a sporter has a right to be. But then again this was made back when they really put effort into making quality guns.

Next is a Mossberg 46A. One of my Mossberg grails. I went on a road trip with my wife a few months back and decided to stop in a little hole in the wall shop and there it was, covered in dust and cobwebs. Got it for $100. Quite a steal, complete except for sling swivels which should be easy enough to find. Going to make a restoration project of it. The bluing is surprisingly good, just needs the stock and hardware refinished. No. 4 sight with a 4A aperture.

Next is a High Standard Model 29. This is my go to squirrel blaster. Old 4x Weaver rimfire scope on it. I couldn't even say how many dozens of tree rats have dropped to this rifle. This is also the only rifle my wife has ever shot anything with, a squirrel.

Lastly is a Weatherby Mark XXII. This one was a gift from my wife a few years back. This is my non scoped squirrel gun. Very accurate and Weatherby quality, even if it is Japanese.

Anyways, I was bored waiting for the turkey to cook. I like this thread and old .22s so I thought I would share. Heppy Thanksgiving everyone!

 

[T. Erdelyi]

Back in the 70s when I was a teenager we had a competition rifle and pistol team in town I was on the team for about 7 years, my target rifle was a Mossberg model 144 bolt action .22, I still have it 40+ years later, it's still a tack driver.

My other favorite .22 is my Old Man's early 60s Ruger Standard/MKI, also still in my collection 'is my varmit rifle, my bolt action Mossberg .22 magnum 640K.

 

[stevewest]

When I was an early teen, believe it or not, there was a NRA sponsered marksmanship program at of all places, the basement of the local YMCA! I talked my parents into letting me attend. The class, which mainly consisted of kids my age (around 12-14?), went through a 6 week training program which was centered around fundamentals of handling firearms safely. We went through the proscribed NRA marksmanship program - learning how to shoot prone, sitting, kneeling, and standing. Breath control, trigger squeeze, bone on bone. I really enjoyed it and became very proficient, going through (if I remember correctly) sharpshooter, sharpshooter first class, expert, and pro expert? I ended up with a pro expert patch. I think we shot Winchester 52's. I am not sure I could still shoot those rifles with the peep sights with the way my eyesight is now, but really did enjoy the experience. When my son was about that age, we started a 4-H marksmanship program with pellet guns. He had a lot of fun with that as did I. Current inventory of .22s - old Marlin 39A with a target barrel, Browning 22 semi auto, scoped Anschultz 64, Colt Woodsman match grade, S&W 34 kit gun, Browning Buckmark with a 10" barrel and scope, and a nice old S&W 41. I do wish the ammo situation would get itself straightened out - I am somewhat hesitant about using up much of my stockpile. I have had a few get away that I would love to have back. I had a lot of fun shooting an old Stevens Favorite that I let a friend talk me into selling to him. I miss that one alot.

 

[leghog]

A few more of my Mossbergs. Accurate and reliable. Cheap when first sold. "Mossberg: More gun for the money"

M42B. First Mossberg I ever bought. Bought from the man in Hawaii who fired up my passion for vintage .22LR turnbolts.

U.S. Property marked M44US trainer I bought from CMP for $75 delivered to my front door. Should have bought three when CMP was selling them.

M46B-B

 

[leghog]

...I do wish the ammo situation would get itself straightened out - I am somewhat hesitant about using up much of my stockpile....

Buy it by the case when you can find it. Last year when the Sandy Hook tragedy happened (Friday), I immediately ordered (Saturday) two cases (5000 cartridges each) of CCI Standard Velocity and then had about 15K .22LR cartridges once it was delivered. Since then my son and I have gone through about a case/5K cartridges. With what I've fired and since bought, I have about 19K now. I'll never come close to being caught short again and will keep 2-3 of years worth on hand. I normally buy CCI and Aguila/Eley primed Standard Velocity, but the last I bought was 6250 cartridges of Czech Sellier & Bellot Standard Velocity.