Best .22 I've Ever Fired

Mosin-Marauder · April 21, 2014, 10:35 PM

I acquired 2 new guns today (in actuality they're quite old) and one of which, was a Remington Model 514, .22 caliber rifle. It can either shoot short, long, or long rifle, and I have to say, it's a blast to shoot. I've always been partial to Bolt action rifles and never really favored 10/22's or lever actions, so this rifle suits me very well. I own (and have owned) a large amount of .22LR and .22 Short so I won't have to buy any more ammo for a long time. Anyway, I just thought I would put in a good word for this magnificent piece of machinery after having an hour of fun plinking with it today. If anyone has one of these rifles, I'd love to hear your stories about them and any advice for a new owner. Thanks for reading.

natman · April 22, 2014, 11:30 AM

I had one that my Dad won as a door prize at a duck dinner in the 60s. He had no use for it, so he gave it to me. I had no use for a single shot 22 because I already had a Win 69a, so it didn't get shot much. When it did it was reasonably accurate and worked perfectly. All of those Remington 22s of that era were solid, accurate, well made guns. It's sad to think that Remington seems to have forgotten how to make a good bolt 22.

Unlicensed Dremel · April 22, 2014, 08:32 PM

Nice to hear. VERY hard to beat ANY old wood and all-steel .22 with almost any modern .22 - unless the old one in question has no rail and you MUST have a scope for some reason.

Ibmikey · April 23, 2014, 08:02 AM

Aah the good old Winchester and Remington .22 bolt action days, I still have a number of them for fun shooting. I remember the days when collecting discarded pop bottles financed many a .22 safari....and if we went together and bought a brick of shorts the man at the hardware store would give us an extra box for free! We learned the value of sights, conserving ammo with accurate fire and safety....all self imposed. A line of .22's outside the grocery store in Grass Valley Ca was quite common then...would draw the FBI and a tank or two today. I however find my M&P 15-22 the most fun of all to shoot.

Picher · April 23, 2014, 11:15 AM

I had one. It was made to sell in the fifties for under $20, so the barrel/receiver steel isn't as tough as the 69, etc. Also, after many rounds, the single extractor gave up.

Don't shoot a lot of .22 Shorts in it because the gas will cut the chamber ahead of the case mouth and cause difficult extraction for Long Rifle ammo. I shot mine a lot and it was nearly worthless when I traded it. However, it was very accurate with the side-mounted scope.

tangolima · April 23, 2014, 03:56 PM

Marlin 81. Got it from from a junk rack of a gun shop for $75. So old that it doesn't even have serial #. The design is good, although it was cheaply made. Works fine after some tinkering.

Marlin 39a. Got it on gunbroker for $339. Came with Weaver scope. Also old but in very good condition. Best .22 I have shot. Good design, materials, and workmanship.

-TL

April 21, 2014, 10:35 PM	#1
Mosin-Marauder Senior Member Join Date: April 18, 2014 Location: North Carolina Posts: 2,320	Best .22 I've Ever Fired I acquired 2 new guns today (in actuality they're quite old) and one of which, was a Remington Model 514, .22 caliber rifle. It can either shoot short, long, or long rifle, and I have to say, it's a blast to shoot. I've always been partial to Bolt action rifles and never really favored 10/22's or lever actions, so this rifle suits me very well. I own (and have owned) a large amount of .22LR and .22 Short so I won't have to buy any more ammo for a long time. Anyway, I just thought I would put in a good word for this magnificent piece of machinery after having an hour of fun plinking with it today. If anyone has one of these rifles, I'd love to hear your stories about them and any advice for a new owner. Thanks for reading.

April 23, 2014, 11:15 AM	#5
Picher Senior Member Join Date: December 14, 2004 Location: Maine Posts: 3,701	I had one. It was made to sell in the fifties for under $20, so the barrel/receiver steel isn't as tough as the 69, etc. Also, after many rounds, the single extractor gave up. Don't shoot a lot of .22 Shorts in it because the gas will cut the chamber ahead of the case mouth and cause difficult extraction for Long Rifle ammo. I shot mine a lot and it was nearly worthless when I traded it. However, it was very accurate with the side-mounted scope. Last edited by Picher; April 24, 2014 at 06:34 AM.

April 22, 2014, 11:30 AM	#2
natman Senior Member Join Date: June 25, 2008 Posts: 2,681	I had one that my Dad won as a door prize at a duck dinner in the 60s. He had no use for it, so he gave it to me. I had no use for a single shot 22 because I already had a Win 69a, so it didn't get shot much. When it did it was reasonably accurate and worked perfectly. All of those Remington 22s of that era were solid, accurate, well made guns. It's sad to think that Remington seems to have forgotten how to make a good bolt 22.

April 22, 2014, 08:32 PM	#3
Unlicensed Dremel Junior member Join Date: February 13, 2014 Location: Flathead Valley, MT Posts: 2,187	Nice to hear. VERY hard to beat ANY old wood and all-steel .22 with almost any modern .22 - unless the old one in question has no rail and you MUST have a scope for some reason.

April 23, 2014, 08:02 AM	#4
Ibmikey Senior Member Join Date: June 1, 2013 Location: Now relocated to Texas Posts: 2,943	Aah the good old Winchester and Remington .22 bolt action days, I still have a number of them for fun shooting. I remember the days when collecting discarded pop bottles financed many a .22 safari....and if we went together and bought a brick of shorts the man at the hardware store would give us an extra box for free! We learned the value of sights, conserving ammo with accurate fire and safety....all self imposed. A line of .22's outside the grocery store in Grass Valley Ca was quite common then...would draw the FBI and a tank or two today. I however find my M&P 15-22 the most fun of all to shoot.

April 23, 2014, 03:56 PM	#6
tangolima Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2013 Posts: 5,143	Marlin 81. Got it from from a junk rack of a gun shop for $75. So old that it doesn't even have serial #. The design is good, although it was cheaply made. Works fine after some tinkering. Marlin 39a. Got it on gunbroker for $339. Came with Weaver scope. Also old but in very good condition. Best .22 I have shot. Good design, materials, and workmanship. -TL