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Anschutz 54 Silhouette Rifle - What would you do with this?

radford56

I've been digging around in the back of my safe recently and pulling out a few rifles that haven't been out in a while. This one has probably been a safe queen the longest of any of my rifles. I bought this rifle in Tucson, Arizona when I was stationed at Davis-Monthan AFB from 1985-89. I wanted to shoot smallbore silhouette and I found out there were monthly matches at the Tucson Rifle Club - run by no less than Mr. Wayne Leek. So I started looking for a suitable rifle. I was young and broke so I couldn't afford a new Anschutz 54.18, but I saw a newspaper ad for an Anschutz 54 silhouette rifle at a bargain price. This is what I ended up with.

It shot very well once I mounted a 36x Leupold and found out that I needed to feed it a diet of RWS R50. However, I never shot another silhouette match after I left Tucson in 1989. So I ended up moving the scope to another rifle and sticking this one in the back of the safe where it's been for years.

I'm pretty sure the barrel - about 19"long - has been shortened, but it was well done and has a recessed target crown. It's a straight taper 1" barrel and is marked Anschutz Mod. 54 Match on the top. The action has a straight bolt handle and a wing safety. I couldn't get a good picture of it, but I'm pretty sure there was some grinding done around the bottom of the receiver - which I think was done to install the current trigger (I haven't pulled the rifle apart to try to determine what make it is). The trigger pull is probably about 2 oz. The stock is a light wood that looks like maple to me. It's not bad, though the inletting around the back of the trigger guard isn't good.

So now I'm trying to decide what to do with it. I don't think this rifle would get any interest if I tried to sell it locally. Does it have value just because it's an Anschutz 54 action? If I keep it I need to spend some money (new stock, etc.) to make it more usable, but I'd probably be better off spending that money on a Vudoo. I'm looking for suggestions - what would you recommend doing with it?
 

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For Silhouette - Non tapered barrel so Not legal for Hunter class and you would be limited to Smallbore Rifle. There are still those who shoot two separate rifles in small bore but not that many as most use the Hunter rifle for both classes. IF the rifle shoots well with the cut barrel it would sell, IMO, about for what a 54 target in a target stock would sell for. 800 - 1300 or so. I would guess the low end all things considered. The stock is a nice one and "might" help with the price a little but it is a limited interest type of rifle and since it is not a repeater the value would be considerably less. The cut barrel is a definite hit to the value. Adding to or changing the rifle would not be cost effective if you are going to sell it.

Again - in my opinion.
 
Yes the barrel has been shortened. That started out as a Prone or 3-P rifle in the early-mid 1960s. The barrel would have been 27-28in originally; early Match 54s did have a tapered barrel, but still heavy. I can't see the barrel shoulder well enough to be sure.
 
It is a very nice standard class silhouette rifle, it looks a bit different than what folks are using now but the basic stock style is very good. The biggest hit may come from the grinding on the action unless it is well done.

Thinking back to what you probable paid for it in the 85 time frame you could restock it in a different style of stock and still not be into it for anywhere near the price of a Vudoo, and chance are it would shoot just as well. Why not give the classifieds a try with a WTB and see what stocks are laying around that you may be able to get at a reasonable price.
Or ir you don't want to go that route sell it and buy the Vudoo, I think that it would probably sell for somewhere around a $800 - $1000.

drover
 
just an FYI. You may want to register over on rimfirecentral and ask that same question, there are a wealth of Anschutz experts over there. They also have a classified section.
 
drover said:
It is a very nice standard class silhouette rifle, it looks a bit different than what folks are using now but the basic stock style is very good. The biggest hit may come from the grinding on the action unless it is well done.

Thinking back to what you probable paid for it in the 85 time frame you could restock it in a different style of stock and still not be into it for anywhere near the price of a Vudoo, and chance are it would shoot just as well. Why not give the classifieds a try with a WTB and see what stocks are laying around that you may be able to get at a reasonable price.
Or ir you don't want to go that route sell it and buy the Vudoo, I think that it would probably sell for somewhere around a $800 - $1000.

drover
Click to expand...
You're probably right about being able to restock it for much less than what a Vudoo costs. The complicating factor is that i also have a CMP 40X heavy barrel that really fills my need for an accurate .22 single shot. The Vudoo has the advantage of being a repeater, which really appeals to me. But deep down I just kind of hate to sell off rifles - even if I don't shoot them often.
 
PigButtons said:
just an FYI. You may want to register over on rimfirecentral and ask that same question, there are a wealth of Anschutz experts over there. They also have a classified section.
Click to expand...

I thought about doing that - probably should do it. I used to a member there, but just kind of drifted away.
 
radford56 said:
You're probably right about being able to restock it for much less than what a Vudoo costs. The complicating factor is that i also have a CMP 40X heavy barrel that really fills my need for an accurate .22 single shot. The Vudoo has the advantage of being a repeater, which really appeals to me. But deep down I just kind of hate to sell off rifles - even if I don't shoot them often.
Click to expand...


I think a good percentage of people that love our sport are like that. I know I am. But if you feel the need for a Vudoo and don't want to use anymore funds than necessary, especially if after finding there is no real love or desire to shoot it regularly, let someone else enjoy what is obviously a beautiful rifle.
 
Very nice rifle indeed. AS for worth, the shortened barrel will lower the value considerably. I see nothing wrong with the stock if you are shooting benchrest. You can adopt a shooting position to compensate for most stocks, with the proper rests.

I recently bought an Anschutz 52 Super Match with two complete rear sights and two triggers plus a set of inserts for the front sight. Came with two rear but plates one of which had the hook for standing position and the front palm extension. $1250. Also came with a custom made metal clad case. Not an actual photo of my rifle but just like mine with the exception of front sight. Mine is hooded and allows for different inserts.anschutz mod 54 super match.jpg

Using good ammo, it is a true five round one hole group. 20200726_140605.jpg 20200726_140807.jpg 20200731_091950.jpg

Bottom two rows were with Lapua Tenex. Top two were CCI cheap stuff from different rifle. All at 50 yards. This is the very first time I shot this rifle.

If it were me and I was going to shoot it a lot, I would have it re-barreled.
 
Nick Caprinolo said:
Very nice rifle indeed. AS for worth, the shortened barrel will lower the value considerably. I see nothing wrong with the stock if you are shooting benchrest. You can adopt a shooting position to compensate for most stocks, with the proper rests.

I recently bought an Anschutz 52 Super Match with two complete rear sights and two triggers plus a set of inserts for the front sight. Came with two rear but plates one of which had the hook for standing position and the front palm extension. $1250. Also came with a custom made metal clad case. Not an actual photo of my rifle but just like mine with the exception of front sight. Mine is hooded and allows for different inserts.View attachment 1201073

Using good ammo, it is a true five round one hole group. View attachment 1201075 View attachment 1201076 View attachment 1201077

Bottom two rows were with Lapua Tenex. Top two were CCI cheap stuff from different rifle. All at 50 yards. This is the very first time I shot this rifle.

If it were me and I was going to shoot it a lot, I would have it re-barreled.
Click to expand...

That brings up a question. Do you know a good gunsmith who specializes in Anschutz rifles?
 
raaadford56,

I just re-read your OP and noticed the time frame you were shooting at the Tucson Rifle Club. During that time period I was spending quite a bit of time in Tucson with job related functions, chances are that I bumped into you. I always had my rifles with me and I would go to every local silhouette match in the area. At that time it was easy to find a match every weekend, so I burned a lot of ammo there both smallbore and high-power silhouette.

Anyway back to the Anschutz - I suggest that you leave it as is for the moment, get some good ammo and take it out and see just how well it groups. I think you may be surprised how well it will do from a good rest. If it shoots as well as it should it may cure your itch for a Vudoo, at that point you can think about whether to find a different stock for it or whether to sell it and put the money towards a Vudoo. If you spend $600 or so for a rebarrel it is money that will not add that much value increase to the rifle so you may as well sell it as is and apply the funds towards a Vudoo rather than rebarrel.

To a degree I do understand your desire for a magazine fed rifle but unless you are shooting a discipline where the time element is critical then I personally do not see the need for a magzine feed. Most of my varmint and competition rifles are single shot and I have never felt handicapped having single shot rifles rather than magazine feed.

just my .02 cents.

drover
 
I appreciate all the inputs to my original post. Probably won't surprise anyone, but I decided to keep the rifle instead of trying to sell it. I'm not going to replace the stock or barrel either - that doesn't seem to cost be effective or necessary. Nothing wrong with a little offhand practice at the range even if I never expect to shoot another match, so I dug out a spare scope today and mounted it.

I know I'll still end up getting a Vudoo though - it's a disease.
 
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