Any love for older target rifles?

[orkan]

I have quite a few target rifles from a bygone era. Remington 40X's, BSA Martini's, Anschutz 54.18's, and Walther moving target's. They are fairly irreplaceable these days, so they mean a lot to me.

This one here is a BSA Martini International MkII. It has a custom walnut stock set and a 2" Unertl 24X. It was a fairly nice 45 degrees the other day, so I had to get it out. Shoots this random lot number of center-x pretty well!

The view through the Unertl 24x

All 5-shot groups at 50yds. (other than target 5 which is a little bracket game I like to play) I had no flags out, and the wind really got me on a few. Just goes to show that accurate 22lr's are not a new thing. This particular rifle is about 65 years old. I have one lot number of midas plus that shoots considerably better than the center-x I was shooting here. I like to save that for when someone calls the pedigree of these older rifles into question.

 

[Kerry Spurgin]

Beauty and perfection.. !!! Get our grandson out to get the gophers .... teach him the history/legacy... so he will appreciate it when it is his..
Kerry

 

[1Merlin]

Nice rifle.... Aftermarket wood?

 

[orkan]

Nice rifle.... Aftermarket wood?

Yup. Custom walnut set. The original stock set was very banged up. Bought the rifle at auction for somewhere around $400 if memory serves.

 

[wkdickinson]

I love and have a few vintage target rifles:

• M52B Winchester Target built in 1937 w/a 1 1/2" 20X Unertl, Lyman irons sights and a Freeland up/down hooked and flat butt plate. This rifle has a beautiful walnut stock with absolutely straight grain, refinished but with built-up oil. It still will out shoot me any day of the week.
• M70 Winchester, built in 1967 that came from Winchester's customer shop as a "match rifle". It has the anti-bind slot in the bolt lug which didn't come out on their production M70's until '69 I believe. When I got it, was all original (308, long receiver w/long rear bridge and long bolt-stop, milled clip slot), but the barrel was toast. I was really into across the course competition then and modified it over the years to the point where only the action is original now (Bartlien 6.5 CM barrel, McMillan prone stock, Jewel trigger 6-way butt plate...). It's still a favorite of mine.
• Anschutz Match 54 ("1413 Supermatch" version, I think) from the late 60's or early 70's, it may have had the "free-rifle" stock put on it before I bought it. What sweet rifle it is!

I've had a couple other vintage target rifles over the years, which unfortunately got sold or traded for something I needed worse at the time. But hind sight is 20/20 and when you're young and don't have much money, you have to do what is required.

 

[dellet]

Lot's of vintage love here. Stevens 44 1/2. 15X Unertl Varmint at 50 yards.

New to me, slightly later 44 1/2 in 22 short

Still getting used to it

 

[Outrider27]

I have a Winchester 52B Target like wkdickinson describes, and like his, it will outshoot me. Came with an old 25x Lyman SuperTargetspot that is fine; no need for a more modern scope.

 

[Dryfly24]

I have three 52’s. One is a true Bull Barrel 52B that is an amazing shooter, the other is a standard heavy barrel 52B and the third is a 52D. All of them shoot lights out.

I have two Kimber 82G’s and they are both stellar in the accuracy department as well.

The one that I will always regret letting go was a Martini Henry MKII that would put five rounds through a single .22 caliber hole. I. Talking honest to goodness groups measured in the .00’s. I tried to buy it back soon after I’d sold it but the guy I sold it to had by that time sold it to someone else and they wouldn’t let it go. What I wouldn’t give to have it back...

 

[orkan]

Talking honest to goodness groups measured in the .00’s. I tried to buy it back soon after I’d sold it but the guy I sold it to had by that time sold it to someone else and they wouldn’t let it go.

Ouch!

 

[justinp61]

Beautiful rifle orkan, is the reticle off or just the way the rifle is sitting?

I have three 52D’s, one E and a 40XB with a 2” Unertl 24X on it. I shoot these rifles in weekly fun matches at a gun club near me when I’m off work.

 

[STOMP442]

Orkan, that is a beautiful piece. I like how It shoots, but I love that wood. Very nice.

 

[cdiver]

I have a Martini Mk III with a Lyman 25 xscope and a Martini Mk II with the parker Hale PH 25c on. I will never let them go

 

[MrG52D]

I love most of mine and like the rest. Winchester 52D's & E are my ATF followed closely by the Rem 40X's and XB's. I have a BSA ISU with PH25E sights, that is most likely the best iron/peep sight shooter I have.
Others include Valmets, Rem 540X's and XR's and a CZ452 that thinks it's a BR rifle at times.

 

[ballisticxlr]

I took my class at the state level repeatedly with a Anschutz 54 in rimfire metallic silhouette. 5 state level wins... those 54's are made out of magic.

 

[orkan]

those 54's are made out of magic.

My 54.18 MSR. Took me a long time to find one I wanted, and someone willing to part with it.

 

[B23]

orkan, unrelated, but did you ever get your Hornet straightened or have you moved on from it?

 

[USMCDOC]

i like this ole Suhl, just wish that the operator could drive it better!

 

[orkan]

orkan, unrelated, but did you ever get your Hornet straightened or have you moved on from it?

I kept one 527 in 17 hornet. I'm selling the rest. I'm just too much an elitist for factory rifles.

 

[1066]

I have an old Mk5 BSA Martini - It's an ex-club rifle dating from the 1970's, I paid very little for it but it still shoots a treat, couldn't imagine how many thousands of rounds have been put through it.. I machined up a scope mount and flat fore end and use it in local BR comps.

Although this was only 25 yards on an indoor range - not bad for a 50 year old well abused rifle.

Five shot group at 25 yards

 

[CharlieNC]

Old stuff is cool!