Old 22 Rifles

[Lionman13]

I have been given two 22's that were my great- grandmother's.

1. Mossberg M 51 1940's

2. JC Higgins 10313 22 Sears and Roebuck.

Obviously, there are legendary stories that come with them, and she was a great outdoorsman and huntress. I would like to get them serviced, and see if they can be taken to the range one day.

[mr surveyor]

serviced?

Run a few patches through the bore, load 'em up and shoot them.

[puma guy]

The Sears 103.XX is made by Marlin. It's a Marlin Model 81, tube magazine. The Model 80 has a 7 rnd stack magazine You can clean the trigger and feeding mechanism easily by removing the action from the stock. There is one bolt in the action lug to remove it from the stock. Check to see if it feeds and ejects. They are simple but very fine shooting rifle and Marlin made them in just about every generation from the 1930's to the 1990's and with improvements and modifications still make the XT22. Parts are readily available.. Common problems are broken cartridge guides, extractors, bent or broken ejectors. The cartridge guide is a little blue steel spring looking piece just above the chamber. If it's broken you'll have to remove the barrel, which requires special care to not damage the tapered barrel pin. I have only done one and the pin was still usable afterward. They are extremely hard to find so take care if you have to replace the guide. I don't advise taking the bolt apart unless repairs are necessary. If it has Microgrove rifling it's made after about 1953-4. I have several of these rifles from Western Auto, Wards, Sears (J.C. Higgins) and of course Marlin including one in .22 WMR. The Sears rifle will provide years of fun shooting. Enjoy

[Texsquatch]

There's just something about old .22's that I love.

[Lionman13]

The Sears 103.XX is made by Marlin. It's a Marlin Model 81, tube magazine. The Model 80 has a 7 rnd stack magazine You can clean the trigger and feeding mechanism easily by removing the action from the stock. There is one bolt in the action lug to remove it from the stock. Check to see if it feeds and ejects. They are simple but very fine shooting rifle and Marlin made them in just about every generation from the 1930's to the 1990's and with improvements and modifications still make the XT22. Parts are readily available.. Common problems are broken cartridge guides, extractors, bent or broken ejectors. The cartridge guide is a little blue steel spring looking piece just above the chamber. If it's broken you'll have to remove the barrel, which requires special care to not damage the tapered barrel pin. I have only done one and the pin was still usable afterward. They are extremely hard to find so take care if you have to replace the guide. I don't advise taking the bolt apart unless repairs are necessary. If it has Microgrove rifling it's made after about 1953-4. I have several of these rifles from Western Auto, Wards, Sears (J.C. Higgins) and of course Marlin including one in .22 WMR. The Sears rifle will provide years of fun shooting. Enjoy

Thanks for the good info. The bolt is stuck open, and I can push it forward, but it will not close. I am not sure why it won't. Maybe something is catching?

[puma guy]

Thanks for the good info. The bolt is stuck open, and I can push it forward, but it will not close. I am not sure why it won't. Maybe something is catching?

Most likely the striker knob on the bolt is in the "un-cocked" position. There are several variations of the knob. Some are easier to pull back and turn into the cocked position than others. Make sure the rifle is unloaded then remove the bolt. That is done by holding the pulling the trigger back while lifting the bolt handle and pulling the bolt reward until it is free from the action. I can do the procedure on my rifle by grasping the bolt firmly and the with my strong hand grip the knob, pull it rearward and turn it clockwise so it stays in the cocked position. If the spring is really strong sometimes it may require putting the bolt in a vise and using a pair of pliers to grasp the knob. I have a couple that are hard and I use pieces of an old leather belt to protect the bolt in the vise and the knob from the pliers.
The top picture below is in the cocked position. The middle picture is a different style knob in the uncocked position. Notice the large gap between the knob and the bolt. If there's very little space it's un-cocked. With the bolt in the cocked position reinsert it while holding the trigger and close the bolt. If the bolt goes in and closes you are good to go. One note: because you were holding the trigger down the bolt is now "un-cocked" again. That takes the spring tension off the firing pin; most bolt actions are the same. Open the bolt again and close it. Dry fire it to check if it "cocked". The bottom picture is my first Model 80 which is magazine fed. I got it in the 1960's and had it reblued and reshaped the stock adding a rosewood grip cap and forend.

[TheCytochromeC]

The Sears 103.XX is made by Marlin. It's a Marlin Model 81, tube magazine. The Model 80 has a 7 rnd stack magazine You can clean the trigger and feeding mechanism easily by removing the action from the stock. There is one bolt in the action lug to remove it from the stock. Check to see if it feeds and ejects. They are simple but very fine shooting rifle and Marlin made them in just about every generation from the 1930's to the 1990's and with improvements and modifications still make the XT22. Parts are readily available.. Common problems are broken cartridge guides, extractors, bent or broken ejectors. The cartridge guide is a little blue steel spring looking piece just above the chamber. If it's broken you'll have to remove the barrel, which requires special care to not damage the tapered barrel pin. I have only done one and the pin was still usable afterward. They are extremely hard to find so take care if you have to replace the guide. I don't advise taking the bolt apart unless repairs are necessary. If it has Microgrove rifling it's made after about 1953-4. I have several of these rifles from Western Auto, Wards, Sears (J.C. Higgins) and of course Marlin including one in .22 WMR. The Sears rifle will provide years of fun shooting. Enjoy

Thanks for the good info. The bolt is stuck open, and I can push it forward, but it will not close. I am not sure why it won't. Maybe something is catching?

Your cartridge guide spring is probably broken. Check to see if the little metal "V" is still attached or broken off. is should look like this

If that's what's wrong I can tell you how to fix it. You probably won't be interested in doing it, but I had a great time.

The little "V" I'm referring to is on the left side on top in the picture and on the right on the lower two. That V guides the next cartridge into the chamber. It also will not allow the bolt to lock if it's broken off.

[Dreamer42]

I have my Dad's Model 61 Winchester pump .22 (made around 1934) and my brother got his .22 mag Model 61 w/ scope (great turkey rifle). Well built, lovely wood. Simply high quality at its best.

Dreamer42

[puma guy]

I have my Dad's Model 61 Winchester pump .22 (made around 1934) and my brother got his .22 mag Model 61 w/ scope (great turkey rifle). Well built, lovely wood. Simply high quality at its best.

Dreamer42

Yes there are. I have two model 62's, the hammered version. I love them too. One was my dad's, the other one I bought here on the forum a couple of years ago. We would slam fire it when I was a kid and .22 shells were sold at the convenience stores in the neighborhood for four bits.

[JSThane]

Since we're playing "boast and tell" about our old .22s, I'll throw a couple of mine in.

I'm awaiting an order from Numrich for a new firing pin for a slightly odd bird - a J. Stevens Visible Loading Repeater. The old one finally broke after 80-100 years of service and only the Good Lord knows how many rounds of ammunition; unfortunately, as it's my wife's favorite .22, fixing it is a must. Fortunately, while it's not a -simple- rifle to disassemble, it -is- relatively easily accomplished, once the proper how-to guide has been found. As a pump-action that will feed and fire .22 from CBs to LRs to shotshells, it's an eminently useful "yard rifle" out in the country, fit for anything from snakes to starlings, and rabbits to (small) coyotes.

I also have an old Remington 511 upstairs. That thing is a tack-driver.

I think I have more firearms in .22 than anything else, with the possible exception of .38/.357. It's just fun and useful.

Now if it'd only become plentiful again...

[WildBill]

Here is my first gun. My dad bought it for me circa 1962. Mossberg 144 Target Model. I still have it.

[puma guy]

Here is my first gun. My dad bought it for me circa 1962. Mossberg 144 Target Model. I still have it.

[ Image ]

Very cool rifle!

Since we're playing "boast and tell" about our old .22s, I'll throw a couple of mine in.

I'm awaiting an order from Numrich for a new firing pin for a slightly odd bird - a J. Stevens Visible Loading Repeater. The old one finally broke after 80-100 years of service and only the Good Lord knows how many rounds of ammunition; unfortunately, as it's my wife's favorite .22, fixing it is a must. Fortunately, while it's not a -simple- rifle to disassemble, it -is- relatively easily accomplished, once the proper how-to guide has been found. As a pump-action that will feed and fire .22 from CBs to LRs to shotshells, it's an eminently useful "yard rifle" out in the country, fit for anything from snakes to starlings, and rabbits to (small) coyotes.

I also have an old Remington 511 upstairs. That thing is a tack-driver.

I think I have more firearms in .22 than anything else, with the possible exception of .38/.357. It's just fun and useful.

Now if it'd only become plentiful again...

Two more cool old guns. You mention shooting .22 shotshells in your Savage. Remington made the 511 in a smooth bore and the Model 61 Winchester was made in a smooth bore as well. I remember reading Ted Trueblood' field test of a Model 61SB. His total bag for the day fit in the empty shell box Grasshoppers and dragonflies!

[texasmusic]

My favorite old 22.

Remington M24 - the balance, weight, and takedown are superb. For an Ironsight semi-auto plinker 22, I think this design is yet to be matched.




Holding his own creation (guess who?)

[ShootDontTalk]

I have an old Remington 514 single shot that I just love. (alas, no pix) It needs a lot of TLC as it was neglected for many years before I got hold of it. The bore is good but the outside has that rust patina that replaces bluing on old guns. I had a Model 512, which was a tube magazine model, for a while, but traded it for something else. Now I wish I still had it. It had the old "loose bolt handle" problem so common on these old guns but I fixed it easily by restaking it down. You can still find these beauties at good prices if you look around.

Curious. Did anyone buy one of those great old Russian target rifles that CDNN had on sale a while back? I didn't have the funds back then but sure wanted one.

[puma guy]

My favorite old 22.

Remington M24 - the balance, weight, and takedown are superb. For an Ironsight semi-auto plinker 22, I think this design is yet to be matched.

[ Image ]
[ Image ]

Holding his own creation (guess who?)
[ Image ]

Very cool. Still being made. One of the .22's I drool over but just never forked over the $ for. YET!!! His genius designs are timeless!