Anschultz 54.18MS ED?

[PD Hunter]

Hello:

I'm fairly new to shooting in general. I've been target shooting (mostly benchrest stuff) for a very short time but now have an interest in smallbore silhouette. My wife has taken an interest in shooting as well and I've come to the conclusion that smallbore silhouette may be the right thing for us to do together.

A friend of mine has a pair of Anschultz 54.18MS. He is willing to sell them. He used to compete in silhouette but no longer does.

He says one rifle was new in 1983 or so and the other 1985. One has about 2500 rounds through it and the other about 500. Both look to be in very very nice shape for rifles so old. I'd estimate they are 95% with just a few very minor marks on the stocks. The triggers are currently set to 2 oz. (Wow!)

Both are 54.18MS and both are the ED models. One has the Anschultz extension tube with the weights on it and one has a handmade extension tube. He called them something like "bloop" tubes or such.

Both rifle look like works of art. I was very impressed with the quality of the Anschultz. I've never held one before.

Neither has a scope on it. He has the original boxes, manuals, papers, and a set of 1" rings for each. I trust this person to be honest.

My questions are this:

1. Can I use them for smallbore silhouette shooting in either or both classes? I'm guessing they might be too heavy for the hunter class?
If I can't use these then this will answer my question pretty quickly.

2. Value? I am trying to determine value. Using the "Modern Gun Values" it seems tha the value is $800 for excellent and $1000 for perfect. But, I'm not sure and would be willing to hear your opinions. He wants $2K for the pair. What would be a fair price?

3. Why a pair of them? Well, my wife and I would both like to get involved. Would it be possible to share a weapon if we competed or would each person need their own weapon?

Thanks. I've been reading the forum for a while but just registered so that I could post this evening.

Regards,

PD

[dave imas]

Hi PD,

Those rifles, if they are in the silhouette stock, sold for around $550 to $600 new at the time.  I don't believe they were selling the 54 with a factory bloop tube at the time so the tubes you have were probably put on afterwards.  Nothing wrong with that.   Placed into a hunter rifle stock, the action is legal for both classes.  In the factory silhouette stock it is legal for standard rifle only.  Another guess about those two rifles is that they are both single shots...  If they are repeaters, hunt the guy down, hit him over the head with a blunt object and shove the money in his pocket.  
If they are not, and this is strictly a matter of personal preference, I would pass.  I would rather have a magazine fed action.  For $1000 each I would rather spend the extra money and go buy a new 54.18 MS repeater in a thumbhole stock.  
if you decide to go with these two rifles and they are single shots...  assuming they are in silhouette ready stocks...  i wouldn't pay more than $1500 for both of them.  He will get the pleasure of owning and shooting two very nice rifles for about 2 decades and get all of his money back and more...  you will get the honor of owning two very nice rifles at a reasonable price.  sounds like a win/win to me.

You don't both need your own rifle but for the sake of your marriage i would certainly make sure you do.  That way when you screw up your sight settings your wife won't want to kill you because you ruined her score.  also, your fit may be quite different than your wife's.   And...  most importantly, it allows you an excuse,  a weak one but any excuse is better than none... when she starts beating you you can claim she got the better of the two rifles.  

dave imas

[PD Hunter]

Hi PD,

<snip>

Another guess about those two rifles is that they are both single shots...  If they are repeaters, hunt the guy down, hit him over the head with a blunt object and shove the money in his pocket.  
If they are not, and this is strictly a matter of personal preference, I would pass.  I would rather have a magazine fed action.  For $1000 each I would rather spend the extra money and go buy a new 54.18 MS repeater in a thumbhole stock.  
if you decide to go with these two rifles and they are single shots...  assuming they are in silhouette ready stocks...  i wouldn't pay more than $1500 for both of them.  He will get the pleasure of owning and shooting two very nice rifles for about 2 decades and get all of his money back and more...  you will get the honor of owning two very nice rifles at a reasonable price.  sounds like a win/win to me.

<snip>

dave imas

Dave:

They are both single shot and both have the stock stocks which I'm guessing would be called the silhouette stock. They are both wood stocks with stipling on the stock itself. (looks like black).

The guide that I have shows the standard 54.18MS was introduced in 1981. The ED version introduced in 1984 and discontinued in 1988. Values of the standard as $975 and the ED at $800 for excellent condition units.

So, not sure if they are regular units converted to ED or ED units.

Thanks for the insights and your opinions on price.

Was also considering just beginning silhohouette with a CZ452 Varmint with a big Leupold scope for a few years. I'm a lousy shot at this time. Wife could use the 10/22 and put a scope on it.

PD.

[greer]

No offense to 10/22 owners, but if yours is basically stock she's apt to be at a big disadvantage.  How about trading the 10/22 to a CZ Special?  Please don't hesitate to post questions, everybody here loves to talk guns and silhouette.  Sarah

[genphideaux]

dave imas,

If you place the 54.18 action in a hunter stock the barrel is still a bull barrel and not allowed under NRA rules in the hunter class.

P da Hunter,

The varmit CZ may or may not be allowed in hunter class matches based upon the match directors. NRA director Conners has given the green light but you will most likely need a letter from him to turn the directors around. Try the american or the silhouette special or the one Greer mentioned all great choices. To start out I believe you might want one gun and shoot both classes, learn the sport and cut down on many duel tasks ie..scope settings, ammo,rings, triggers.......Get one up and running then take a breath and start on the next one. Just my .02 cents.

I personally feel the price is worth it a new 54.18 MSR with a thumb thru at Champions choice is $1756.00 for another $244.00 you have two, and I like the single shots for rigidness, wonder why all the benchresters use a single in there 10.5 guns.

Dawg

[ajj]

The "MS" stands, I believe, for "metallic silhouette." These rifles were built for the sport. Prices of new Anschutz have gone up substantially just this year, and since your guide was published. I'd say $2K was a "full" price but not out of line if these are really what you want and need. Dave makes a good point about the repeater. You don't get much time to shoot and some of have trouble fumbling with those little cartridges during the match.
As noted, the MS may be used only in the heavy rifle class. I think the best thing for a newcomer is to get the hunting rifle first and shoot both classes with it until you're sure you're in the sport to stay. CZ gets you a very accurate barreled action for a bargain price.

[dave imas]

Dawg,

You are right, if you put the barreled action in a hunter rifle stock you will have a problem.  i believe i spoke only of the action.  And I agree with AJJ... if new and had to do it all over again, i would probably start with a CZ as well.  
dave

[genphideaux]

Dave,

I understand, I just did'nt want him to go to the trouble only to be told a heavy barrel was not allowed, by the way for the 2k he's looking at there are some 1710's on guns america for under 1k each, just a suggestion, wish I had gone that way 6 years ago, but what the heck it was fun.

P D hunter,

for info on the CZ's check out this forum and also

http://rimfirecentral.com/forums/

This is one of life's great adventures, enjoy it , only comes around once in life.

Dawg

[chunter]

While the 54MS is a great gun, and it is almost worth every penny you put in it.  I think that you would be money ahead, and better served by a hunter gun.  If you buy the 54MS, you will still have to have a gun for the hunter class. Many of the shooters have been shooting the hunter gun in both classes.  They have put the heavy guns away and decided that they can shoot the hunter gun better, and more consistently.  

I would probably recommend to you a Anschutz 1710/1712FWT.  You can use this gun in both classes and you will never find a gun that is more suited to the offhand game.  However, if money is tight you can pickup the CZ silhouette. Both of these guns are very competitive, and can get you into the Master class with a bit of practice.

[B_Koes]

I would probably recommend to you a Anschutz 1710/1712FWT.  You can use this gun in both classes and you will never find a gun that is more suited to the offhand game.  However, if money is tight you can pickup the CZ silhouette. Both of these guns are very competitive, and can get you into the Master class with a bit of practice.

How does the Finnfire Hunter fit into this game?  I bought one in spite of some good advice telling me to get a 452 Silhouette.  Heck, I may still buy the CZ silo model because I love rimfires.  I just had this urge to own a Sako and well...you know how urges go!  While I would like to also buy a 1712, I just don't see myself spending that much anytime soon.

[PD Hunter]

I spoke to the seller today at lunch. I'm being very tempted despite ALL of the excellet advice here. The seller will do both units for $1900. This will include the original boxes, papers, manuals, torque wrenches, etc.. Both will have 1" rings (which I will not use), etc.. The owner shot silhouette for years with these and this was before their was a hunter class.

Digging around today, it seems that new 54.18 MS R's (Repeaters) go in the $1500+ range right now and are not that easy to come by.  

The fact that these two rifles are owned by a gunsmith who also owns and runs a small gunsmithing practice, leads me to believe that even if I simply purchase these and put them away for a year, it may be a good deal and I would regret it later if I passed.

On another note, is it possible to change the stock on a 54.18 MS and use one of them for benchrest and the other for MS? Just asking, weird question I know.

Thanks,

PD

[chunter]

B_Koes,  I guess I left the Sako Hunter out accidentally.  The Sako and Cz are both good picks, however, both have been known to feel light in the barrel.  With a little work, or a different barrel, both will hold quite well.

The 54.18 can just about have any stock on it you dream up.  At nationals this year I saw a few 54.18 actions stuck in hunter stocks,  I have also seen quite a few 54.18's stuck in a benchrest stock, in fact I think that they are very easy to find.

Chunter

[dave imas]

PD,

i'll send you a torque wrench and manual for free.  but...if it makes you feel better, i would be willing to over charge you for them.  

if you are willing to spend the $1900 on those two single shots, don't.  spend the $1500 on the repeater.  take the left over $400 and buy a CZ.  now you will have two NEW, In The Box, with manuals, torque wrenches, rifles just waiting for you to put their first ding in them.  You will also be able to shoot both standard and hunter class.
just another thought process.
dave

[GeoNLR]

Dave,

I just bought a 54.18MSR and I need a torque wrench... Where shall I e-mail my address for the "Free torque Wrench" offer you mentioned?

Thanks,

George

[PD Hunter]

Well, I went ahead and bought the pair of rifles. they did come with the original boxes, manuals, papers, accessories, torque wrench, etc.. Even a nice hard gun case. I will now set them aside for a bit or just use them for a bit of BR shooting once I get some rings and a scope.

Purchased a new CZ452 Varmint model and put a Lupold VX-III Mark 4 scope up top on Millet Rings. I plan on using this rifle to LEARN to shoot and I learned here that I could enter this in BOTH classes of MS smallbore shooting.

Thanks to all for the advice here. The CZ452 is what I NEEDED but the pair of Anschut's is what I WANTED. I felt that if I passed on this deal I might regret it someday as theser things aren't all that common around here.

Thanks,

PD Hunter

[hh4064]

YES THIS IS DESIGNED FOR SILHOUETTE SHOOTING
THE BLOOP TUBES WORK
MINE IS MORE ACCURATE WITH THE TUBE THEN IT IS WITHOUT IT
GO FOR IT