Older Remington rimfires

[jpstrait]

I've been looking at these older model Remingtons like the 514, 541 etc. and am intrigued by there character and price, especially the single shots. I was wondering if any one had experience with these rifles. Any model favorites? Any models to stay away from? Which models were drilled and tapped for scope mounts?
Thanks for your wisdom and Merry Christmas.
J-P

[Graybeard]

I've owned most I guess. The 510, 512, 513, 514 are all excellent guns well made and very accurate. The triggers can be worked a bit for improved pull if you deem it necessary and are handy at such things but are not really easily changed. The 541 S or T are super nice and about as nice as any bolt action rimfire made. All are capable of MOA shooting with the right ammo if scoped. You can toss the 540 in also but it has a huge stock for position shooting you might want to cut down for regular use. I did one that way once and the trigger is fully adjustable down to about one pound on the 540.

[rbergum95]

i have had a 541T, and an old remington single shot gallery gun. the gallery gun was actually very accurate but i gave it to a friends kid as his first starter .22. the 541 i sold to my cousin(wish i hadnt). that one would shoot MOA easily with a variety of ammo. in my opinion for the right price i would take any of the ones you mention.

[trotterlg]

The 540 and 580 series are the same action, they came in both tube feed and clip fed as well as single shot.  Probably one of the best 22 bolt guns ever made, at least in the United States.  With 6 locking lugs they are extremely strong, it common for them to be converted to center fire rounds.  I have both a 581 and 582, the triggers are amazingly good.  Larry

[bscman]

I've got a 511...love it.
Saved it from a pawn shop (cheap) and did a full refinish. Don't knock me for that--if you had seen it before, you woulda done the same thing.

Very accurate little rifle. Nice walnut stock. Can't go wrong with the 5-teen series.

[wsjones]

Yeah, what bscman says.  I've got a 511, as does an uncle and a cousin and they're super rifles.  Ditto for the 510's.

The only one I'd be somewhat concerned about is the 512, the tube feed model of the 5-teen series.  I wanted one forever and finally bought a very nice looking version last year.  It absolutely would not feed reliably from the magazine.  I took it back to the shop where I bought it and the gunsmith tried for a week or two to sort it out before throwing his hands up.  He told me they were a bear to make work properly, so they gave me my $$ back and I happily gave it back to them for an old Marlin 35 Rem.  Whether what I was told is really true for all 512's or not I'd want to have either the opportunity to test fire one before buying or make sure you can return it if something's wrong.  I still want one.

Good luck.  -WSJ

[wsjones]

The earlier 5-teen series rifles did not have what's become the standard 22 3/8" dovetail for rimfire scope mounting.   If you find one, no problem - just have it drilled and tapped or order a Weaver sidemount from Natchez, Midway, Numrich, etc. and go shoot.  The later ones have the standard 3/8" dovetail.

Another variation you might want to keep an eye out for is the "P" or peep sight version.  You may or may not pay a slight premium for one but I think they're cool (I bought the one my cousin has and shot it for a brief time before it went to him).  That rifle needed the sidemount but I've seen others since that had the dovetail.

Let us know what you wind up with.  -WSJ

[popplecop]

I have a 510 that I got 60 years ago as either a Christmas or Birthday present, only a month apart.  Has been a great rifle and very accurate.  Both my son and daughter were introduced to shooting with this rifle.  Like the older Rem. my pump is a 12C and shoot a semi auto 240, both great guns.  Oh yes when I bought my son and daughter their own 22s they got Rem. 511s and they still have them and shoot them regularly.

[bscman]

The only one I'd be somewhat concerned about is the 512, the tube feed model of the 5-teen series.  I wanted one forever and finally bought a very nice looking version last year.  It absolutely would not feed reliably from the magazine.  I took it back to the shop where I bought it and the gunsmith tried for a week or two to sort it out before throwing his hands up.  He told me they were a bear to make work properly,

I've heard this a few times.
My (soon to be) father-in-law has one from his childhood...originally bought to dispatch injured farm animals and (soon to be butchered) pigs. I've shot it on several occasions with a few different brands of ammo and never had a problem--and this rifle is FAR from "well maintained." I guess some are better than others.

[wsjones]

Regarding the 512 and failure to feed:  I'd never heard that about them before I bought one, maybe just because I never asked or spent much time researching it.

I have a 511 that my dad bought for me in 1961 or so and it has always preformed flawlessly.  I've also got an older 572 and a 12c (both tube feed pumps) and a newer 552 (tube feed auto) that I first bought for my dad then inherited.  No problems with any of them, so what's to worry about with a 512 that looked darn near new?  Wrong again.  I'll know to make sure to check that out when I find another and wanted to pass the caution along.  -WSJ

[IMshooter]

I'm an avid Metallic Silhouette shooter and use a customized Remington 540 XR for the game.  The barrel has been shortened to 20 inches (for balance) and the barreled action rests in curly maple stock.  Best of all is the factory trigger, which remains safe at 12 ounces.  The rifle is topped off with a 18x target scope

I shoot SK Standard Plus .22 shells, and the gun is very consistent printing groups slightly larger than 1 inch at 100 meters (110 yards).  Shooting Lapua ammo gets the groups just under an inch!  Even bulk Federal ammo will shoot under 2 inches with this rifle.