The Rimfire Series: A Tale of Two .22s

Rimfire rifles are cool.   The ammo is inexpensive (when you can find it), there’s no recoil to speak of, they are accurate, and they usually cost less than centerfire rifles.  Usually.  Unless you go for fancy wood and high end rifles.  Both the rimfires you see above fit that description.

The one on the left is a CZ452 Varmint model and it is a stunning rifle.  I bought it used and came to it in a unusual way.  I’d never owned a CZ before I bought this one.   I heard they were accurate and I’m a sucker for a pretty piece of walnut.  I saw this one on an Internet rimfire forum, and I knew the chances of finding one like it in a store were slim.  So I wrote to the owner through the board’s messaging system and asked if he’d be interested in selling it.  “No way,” came the quick response.  I forgot about it and then one day about a year later came the email.  The guy needed cash and I needed that rifle.  It was a match made in heaven, and I bought it as you see it here, complete with the Mueller scope.  It’s as accurate as I hoped it would be (it’s the most accurate .22 rifle I own).   Patience pays big sometimes.

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The one on the right I came to own in a different manner.  About 15 years ago Susie and I were in Rapid City, South Dakota.   Rapid City is a cool little town and it has a very cool gun store.  First Stop Gun is a dream come true:  A real gun shop, with an eye for high end guns, blue steel, and good wood. I didn’t buy anything on that visit, but having learned about the gun store I watched for their listings on Gunbroker.com.  One day, they posted an ad for a Remington Custom Shop Model 504.

I pounced on the 504 and I’m glad I did. Remington (as we knew it) is no more, the Custom Shop (as we knew it) is no more, and the Model 504 is no more.  This one checked all the boxes for me…great wood, a Custom Shop rifle, and a rimfire.  Yeah, you might say I paid too much for it, but the value is only going one way (and that’s up).   I’d say I didn’t pay too much; maybe I just bought it too soon.  And no, it’s not for sale.  It shoots well and the Model 504 has the feel of a full size centerfire (check out the recoil pad on this rifle).  It doesn’t feel dinky like many .22s do.  It’s just a fun gun to shoot and it’s a fun gun to look at.  I do both a lot.

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Do you like photos of high end handguns and rifles, and fancy walnut?  Then here is where you want to be:  Tales of the Gun!

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