Shot my grandpa's rifle today.

[Idaho45guy]

Was gifted it about a year ago and got it cleaned up and finally shot it today in anticipation of taking it on a grouse hunt in a couple of weeks.

Remington Speedmaster from the 1930's...

[georgerkahn]

Nice video! Question: What MODEL is your Speedmaster? I have two Remington .22s with Speedmaster on their sideplate, and both are also labeled Model 552. My research indicated they were both manufactured in 1957 -- purportedly the first year of Speedmaster production?
My "source" is using the 'B-L-A-C-K-P-O-W-D-E-R' Remington date coding...
Yours looks the same as mine, albeit yours' furniture appears a zillion times better shape than mine. Both of mine appear to have been "truck .22s", and -- while they both shoot quite well -- surely were not treated as one might a collector's firearm through the years. One of mine sports an ejected case baffle -- something I'd never before seen -- which adds to my interest.
geo

[rking22]

Nice rifle, even better being it’s family! I really like the design, mine in a M24 from the late 20s in 22short only. They make sweet hunting rifles, think you have reminded me to get mine out for a squirrel hunt or 3!

[bedbugbilly]

We had one in the guncabijet when I was a kid. IIRC, my Dad took it as a partial payment on a bad debt - the guy owed my Dad money and he figured the guy would never pay yup so he at least got the rifle and a bunch of the fellow's tools as a partial payment. We used it for squirrel and bunny hunting and plinking - it was a nice little rifle and we put a lot of Shorts through it. When I settled my folks estate, my brother took it to giver to his S in L. It worked without a flaw and was a great rifle.

Glad you got it cleaned up and it looks like it's a good shooter - even more special in that it was your grandfathers! Enjoy and have fun - thanks for sharing the video - really enjoyed it! Good luck in your hunt!

[BigAlofPa.]

Nice video thanks for sharing. My dad always had the 3 main rifles like your grand pa. But not in semi auto. He has a 760 game master in 30.06. A Remington 22 pump and a wing master 12 ga. Those he had since i was a kid. And their still his staples for hunting.

[pietro]

.

Very nice - What I sincerely hope my two younger Grandsons will do with the .22 rifles I bought/gifted them shortly after they were born.

(My oldest Grandson is already an avid handgunner with the .45 M1911 & 9mm Hi-Power I gifted him when he turned 21)

[tazman]

I had a very old version of that rifle for a short time back in the 1980s. I really liked the takedown capability.
The problem with mine was the rifle had been fired with corrosive ammunition and not cleaned properly. The barrel was badly pitted and would not shoot accurately at all. I was hoping for squirrel accuracy at 20 yards and it would not do it.
Sadly, it went down the road.

[RickinTN]

Nice video! Question: What MODEL is your Speedmaster? I have two Remington .22s with Speedmaster on their sideplate, and both are also labeled Model 552. My research indicated they were both manufactured in 1957 -- purportedly the first year of Speedmaster production?
My "source" is using the 'B-L-A-C-K-P-O-W-D-E-R' Remington date coding...
Yours looks the same as mine, albeit yours' furniture appears a zillion times better shape than mine. Both of mine appear to have been "truck .22s", and -- while they both shoot quite well -- surely were not treated as one might a collector's firearm through the years. One of mine sports an ejected case baffle -- something I'd never before seen -- which adds to my interest.
geo

Apparently Remington used the name Speedmaster on more than one model. I believe the model used in the video is actually a Remington copy of the Browning 22 semi-auto, or it could be the other way around. The later model, the 552, is an evolution of the 550 with 2-piece wood instead of the one piece of the 550. The nice thing about the 550 or 552 models is they will fire 22 short, long, or long rifle, unusual for a semi-automatic. All are nice rifles.
Rick

[Idaho45guy]

Model is the 241 and is a copy of a Browning design.

Attachment 288411

Mine is only able to shoot .22 short, unfortunately. And apparently they need to be smokeless and greased, lol.

Attachment 288412

The shotgun I inherited is also a Remington that is a cheaper version of a Browning model...

Attachment 288413

[RickinTN]

The shotgun should be a Remington model 11. As far as I know Remington did just as good a job on them as Browning did, the biggest difference was the Browning was fancier.
I have a few rifles which will shoot and cycle the CCI CB short. Lots of fun and sounds like an air rifle. I shoot quite a few of the CB shorts, CB longs and quiet Long Rifle rounds. Maybe you should try some in your early Remington.
Rick

[georgerkahn]

RickinTN: Thanks for both your kind words re the Remingtons, and 'specially for giving an explanation re the 550/552! I was confused... reason I made my query to OP -- and you cleared all up. THANK YOU!
An added note is that while both MY Speedmasters purportedly shoot all flavours of .22, I have experienced almost-jams --actually a ftf which I was able to shake out twice (phew!) in one of them using shorts (Remington brand High Velocity). Bion, I had come across a few bricks of .22 long -- and that seems to be the preferred flavour. Both of mine are extremely accurate and tons of fun to shoot!
geo

[Minerat]

The first time I doubled on green heads was with a friends dads Model 11 Remington 12 ga. He loaned me that day. We both had duck for dinner that night. Your 241 is really nice.

[BNE]

Nicely done.

[rking22]

John Browning designed both the Remington M11 and the Remington M24 which became the 241 in the 30s redesign. Both guns predate the existence of Browning arms, and actually are the originals. FN produced them in Europe around the same time period. Winchester turned down the gun that became the Auto 5, he then offered it to Remington and they took him up on it. Took them a LONG time to build a good auto shotgun without Browning’s design.

[Idaho45guy]

John Browning designed both the Remington M11 and the Remington M24 which became the 241 in the 30s redesign. Both guns predate the existence of Browning arms, and actually are the originals. FN produced them in Europe around the same time period. Winchester turned down the gun that became the Auto 5, he then offered it to Remington and they took him up on it. Took them a LONG time to build a good auto shotgun without Browning’s design.

Thanks for the info!

[FLINTNFIRE]

Have owned the 550 the 552 and a 24 and a 241 , 24 was a worn out gallery gun , lost the 550 in a house fire years ago , still have 552 as it was a gun my dad used to have till brothers messed it up .

I used to see the 241 models in the gun shop in Kelso quite often , most had weak springs , a brother in law had his fathers and it was a tack driver , last time I saw it he had put it up from cold to warm and it was nasty with the rust .

Sold the 24 and later found a nice 241 that I still own , my favorite 22 . Slight difference in take down of the 24 and 241 but a true JMB design .

I would have liked to have got the father in laws and passed down through my children , sad to see a well kept firearm ruined by carelessness a little proper care and the family firearms can be enjoyed by future generations .

[dverna]

You did a really nice job cleaning up that rifle and it is awesome to see the old girl shoot so well. 1" groups at 25 yards is not too shabby at all...especially with iron sights.

BTW, You grandpa was a wise man. There is little need for more than a .22, .30/06 and 12 gauge to handle all the hunting needs for most of us. He made good choices.

Just one suggestion on the video. You mentioned putting it "on safe" before going downrange. That is not a good practice. The action should be held open and the gun checked to insure no rounds are in it. I am not familiar with the gun, but if the bolt cannot be held back, a piece of plastic or wood should suffice to do the job.
For inexperienced shooters viewing a shooting video on Youtube, it would be a good reminder for them. Putting a gun "on safe" does not make it safe.

Again, nice shooting with a neat old gun!!

[Tripplebeards]

I just bought one from a neighbor that was made around the 50’s if I remember. Dirtiest gun I’ve ever seen on the inside. After I tore it down and cleaned about a month ago I shot a five shot group with mine that all when into one little cluster half the size of a dime at 50 yards. I was using bulk browning (rebranded Winchester 333’s) hollow points. I do have a 3-9 scope on it. Awesome little gun.

Here is the target. The thing shoots almost as tight as my CZ 452 ultralux!!!

[444ttd]

sometimes them ol' "grandpa" guns are much better to shoot than plastic guns.

[Idaho45guy]

I just bought one from a neighbor that was made around the 50’s if I remember. Dirtiest gun I’ve ever seen on the inside. After I tore it down and cleaned about a month ago I shot a five shot group with mine that all when into one little cluster half the size of a dime at 50 yards. I was using bulk browning (rebranded Winchester 333’s) hollow points. I do have a 3-9 scope on it. Awesome little gun.

Here is the target. The thing shoots almost as tight as my CZ 452 ultralux!!!

That is some impressive shooting!