Thread: Rifles from the back of the Cabinet

Recently there was a Weaver Micro Trac (so not that old, but definitely retro) 20x target style scope on TM and it came my way for pretty modest money.

Once it arrived and tested fine I had a good peer into the cabinet for something to put it on.

One of my favorite "old boys" is a Winchester Model 52 - so called "Pre A" model, my example no collectors gun but it's great fun to shoot and extremely accurate so it's a lot of fun. However it's really my designated "iron sights" 22 and although I scope it up from time to time to test ammo I passed it by.

Further back was a 22 I've owned since secondary school, it's an assembly of bits, the action came from a armed offenders squad cop who gave me some stuff when he took me shooting from school, the barrel I bought "as new" a bit later and the stock is one Wolf Nader made for me about 1980/81. It was originally a Vickers Empire model, and it won me a lot of NZ Small Game Shooters Assn matches in the early 80s, most of the guys shot Brno's and Annie's and were often either pissy or incredulous when I beat them with a funny looking old single shot probably made before the First World War.

Anyhoo even though it's a funny looking old bitsa I thought maybe it could have a run with the "new 20x" scope for old times sake. I got it zeroed and tried some Eley Club . . . . Very cold here and quite windy but the old girl seemed to like the outing and laid down some not bad groups. Despite the conditions I had to fetch out some decent ammo, Eley Team and Match. Initially I didn't take too much notice of the group sizes, they all seemed to have a shot hanging off the side. It was much later when I was tidying that I put the calipers on the groups, holy smoke, 3 consecutive 5 shot groups of 9.0mm, 10mm and 11mm all at 50Y.

The old girl is now back on the front rack, out of retirement, ready and raring to go on the "Dayattherannge" challenges that I like!

Pics soon.

A friend and I got some old target 22s from a forum member about 2 years back.
I got the international because I liked it and he got a 12/15(I think).
The model before.
I will be fair and say all of my attempts have been in less than ideal conditions but his rifle is a bloody laser.
Bog stock winchester subs are doing something like 1/2" groups at a hundy.
I'm pretty sure mine isn't doing that lol

Ive got an old vostock/baikal target rifle sitting in the cupboard agricultural but surprisingly accurate once you get used to the trigger

Tentman, that Vickers was a fine rifle which you used very well to beat me in competition. Your example encouraged me to buy a BSA 12/15 much later.

Originally Posted by Tentman

It was originally a Vickers Empire model, and it won me a lot of NZ Small Game Shooters Assn matches in the early 80s, most of the guys shot Brno's and Annie's and were often either pissy or incredulous when I beat them with a funny looking old single shot probably made before the First World War.

Originally Posted by rupert

Tentman, that Vickers was a fine rifle which you used very well to beat me in competition. Your example encouraged me to buy a BSA 12/15 much later.

So @rupert were you one of the 'pissy', or one of the 'incredulous'?

Originally Posted by Hermitage

So @rupert were you one of the 'pissy', or one of the 'incredulous'?

Rupert and I shot together in Otago, and I possibly had better manners by then. It was some Wellington branch guys who as I recall made snotty comments, maybe Brad Parkes, who wrote a fine book about 22 shooting. He was probably justified, my wife still informs me I'm a bad winner. But man thos guys were good to us young fellas. I often wonder what became of guys like Dave Kennedy etc. (Wellington NZSGS assoc members).

I have a lovely old Vickers in the back of the safe too, Picked this one up at Teds last auction. The Vickers brand is a bit sentimental for me as my Grandfather flew missions in the Vickers Vildebeest aircraft in WW2, including one mission where he sunk a Jap ship and was shot down.

This one shoots great but is just a fun collector rifle for me as I don't shoot small bore. I had it out on one trip and could easily hit the 8" gong at 100m repeatedly.

Heres the mighty russian

This is a mauser target rifle of mine

Originally Posted by blip

Attachment 259459
Heres the mighty russian

That's cool
Is that bolt recessed into the wood on closing?

Sent from my SM-S916B using Tapatalk

Originally Posted by BRADS

That's cool
Is that bolt recessed into the wood on closing?

Sent from my SM-S916B using Tapatalk

yep If you run out of ammo the things hefty enough to use as a cricket bat

So far when I've been testing them out the baikal out shoots the mauser which surprised me. The mauser is far nicer to shoot