Dad's Remington 512

[9.1]

I'd appreciate any thoughts on a project I'm considering. One of my dad's hobbies is hunting garden pests up to and including groundhogs with a Remington 512 22lr rifle he inherited from my great grandfather. Shots are 25-75 yards. Lately he's been suggesting a scoped 22 might be more compatible with his eyesight. Should we modify the 512 to add a scope, relieve the barrel channel, bed the action, refinish the stock, and add a cheek riser, or just buy a more modern, inexpensive rifle in 22mag or 17hmr?

 

[Remington92]

Maybe I'm a sentimentalist but I wouldn't modify something that much that's been in the family that long. Purpose built rifles are readily available and at what point are you spinning your wheels trying to make an impala into a corvette. If you're dead set on upgrading the old girl I'd only do things that can be readily and easily converted back to original.

 

[hiker270]

17 HMR

 

[Runningwater]

keep it exactly as is, and buy something new with glass on top.

 

[9.1]

Maybe I'm a sentimentalist but I wouldn't modify something that much that's been in the family that long. Purpose built rifles are readily available and at what point are you spinning your wheels trying to make an impala into a corvette. If you're dead set on upgrading the old girl I'd only do things that can be readily and easily converted back to original.

I guess I was thinking that updating the 512 would be the sentimentalist thing to do so it doesn't get relegated to the back of the closet.

 

[WKB]

Get a Savage 93R17. they are cheap, homely, and dead nuts accurate for what you need. I wouldn't modify a vintage 512. I also doubt the accurizing measures you suggest would make significant impact at the ranges you mentioned with std velocity 22lr plinking ammo. The way the tube mag is attached to the barrel and the receiver probably would negate any attempts any accurization. Plus it would be more costly than buying a new rifle.

 

[Agross]

Get a Savage 93R17. they are cheap, homely, and dead nuts accurate for what you need. I wouldn't modify a vintage 512. I also doubt the accurizing measures you suggest would make significant impact at the ranges you mentioned with std velocity 22lr plinking ammo. The way the tube mag is attached to the barrel and the receiver probably would negate any attempts any accurization. Plus it would be more costly than buying a new rifle.

What he said. Those 17’s are great, and cheap.

 

[digger]

Whatever you do,,don’t modify that great old gun.New rim fires are cheap and plentiful

 

[gabenzeke]

I have a couple 22s that have been passed down in my family and for a while I considered doing something similar. Ultimately I went and got a volquartsen summit in 17 hm2. I just couldn't bring myself to modify one of the old guns. They don't see as much use now, which I guess is kind of a downside, but I suppose in time I might have regretted modifying guns way older than I am.

Sent from my Pixel 6 Pro using Tapatalk

 

[dneaster3]

Agreed with the above. Leave it alone and buy a new .22 for the scope.
Keep shooting the old one for fun.

I have my grandfathers 550-1 and made the same decision. It’ll never compete with some of the more accurate, modern rim fires just because of its original design and barrel quality… but they’ll never have the family nostalgia

 

[rayporter]

i packed dads old 512 as a kid and have since passed it on. so i do have some attachment, the stories it can tell.

it will sit in a safe most likely. i would not be opposed to a couple holes for a scope mount but bedding and such, NO WAY! to see the old girl continue to be used would thrill me.

 

[9.1]

i packed dads old 512 as a kid and have since passed it on. so i do have some attachment, the stories it can tell.

it will sit in a safe most likely. i would not be opposed to a couple holes for a scope mount but bedding and such, NO WAY! to see the old girl continue to be used would thrill me.

The way the tube mag is attached to the barrel and the receiver probably would negate any attempts any accurization. Plus it would be more costly than buying a new rifle.

I'm not understanding some of these posts. Drilling holes for a scope would be the most noticeable change. Bedding the action is a simple, $7 project that won't be visible afterwards.

 

[rayporter]

i doubt that bedding will help a thing about the old rifles accuracy. the scope will allow you to see a target. [i have 74 year old eyes ]