Remington 552 Speedmaster

[PeterN]

This is the first rifle that I bought that started me off buying guns. I was brought up on a farm and went out shooting on my own from about the age of 12 with my brother's Cooey .410 single barrel shotgun that he got for his 16th birthday. I bought this rifle new in September/October 1968. It cost me £28. The telescopic sight was an extra £5 or so. The moderator was added about 1975. I used this rifle for shooting rabbits and crows etc on the farm. I still have it. I also bought some shotguns and sold some of them on and kept some. It would be sixteen years or so before I bought another rifle in the mid 1980s. That was my first military rifle, a 1942 dated BSA dispersal SMLE bought from the recently departed York Guns for £85. I have bought a few rifles since then and only sold one that I regretted selling so I have never sold another rifle.
So, a few pics of a nothing special old Remington that is worth little money these days, but something that has been part of my life for over fifty years.

Regards
Peter.

[ovenpaa]

The Speedmaster is a model I have often admired but never owned and the closest I have got is I own a couple of Ralocks. Recently we (Me!) seem to have started collecting pre-war .22 rifles and I shoot a Vickers and a couple of BSA models in competition and they always a delight to shoot.

[dodgyrog]

I bought one a while ago at Scotarms auctions. Gave it a clean and found it shoots just about any ammo. It's very accurate too, I saw one go for £5 at auction. Much more sense than a 10/22 IMHO

[ovenpaa]

At the risk of going off topic (Apologies to PeterN) I have always been impressed with the accuracy of the.22 Short and own a few rifles that shoot them. Sadly they are quite pricey these days so I am always pleased when people hand a couple of boxes or so in. Also, I have never had a short fail to fire, regardless of age and I will happily use pre-war examples if handed in.

[mikygpu]

I am with all of you in this one.
I bought a Remi 552 Speedmaster as my 1st semi-auto at Southams for £45, then I wanted a more hi tech rifles, so I've sold it for £25 at Southams a year later.
Then I bought a G22 and a GSG-5 at Scots for far too much money. Then I've sold them at Southams as I they were too much hassle to strip, clean and put back.
And at Scots, maybe in same auction that dodgyrog was in, Mike was asking anything for a Speedmaster, and I shouted a fiver and bought it for that. I still have it and when I go to club I take a large box of loose ammo and shoot it all (that goes, obviously).
I am with David in .22S. I have some .22S made before 1914 and still goes, as opposed to .22lr made between 1918 and 1940, which some go and some don't.
I bought my 1st 10-22 for £450 and it is in ATI stock and although it is a good fun, I still prefer my Speedmaster. Is missing the deflector plate so the cases go everywhere, which means another 10-15 min sweeping the floor.