Anschutz advice please

[jaroslaw]

I've just completed my probationary period at my local club & have started looking out for a rim fire target rifle to get me started in 20 & 50 yard 3 position comp's and then perhaps a bit of bench rest.

So far I've used the club's tired old BSA International's as well as a selection of bolt action & semi auto sport-type guns. All very nice but not really me. I did get to handle, but not shoot, an Anschutz briefly (type 1807 I think). It just felt so right, especially the trigger.

I cannot afford a new gun so I'm on the look out for a second hand item. I'm left handed and my experience with air rifles has taught me not to expect to find anything with a left hand stock or action.

I came across an Anschutz 54 today in a shop. It looked & felt just like the 1807 but the tag said 'Model 54'. The shop was buisy so I wasn't able to quiz the staff about the gun. When I googled it I came across a lot of images which did not look like the gun I had seen in the shop.

It looked like the one in the attached photo.

anschutz2.jpg

Is there more than one type of the model 54?

Is £500 a reasonable price? - It looked mint, the woodwork looked as if it just left the factory and the metalwork looked unmolested. It was fitted with a telescopic site (32x40 I think), but no palm rest or diopter sights. It had a thumbhole stock with height adjustable comb and butt pad (hook was missing).

Am I barking up the wrong tree? Should I be looking for something else? Is there a huge stock of fantastic used left handed rim fire target rifles out there that I don't know about.

Your pearls of wisdom will be much appreciated. I feel I'm groping around in the dark. Thanks.

[demonloop]

The Match 54 action was used in various rifles so the £500 price tag will depend on which model the action sits in, although personally I think it sounds a little high with no sights/accessories. Perhaps the price might be a little negotiable, or perhaps it really is in excellent condition.

If it has the adjustable cheekpiece it may be one of the more recent models for that action.

The more recent the model, the higher the price should usually be.

The Match 54 action is excellent, very accurate and will never let you down.

If you can test the rifle to feel the trigger better still.

You can pick up sights and other bits and bobs for it easily enough on fleabay or the net

[RobF]

if your looking to drop that sort of money, and dont feel experienced, then i'd think to look for a more complete rig. We've all been there with the money burning a hole and you see something close to what you want and the old excitement kicks up, but i think it's worth waiting and looking.

you might find the scope is old, useless or worth nothing (or broken)..alternatively it could be a rare find!...

although you can pick up diopters etc from all sorts of places, you will probably be spending a chunk on those, and you wont have any real basis for a decision on what suits you and your gun in the positions you shoot.

the lack of hook might be a problem, depending on age you might not find an old hook to suit your gun easily or cheaply...it depends on what part is missing and what it is.

essentially what i'm saying is that £500 might well be an ok barter starting point for that gun, but you will need to know what your doing in order for that to work to your advantage...you may end up spending £200-300 more on the bits you need (hook, sights, shelf, + all the other bits you might want)...so it may be a false economy and you might be better off looking for a good example at £750 with all the bits and haggle down from there.

Of course, you could walk into the shop and say £300 and see if he bites....but remember, although .22 isn't going to wear a barrel out soon, some of these guns are knocking 20-30 years old now...beyond the barrel, there might be other things that are beyond their prime.

[jaroslaw]

Thank you very much gents.

That all sounds like good advice. I'll be patient and look for the right gun at the right price.

Thanks again and all the best to you and yours at Christmas.

Marek

[biggles]

Hi Jaroslaw

That photo you posted rather looks like a Model 1813, one of which I owned for many years; a full-blown, open class (3 positional) .22 rifle. If in good nick (and they are VERY robust) and well cared for, it would last almost for ever.

Think you'd have to do some research to see if asking price is reasonable, especially if you want/need to replace the scope with peep sights. Decent new set will set you back well in to 3 figs.

However, if it's any help/encouragement, when I bought mine from new (mid 1980s) it cost something in region of £500 and when I sold it (to a gunsmith) in mid 90s I got a little over £700. Not a bad investment, but reflected condition (almost as new) and the then new cost (approaching £1000).

Photo of a Annie Model 54 attached for comparison.

ATB

Biggles

[BigAl]

The picture is of a 1413 which is one of the older models, The 54 action is still used in the new 19 series round action guns although with slightly redsignd bolt and a slightly different trigger. I would think that £250 - £300 would be top money for a rifle of the age shown in the picture. 2 years ago I found a match 54 actioned 1411 prone rifle from another member at my club for £50 complete with the better steel rear diopter sight. Had the gun checked by the Anschutz factory gunsmith at Bisley last year the Headspace needed adjusting slightly but the sights were perfect with no backlash (slop) this is on a gun about 40 years old that I think had been used as club gun for most of that time. The later 18 and 19 series guns are available in a true lefthanded action.

HTH

Alan

[biggles]

and here's a pic of a Model 1813 - currently priced at closer to £800

[BigAl]

Biggles £800 thats £200 more than I payed for mine new in 1987 and it had the newer adjustable butt hook, although I think they were listed at about £950. I got a good deal and my ex payed for it for me as a wedding present. Still shoot the rifle though The 1411 I got was for my son to shoot.

[jaroslaw]

Thank you Biggles & BigAl.

Thats very helpful. I did not know about the possibility of a left handed action as well as a stock. I guess these must be rare. That'll make the hunt for one all the more challenging/rewarding.

I was almost resigned to shooting with the wrong hand, using the wrong eye just to have the right gun! Feeling daft now.

I'm most grateful to you for your advice. Looks like I'm going to spend quite some time searching the web.

Thanks again.

[biggles]

Hi BigAl

Didn't make the prices up - they're genuine and I don't find it too surprising given the cost of current models average around the £1400 mark, usually excluding sights (another £2-300+).

Looks like you did get yourself a bargain and I'd certainly encourage Jaroslaw to go hunting round local clubs to find a private seller; will always be cheaper than 2nd hand from retailer and you get a better impression on how well (or not) the gun's been cared for.

Jaroslaw might want (for reference) to have a look at the source mentioned in the photo of the 1813, as they appear to have a true left hand Model 1413 in stock.

And before it gets said ...... NO. I DON'T WORK FOR THEM !! but they are 'specialist' target shooting suppliers and pretty good - if a tad expensive (just spotted that they offer Combro chronos at the bargain price of £79 ).

ATB

Biggles

[steveP07]

Hi Jaroslaw,
I'm in a similar position, but I bought a gun off a club member.

Do you have an FAC yet? Get that in order first, before you go dropping the cash, because you won't get a gun released to you without it. Smallbore target shooters are tough on observing the law - and you can't really blame them. After you've got to know people, and they've got to know you better, you could try dropping hints that they need to buy a LH rifle as a club gun

A good book is"Prone to win" from Bedford Target Supplies, which has pretty much everything you need to get started, if you haven't already got it.
https://www.bedfordtargetsupplies.co...dex.shopscript

Don't give up on the BSAs. They are still top guns, if heavy for kneeling/standing, and, if you can get on with them then they are very accurate.

Hold out for a LH rifle. They are few and far between, but are out there. My club has one as a club rifle, and all the lefties in the club shoot them of course. You'll also find that match air rifles come in LH and RH versions.

[another_dom]

Marek,

As other board members have said, these rifles vary a great deal and you really need to know what you're looking for and willing to spend. As an example - are you going to be shooting prone only or would you like to try 3P (prone, standing, and kneeling) shooting in time? If you are, you will need a free rifle and additional equipment for the various positions, and may be able to buy the lot from a retiring/upgrading shooter and get a good deal. If, however, you are going to be shooting prone only at club level a BSA is an excellent (and far less expensive) choice. They shoot perfectly well and will provide excellent scores, if not on a par with the current Anschutz/FWB/Walther etc rifles.

I am also a left hander and it took me over two years to find the rifle I shoot with, a very clean 1813L, and another couple to gather an additional couple of hooks, rear sights and a palm rest for 3P. The rifle came from the NSRA (they can be pricey but it's worth letting them know you're looking for one), and the other bits and pieces normally from older shooters giving up 3P after a poor or uncomfortable competition!

I am considering moving to a shiny new rifle and may be interested in selling up if the money's right. Also, if you are around a 40" chest I have just replaced my jacket and now have an excellent KT spare. Unfortunately it doesn't fit any of the LH shooters at my club!

Good luck in your search,

Dom.

[bob64]

i got the 1813 which i use for the unlimited class bench rest good rifle ,
sounds to me the one you have seen might have being used for bench rest
shooting with it having high mag scope fitted and butt hook removed,
i removed my sights to fit a scope and the butt hook because with bench rest the hook gets in the way. the 54 his a well sort after rifle for bench
rest shooting. paid £500 for mine 2yrs ago.
bob64

[heronheed]

I shoot a left handed match 54 and its identical to the one in your pic.

I paid 500 quid for mine 18 months ago and it was in good nick and doesn't seem that old.

It's a good rifle, though a bit on the heavy side for some people. It has a very heavy barrell which'll stand years of use.

As I'm sure you've found, left-handed stuff tends to be a bit more expensive and a lot rarer than its right-handed counterparts!!

[brandwooddixon]

As others have said the Match 54 is an old design but has had a long production life.

Personally I wouldn't pay £500 for a second hand one without hand stops or the correct iron sights and buying them will just cost you more money in the long run. Even more so when you consider that at auction smallbore rifles more than a few years old sell for a pittance.

If I were you I'd keep using the club guns until such time as you find the correct rifle.

It may be worth your while asking around at the club or going with someone to a gun auction.

You'll be suprised how many people give up shooting and need to dispose of their kit and guns. It's a great money saver to start with second hand equipment and if looked after it will never wear out. I know someone who regularly gets scores in the high 90's with a Match 54 that's over 30 years old!