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

[biggles]

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

[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