Background: I'm not a gun person. I don't hate them, just one of those hobbies I never got in to. I dove hunted as a kid, grew up with a pellet gun, shot .22's a couple of times, so I'm not "new" to them. I have inherited guns over the years from both of my grandfathers. Specifically, a 1927 Winchester .22 rifle.
I've always wanted to take to a range and shoot with it, but honestly, I'm concerned about it because:
a) I don't know if it's even in shootable condition
b) I don't know how to load it or even what types of .22 ammo it takes
c) Although I'd never get rid of it, would shooting it somehow hurt it's value?
Should I take to to a local gun store and get it cleaned/inspected? Should I not touch it and leave it as is? Where should I take it? Can I go to any gun store or one that deals in older guns? (I don't want to risk losing it to a fly by night gun store)
The action is still clean on it, not rusted up or anything. I think it just needs a good cleaning.
My dad mentioned always wanting to get it "blued", but he said it might hurt the value.
Can anyone point a "newbie" in the right direction? Feel free to ask more as I no little about it.
-Rob
If you are not comfortable with shooting it, bring it to a gunshop that has a gunsmith and tell him what you said in this thread. There is no shame in not being familiar with weapons, I had never been around weapons until I was in the military. If it is an heirloom, its worth spending the coin to make sure its in working order.
The number one thing to look at is the condition of the bore.
don't attempt to refinish ANY part of it at all. take it to a reputable shop for cleaning/ inspection if you're not comfortable w/ diy.
The correct loading should be stamped on the barrel, it is likely chambered for the standard .22 LR cartridge. Pictures would help.
Is it a model 90 pump? Or is it a model 52 or 56 bolt action? DO NOT have it reblued you will ruin the value of the gun!
If you were closer I would give it an inspection for you and even clean it up and take you to the range. Either of the two rifles I mentioned are both .22 LR (long rifle) and as long as you don't try and shoot things like Velociters and Stingers out of them you should be fine.
Try and find a good shop near you and they should be able to inspect it right there in front of you with no issue. The barrel should be checked for pitting and cleaned well prior to shooting. As long as there are no damaged parts and the action fully closes it should be perfectly fine to fire. It is kind of hard to screw up an old .22 and most will shoot far after we are gone. I have a 50 year old Marlin that shoots better than most modern guns and a 1903 Springfield built in 1919 that is a tack driver at 300 yards with iron sights.
I've got a couple of friends down in Corpus who own a gun shop. One of them specializes in pre-war gun restoration. Just pm me if you want the info.
It's a fairly easy DIY job, but understandable if you don't want to do it. Just checking of tolerances and such.
That said, it won't cost much (like $20-40) for a decent gunshop/smith to check it out and make sure it will shoot safely and properly. Some may do it for free if they find the gun interesting and you buy some ammo and such from them. More of course if they do find a problem that needs fixing.
Re-bluing and such will ding the value. Not that it has terribly much anyhow. So too will various modifications and enhancements. Shooting it, may slightly decrease its value. But in my experience, that's more hearsay than truth. At least with the lower end guns. No personal experience with expensive guns.
I'd look for a shop/smith that has a range out back, so they can test fire the gun on site, and take you out back to make sure you're comfortable with it. A number of good ole boy shops will do this sort of stuff just for the joy of it.
As far as shooting it goes, assuming it checks out okay: get it appraised or check a collector's guide and try to get an idea of its value. Odds are it's not a terribly valuable gun, and shooting it will not diminish its value. Of course if it turns out to be incredibly rare and in awesome condition and worth $10k, I'd clean it and oil it and put it in a safe place. 
In reply to foxtrapper:
Actually some of the old Winchester .22s can bring close to $1000 so there is some value there.
rebelgtp wrote:
In reply to foxtrapper:
Actually some of the old Winchester .22s can bring close to $1000 so there is some value there.
True, and he should check before going bonkers with the gun.
Can't touch the links because I'm at work, but there are a number of them that will help identify what gun you've got, and if it's potentially valuable or significant.
From what I could research last night, it's a model 1906 .22 rifle made in 1927. It's the standard model (not an expert) and I would guess a condition of 80? There is some light pitting and it's aged, but seems in good shape.
It says on the barrel that it shoots both short and long .22 rounds. (Whatever that means).
There's a local place called McBride's guns that I think I can swing by at lunch next week and have them take a look at it and clean it up.
I have a pic, but it's a full shot of the gun, no details.
-Rob
That is basically the old 22 shooting gallery rifle. Same as made by Rossi today. They are very sturdy and do have some value. Easy to clean. It should come apart by unscrewing a large knurled knob on one side. I have a later and a longer version of the same rifle with an internal hammer. It is an extremely sweet shooting rifle and will digest short, longs and long rifes, even if you mix them up.
I would do nothing but clean it and shoot it.
The only way you could lower the value of a weapon by firing it, is if it is a mint condition, unfired, high dollar weapon.
EDIT:
Just did a Google search. I have the model 62, which is the sucessor The 1906 was designed by John Browning (yea!) . The first two years were 22 short only.
Basically, this is just like what I have, condition is very similar.
-Rob
Clean it, shoot and have fun. That is a very nice rifle.
The only cleaning I would do is basic bore cleaning. Get a brick of .22LR for $20 and shoot that thing.
yamaha
HalfDork
8/21/12 9:56 a.m.
buy a cleaning kit, and repeat the cleaning process 2-3 times or until the final step dry patches don't come out black or grey.
Keep the solvent away from the wood. You should be good for .22 short, long and long rifle(long rifle being the only mass marketed round these days)
Should be a fun lil rifle. As mentioned they used them quite a bit as gallery guns loaded with .22 Shorts. You can actually still get .22 shorts and they can be fun to shoot when just plinking around.
Honestly the thing more than likely just needs a good cleaning and it should be ready to go. Many of these old guns are built to last.
Here is a scale of Short, Long and Long Rifle
OK, that's a very simple tough as nails plinker. Odds are very much in your favor that it will fire reliably and safety just as it is right now.
But if you're wrong, it can be most unpleasant. Even a little 22 can make life very interesting for the shooter if things really aren't right.
There are various things you can do, and ways to work your way up through ammo to make sure everything is fine. And it'll likely cost you more than just letting the gun be inspected by a compentent individual. It's "only" a 22, and lots of folk get away with treating them with casual contempt. Personally, I don't recommend that, even with a little rimfire plinker.
I have broken it down into two separate pieces using the thumbscrew and (I think) got it back together correctly. My concern is one little lever on the right hand side that seems really loose to the point I have to hold the gun upside down for everything to fit back together.
I'll take to to a local gunsmith (along with my mom's bolt action .22) and have both checked out professionally and then take it from there.
Thanks a bunch for the help.
-Rob
neat old gun... i LOVE shooting a .22... shot a bolt action .22 short at a range some years back... pretty sure my pellet gun (air rifle) was louder... and had more kick lol
don't know what .22 long or .22 short cost but as mentioned .22LR run about $20 for 500 rounds... so cheap to shoot... in contrast my .38 special cost about $17 for 50 rounds... :(
the only thing cheaper to shoot then a .22 is a BB gun lol
let the gunsmith check it out and then go enjoy :)
Reminds me of my Winchester 62A, a later version of the same action. It's my favorite .22 plinker, and a great small-game rifle.
