A 22 from my past

[Mobuck]

but not a RUGER. Son was bouncing around somewhere today (central Iowa I think) and found a fairly unique Remington Nylon 66 in decent condition. Turns out it was an early production (pre-serialized) rifle similar to the first one Dad had. That was the rifle I learned to shoot with. (Correction, this was the first rifle I was allowed to shoot. I didn't really 'learn to shoot' until much later). I told him to bring it home.

 

[eveled]

That is a cool find. I hope it's a shooter.

Coincidentally I have a Winchester single shot rifle I have been tinkering with lately. I bought it because it sounded like my Dad's rifle he had when he was a kid.

It's been in my safe for years, but something renewed my interest recently. Last night I replaced the rear sight elevation ramp with a better one filed to fit snuggly. The old one was very sloppy. Very satisfying.

 

[contender]

I had a Rem Nylon 66 back in the 1970's. Great guns as long as they didn't break. From what I recall back then,, they were a gunsmith's nightmare to work on.

Let's hope your new one is a great one!

 

[peachhead]

I had a Rem Nylon 66 back in the 1970's. Great guns as long as they didn't break. From what I recall back then,, they were a gunsmith's nightmare to work on.

Let's hope your new one is a great one!

They are not fun. Lol
I've had several of them lately, One of them was salvaged off a trash pile and the guy wanted to make it shoot.

 

[gunzo]

A big fan of the Nylon here. Bought my first in '74, & about 1990 or so I saw a good deal on another, & thought I should have a backup for original as it had nearly 100K on it.
I shoot the newer one some, but haven't needed it. The 74 model is still going strong.

Enjoy it Mobuck.

 

[hittman]

Never had a Nylon 66 fail me. To me, a better gun than the 10/22 …. No fussy mags to load, higher capacity in the tube. Light, sleek, trouble free for me.
Everybody should have one or more!

 

[Mobuck]

"they were a gunsmith's nightmare to work on." Yes they were (and still are). When older Son was maybe 15-16, he took his apart ot 'clean it'. I spent considerble time re-assembling and told him in no uncertain terms not to do that again EVER.
I gave each of my kids a Nylon-each a different color. First got a blue/brown. Second (a girl) got a chrome/black. Third got a blue/black.
I'll probably just hang this one on the 'behind the seat' gun rack of the farm pickup.

 

[gunzo]

If ya get familiar with their guts they aren't too awful much trouble. Not staying familiar would be challenging. I once spent a couple weeks in the back room of a gun shop with a large pile of non functioning ones, mostly Mohawk 10c's actually, to try & cannibalize parts from the totaled ones & repair as many of them into shooters as possible.

For a few years after that word got around & I fixed a few more. But now? Probably not advisable. I did have the receiver tin off one last year just for a light wipe down & inspection. I thought then,,, ya better not go any further old man, you'll likely get in trouble & wind up with a Nylon in a sack, just like so many I've seen.

Huh! come to think of it, probably you tube vids these days that would breeze ya right through it.

 

[Watertender]

I had one in the early 1970's but it grew feet with a bunch of my other stuff. My cousin's husband used to work on salmon fishing boats when he was in college to pay for his schooling. He said they had a Nylon 66 to shoot seals and walruses that would get in their seine nets. The Nylon 66 on the boat was just tossed wherever and never taken care of. He said that the Captain also had a Ruger RST4 and a Winchester Model 94 30-30 in the wheelhouse and that all 3 were kept loaded at all times.

 

[rock 22]

First gun dad bought me around 1960 Seneca green .Dad shot trap and Remington rep shipped to our house. Traded this when I was 13 for Remington pump model 572 still have this. Wish had kept 66..

 

[Watertender]

First gun dad bought me around 1960 Seneca green .Dad shot trap and Remington rep shipped to our house. Traded this when I was 13 for Remington pump model 572 still have this. Wish had kept 66..

Seneca Green is the rarest color for a Nylon 66. CBC in Brazil was making a copy of the Nylon 66. I am not sure if they still make them.

 

[JAYDAWG]

What are the odds of me looking through the July 1959 American Rifleman after reading this post and seeing this!

 

[arfmel]

I have one, pre-serialized, that appears to have been kept in a shed and used to stir cow manure. It works flawlessly.

 

[bhp9]

I always wanted one of those but now I am confused. If I found one in l like new condition how long would it work before I needed to clean it? Or suppose I just took off the cover plate and sprayed it out with kerosene? Would the gun keep on working for a long time with such care?

 

[Mobuck]

One of my neighbors had a Nylon 10 smooth bore. I tried so hard to buy that but he wouldn't part with it.
At one time, I had a Nylon 10, 11, 12, and a 76. During a bit of financial pinch, I sold everything except my original 66.

 

[hittman]

My Nylon 11 with it's 24 inch barrel is quite a shooter!

 

[bhp9]

Here is a video showing how to detail strip the Nylon 66. Not fun but not rocket science either. The hardest part looks like trying to position the springs when re-assembling it.

 

[Mobuck]

" The hardest part looks like trying to position the springs when re-assembling it."
Yes yes, it is.

 

[hittman]

Hindsight being what it is we all shoulda stocked up on these when stores were closing them out for under $100

 

[Mobuck]

"I'll probably just hang this one on the 'behind the seat' gun rack of the farm pickup."
OR NOT!!! Son decided the old rifle was just 'too nice' for that treatment. Showed it to me and then put it back in the gun sleeve AND TOOK IT HOME.