So after 57 years I finally detail cleaned my rifle

[kBob]

Carl,

the picture failed and I really want to see your rifle!

-kBob

 

[Sebastian the Ibis]

I cleaned the action on my old 66 by spraying it out with a garden hose. Worked!

I do the same today, no better way to get Schmutz out of nooks and crannies.

 

[FL-NC]

I have one that I got second hand that desperately needs cleaning. Need to do that one of these days.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

I cleaned the action on my old 66 by spraying it out with a garden hose. Worked!

And a *parts washer* or brake cleaner.... WITH THE STOCK REMOVED!

Todd'

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

Nice Model 66 and scope, Todd!
You convinced me to share a pic of mine.I added a Vortex Diamondback 3-9 x 40 about five years ago. Included is a pic of my 1921 Haenel-Schmeisser 6.35mm (next to some 10mm brass)
View attachment 979125

Your stock is way prettier than mine.

Todd.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

I scoped my nylon 40 years ago and took it back because I thought the scope was defective as it kept shifting poi. The owner of the gun shop put my 66 on his boresighter and even the slightest pressure on the forearm would move the crosshairs. Since the barrel and receiver are not rigid the 66 really doesn't benefit from a scope unless one needs one to see. I guess it would be fine for up close, but at distance it's all over the place. I'm wondering now if the barrel could be shimmed to take out most of the movement? That would be nice for my aging eyes.

One learns - or doesn't - to hold the receiver with a scope in particular but generally in any case. Makes for some weird contortionations but the benefits are clear. Part of it for me was I have YET to feel comfortable grasping that plastic forearm and listening to the creaky noises in the cold was unacceptable.

Didn't help that my front sight was continually wandering around to the point of falling to the ground from time to time.

Todd.

 

[Poper]

A 22lr for $54?

You know, you ̶o̶l̶d̶ ̶f̶a̶r̶t̶s̶ esteemed mature gentleman missed out on a lot of cool technology, but just know a lot of us younger guys really envy how different things were back then. You were born in the right era my man.

I got my first job in 1969. It paid $0.90 per hour. One year later, I got a raise. To the minimum wage: $1.00. Adcccording to this site: https://www.inflationtool.com/us-dollar/1961-to-present-value?amount=54, that Nylon 66 would cost you $472 and some change, today.
I bought my first car in 1971. It was a 1942 Plymounth Club Coupe for $300. A small fortune at the time. Gas was $0.25 and, as I recall, a quart of oil was about $0.35.

My point is that everything is relative and money just isn't worth today what is was back then.
Short story to the point: When I was in 5th grade (1965), my mother used to send me to the neighborhood store about 2 blocks away with $1.00 to buy 1/2 gallon of milk, a loaf of bread and 2 packs of L&M cigarettes and was reminded (every time) to "Bring me the change!"

 

[d2wing]

My dad bought a Nylon 66 after I had a family of my own. My younger brother has it now.
It probably has seen little use and knowing my brother is in pristine condition.

 

[Eugen]

I scoped my nylon 40 years ago and took it back because I thought the scope was defective as it kept shifting poi. The owner of the gun shop put my 66 on his boresighter and even the slightest pressure on the forearm would move the crosshairs. Since the barrel and receiver are not rigid the 66 really doesn't benefit from a scope unless one needs one to see. I guess it would be fine for up close, but at distance it's all over the place. I'm wondering now if the barrel could be shimmed to take out most of the movement? That would be nice for my aging eyes.

Yes, for sure the Nylon 66 is not scope friendly due to its design. And, yes, I like my scope due to my aging eyes. Iron sights just don't look the same anymore.

 

[Rex in OTZ]

Im just jumping onto this thread.
My only experence with the Nylon 66 was a $25 box of parts that contained 80% of a nylon 66 in a completely dissembled state.
In the preinternet days it took 3 years and a numrich gun parts catalog to get parts and decifer how it was assembled, whoever had this rifle before me lost the rear reciver that the rear sight was mounted on (FFL part) and all the magazine parts (inner and outter magazine)
It took a few trial and error attempts at assembly but I got it to feed reliably and up to that point was one the most impressivly accurate .22 semiautos Id owned up to that date.

Then we went throu a dry spell of no bolt handles (plastic ones were scarce once) and using my leatherman pliars to cycle the bolt.
Turned into a pain in the ass and I sold it off for another winter project.

 

[Howland937]

videos helped immensely. Actually they made it easy peasy.

See, aren't you glad you listened to your dad and the guy at the gushop? If you'd only waited 27 years instead of 57, you couldn't have accessed video tutorials and may have screwed it up just like they said you would!

My younger brother got our grandpa's old 66 after he died. 4 guns, 4 grandsons...luck of the draw. His is the only one with monetary value. But the old Lakefield(Mossberg) 12ga bolt with poly-choke I received is worth just as much to me.