[bd]

My "Buddy" at the pawnshop throws me a bone occasionally. He has a Mossberg S51M .22 LR rifle. This semi-auto rifle is in good shape and has some of the most interesting looking sights on it I have ever seen. On the rear there are 2 adjustments for windage and elevation and the sight on the front gives 4 options of blades that fold to the side when not in use. Obviously a target gun although I don't usually think of semi-autos as target guns. It has a monte carlo style stock and the tubular magazine pulls out the back for loading through a hole in the side of the stock. The only thing I really don't like about it is that it has a plastic trigger guard. It is just ugly enough to make it very interesting and he knows I'm just the sucker to buy it. I usually think of Mossberg as a Shotgun manufacturer but I can get this old gun for about $75.00 and can keep it in the truck for that price. Anybody know anything about these old guns? :confused:

[Old Soldier]

Hope this helps, this is on the MODEL 50,51 and the MODEL 51M.

MODEL 50 - .22 S, L, LR cal., semi-auco, tube fed through butt stock, 24 in. bbl., over:
43% in., hooded front sight, open bbl. sight, no swivels, 6% Ibs. Mfg. 1939-1942. $165 $150 $135 $125 $110 $85 $65
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MODEL 51 - similar to Model 50 with receiver aperture sight, heavier, beavenail scoc q.d. swivels, 7V4 Ibs. Mfg. 1939.
$165 $150 $135 $125 $110 $85 $65
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MODEL 51 M - similar to Model 51 with two-piece Mannlicher style walnut stock, 20 i bbl, 40 in. overall, front ramp, rear aperture, sporting bbl. sights, 7 Ibs. Mfg. 1939-194 $185 $150 $135 $125 $110
$95 $80

:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :D :D

[Cliff C]

BD - Mossberg has a reputation for having produced accurate, rugged and reliable .22 rifles. Their Model 44 was used as a military training rifle back in the '40's.

My first .22 rifle was also a Model 44(US), and it sounds like the sights you described were the ones used on that rifle as well.

The plastic finger grooved trigger guard is kind of a 'signature', as it may be, of those rifles. They're prone to shrinkage and cracking.

Vic Havlin is a well known supplier of Mossberg parts. His website is here (http://www.havlinsales.com/22rifle.htm).

For $75.00, if it looks in reasonably good condition, I'd say go for it!

Cliff