The same year the gun was introduced, Remington field rep Tom Frye set a record for both endurance and marksmanship that has yet to be broken. The Nylon 66 was such a departure from convention that Remington spent nearly four years of research and testing before releasing the gun, and it proved to be well worth it. REMINGTON 788 SERIAL NUMBER DATES FREELoosening one screw allows the barrel to be pulled free of the stock for easy cleaning from the breech end. Since there was no receiver per se, the barrel simply sat in a V-block molded into the stock and held in place with a bracket. By two-piece, I mean the stock consists of two halves split vertically, which are bonded together. What looks like a more or less conventional steel receiver like those found on Remington’s semiauto and slide-action centerfire rifles is nothing more than a sheet metal cowling that slips over the real receiver, which is an integral part of the two-piece stock. The material was stable enough to retain tight tolerances under all reasonable temperature extremes, had high-impact, structural and flexural strength, was impervious to solvents, acids and fungi, was self-lubricating and permanently held colors. Nothing even remotely similar to the Nylon 66 had ever been seen before or since.Īlthough this gun’s physical appearance alone warranted the aforementioned descriptions, its basic design and the components that comprised it were just as radical.įor one thing, other than having a bolt, firing pin, mainspring and magazine tube of steel, the rest of the gun was made of Zytel 101, an injection-molded polymer developed by DuPont (which owned Remington at the time). By the time production ceased in 1991, more than 1 million had been produced. Remington’s Nylon 66 - When introduced in January 1959, words like radical, revolutionary, innovative and futuristic were just some of the adjectives used to describe what was to become the most successful rimfire rifle in the history of Remington Arms. If you already own one, consider yourself fortunate. The latter are collectors’ items, but all the other models make superb working guns.įortunately, the 9422 has not been out of production long, so they are not at all hard to find on the used gun market, and it’s not that unusual to find examples in absolute mint condition or even brand new. Over its 33-year production span, it was offered in more than a dozen iterations ranging from a standard grade with walnut stock, WinCam and WinTuff laminates, Legacy, Trapper and XTR Classic versions, to 25th Anniversary editions and commemoratives. 22 rimfire back then, but oh what a bargain it was! 22 Magnum (WMR) and, if memory serves, retailed initially at $99.95. Eventually, after more than one shake-up in management and corporate philosophy, the company once again began producing the quality guns on which they had built their reputation, but it was the 9422 that set the tone for that transformation. The machining, the wood-to-metal fit, the lustrous blue and the effortless way the action cycled was on a quality level I never expected. So when I first heard the company would be unveiling a lever-action rimfire rifle in the tradition of its iconic Model 94 centerfire, I was skeptical.Īll doubts vanished when I saw this rifle for the first time. When the 9422 was introduced, Winchester was trying to recover from its decision made almost a decade earlier to cheapen its guns, most notably the Model 70. Winchester’s Model 9422 - Produced from 1972 to 2005, this is the finest lever-action. It’s a subjective thing, of course, but I can almost reflexively think of five outstanding models that are well worth seeking on the used gun market. I’m sure most hunters can come up with at least a couple of discontinued guns they’d love to have a second chance at owning. Unfortunately, all guns have a limited lifespan in what can be a fickle marketplace, and often their success or failure has nothing to do with their merits. Some really were and went on to achieve success and longevity, but most proved to be little more than minor variations of existing designs. Over the years, we’ve seen a lot of new guns introduced, every one of them touted as the latest and greatest. It remains the best-selling rimfire rifle in the history of Remington Arms. The Nylon 66’s unique construction and looks were far ahead of its time. These hunting guns are no longer made, but are well worth seeking on the used gun market.
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