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  4. Remington 550-1 Review: A Classic .22 Rifle [2024]
Remington 550-1 Review: A Classic .22 Rifle [2024] preview image
Jan 08 2024
9 min read

Remington 550-1 Review: A Classic .22 Rifle [2024]

Photo Credit – National Museum of American History

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Remington 550Check Price
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The Ruger 10/22 Semi-Automatic .22LR Rifle

If you’re reading this, it means one of two things: either you’ve inherited a Remington 550-1 rifle from your grandpappy and you want to know more about it, or the walnut stock caught your eye in the local gun shop.

Today, we’ll talk about an oldie from the 40s and 50s – a Remington 550-1 review. This plinker comes with a floating chamber. I may have heard about a floating bolt, but a floating chamber? Never.

Surprisingly, the Remington 550-1 is a .22 S-L-LR (short, long, and long rifle) autoloading caliber rifle that’s a solid shooter, as long as your model is in solid condition without many scratches.

I found that most folks are often surprised what this rifle can do if you properly take care of it.

You can find this gripping hunter’s artifact on the market for a great price, and you have the best chance of finding it at local gun shops or an auction company, since they’ve been out of commission since the 70s.

Folks nowadays go for a Remington 700 ADL model in the .270 Winchester caliber. But, if you’re a fan of the classic vintage feel of walnut and steel, I strongly recommend you check out this Remington 550-1 rifle.

The Remington 550-1 Product Overview

Remington 550-1 For Sale

Remington 550-1 review (3)
the Remington 550-1 (5)

History of the Remington 550-1 .22 Caliber Autoloader

There’s always something about a battle-hardened firearm that makes it stand out in history.

The Remington 550-1, at the time of making, was overbuilt in comparison to today’s standards. Back then, it would’ve been a hassle to find a rifle that could cycle S, L, and LR shots with no problems among its competitor classic autoloaders, so I would presume it was pretty expensive.

Around 700,000 Remingtons were made from 1941 to 1970. But it’s the unique floating chamber that cycles short, long, and long rifle bullets is what increases its antiquity value. You best believe it’s highly sought out by collectionaires and fans of Remington rifles.

This autoloader was replaced by the 552 model, but the 552 is not that good because the steel was replaced with an odd alloy due to budget cuts.

You won’t find it on popular retailers like Brownells or Sportsman’s, as it’s usually only up for auction. Expect to find some in great condition and some with scratches or stock discoloration.

Pro tip: You can find out the date of the make via the Remington date code on the barrel just above the receiver. Simply see the Remington manufacture dates and follow the instructions.

What’s This Rifle Good For?

The Remington Model 550-1 is an often overlooked, but nonetheless acclaimed .22 caliber tube-fed rifle with a 24-inch barrel and scope that’s easy to disassemble, clean, and reconstruct.

I’d recommend this for boar, coyote, and other small game. I wouldn’t go as far to hunt deer with it, but it’s still an impeccable piece of machinery that’s great for both new and seasoned hunters. If you’re looking for deer hunting rifles, check out our collection of .270 Winchester rifles.

The 550-1 has a sliding half-chamber that opens really fast. Тhe tube is smooth and feeds great, and it’s what makes the cycling smooth. It’s advised that you put a soft recoil spring and keep it lubricated at all times to achieve solid efficiency when hunting boar or waterfowl.

Even though it’s a full 24-inch barrel rifle, it’s light, it’s handy, and it’s the perfect tool to introduce rookie hunters to the fundamentals of sports hunting. A solid plinker.

Floating Chamber, External and Internal Parts

Remington 550-1 review (2)

The Remington 550-1 autoloader with a blow-back action has a low-profile bolt handle that’s on the left side. It cycles with no problem with its unique, one-of-a-kind floating chamber.

Most owners complain about the floating chamber, saying it gets dirty and wears out easily. The solution is to simply clean it regularly. With proper maintenance, it can feed and cycle all kinds of .22 caliber rounds, including sub sonics.

The safety is thumb-action and is pretty smooth, located on the right side of the receiver above the trigger. The deflector may wear out easily, but don’t hesitate to replace it because the spent cartridges fly out really fast, so be careful.

It is advised that you also install a suppressor and it’ll be as quiet as a mouse.

the Remington 550-1 (3)

Additionally, if you decide to thread the barrel, you must also re-crown it because despite how reliable it cycles .22 caliber rounds, it’s still an old rifle that requires pin-point precision and maintenance.

Pro tip: Don’t reassemble the cross-threaded assembly with the big sear screw winds, because it’s pretty complex to put together. You might need to visit a gunsmith for this.

Barrel, Sights, and Optics

the Remington 550-1 (2)
Remington 550-1 review

The rifle has 9.5mm dovetail rails for mounting a scope. It comes equipped with a weaver scope and original sights.

Usually, you can find it with a 4x Redfield scope on the grooved receiver, and the hard rubber butt-plate feels fine.

Additionally, you can drill and tap the receiver to install a brand new scope.

Source: Country Lifestyle

Remington 550-1 Specifications

MakeRemington
ModelModel 550-1 rifle
Caliber.22 S, L, and LR
ActionSemi-auto (bolt action rifle also available)
Capacity12+1 or 15+1
Overall length43 inches
Overall weight128 oz.
Barrel length24 inches
Barrel materialSteel
Barrel twist rate1:16
Carrier FinishBlued
Sightsfront fixed dovetail, rear adjustable
StockVarnished rosewood or Walnut
Upper receiverFloating chamber
Pistol gripVarnished rosewood or walnut

The Pros & Cons of the DPMS AR-15

Pros
  • Reliable, old-school classic rifle
  • Great value for a used gun
  • Unique floating chamber that offers solid feeding and cycling
  • Lightweight and suitable for both rookie and seasoned hunters
  • Good aftermarket value
Cons
  • Floating chamber gets dirty easily
  • Can be hard to find
  • Firing pin almost always needs a replacement in old models

What Do Others Have to Say About the Remington 550-1?

The Remington 550-1 is difficult to research and it took a lot of effort to scour through the forums. Here’s what some happy, and some concerned customers have to say about it:

Source: Youtube
Source: Youtube
Source: BushcraftUSA

Alternatives to the Remington 550-1

Here’s a couple of interesting plinking rifles that are similar to the Remington 550-1.

Browning Semi Auto 22 Rifle

BROWNING SA-22 GRADE I SEMI-AUTO RIMFIRE RIFLE
ALL DEALSSEE MORE DEALS

The Browning Semi-Auto .22 caliber rifle is a classic plinker and varmint rifle.

It feels similar to the Remington 550-1 in weight, and it has a 10-round capacity. It’s around 19 inches long and it cycles well.

It’s a good choice for those of you who are used to the walnut wood feel.

Marlin Model 60 .22LR Semi-Automatic Rifle

Marlin Model 60 22LR Semi-Auto Rifle, 19" Blued Hardwood, 14+1 Round Capacity, Right Hand - 70620
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This is another woodland classic. The Marlin 60 Model has been in production for almost over 60 years, but now it’s made by Remington. So, you can say that it’s a solid replacement for the 550-1.

It’s a semi-automatic autoloader with a 19-inch barrel length, hardwood stock with a walnut finish, and it weighs 5.5 pounds. It has a 14-round capacity, and shoots like a breeze with solid reliability. Plus, it’s corrosion-resistant.

Some gun owners complain that it’s slow to reload, but you can trust the high capacity.

The Ruger 10/22 Semi-Automatic .22LR Rifle

Ruger 10/22 Carbine Semi-Automatic .22LR Rifle with 18.5" Satin Black Barrel, Hardwood Stock, and 10-Round Capacity
palmettostatearmory.comCHECK PRICE
battlehawkarmory.comCHECK PRICE
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Last but not least, here’s the Ruger 10/22 standard carbine in the .22 LR caliber. 

It’s a 10+1 rounder with an 18.5-inch barrel and a blued finish that has been a standard, just like the rest of these rifles. The only thing that separates it from the rest is the removable magazine type for extra fast reloading.

The Ruger 10/22 has been the U.S. hunter’s favorite plinker with a cemented reputation and unmatched small game hunting performance. It’s been around since the 60s, and the legendary action and rotary magazine is a staple of reliability.

Conclusion: The Remington 550-1 Is an Excellent .22 Caliber Rifle With a Vintage Feel

When talking about used guns, there’s not much to say about this little Remington piece of history other than that it impresses most hunters with its flexible condition and longevity.

That’s the reason why I chose to write this piece and go over the rifle’s features. Overall, it fares quite well for small-game hunting like turkey.

To recap, the Remington is a tube-fed 12 or 15-round .22 caliber rifle that can eat short, long, and long rifle bullets. You can expect a failure to feed once every hundred shots, but hey, it’s an oldie.

I’ve seen and heard a lot of praise from hunters about how easy it is to restore a used and somewhat rusty Remington 550-1 back to its former glory, and apart from how some folks may struggle to find this classic beauty, I can say that it really stood the test of time.

If you ever happen to snag one, be sure to thoroughly clean it and replace some minor parts.  I’m sure it will shoot like a breeze with some Federal Champion HV .22 LR 40-grain or Remington High Performance 22 Hornet 45-gr PSP bullets.

For more info, check out our best ammo buyer’s guide to find some cool and cost-effective .22 caliber bullets for your Remington 550-1.

Brady Kirkpatrick photo Brady Kirkpatrick is the founder of Gun Made, the #1 online gun search engine. Recognizing the challenges of finding the right firearm at the right price, Brady built a platform to simplify the process, comparing prices across hundreds of online dealers and providing valuable content from trustworthy bloggers. His commitment to user-centricity and innovation has shaped Gun Made into a comprehensive resource for gun enthusiasts. In addition to Gun Made, Brady has also lent his firearm expertise to an array of renowned publications, such as The Truth About Guns, CrossBreed Holsters, Cheaper than Dirt, 19FortyFive, We Are The Mighty, and many others.
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Comments

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Mary Ann Sat, 11 Sep 2021 19:35:32

Hello,
Where do I find a list of commonly replaced parts on one of these? I’ve got one I’ve had for 40 years, that I got from my dad, who got it from his dad. I don’t think anything was replaced on it ever before I got it, and it’s only used for eradicating predators (raccoons, etc) from my small farm. But, though it works great for its age, I worry that it likely needs gone through, and want to know what to expect. I want to prepared with knowledge in case some old crook at some local gun shop wants to try to take advantage of this farm gal.

On that subject, how does one find a reputable gun shop to take such an old treasure to, to get it properly repaired?

Thanks for any help you can offer this old gal!

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