Years ago I found a very nice model 552 BDL (CW - Apr 1972) at a pawn shop for $175 with a rather cheap Western Field scope attached. It's a beautiful rifle with decent checkering, upgraded sights, and unmarked finish.
While the exterior was perfect, the interior was packed with spent powder residue. used but not abused. I completely disassembled it through trial and error, cleaned every inch, reassembled it and put it away.
Last week I decided finally to shoot it, and thought a "shoot-off" between my latest cobbled together 550-1 would be both informative and fun. This was what I found:
Accuracy - what we all strive for was a wash between the two. Neither are "target rifles" but accuracy for the two was about the same with the edge going to the 552. I used the same scope on both rifles and zeroed it in before comparing hits bench rested at 50 yards. With open sights the 552 would have come out on top by a wider margin, it's sights are just superior to the 550's.
Reliability - Excellent for both, no jams or problems encounted using Remington "Golden bullets".
Ease of operation - The 550-1 blows the 552 away here, I just don't like the left hand charging handle on the 552 and the loading/ejection port is just too small if you want to load a single round or clear a jam. Also I don't like the separate forestock on the 552, it's loose by a silly millimeter and bulky.
Ease of cleaning - Again the 550-1 shines. The 552 is much more difficult to clean from the breech while disassembly of the 550-1 is quite easy and straight-forward.
Appearance - Goes by a wide margin to the 552, wife says it's a "pretty" rifle, quite a compliment coming from her.
Some of this is quite subjective and personal preferance on my part, but I much prefer the 550-1 to the 552. Surprise
While the exterior was perfect, the interior was packed with spent powder residue. used but not abused. I completely disassembled it through trial and error, cleaned every inch, reassembled it and put it away.
Last week I decided finally to shoot it, and thought a "shoot-off" between my latest cobbled together 550-1 would be both informative and fun. This was what I found:
Accuracy - what we all strive for was a wash between the two. Neither are "target rifles" but accuracy for the two was about the same with the edge going to the 552. I used the same scope on both rifles and zeroed it in before comparing hits bench rested at 50 yards. With open sights the 552 would have come out on top by a wider margin, it's sights are just superior to the 550's.
Reliability - Excellent for both, no jams or problems encounted using Remington "Golden bullets".
Ease of operation - The 550-1 blows the 552 away here, I just don't like the left hand charging handle on the 552 and the loading/ejection port is just too small if you want to load a single round or clear a jam. Also I don't like the separate forestock on the 552, it's loose by a silly millimeter and bulky.
Ease of cleaning - Again the 550-1 shines. The 552 is much more difficult to clean from the breech while disassembly of the 550-1 is quite easy and straight-forward.
Appearance - Goes by a wide margin to the 552, wife says it's a "pretty" rifle, quite a compliment coming from her.
Some of this is quite subjective and personal preferance on my part, but I much prefer the 550-1 to the 552. Surprise
