Stirling Model 14 .22LR

[Heckler303]

I'm looking around for a cheap but fair .22 for plinking and bunnies (as well as wallabies), and the Stirling model 14 (which my father also owned previously) looks pretty ok for the money. I'll probably be doing some work on it anyway, new trigger, polishing, fine tuning, new stock even (if the current one is junk) to get it feeling and shooting right. Just looking for any more info on it if anybody has one/did own one previously and any ideas or suggestions. Cheers

[Walt68]

nothing wrong with a Stirling.

[Strikey]

Save your money for a bit longer, don't bother with doing all the mods on the Stirling and buy yourself a good second hand Brno Model 1 or 2, in the end you will be in front

[Radagast]

Had a couple of Stirlings, wouldn't own another. Have three CZs. My viewpoint on Stirlings is colored by my experience (pre-ban) with the semi auto Model 20. The firing pin was mild steel junk that needed to be filed to fit. Mick Smiths kept a good stock of pins behind the counter. Eventually something else broke in the bolt and it wouldn't cycle. IIRC the front sight fell off, it was never a tight fit.
The Model 14 wasn't as bad, but the sights were rudimentary and I never took to it.
If your budget will stretch, then a second hand Brno or CZ is a better gun.

[COLLECTOR 1]

Iv owned them over the years, and they are basic. A better choice is the Zastava .22 repeater, a bit more expensive, but a much much better rifle. Comes with spare mag to.

Collector 1

[Heckler303]

Thanks for the replies. I'll keep searching around. Any good quality 22 that works would be nice. I'm sticking in the price range that wont go over 350 (come on, its 22).

I'll look at some Brnos.

[chacka]

Sort of

We had an old one and it was corroded to s**t, but... still shot straight.

Barrel condition was not good put still put them all under 3/4.

[Heckler303]

After comparing Norincos to stirlings, its no contest.

Might try the JW9 and see how that goes.

[newsteadvic]

The Marlin 25N are under rated. The stocks are basic however the microgroove barrel is accurate. Spare magazines are cheap.

[MR. WINCHESTER]

Back in the day, how much were Fullers Firearms advertising Stirling rimfires for ?

Forty something bucks, for a Model 20 ?

( just curious )

[inventurkey]

Sort of

We had an old one and it was corroded to s**t, but... still shot straight.

Barrel condition was not good put still put them all under 3/4.

They say consistency is everything.

Consistent rust is good enough?

[Oldbloke]

If your looking at the budget end of the market consider these. http://www.gunemporium.com.au/Rifles.html My soninlaw got a ss version and very accurate, especialy for the price. Stay away from stirling, a bit too cheap if you ask me.

[sarki]

Consistent rust is good enough?

If it aint broke don't fix it

[creedmoorking]

I have had my little stirling 14 for 17 years. it has never failed. My best friend got his cz a year after mine, we shoot alot together and still do. the cz is great, but it would want to be for the money. I have floated the barrel, polished the bolt and trigger guard, cycles much smoother, polished the sear and also shortened it, it is now a crisp let off. it shoots as tight as the cz. I run a red dot on it, easy to hit foxes from the ute on the run. it cost me $350 as a package 17 years ago. and im sure they have better tolarances now. I say go for it. its a .22 and your range is short. get a cheap one saves you coin for your centerfire.

[Prios]

Consistent rust is good enough?

Apparently so

[headwerkn]

I got my start on a mate's old Model 14, owned since the 70s. Weak ejector but it has killed more rabbits and wallabies in its time than most of us have had hot dinners.

For a $100-$200 knockabout .22LR they're OK but for the same money you could get a Slazenger or Sportco repeater, which, despite being older, would be vastly better made (in Australia, no less) and more accurate too.

[Harts]

The old Slazengers have always been good.

[Oldbloke]

What did you buy Heckler?

[MR. WINCHESTER]

Yep .... damn good advice to grab a Lithgow Model 12.

Mine is mighty accurate.

And, they pop up regularly for 2-3 hundred bucks.

PLUS ... they're AUSSIE made !!!!!

[No1Mk3]

G'day Heckler303,
The Marlin 25N that newsteadvic refers to is a good little rifle, probably the cheapest spare mag. Stirlings are OK, had one for years till I gave it to a new shooter. Can't recommend the Baikal TOZ, only on magazine cost, I've had one for 40 years and it still works great, but a spare mag is literally worth the same as a rifle! Plenty of tube mag BSA Sportsmans still about for $150 or so. The Norinco JW series are such close clones that I have used my CZ Model 2 bolt in my Norinco, no problem, and they shoot very well. Can be had well within your budget, Cheers.

[Heckler303]

What did you buy Heckler?

Nothing yet, wallet is dry as a dead dingo's donger.


*insert smilie holding open empty wallet*



I was going to get a Brno, but after seeing so many inflated pricetags I'm might stick back with the norincos. Sometime soon I'll take some time to get to the LGS, as of now, I still am waiting on my target rifle to transferred first down here, then the PTA to finish up. Once it's secured then I'll go back to considering .22s

[Heckler303]

G'day Heckler303,
The Marlin 25N that newsteadvic refers to is a good little rifle, probably the cheapest spare mag. Stirlings are OK, had one for years till I gave it to a new shooter. Can't recommend the Baikal TOZ, only on magazine cost, I've had one for 40 years and it still works great, but a spare mag is literally worth the same as a rifle! Plenty of tube mag BSA Sportsmans still about for $150 or so. The Norinco JW series are such close clones that I have used my CZ Model 2 bolt in my Norinco, no problem, and they shoot very well. Can be had well within your budget, Cheers.

Those newer marlins look pretty good for a budget rifle, just like what the norincos are, but I'd probably end up being more familiar with the norincos simply because of the serious BRNO/mauser similarity.

[Bourt]

*insert smilie holding open empty wallet*

How bout it mods?

[Heckler303]

*insert smilie holding open empty wallet*

How bout it mods?

I found one that'd work:

[Oldbloke]

If your looking at the budget end of the market consider these. http://www.cabelas.com/product/MARLIN-X ... 822186.uts
My son in law got a ss version and very accurate, especially for the price. Stay away from stirling, a bit too cheap if you ask me.

I saw my son in laws in action last week. At least as good as my brno M2

[Heckler303]

If your looking at the budget end of the market consider these. http://www.cabelas.com/product/MARLIN-X ... 822186.uts
My son in law got a ss version and very accurate, especially for the price. Stay away from stirling, a bit too cheap if you ask me.

I saw my son in laws in action last week. At least as good as my brno M2

My experience with marlins is that they have sh!t triggers. I'd rather still creep over to the norincos really, but thanks for showing me that tho.


How much was your brno mk.2?

[Oldbloke]

The m2 brno was $135 new in about 1980. But that was a lot back then.

[CatDog]

I have a Stirling model 14 that was purchased by an Uncle new in 1975, passed to my father in 1980 and to me in 1998. It can still drop bunnies, cats and fox' sat 100 metres and has shot a lot of Roo's over the years, I have had to replace the bolt, but am still happy with this 40+ year old rifle.

[MR. WINCHESTER]

I have a Stirling model 14 that was purchased by an Uncle new in 1975, passed to my father in 1980 and to me in 1998. It can still drop bunnies, cats and fox' sat 100 metres and has shot a lot of Roo's over the years, I have had to replace the bolt, but am still happy with this 40+ year old rifle.

Why did you need to replace the bolt ?

[CatDog]

Live in remote NorthWest, buying a new bolt was cheaper and quicker than sending bolt to gunsmith to repair or replace firing pin.