My cup runneth over - EM-322 & X-51

It must be the best week I've had in many years of "renting" rifles - that is buying them, keeping them for a while and if they're not keepers, off they go again, usually at a small $ loss, occasionally a small gain.

Anyhoo this week has been very kind, I've scored an "as new" EM-322 and a Unique X-51 (which I'm yet to get in hand), both for very modest money.

The EM332 does raise a couple of questions. The design and metal work is of very good quality, I already rate it the equal if not better than the current CZ's in fit and finish, while the design is streets ahead. Wood wise however the Chinese have quite a bit to learn alas. If mine will shoot it might get a new stock, that bolt handle is begging for a nice slim Stutzen style (fully wooded - what some call a Mannlicher). Anyone else restocked one, it looks quite straightforward??

The manual that came with the rifle says the trigger is adjustable, however I can't see anywhere to adjust mine, am I missing something ?? (the trigger is close to exceptional as is, just tad too heavy on the first stage, but the final let-off is as good as any but the top Annie triggers).

Nice ... couple of classics there. Unique a very interesting little rifle, and of maybe 100 .22 sporter makes and models I've played with the inexpensive Norinco Em332 still holds the record off the bench for 100m. It shot four consecutive groups under 1", and averaged 0.6". Best of 0.4". Could shoot 0.5" groups with several ammos - Fiocchi HV, Winchester powerpoint and couple of target ammos. Tight, well machined action, excellent barrel, tight chamber (won't feed some makes of ammo), nice 2 stage sporting trigger, and interesting euro leaf bolt. Needed a warmer round before settling into consistent grouping. Chinese military trainer rifle.

Chunky stock not everyone's cup of tea, but I'd suggest do some testing with it before trying to restock. You'll get used to it... And if you don't, sell it to me :)

The 332 is basically a copy of an Anschutz, as opposed to the rest which are Brno copies

Pics maybe?

From my own research several years ago I didn't find the Em332 to be an Anschutz copy - rather there was suggestion action may be based on an earlier German Suhl rifle. Happy to be proved wrong however and would be pleased to see some pics ...

Excellent little hunter 22 and handy on the range.

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Originally Posted by mudgripz

From my own research several years ago I didn't find the Em332 to be an Anschutz copy - rather there was suggestion action may be based on an earlier German Suhl rifle. Happy to be proved wrong however and would be pleased to see some pics ...

Excellent little hunter 22 and handy on the range.

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I read somewhere that the bolts were interchangable, maybe it was only that

Mudgripz I agree, I've never seen a Suhl, but its not like any Annie I've had anything to do with, either the 64 or 54 action.

Its a beefy little sucker (30mm receiver diameter) with two action screws and good bedding surfaces.

It has a very considered design of the bolt internals to avoid the "stacked tolerances" that give rise to inconsistent ignition in many 22 designs (this is the strong point of the Annie 54 action, which is possibly where the comparisons with the Annies come from).

I will post up pics when my camera comes back (SWMBO has it)

Awesome Foster, I guess one will be mine down the road. You're a good bloke.

Lucky boy!

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Originally Posted by nor-west

Awesome Foster, I guess one will be mine down the road. You're a good bloke.

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"splutter" lucky its not beer'o'clock here or I would have lost it

reading back on those EM322's, they got very good writes up-best bang for buck 22 around if you could get them. There is another norinco 22 out there also similar to it but cant remember. Also relatively rare and also good value for money.

Welcome to the Unique family, amazing .22, probably one of the nicest .22 ever made, built to last with great accuracy and excellent reliability. look after it.

Those bloody EM322's, I found one for a mate, as new also. He swears it's the most accurate rifle he has ever used and shot. Just goes to show what the Chinese can produce if they want to . In this case you don't get what you paid for....you get a shit ton more.

Yup - it pays to understand whats going on, the Chinese can put a man in space, and I've seen some nice plant from them, so there's nothing wrong with their engineering capabilities. I think we just get done over by middlemen here, they buy cheap and sell for the maximum markup without a care to quality.

The Unique is in, apart from the fact that it looked like it had never been stripped to clean in its life, it functions just fine. This example is a bit unsual in that it has a dull matt blue, not the bright blue one usually sees (it has some bright blue bits like the fore-stock cap).

Its got a big scope on it for accuracy testing (hopefully later today or tomorrow) but cries out for a nice compact 2-7 or 3-9, I'll have to think a bit on that.

Put a photo of the Unique up mate, I love my one, hard to find a good one these days and well worth keeping.

Pic as requested, my decent camera is still away so apologies for the quality. I've been on the lookout for a X-51 for years but never found something priced right when I had funds. This one was very modestly priced (possibly due to the very odd carving of a dogs heat on the grip cap area - does anybody recognize this ??)

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All steel (not a trace of plastic, alloy or shit metal) and wood - just as a rifle should be!