Need some opinions on two rifles

[guzzijohn]

I was in a pawn shop yesterday and two rifles caught my attention. One was a Mossberg, either a model 42 or 44 army training rifle. The stock had a lot of dings and scratches, bluing pretty much gone with some rust showing on the underside of the barrel. The crown looked good, was not able to see the inside of the barrel. It has a peep site and the front sight is missing the hood but has the sights that swivel out. Asking price is $125. What do you all think?
The second rifle is a Remington model 12 with an octagon barrel in quite nice original condition (No bluing but very nice patina), wood is is good shape. The problem is that it is a .22 special. I don't know anything about the .22 special. Can ammo be found? Can you fire .22LR in it? Asking price was $560.

[BUGEYE]

can't comment on the model 12, but I would sure gamble $125 on the mossberg. if the rifling is good you have found a real jewel.

[hillbill]

im assuming by 22 speacial you mean 22 wrf? the wrf is basically just a slightly shorter 22 magnum. the case is larger dia. than 22 long rifle so you cant shoot long rifle or 22 shorts in it.you can shoot the 22 wrf in a 22 mag gun but not vice versa.i see ammo actually quite often at gun shows and i did buy some at a local shop a few years ago.it seems priced about like 22 mag.its a nice round for small game.check on gunbroker and see if the price is in line.ive always wondered if it would be possible to just make the chamber a tad longer and shoot 22 mag out of the wrf guns.

[Rangr44]

The old .22 Special is not the same as the .22WRF (sometines also called the .22 Special).

It is a long-discontinued round, larger than .22LR (precluding feeding firing LR ammo in the rifle), and available at ammo collector's prices.

The patina means the bluing's shot/gone, and it's NOT in $550 condition - especially with an obsolete chambering (for what it is - a shooter).
A collector "might" want it to fill a vacant spot in their collection, until one in collectible/better condition came along - but collectors usually only buy patina guns if the model is so rare that better condition guns are NEVER available.
As a shooter - without an affordable ammo supply - I wouldn't pay one dime over $200 for it.

The Mossy 44US can be restored with the proper parts - still affordable, because you're getting it at about 60% of it's value.

About 35 years ago, I made a super-accurate squirrel gun out of one I cut down/sporterized/scoped.
They're excellent shooters, for sure.

.

[wsjones]

And 22 Remington Special, which is how the 12 shoud be marked, I think (mine is).  Can't shoot a regular 22 LR in it but you can shoot the 22 WRF ammo in a 22 Mag, although I don't know why anyone would go out of their way to do so.

The 12's are pretty collectible.  Don't believe me, check out gunbroker or such to see what they bring.  That price might not be to far out of line.  And if it had a Marbles tang mounted peep sight you can add another $100 or so.  Cool old rifles if you want a hundred year old pump 22.

And although ammo was discontinued, it's been more or less regularly available since 1994 or so and isn't any more expensive than 22 mag ammo.  Midway, Natchez, Cabelas, etc. typically have it, so somebody must be buying and shooting it.