It might not be very pretty but this smart rifle cleverly blends great handling with accuracy in a compact package, says Bruce Potts
Our verdict on the Anschütz Model 1761 .22 rimfire
The 1761 is designed for work. Its Sporter styling and compact credentials suggest its work is primarily vermin, but its match target rifle pedigree also shines through.
Styling-wise, Anschütz has opted for function over aesthetics for the Anschütz Model 1761 .22 rimfire rifle. Gone are the sleek lines of the 54 action and a new, more angular design has taken its place. This is echoed in the stock design too; function trumps form, I would say.
While the Anschutz may not be the best looking rifle, Bruce was pleased with its performance
But both of these things are perfect for the sort of jobs that most 1761 owners get up to, day in and day out.
The 1761 cleverly blends light weight, great handling and accuracy into a compact .22 rimfire package. This means an additional sound moderator or sights can be added to enhance the performance without affecting handling. Its short compact design — 36in overall with an 18in barrel and ambidextrous Sporter stock — means it’s perfect for a rabbit lamping trip from a pickup.
The Anschütz Model 1761 .22 rimfire rifle comes with a five-shot detachable magazine and integral rails for scope or night-vision kit. The trigger, being an Anschütz, perfectly complements the precision-made barrel. The sum of all these parts is good handling and excellent accuracy down range.
In this reviewer’s opinion, the Anschütz 1761 is a bit of an ugly duckling that transforms into a swan when you need it. But looks don’t always matter.
The Anschutz 1761 is a compact, lightweight and accurate 22 rimfire with Anschutz`s usual build quality.
NEED TO KNOW
- Manufacturer Anschütz
- Model 1761
- Type Bolt action
- Overall length 36in
- Barrel length 18in, ½in UNF muzzle thread
- Length of pull 14in
- Weight 6.5lb
- Finish Blued steel
- Calibre .22LR
- Stock Walnut Sporter
- Magazine Five-shot detachable
- Scope mounts Dovetail or Picatinny rail option Trigger Single stage, adjustable
- Price £1,295; spare magazine £63
- Importer RUAG UK, 01579 362319
The ultra short smooth and positive bolt action was totally reliable when out rabbiting.
The 1761 is designed for work. Its Sporter styling and compact credentials suggest its work is primarily vermin, but its match target rifle pedigree also shines through.
Styling-wise, Anschütz has opted for function over aesthetics for this rifle. Gone are the sleek lines of the 54 action and a new, more angular design has taken its place. This is echoed in the stock design too; function trumps form, I would say.
But both of these things are perfect for the sort of jobs that most 1761 owners get up to, day in and day out.
The 1761 cleverly blends light weight, great handling and accuracy into a compact .22 rimfire package. This means an additional sound moderator or sights can be added to enhance the performance without affecting handling. Its short compact design — 36in overall with an 18in barrel and ambidextrous Sporter stock — means it’s perfect for a rabbit lamping trip from a pickup.
The rifle comes with a five-shot detachable magazine and integral rails for scope or night-vision kit.
The trigger, being an Anschütz, perfectly complements the precision-made barrel. The sum of all these parts is good handling and excellent accuracy down range.
In this reviewer’s opinion, the
Anschütz 1761 is a bit of an ugly duckling that transforms into
a swan when you need it. But
looks don’t always matter.
The 1761 achieved tiny five-shot groups with the new Norma .22 subsonic ammunition
Rifle test
The key feature of note on the 1761 is the barrelled action that manipulates the cartridge and ultimately affects reliability and accuracy. Its 6in steel action is quite angular with a matt blued finish and 11mm dovetails for scope mounts, though I fitted an optional Picatinny rail as I tested various scopes and night-vision kit.
The bolt is short at 4.75in, again all steel and matt blued with dual opposing extractors for very positive extraction and brisk ejection. Aided by the oversized polymer bolt handle for a good grip, the whole bolt only moves an inch and a half, so it is very quick, reliable and smooth to operate.
When cocked a red indicator plunger protrudes from the back of the bolt shroud.
The 18in barrel is a practical length with a larger 20mm profile for accuracy and very good balance. It is threaded with a ½in UNF
for moderator use.
The five-shot single-stack magazine, part steel upper body and polymer lower, sticks out of the stock and is held in an enlarged trigger-guard arrangement. The effect is a bit ugly but releases easily.
Tactile
The dark-stained ambidextrous walnut stock is a bit plain but it is comfortable and handles well, which I guess is the important point. A solid black rubber recoil pad is extremely tactile and maintains a grip in the shoulder. This is handy when you are shooting off sticks and when you need to free your hands to reload a magazine.
The two quick-detachable sling swivel studs accept a sling for carrying and extra grip/support is via the long thin chequering panels. It is quite well cut and the overall style of the stock is very ambidextrous. The barrel channel is well cut too and gives a very good free-float to the barrel, even with a bipod or heavier steel moderator fitted, so accuracy is maintained.
The single-stage trigger with thin/grooved blade broke crisply at 3.15lb and is adjustable. The safety behind the bolt handle has a large knurled wheel shape so is easy to operate and silent. Forward set is to fire and rearward is safe and it can only be operated when the gun is cocked.
Field testing the Anschütz Model 1761 .22 rimfire
This is where the Anschütz really shone for me. The manufacturer is revered by other makers for its outstanding accuracy and the 1761 proved itself on paper and against the local rabbit population.
I primarily tested .22LR subsonic ammunition and a couple of high-
velocity (HV) loads.
RUAG supplies RWS and Norma ammunition and first up were the new Norma .22 subsonic loads. These are actually RWS subsonic rimfire loads in
a Norma box.
Regardless, at 30 yards and 50 yards I had tiny five-shot groups of 0.35in and 0.55in respectively. Velocities were very subsonic at 1,021fps, so exceptionally quiet with a moderator fitted, and yielding 93ft/lb energy.
Eley subsonics and Winchester 42-gr Max subsonics shot 1,034fps and 1,073fps each with identical 0.45in and 0.65in 30- and 50-yard groups.
The RWS HV — which is consistently my favourite high-velocity round due to its excellent accuracy — broke the sound barrier at 1,247fps for 138ft/lb energy and achieved superb 0.50in 50-yard groupings.
The Anschütz-Meopta MeoPro Optika 6 4.5-27 x 50mm RD SFP scope combination worked a treat. The fine reticle and illuminated floating dot of the Meopta allowed very precise head shots, some out to 85 yards. The five-shot magazine fed reliably. As stated, it’s a lovely light and very pointable rimfire whose handling seems to guide your bullet to the target. The trigger was just the right mixture of precise and safe and the plain stock meant you are not worried about a few scuffs or marks.
On a local farm we had 22 rabbits the first evening, 11 the next, then some lamping yielded another 17 and 15 rabbits, all head shots, cleanly taken with confidence.
That’s what you pay for when you buy an Anschütz — assured performance.
Conclusion
This Anschütz is a bit quirky looking for my taste and rather plain, but its performance was second to none. Nice and light and would make a great lamping companion. Adding a night-vision or thermal device would enhance an already great rifle for after-dark vermin sorties.
- Star Rating 4.25/5.0
- Accuracy 19/20
- Handling 18/20
- Trigger 18/20
- Stock 17/20
- Value 18/20
- Total 90/100