Space-Age Model 66 Changed The Way We See Long Guns

In 1959 everything space-aged and new was keen in the USA. “Plan 9 from Outer Space” and “First Man Into Space” hit theaters, “The Jetsons” premiered in 1960, and Remington stepped up with a groovy little .22 that changed the way we look at long guns.

Remington Arms devised a plan to cut production costs with a synthetic stock and, in a unique partnership with DuPont, gave rise to a space-age material, Zytel 101, still in use in automotive, furniture, appliances, and firearms like the modern-day Smith & Wesson M&P and KelTec pistol frames.

The following 30 years saw incredible popularity of the lightweight, highly accurate, and  “indestructible” semi-auto Remington 66 .22 caliber rifle with its distinctive sleek nylon stock and iconic white diamond on the forearm. It was the first widely commercial success with a synthic-stocked long gun.

While some synthetic grips and stocks had been attempted, the 66 is recognized for changing how we saw rifles as tools that were anything but steel and hardwood.

With high mechanical strength, balance, stiffness, and toughness against abrasion, high heat, and chemical resistance. Zytel stocks were legendary, with stories of guns surviving mechanical tortures and coming out shooting straight.

The tube-feed magazine with a 14-round capacity was known for its durability and flawless performance, even with poor upkeep and thousands of rounds fired–as long as high-power rounds were in use.

Weighing a scant 4 pounds and an early price point of $49.95, the 66 was an affordable gun that pre-dated the semi-auto Ruger 10/22. While the 10/22 remains in production and is arguably the most popular semi-auto rimfire history, the 66 held its own through 1989 and produced millions of cherished hand-me-downs.

It was also a stunning commercial success for Remington, with various models and color combinations with blued or chrome receivers and barrels.

Mohawk Brown with a blued barrel and receiver was the standard, with more than 700,000 produced. The company cranked out more than 200,000 Model AB66s, which were Apache Black with a chrome receiver and barrel. An identical model Apache 77, had a run of 50,000 made for KMart, also known as the “KMart Nylon.”

The decades also saw Remington's 150th anniversary special and a Bicentennial edition in 1976. A pristine, “new in box”  engraved Bicentennial commemorative 66, one of 10,000, recently sold for $3,000.