Remington's Model 572 BDL Fieldmaster

I grew up as part of a very Italian family in New Jersey. My Uncle Joe, on my mother’s side, was the first to leave the very tight knit community when he, his very Irish wife Kay, and their children Bobby and Joanie moved ” down the shore” to Wildwood. How long ago was that? Well, he drove a milk truck door to door during the week and played clarinet on the boardwalk bandstand on the weekends for a few extra dollars.

My Uncle Joe was a mellow guy, always in a state of advanced relaxation. My Aunt Kay was gregarious, always laughing. My cousins were a two person wild bunch. Bobby was a tough guy at fifteen or sixteen; big guy, crew cut, pack of Chesterfield’s rolled up in the sleeve of his t-shirt and hot tempered. During the summer he would work the boardwalk arcades, emptying the pockets of tourists intent on spending twenty dollars to win a fifty cent stuffed animal. One of the attractions he often manned was a shooting gallery and that was my first exposure to the Remington Model 572.

The gallery was in a transition from the Winchester Model 62A, one of mine pictured above with an ultra modern telescopic site, to the then relatively new Remington. By comparison, the Remington was super slick; hammerless, closed receiver with the exception of its ejection port and a good set of sights. Chambered to shoot only 22 Shorts, it was lethal medicine on metallic standing crows, pipe stems, spinners,  rabbits chasing around on a wheel and ducks swimming across the horizon..

That was then and this is… well, now

I’ve been planning to review the Fieldmaster for some time but, until now, never quite got around to the project. Remington’s first pump action rimfire rifle was the Model 1909, which was later renamed the Model 12. Designed by Remington’s John. D. Pedersen, the Model 12 was quite advanced for its time with solid breech, hammerless, take down capable, and side ejection. In those days, a Model 12 would be offered as a plain utility firearm, but also as F Premier Grade, embellished with engraving and inlays by Remington’s renowned artist-craftsmen.

Remington Model 572 BDL Fieldmaster
Manufacturer	Remington ArmsCompany, LLC
Point of Origin	Ilion, NY
Order No.	25624
Type Action	Pump Action
Caliber	22 Short, Long, Long Rifle
Magazine Capacity	20, 17, 15
Barrel Length	21″
Twist	1:16″ RH 6 Groove
Receiver Material	Anodized Aluminum
Barrel Material	Blued Alloy Steel
Sights	Ramp Front – W/E Adj Rear
Scope Mount	Grooved Receiver Top
Stock	Gloss American Walnut
Pull Length	13 5/8″
Overall Length	40.0“
Weight	5.7 Lbs
Safety	Cross Bolt
MSRP	$723

The Model 12 was produced through 1936, when it was replaced by the Model 121. The Model 121 brought minor mechanical refinements, as well as a semi-beavertail contoured forearm and a larger buttstock. The Model 121 was available in the same array of configurations and grades, with production lasting until December 1954 with just under 200,000 rifles manufactured.

The Model 572 Fieldmaster was introduced the same month the Model 121 was retired. By 1966 the Model 572, in a then new BDL Deluxe version, included a ramped front sight and an elevation and windage adjustable rear sight and a changed from a grooved to a checkered forearm and pistol grip pattern. Three primary versions of the 572 manufactured, the standard grade Model 572A Fieldmaster, the Model 572 BDL Deluxe ad the Model 572 SB, or smooth bore. By the end of 1987, only the Model 572 BDL has remained in continuous production, now known as the Model 572 BDL Fieldmaster.

The Remington Model 572 has outgrown its humble roots of the $12 Remington Model 12, but then what hasn’t. It has evolved from the lacquer finished, grooved forearm, steel receiver, exposed hammer Model 12 utility gun to the finessed firearm pictured above.

The action is slick, the stroke is short and the trigger is terrific in comparison to 95% of the current rifles offered from any and all manufacturers. The aluminum receiver is an appropriate change, instrumental in keeping the rifle’s weight down, its anodized finish consistent with the blued steel barrel. The sights are… robust for a rimfire, almost the same size as the factory sights on my Model 700 7mm Remington Mag. The Model 572’s barrel is still struck for 22 short, long and long rifle ammunition.

Cleaning and service

Routine cleaning can be accomplished with the Model 572 assembled, cleaning rod from muzzle end. For the more fastidious, or when necessary by frequent use; removing the trigger pins drops the trigger assembly. Removing the barrel dowel screw and barrel lock screw allow the barrel and bolt to be removed.

The Remington Model 572 has an excellent sight system… I think that front ramp is the same as the one on my Nylon 66. In any event, the rear sight has a wide range of windage and elevation adjustment and the front sight, through the aperture of the rear sight stands out like a 2×4″. The long 21″ barrel sight radius makes most shooters appear better than they might otherwise seem.

Pump action firearms are fast operating and the Remington rimfire is no exception to that rule. The stroke is short in deference to the 22 rimfire cartridge, but it is crisp and chambering is sure. The rifle is marked for short, long and long rifle ammunition. However, where short was once an inexpensive close in round to shoot, as was long, both now cost three times the price of even high velocity long rifle ammunition. Approximately one hundred-seventy feet per second separate the short from the long rifle and thirty five feet per second separate the long from the long rifle cartridge. There are roughly six popular short loads, one long load and one hundred-five long rifle loads.

Combining the Model 572 with ammunition. Had to happen…

The round on the left, below, is a Federal Game Shok 22 Long Rifle shot cartridge loaded with 25 grains of #12 shot. I like to put it in pictures, because I have no other use for it. Great claims are made for snake, rat and bird kills with 22 shot cartridges with indications that it is lethal are three yards on snakes and that it won’t put holes in barns. I find it is mostly lethal if multiple boxes are stacked to a height of three feet and left to fall on snakes, rodents and birds.

22 shot cartridges were actually intended for MO-SKEET-O, a miniaturized form of skeet. Tiny trap equipment, tiny targets and smooth bore, pump action 22 rimfire rifles like versions of the Remington Model 121 and Model 572. Popular throughout the 1940s though 1960s, it does not do well in rifles firearm, does not do well beyond five yards in most any gun for any varmint getting purpose. Why am I mentioning this cartridge? Because, if I leave it out, people will email to point point out my omission and to tell me how effective it is on cape buffalo and unicorns. I want them to know, upfront, I am a 22 shot cartridges infidel. Yes, I do feel better. Thank you for asking.

Groups shot for accuracy were with the Fieldmaster’s open sights at twenty-five yards, seventy-five feet. Why? A scope would have been a much better indication of the rifle’s capability, but it is twenty-five yards to the compost pile at the back of the yard, on the other side of the vegetable garden and that is my typical 22 rimfire application. My eyes are not as sharp as when I was a young man of seventy, and that front sight looms large getting out around that distance, but in my book it is a heck of a good shooting rimfire.

Any last words before we nod off, Joe?

Sure. Why not. The Remington Model 572 BDL Fieldmaster is one of those nifty rimfires that is modern in materials and evolved in design, but clearly feels like 1909 and reminds us there were other renowned firearm designers in addition to John Browning. I’m glad Remington sees fit to keep this legacy model in the catalog, as that reminds us that Remington is a company steeped in American and firearm history. No, it is not cheap, but then only cheap guns are. A nice rifle to shoot and a nice rifle to give to a young shooter with a developing interest in firearms.

And what about my cousin Bobby? The 22 gallery ammo was shot in his honor. I never saw him again after 1960 or so. Families sometimes drift and move in different directions. In researching for this piece, I found that he passed on in 2007 at the age of 67 in Lakeland, FL. Hope he had a good life.