Remington Model 552

The Remington Model 552 Speedmaster is a blow-back operated, self-loading, semi-automatic rifle that can fire .22 Short, .22 Long and .22 long rifle cartridges.^[3] Ammunition is fed from a tubular magazine under the barrel.

Remington Model 552 "Speedmaster"
Type	Rifle
Place of origin	United States
Production history
Designer	L.R. Crittendon, E.W. Hailston[1]
Manufacturer	Remington Arms
Produced	1957–2020[1][2]
Specifications
Mass	5.75 lb (2.61 kg)[3]
Length	40 in (100 cm)[3]
Barrel length	22 in (56 cm)[3]
Cartridge	.22 Short, .22 Long, .22 LR[1]

History and Features

Designed by Remington engineers L.R. Crittendon and E.W. Hailston, and first introduced in 1957, the model 552 features a self-loading, blowback action featuring a low profile left-side bolt handle that lends itself to a clean receiver appearance and slender profile.^[3] The rifle is equipped with both open sights and a 3/8" (9.5 mm) dovetail rail for mounting a scope and a safety on the trigger guard.^[3] The Speedmaster was manufactured from 1957 to 1988 in a standard model. In 1966 Remington offered this rifle with a special stamping of the company's 150th anniversary on the left side of the receiver.

In 1991, the walnut butt stock of the BDL Deluxe version was altered to incorporate a Monte Carlo comb to improve cheek weld when using the rifle with a telescopic sight, while the impressed checkering on the butt stock and forearm was changed to machine-cut checkering.^[4] in 2017, after complaints that the Monte Carlo comb made the rifle difficult to use with open sights, Remington returned to a straight comb stock design for current production BDL rifles.^[5]

The Speedmaster was produced until 2020 in an upgraded "BDL" model, featuring a checkered walnut butt stock and forearm with a gloss finish.^[3][6]