That gun SHOULD be too old to have screw in choke tubes. The later models did but most of those were 12 gauge.

That's sweet, it's only money just as well spoil yourself.

Those are savage 24s. I also have a couple Russian Baikals. They are opposite barrel placements. Rifle on bottom, shotgun on top. They also shoot really well but I prefer the Savage over Baikal, even the Valmets that put rifle on the bottom.

even if you just run the inflation calculator 550 today would be 215 in 1988

now yours was probably 150 or so back then but they were also still making them.

The last couple I got rid of were 22/410's and I got $550 each for them but they were NOT deluxe. I think you did just fine, especially if it was something you really wanted.

if you find it doesn't have a screw in choke and doesn't pattern well , it is very likely many of them came Mod choke .
you may well still be able to have a smith install chokes in it. it depends on the thickness of your barrel metal.

one of my shotguns , l paid 125 for the gun used , I got a good deal on it and 250 to have it threaded and get 3 chokes as a package.
even with 2x the money in the choke threading and chokes , no regrets. it would cost me 600-700 to buy that gun the way I wanted it and even that would be piecing together parts they never sold together.
I also later put new stock and forearm on it adding another 150.

a gun that fits and swings right for you is worth cases of wasted ammo missing.

there are people who will spend 300 on gas to get to a hunt , 100 on tags , 700 on lodging and complain that sighting in their rifle right cost to much.

I gave 90 dollars for it at an auction that was mostly household stuff, this was the only gun there. Model 24 S series.

That's really "pretty" gun. I'll give you $150 for it just to rescue it from some non-hunter/even user's hands. Shame to get a scratch on it....

Thin skinned bugger ain't ya? lol

I did the rescue.

I'd be absolutely fine if it's a modified choke. That's actually what I'd prefer. An open choke on the other hand could be an issue.

I'm also nervous now about the people saying the .22 will shoot a foot low, lol.

It is a pretty gun, but neither of your's are near as pretty as mine so just go argue about it somewhere else, lol.

I can't stand plastic stocks, or camo'd guns.... I'm all about wood and bluing. But if someone else likes them it's no skin off my nose, I ain't gotta look at them lol.

One my buddy had was scoped with see thru rings for the shotgun. I doubt it shoots a foot low. I dont know if he had to have his drilled and tapped or not but you can put a scope on one. Just make sure the selector switch is on the barrel you want to use.

I bought one new when I was a young man. Then gave it to my dad. He never hunted but had an old single shot .22 for cows and pigs when we butchered. He had a few groundhogs he wanted to try to shoot on the farm. So, he had it for 30 some years. I put a scope on it for him since he couldn't seem to shoot well with open sights. When he passed, I took it back home with me.

it appears they used a 3/8 scope groove behind the rear sight on some , so a 22 type scope mount fits

also they appear to still be making some reproduction parts for them
https://jackfirstinc.com/index.php?route=product/category&path=597
sights included

a foot low seems odd if you have a rear elevator on your sight , I wonder if the elevator was missing

the rear sight looks to be a 3/8 dove tail so there are other options there also like a marbles bullseye sight they are fast and let you see more of your target but give good accuracy also https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1828132532

I believe mine is a modified choke and most of those older models were as well.

Your has the adjustable rear sight so you should be good.

I'd definitely prefer to keep open sights on it for as long as my eyesight will allow. Always been a big fan of open sights.

That marble bullseye one you posted Pete, looks pretty cool. I might have to try one of them at least on one of my many other 22s to see how I like it.

I have them on a couple muzzle loaders
I have a couple 22s with other peep sights but they were already drilled and tapped for a peep so I went that way.
they work very well on the muzzle loaders and I may end up with one on my 20ga slug gun yet

Yes Pete, the one I have has had he 22 barrel grooved for the scope mounts. Catch tho, you're not to fire the shotgun with scope attached.

Says that right on my gun.

So did the one I had. You couldn't move the sight far enough before it ran out of adjustment. I'm sure Veteran BigBob knows how sights work as well.