TLDR: No serious point to this thread, I just like my .22s and felt like writing about them and showing them off.
For many years, I had exactly one rifle in .22LR. I've had my Standard Issue 10/22 for somewhere around 40 years, and it's been a marvelous plinker. It's never been a tack driver, but it has consistently delivered MOSC (Minute of Soup Can) over the years, and it eats anything. If it fits in the chamber, it runs. It's the one in this picture:
The top one in that picture is a standard Ruger American Rimfire. I bought it a couple of years ago so that I'd have a nice bolt gun to go with the suppressor I was buying. The fact that it uses 10/22 mags was a big factor. I topped it and my 10/22 with Nikon rimfire scopes, which I like quite a bit. Anyway, It's a nice rifle, but a few months after I got it all set up, I went shooting with my Two Question Friend, and he brought his Ruger American Rimfire Target Model. I envied of my TQF. No doubt about it. A few months later, I sold my Glock 19 and used the funds to buy a RART to call my own. (My TQF refused to put me in his will for the RART because his son wants it.... dagnabbit.)
By that time, Nikon had gotten out of the scope business (which I think is a crying shame), so I bought an Athlon rimfire scope. As you can see from the picture, my Dead Air Mask fits it, too.
Fast forward a couple of years, and I lucked into a new stock for my 10/22. I was talking to a buddy of mine and he said that a buddy of his had been looking for 20 ga shells. Apparently, the friend-of-my-friend had bought his young son (maybe 11-12?) an 870 for Christmas and hadn't been able to find a single round of 20 ga ammo in 6 months. The tale was truly heartbreaking. As luck would have it, I have a couple of cases in my garage that I bought on sale about 10 years ago. Never got around to shooting them, and I guess I just couldn't stand the thought of that poor boy having a new 870 and no ammo. So I gave my buddy about half a case for his buddy's boy. As manners dictate, we shot the breeze (no pun intended) for a little while. The topics of .22s came up and my buddy asked me if I had a 10/22. When I said I do, he offered me a brand new Hogue stock that he just happened to have on hand. I wasn't about to turn down a free stock. Actually, I've had one of those on My List for a number of years, but it never made it to the top of the list.
As you might imagine, I was excited. I live in the city, though, so range time would have to wait. I suspect my neighbors would get testy if I started shooting in my back yard. Anyway, on Father's Day, I took some time for me and I headed to the range. I decided to take my .22 rifles. It was Father's Day, not Ultra-Serious-Training Day. Here's the family photo:
Range Day was a hoot, and I'm not ashamed to say that .22LR really is my all-time favorite caliber to shoot. I'm not suggesting one for home defense, but pound for pound and dollar for dollar, I get more enjoyment out of my .22s than anything else. Honestly, I had a great time at the range. I learned some things, too. First, I learned that while the Athlon scope is a good scope, I don't like it nearly as well as my Nikons. I'm going to have my gunsmith swap the Nikon from my RAR to my RART. Second, having shot the RAR side by side with the RART, I can safely say that they're just not the same. The RAR is a good gun, and I think it's probably a great squirrel/small game rifle. But for paper targets, the RART is really in a different class. It probably can't compare with an Olympics-grade Anschutz, but I don't shoot well enough or often enough to justify an Anschutz. If or when I ever shoot close to the RART's limit, then we'll talk about moving up. No, I'm not posting my targets. They're embarrassing. The RAR may go up for sale once I get scopes swapped. Like I said, it's probably a great squirrel/small game gun, but I don't hunt squirrels or small game. Interestingly, the bolt is significantly stiffer to operate than the RART. Maybe I just need to work the bolt more. Third, and somewhat surprising, my 10/22 ran pretty well with ~1985 bulk pack Winchester, even suppressed. (Yes, the same bulk pack I've mentioned in other threads.) That ammo won't cycle my 22/45 suppressed, but it will run in the 10/22. (Now I just need to shoot that box up so I can be done with it!)
Or maybe I need to branch out to other .22s. I won't be getting rid of my Rugers, but I could stand to add a CZ or a Savage to the stable.
For many years, I had exactly one rifle in .22LR. I've had my Standard Issue 10/22 for somewhere around 40 years, and it's been a marvelous plinker. It's never been a tack driver, but it has consistently delivered MOSC (Minute of Soup Can) over the years, and it eats anything. If it fits in the chamber, it runs. It's the one in this picture:
The top one in that picture is a standard Ruger American Rimfire. I bought it a couple of years ago so that I'd have a nice bolt gun to go with the suppressor I was buying. The fact that it uses 10/22 mags was a big factor. I topped it and my 10/22 with Nikon rimfire scopes, which I like quite a bit. Anyway, It's a nice rifle, but a few months after I got it all set up, I went shooting with my Two Question Friend, and he brought his Ruger American Rimfire Target Model. I envied of my TQF. No doubt about it. A few months later, I sold my Glock 19 and used the funds to buy a RART to call my own. (My TQF refused to put me in his will for the RART because his son wants it.... dagnabbit.)
By that time, Nikon had gotten out of the scope business (which I think is a crying shame), so I bought an Athlon rimfire scope. As you can see from the picture, my Dead Air Mask fits it, too.
Fast forward a couple of years, and I lucked into a new stock for my 10/22. I was talking to a buddy of mine and he said that a buddy of his had been looking for 20 ga shells. Apparently, the friend-of-my-friend had bought his young son (maybe 11-12?) an 870 for Christmas and hadn't been able to find a single round of 20 ga ammo in 6 months. The tale was truly heartbreaking. As luck would have it, I have a couple of cases in my garage that I bought on sale about 10 years ago. Never got around to shooting them, and I guess I just couldn't stand the thought of that poor boy having a new 870 and no ammo. So I gave my buddy about half a case for his buddy's boy. As manners dictate, we shot the breeze (no pun intended) for a little while. The topics of .22s came up and my buddy asked me if I had a 10/22. When I said I do, he offered me a brand new Hogue stock that he just happened to have on hand. I wasn't about to turn down a free stock. Actually, I've had one of those on My List for a number of years, but it never made it to the top of the list.
As you might imagine, I was excited. I live in the city, though, so range time would have to wait. I suspect my neighbors would get testy if I started shooting in my back yard. Anyway, on Father's Day, I took some time for me and I headed to the range. I decided to take my .22 rifles. It was Father's Day, not Ultra-Serious-Training Day. Here's the family photo:
Range Day was a hoot, and I'm not ashamed to say that .22LR really is my all-time favorite caliber to shoot. I'm not suggesting one for home defense, but pound for pound and dollar for dollar, I get more enjoyment out of my .22s than anything else. Honestly, I had a great time at the range. I learned some things, too. First, I learned that while the Athlon scope is a good scope, I don't like it nearly as well as my Nikons. I'm going to have my gunsmith swap the Nikon from my RAR to my RART. Second, having shot the RAR side by side with the RART, I can safely say that they're just not the same. The RAR is a good gun, and I think it's probably a great squirrel/small game rifle. But for paper targets, the RART is really in a different class. It probably can't compare with an Olympics-grade Anschutz, but I don't shoot well enough or often enough to justify an Anschutz. If or when I ever shoot close to the RART's limit, then we'll talk about moving up. No, I'm not posting my targets. They're embarrassing. The RAR may go up for sale once I get scopes swapped. Like I said, it's probably a great squirrel/small game gun, but I don't hunt squirrels or small game. Interestingly, the bolt is significantly stiffer to operate than the RART. Maybe I just need to work the bolt more. Third, and somewhat surprising, my 10/22 ran pretty well with ~1985 bulk pack Winchester, even suppressed. (Yes, the same bulk pack I've mentioned in other threads.) That ammo won't cycle my 22/45 suppressed, but it will run in the 10/22. (Now I just need to shoot that box up so I can be done with it!)
Or maybe I need to branch out to other .22s. I won't be getting rid of my Rugers, but I could stand to add a CZ or a Savage to the stable.
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