well, here is the ting about the mach 2 , it is as fast as a 22lr is at 100 yds. it has basically half the trajectory arc, and half the wind deflection of the 22lr.
there is basically no good 22lr ammo, under 2 bucks a box anymore, most of it is 3 to 4 bucks a box. eley mach 2 ammo is 4 bucks a box. you can also shoot 17aguila/pmc/high standard ammo through a mach 2 rifle. it is generally allways more accurate, than a standard, average 22 rifle, shooting average or even pretty good 22 lr ammo. the chart above lists the speed and trajectory of
cci or hornady ammo, but does not account for eley/remmy ammo, which again, is about 100 fps faster; sometimes depending on the rifle, dudes are getting about 2300 fps with the mach 2 ammo, which would give you even better b.c., trajectory, and wind drift characteristics than a 22lr.
To follow up on something Art has just said, I run into many new folks all the time at the range. Most new folks cannot shoot anything at all, barely well.
they are there just to learn a firearm for protection, or a shotty, but never a rifle. Oh they shot rifles before, even 22's, but were never that good with them, never very accurate, had trouble relating how to shoot for wind, and drop and such, especially with iron sights, even out to just 50 yds.
So I will regularly, get some of these folks to my left and right, and then we go downrange. They look at their target, that they sprayed with a 223 ar of sometype, or maybe a semi 22, and then they look at my target, which
usually has pencil hole sized groups on it.
When we get back up to the front, they no doubt start to ask me, " what laser am i shooting?" So I preach the gospel of m2, and how it is so simple to shoot, and making corrections just takes tiny movements, if any at all, just better trigger or body positioning tweeks, and then I say, " Gahead, if you dare, shoot mine!"
It is my ton heavy ruger 77/17m2, that has a 1lb type or less trigger pull, and has no recoil. Not to mention it has a 24x scope on it.
So they shoot mine, and invariably ask, " where can I buy one of those?"
and of course the peeps who do shoot it ,start immediately bragging to one
another how good they can now shoot with my rig. makes me happy.
You should be able to find a marlin 917m2, in basic wood and blue, at any of the big box stores, gunshops, gunshows, etc. Marlin no longer makes the m2 rifle, but they flooded the market with them, in both plain , and stainless lam, so you should be able to find one from them , or savage, or ruger, or cz, or t/c, or annie, or kimber. the t/c semi auto, is a dream. volquarts also makes them, but cost a ton. and of course, you could take a ruger 10.22 and convert.
Really, once you shoot one of these, even you 22lr loving ol timers, who will never shoot anything else, etc., etc., once you shoot one of these, like I ,
you will find yourself rarely taking your 22 to the range any more.
Just so infinitely much better.
Oh yeah, if you find a marlin semi auto 717, get it, very underrated, and super accurate, but have a history of blowing up. you just need to make sure you hand break in first, with an empty case, then some borepaste or toothpaste, and then keep the chamber area/bolt face clean, after about every 100 rounds. Doesn't need a thorough cleaning, just swab the crud out, maybe spray out, then wipe out, then keep going. the action is just like a mod 60, only with twice as thick all steel parts, and much heavier.
Hunter 25, if that is a Sako Quad, I dare you to get the m2 bbl! " come on, come in, no no no, this
is love, this is real looove, not like those others before, come on open the door!!! We would never hurt you like before; come on in!!!" an homage to Sam Kinison...
one more thing about that chart above, notice the hmr 20 grainer is about 2375 to 2400 fps, well
the eley/remmy ammo is about 2300 fps, so the trajectory would be much closer to that, in a case
about 1/2 the size, 1/2 the recoil, and 1/4 the cost.
NOW FOR COST, COST, COST!!!! WHICH IS EVERYTHING THESE DAYS!!!!
for a case of 2000 rounds of eley ammo, the cost is 140 bucks, plus shipping. from ammunitiontogo.com some places, even has it and the remmy at about 3.60 a box, I don't know about
shipping costs or tax though. still lets say, 150 bucks total for 2000 rounds. that is 15 bucks for 200 rounds, that is bascially 37.50 for a brick of 500. most any good ammo in 22lr, is that same cost, or to break it down further, 3.75 cents for a box of 50. So you cannot say, that 22 ammo is a lot cheaper, or this is not plink worthy.
So there!!!
