Blam
Member
The last time I owned a rimfire weapon was, gosh, 30 years ago and even then, it barely qualified. If I remember correctly, it was an Iver Johnson built to look like an M-1 carbine. The thing would function without any problems but that rifle was the single most inaccurate firearm I have ever shot and I have been shooting for 39 years---started at age 7. If I did my part, I am sure I could master 5" groups at 30 yards. 
Anyway, before I get too far off track, I took the plunge this evening and bought a .22LR carbine. Let me make this clear up front, all of the models I looked at in the budget range I am able to play in (Low end) were decent weapons with strong points. I am sure they all will offer good service to anyone who owns one. Here's what I looked at:
Remington 597
Marlin Model 60
Marlin 795
Ruger 10/22 - Birch Stock
Ruger 10/22 - All Weather Stainless Stock
The factors for my decision were: durability, dependability, fit, accuracy and availability of spare parts. The two that best fit me were the Marlin 795 and the Ruger 10/22 with the Marlin Model 60 running a close second. The Remington 597 fit but it was too heavy for someone who might walk three to five miles on a squirrel hunt and think nothing of it. Another important aspect of the fit department is using the weapon to teach members of my family, friends and their children how to shoot. This ruled out the 597 and the Model 60.
The 795 felt very good even with the magazine protruding downward. The iron sights were surprisingly well regulated. During the final stages of the buying experience, I studied on-line videos and owner's manuals to learn the take down process for each of the aforementioned options. In spite of the need to remove the barrel band of the 10/22, in my eyes anyway, the Ruger Carbine offered the easiest take-down method for removing the bolt and trigger group. This is to say, disassembling the internal parts entailed less of a chance for error. The Model 60 regimen was also simplistic. The 597 seemed to be the most complicated in the lot.
My mind was made up and now came time to determine where I would buy it and what version I would choose. Even at this, my resources narrowed it down to the standard birch carbine or the stainless steel all weather version. I looked at Academy, Dick's and Sports Authority. I noted the stainless version I handled actually had the beginnings of corrosion on the breech end of the barrel near the rear sight. Why this is I will never know and I have had more than one centerfire Ruger Pistol with a stainless slide that was prone to rust unless you stayed after it. My guess is it has something to do with the investment casting process. The other aspect not favorable to me with the all weather model was the silver plastic barrel band and silver plastic trigger group. Black plastic is no problem to me and I think it looks good but other colors do not imho. For those worried about the plastic components on a 10/22, I call your attention to Exhibit A:
Exhibit A: http://www.ruger.com/products/1022Carbine/extras.html (Click on Polymer Trigger Guard Video)
Academy had one birch carbine on hand out of three stores. Sports Authority had both the standard and the all weather in two stores but the store closest to me did not have a firearms-qualified manager on hand to do the transaction. Dicks had several all weathers and several standard carbines. The first thing I noticed different about the Dick's standard 10/22's was that the finish was a heavy matte black; heavy matte black not the cheap matte or parkerized finish you see all too often. The other thing I noticed was the rear sight had higher wings which I thought was a negative until I compared them with the all weather 10/22 and found out they actually enhanced target acquisition. The clincher for me was the thicker pistol grip of the standard carbine versus the thinner pistol grip of the all weather model.
This is where the story ends. I am now a bonafide member of the rimfire nation. I will leave the rifle in its stock condition except for the addition of a good scope designed for .22's. I will stay with the traditional glass in lieu of an ACOG or Red Dot alternative. A former DEA agent once told me if he had only one firearm he could choose, it would be a .22LR rifle. His reasoning was dependability and versatility at an affordable price. I look forward to putting his theory to the test. Thanks for sharing your time to hear me out.
Anyway, before I get too far off track, I took the plunge this evening and bought a .22LR carbine. Let me make this clear up front, all of the models I looked at in the budget range I am able to play in (Low end) were decent weapons with strong points. I am sure they all will offer good service to anyone who owns one. Here's what I looked at:
Remington 597
Marlin Model 60
Marlin 795
Ruger 10/22 - Birch Stock
Ruger 10/22 - All Weather Stainless Stock
The factors for my decision were: durability, dependability, fit, accuracy and availability of spare parts. The two that best fit me were the Marlin 795 and the Ruger 10/22 with the Marlin Model 60 running a close second. The Remington 597 fit but it was too heavy for someone who might walk three to five miles on a squirrel hunt and think nothing of it. Another important aspect of the fit department is using the weapon to teach members of my family, friends and their children how to shoot. This ruled out the 597 and the Model 60.
The 795 felt very good even with the magazine protruding downward. The iron sights were surprisingly well regulated. During the final stages of the buying experience, I studied on-line videos and owner's manuals to learn the take down process for each of the aforementioned options. In spite of the need to remove the barrel band of the 10/22, in my eyes anyway, the Ruger Carbine offered the easiest take-down method for removing the bolt and trigger group. This is to say, disassembling the internal parts entailed less of a chance for error. The Model 60 regimen was also simplistic. The 597 seemed to be the most complicated in the lot.
My mind was made up and now came time to determine where I would buy it and what version I would choose. Even at this, my resources narrowed it down to the standard birch carbine or the stainless steel all weather version. I looked at Academy, Dick's and Sports Authority. I noted the stainless version I handled actually had the beginnings of corrosion on the breech end of the barrel near the rear sight. Why this is I will never know and I have had more than one centerfire Ruger Pistol with a stainless slide that was prone to rust unless you stayed after it. My guess is it has something to do with the investment casting process. The other aspect not favorable to me with the all weather model was the silver plastic barrel band and silver plastic trigger group. Black plastic is no problem to me and I think it looks good but other colors do not imho. For those worried about the plastic components on a 10/22, I call your attention to Exhibit A:
Exhibit A: http://www.ruger.com/products/1022Carbine/extras.html (Click on Polymer Trigger Guard Video)
Academy had one birch carbine on hand out of three stores. Sports Authority had both the standard and the all weather in two stores but the store closest to me did not have a firearms-qualified manager on hand to do the transaction. Dicks had several all weathers and several standard carbines. The first thing I noticed different about the Dick's standard 10/22's was that the finish was a heavy matte black; heavy matte black not the cheap matte or parkerized finish you see all too often. The other thing I noticed was the rear sight had higher wings which I thought was a negative until I compared them with the all weather 10/22 and found out they actually enhanced target acquisition. The clincher for me was the thicker pistol grip of the standard carbine versus the thinner pistol grip of the all weather model.
This is where the story ends. I am now a bonafide member of the rimfire nation. I will leave the rifle in its stock condition except for the addition of a good scope designed for .22's. I will stay with the traditional glass in lieu of an ACOG or Red Dot alternative. A former DEA agent once told me if he had only one firearm he could choose, it would be a .22LR rifle. His reasoning was dependability and versatility at an affordable price. I look forward to putting his theory to the test. Thanks for sharing your time to hear me out.
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