Remington 597 .22 long rifle inputs.

[Lennyjoe]

Just got back from a local pawnshop and ran across one of these .22 long rifle plinkers.

Whats the skinny on these rifles? I havent heard much about them and am interested in picking up a .22 for the hell of it.

Asking price was $125 in pretty darn good shape. Think I can talk them down a bit if the price is too high.

I checked gunbroker and from what I can tell the price is pretty decent.

Lemme know on inputs from the masses on this rifle. Thanks.

 

[Snowdog]

I've got the .22WMR model, but besides the cartridge, it's essentially the same rifle. Though I've noticed the trigger is consistent and breaks cleanly, it is a bit heavy. I've heard this is the norm and should be expected with the 597. I'm not sure if much can be done to remedy this, but it doesn't bother me enough to seek any help.

The magazines look like something belonging more on a toy than on a firearm. They have the look and feel of cheap plastic, but they work well. I knew of this "problem" before I purchased my 597, but it didn't bother me then and it doesn't bother me now. As long as the rifle operates flawlessly with them, which it does.
If cheesy magazines are an issue that's likely to disgust you to no end, there are metal aftermarket magazines you can purchase for the 597.

As for the price, I don't know... but it certainly doesn't look to be excessive as long as the rifle is in decent shape as you've indicated.
I've always liked the feel of the 597's full-sized stock. They also have decent iron sights with a highly visible white dot on the front sight (for rapid sight acquisition for those speedy rabbits). Though not helped much by the trigger, I've found mine to be quite accurate.

 

[Lennyjoe]

I did notice the heavy trigger pull. I did read where some folks changed items on the trigger and brought the weight down to 2 1/2 lbs. I did a search on this gun and came up with some interesting reads here.

Also, I did like the sights.

Can you buy aftermarket magazines for this gun or are you stuck with the factory mags.

 

[Snowdog]

I just did a quick search to make certain I was correct about the magazines.

It appears there are now more than one manufacturer of metal-body magazines for the 597, with prices from $10-$13 (from what I could tell).

Here are a couple links to them:

A Remington manufactured metal body mag ($13)

A blued steel body mag ($10)

 

[del4]

I have two, one for me and one for my son. I think I paid $125 nib, but that was a couple of years ago. Jarvis and Volguartson(sp) make custom barrels, stocks, and trick hammers to improve the trigger.

Kick the plastic mags to the curb. Remington now makes a metal one and they sell them at Wal-Mart and Acadamy Sports, and of course various places on line. I think they are around $12.

All in all they are good rimfires. If you want to trick it out you can, even to the extent of a 10-22. They are also fine left alone.

 

[Lennyjoe]

Thanks, the midway usa one with my discount comes out to $8.49 each.

That part is taken care of.

 

[cracked butt]

I bought one when they first came out. About $125 otd.
Was one of the crappiest rifles I ever owned, but I understand that Remington has improved them or at least fixed some of the glitches in them.

$125 for a used one is way too high. For a reference point I sold mine to a Gander Mountain for about $80- they were selling them at that time for $119.

 

[Bridger]

I got one for my girlfriend and it's been a good gun. Winchester Dynapoints and CCI Mini-Mags have worked well in it. The plastic mag has even worked fine, but I got her a few metal mags at 10 bucks a pop.

Some people seem to have had reliability issues, but in a couple thousand rounds we haven't noticed any real problems other than when it got real dirty.

 

[klover]

I got one NIB $125 about 5 yrs back

Had no problems with it. Junky plastic clips (they work), and some junky plastic parts inside of the action (it works fine).

Found a 10/22 with an old steel Weaver 4X on it for $125 (pawn shop).
I really like the Ruger better, but the 597 does have a nice plastic stock.

 

[kwelz]

The wooden stocked 597s look really nice. I have two of them. One standard and one with a bull barrel. Love to shoot them.

 

[Selfdfenz]

I got mine about 1-2 years ago. Paid 89 or was in 99 at Bass Pro Shops when they were on sale. It's dull blue with the green plactic stick.

My findings:
I think they are better looking than 10/22s
Factory trigger is stinko.
Plastic Mags not good, metal better
Std velocity ammo not good, high velocity better.
They will shoot std velocity well, but it will not cycle the bolt dependably on mine
Iron Sights are good if you have good eyesight. Scoping helped me get mine to be a 1-1.5 inch grouper even with the stink trigger. 3-5" w/o but again, I can't see like I used to.
I like shooting the 597 but it's not my go to 22and frankly Remington did not do all their homework on this product.

I hear that peps that bought recently have been very satisfied with newer production.

Like many that walk the Ruger 10/22 path I'm getting ready to rebuild my 597 with a lam stock, bull barrel and hammer upgarde. I'll do the extractor if she ain't 100 afterward. There is not 1/10 the number of options for the 597 that there is for the 10/22 so if you want to tinker with her expect to wait a year or two before you have very many accessory options.

Example: bull barrel for the 10/22 range from about 90 or 100ish for a Green River (or is it Butler Creek) and then the number of options and cost keep going. Heck for 200 you can get a bull barrel and a Butler Creek stock combo for the 10/22 from Natchez. Don't know if the Whistle Pig barrels are any account but they start at about 150 are a neat concept and are just the coolest looking barrels going.

http://www.wpgbc.com/

With the 597 you can go with either Volquartsen or Jarvis and it's 188 to well over 200 JUST for the tube.

If you want a non-modifiable, non-glamerous 22 lr that you will leave just as you got it, get a Marlin 60 or one of their bolt guns and put your $$ into an awesome scope. The Marlins are cheap and shoot well.

JMO, which along with 89cents, will get you a cup of coffee at McDonalds.







S-

 

[Wildalaska]

Dont buy it

WildwillsaynomoreAlaska

 

[BusMaster007]

Buy it.

Bus(could say a lot, but I won't)Master007

 

[Tropical Z]

Unlike a 10/22,a 597 feels like a real rifle.Mine eats Remington golden bullets with gusto and asks for more.It and my Savage 64 are the best .22lr's ive owned or shot.Id get a new one at Wal-Mart for $150.00