Just some more detailed though...
I consider the speedmaster, to be the best ever semi auto made; I know, big words. but I have probably had every 22 semiauto rifle made, for under 500 bucks, and this includes several oldies going back many years. But they are still hugely popular, and even used ones command a price of 150 or more, even if rode hard. why? Reliability. they fire everything , and do it well. Even the massive 60 grainer Aguila sss rounds, do not keyhole, fire and extract reliably, and give great accuracy. mine is an absolute 1 hole punch with this round. It can reliably fire short, long, and long rifle rounds , INTERCHANGEABLY, becuase of it's unique chamber design.
Now then, they are a bit of a Beeeoch to take down and put back together, but most people never do. Again, why? because even after many years, and completely full of crap, they just keep on working.
they are a very good looking rifle, the ones with quality wood are beautiful, they are very ergonomic, and nothing really sticks out on it anywhere, to get hung up on anything. they are comfortable in your hands, easy and fast to shoulder, totally balanced. It lacks nothing , and has no shortcomings.
I have one, I picked up used a couple of years ago, and I am pretty much a rimfire freak, for anything rifle or pistol, and have several models of various brands. And they all have my favorite things about them; i also have 17 mach 2's, which I love more than the 22 round. however, i have often debated to myself, if bugging out, and could only take one rifle with me, which would it be? It comes down to 2 and I haven't made my final choice yet, because I don't have to; a ruger 77/17m2, that is so accurate it is scary, or the speedmaster.
unlike the mod 60, 795, and the ruger 10.22, these have gone unchanged, for about 50 years now; not the wood, the sites, the bolt handle, or even little internal parts, have not been changed or cheapened. the mod 60 and 795 uses wood I cannot stand, and has changed the bolt handles, to a big knurled screw like thing. and the 10.22 uses as much plastic parts now, as they can possibly get away with, and the paint jobs on the bbls and receivers now, are spray painted Hershey bars, and are not anodized in anyway. It will all fall off, and soon.
