.22 LR Ammunition - any updates on availability?

[MossRoad]

It was my Dad's. It is a full size rifle. Same size and weight as my deer rifles. It has a thick barrel. It is clip fed. Heavy to tote around squirrel hunting but super accurate especially with standard velocity target rounds. But the real beauty is the trigger. As far as I know it was never modified and it is very crisp and light. I also have a Remington 510 or 512 bolt action. It is smaller, narrower barrel and all that and sadly the trigger is heavy and dull. Makes accuracy difficult. There are no modifications or replacements to remedy the issue. Someone used to sell a replacement spring (for $20!!) but it was hard to install and did not help one bit. Just a design flaw I guess. I would not even want to use it as a beginner rifle because it would be hard to teach someone to squeeze the trigger.

When I started shooting competitively at about 14, my rifle instructor, my dad, and an old Army gunnery Sargent got together, evaluated my very petite physical stature, 4' 9" and well under 100 pounds soaking wet. I couldn't hold up the target rifles at the YMCA for very long. They were too heavy for me to remain steady. They decided the 580 was the right size and weight for me. So my dad and I picked one up for under $100 at a local sporting goods store. (I've told this story before). We took it to an old gunsmith that did work for the Y. He put on some Lyman and Redfield peep sights, and lightened the trigger quite a bit. My dad put sling mounts on it. It was perfect for me, and I could compete with anyone with any gun on the 50' small bore indoor range. It suited me fine until I got kicked off the team when I turned 18, as it was a 17 and under league. I stopped shooting competitively at that point, but it was a great experience and a good 4 years. Now its a good rifle to teach my kids with. Just a great gun. My youngest has taken a liking to it. She'll probably get it when I croak. :laughing: I finally started growing my Junior year in high school, and got up to 6 feet around age 20. But I was still a string bean at about 135 by the time I was 24 and got married. I was working out and swimming quite a bit the years before that. My new wife's cooking started feeding the furnace and I made it up to 235 at one point! :laughing: I was HUGE! :laughing: Not fat, just HUGE!!! :laughing: I was working out at the Y for several years a couple hours a night, eating good food, and lifeguarding and swimming quite a bit. I'll tell you what, that little Remington 580 felt like a laser pointer and I could hardly get my arm into the sling and my hand under the stock! :laughing:

I've since pared back on the working out and got back down to the low 200's and the gun fits a bit better now, but I'll never be able to shrink my skeleton down to it fitting just right again. But I still smile each time I pick it up. :thumbsup:

 

[dragoneggs]

Apologies. Arrived home and examined the ammo and must correct a 'typo'. My ammo and way too many FTL's first time using my new Mk IV Lite was not 'Thunderbolts' rather 'Golden Bullets' Hollow Points. Per K0UA's instruction, decided to examine the bolt action.



Slowly pulling back, I get a hitch about 1/2 to 2/3's way. Is this normal? Smooth otherwise.

 

[N80]

Slowly pulling back, I get a hitch about 1/2 to 2/3's way. Is this normal? Smooth otherwise.

I'll check mine when I get home today.

 

[reb]

...

Slowly pulling back, I get a hitch about 1/2 to 2/3's way. Is this normal? Smooth otherwise.

Mine has a "hitch" when it cocks.

BTW--did you notice there is a recall on the MKIVs?

 

[N80]

Mine is a Mark II. Sorry. There is a slight detent at about half way pulling the bolt back.

I've had mine for 30 years. Got it used. At one point it was double firing and failing to fire. I sent it back to Ruger. They repaired it and replaced quite a few parts, all for free. In retrospect I think it was just dirty as heck from cheapo bullets and poor gun care on my part.

 

[dragoneggs]

Mine has a "hitch" when it cocks.

BTW--did you notice there is a recall on the MKIVs?

No I didn't. Do you have any details?

 

[dragoneggs]

No I didn't. Do you have any details?

Looks like mine is going back...
Mark IV™ Recall

 

[k0ua]

Apologies. Arrived home and examined the ammo and must correct a 'typo'. My ammo and way too many FTL's first time using my new Mk IV Lite was not 'Thunderbolts' rather 'Golden Bullets' Hollow Points. Per K0UA's instruction, decided to examine the bolt action.

View attachment 511966

Slowly pulling back, I get a hitch about 1/2 to 2/3's way. Is this normal? Smooth otherwise.

Yes normal, I believe this is where the bottom of the bolt is riding over the top of the now cocked hammer. Make sure those surfaces are smooth. They will smooth up themselves after firing enough rounds, but wouldn't hurt to check with your finger. Now that you have one of them fancy pistols that come apart if you look at it crosswise (green with envy). My first concern would be the area that the captive recoil spring rides on the top of the bolt via the little funny looking half moon cutout piece of metal on the end of the recoil spring guide rod. Anyway polish the feed ramp and see if anything improves.. Also try a bunch of different rounds (I know easier said than done nowadays) and see how they all work.

 

[k0ua]

Looks like mine is going back...
Mark IV™ Recall

Well, darn.. didn't know about that. Of course you would have to work at it to get in a situation like that, but I bet someone could.

 

[dragoneggs]

Yes normal, I believe this is where the bottom of the bolt is riding over the top of the now cocked hammer. Make sure those surfaces are smooth. They will smooth up themselves after firing enough rounds, but wouldn't hurt to check with your finger. Now that you have one of them fancy pistols that come apart if you look at it crosswise (green with envy). My first concern would be the area that the captive recoil spring rides on the top of the bolt via the little funny looking half moon cutout piece of metal on the end of the recoil spring guide rod. Anyway polish the feed ramp and see if anything improves.. Also try a bunch of different rounds (I know easier said than done nowadays) and see how they all work.

Okay, decided to try a bunch of different brand/type ammo today at the range. 22LR now very easy to get at any gun store around here now and lots of selection too.

Shot 20rds (2 different mags) each with six different ammo types, took very good notes and saved my targets. Have a dedicated logbook now. Why did it take me years to start doing this... :duh:

Remington Thunderbolts
Federal Target Gold Master
Browning BPR Hollow Points
CCI Standard Velocity
Remington Golden Bullets HP
Gemtech Subsonic

Oh and I did lightly polish the feed ramp prior. Used Flitz and my dremel. Hard to get the tool in on the tiny feed ramp but it did polish up to a shine.

Same problem with the Golden Bullets... FTLs. Great news is the Thunderbolts, Browning, and CCI were flawless and I had really nice groupings with the Thunderbolts. Had problems with the Federals (2 FTE) and one FTL with the Gemtechs. I think I have narrowed my selection down! Time to clean and polish again but need a better tool to get on the feed ramp (narrower felt tip bit).