22 RIFLE

[SkyPup]

Mornin Ray,
I hate to date myself but I bought the short barrel 10/22 right after I got out of high school which was almost 40 years ago I dont think its changed much in the last 40 years !

Don't feel so bad. I got a Ruger .22LR-.22MAG Stainless Steel Single Six with 6" barrel when I graduated from undergrad when they were first made. Then when I completed grad school, I got a Ruger Flat-Top .44 Mag!

 

[cp1969]

Well, I hope you're all happy. Now, I've got the bug. Haven't bought a gun in 15 years but am now scouring the countryside and Gunbroker.com looking for a Browning .22 auto. Somewhat surprised at how scarce they are.

 

[Highbeam]

What makes you want that Browning?

I would love one of the small Beretta(SP) auto22 pistols or especially one of those old 22 revolvers that would break open at the breach and let you dump the shells all at once. I was taught not to flinch when shooting by my dad putting spent shells in a revolver every so often.

As far as 22auto rifles, I feel like there is nothing more I could want than the 10/22. Enlighten us. Maybe the better quality woodwork, style preference, shell ejection style?

 

[SkyPup]

I've got a Beretta .22 JetFire with the pop open barrel that is pretty nice and effective for backup and vermin.

But what I REALLY REALLY LIKE is my automatic Baby Browning .25 ACP, it is super accurate and virtually indestructable, plus it looks and feels just like a minature .45 Auto!!!

 

[mjarrels]

What I always liked about Brownings is they come in different grades like I, II or III. I like mine in grade II with gold plated triggers and some carvings.

mark

 

[cp1969]

What makes you want that Browning?


Enlighten us. Maybe the better quality woodwork, style preference, shell ejection style?

All of the above, but it boils down to personal preference is the only reason. The Browning fit and finish is (in my opinion) quite a bit better than a 10-22. For some reason, me and the 10-22 never hit it off. I've shot them but never got the urge to own one.

I have never owned one of the Browning semi-autos, either. Through high school and my twenties, I hunted with a guy who was an absolute wizard with one. Running rabbits were doomed as was almost any moving object such as flying birds. He was easily the best .22 rifle shot I ever encountered. His reputation was cemented with me one day when I found an old Zippo lighter in a plowed field. I said, "Here--hit this!" and threw it in the air as hard as I could. He hit it. Not satisfied, I did threw it again and he hit it again. Quite a few times I witnessed him shooting quail on a covey rise with it, as well as high-flying hawks and ducks. The sad ending to this story is that my friend has some kind of degenerative brain disease that has put an end to his shooting days as well as many other aspects of life that most of us take for granted.

I shot his Browning a lot and was going to buy one once but made the foolish decision that since the Browning wouldn't shoot shorts, I would buy a pump action Winchester model 270 which would. I probably didn't shoot two boxes of shorts through it then traded it for a Winchester 190. After that, I came to realize I would never--EVER--be the rifle shot that he was, regardless of what rifle I had, and that aim-of-fire had everything to do with hitting and rate-of-fire (my automatic fixation) had almost nothing to do with it. At that point I got rid of the Winchester and bought a Marlin 39, which I still have. Still can't hit a running rabbit with it or any other rifle (pistols, strangely enough, are a different story.)

Sorry for the long winded response. Maybe I was just looking for a chance to tell someone about the guy who introduced me to the Browning .22 auto and why it holds a special place with me.

 

[Highbeam]

Thanks for writing, I knew there had to be a story or something. Browning makes some fine equipment and I don't blame you a bit for giving great value to the finer workmanship.

 

[SkyPup]

The best .22 rifle I have for shooting .22BB, .22CB, .22 Short, .22 Long, and .22 Long Rifle is a Winchester Model 9422 lever action. It handles them all with no problem and is a joy to shoot.

I also have a Marlin 39A .22 lever action that is a pretty nice shooter, but no where near as good as the Winchester.

If you can find one of these, they no longer make them, get it for a life long companion:

Model 9422, Traditional™

 

[kwolfe]

How about a Savage 17 HMR. It uses a 22 shell. My BIL bought one on sale about a year ago. That round shoots fast and flat.

 

[LBrown59]

My cousin had a real nice new Remington bolt action single shot 22 rifle back in the 50s.
He got it new back then .
It would fire short long and long rifle shells.
We did a lot of target shooting with the shorts cause a box of them were a lot cheaper than the other amo.
As far as I know he still has this gun - I will have to ask him some time if he does have it yet.

Additional Information.

*****************
My cousin had a real nice new Remington bolt action single shot 22 rifle and a 22 pistol back in the 50s.
~~~~~~~~
I was talking to him on the phone this morning and asked him if he still had these guns.
He said yes and told me his dad got the rifle for him when he was 10 years old ; that was 56 years ago he also told me he got the 22 pistol about a year later and he still has the daisy BB gun he had before he got the 22s.