My favorite plinker

MossRoad · Jul 7, 2004

The Ruger 10/22 is a fun rifle. A pre-ban 50 round clip puts new meaning to the term 'plinking'. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

I also like the High Standard nine shot double action revolvers. You get semi-auto magazine capacity in a revolver. The 6 inch barrel model is really accurate. The snub nosed model had an interchangeable cylinder that was chambered for 22LR or 22Magnum. The magnum really has some bark and the LR was economical to shoot. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Just about any 22 is alright by me, but my first 22 was my favorite. It is a Remington model 580 single shot bolt action rifle. It will take 22 short, long and LR. I bought it when I was 15 years old at a sporting goods store in downtown South Bend, IN. I carried it out of the store and down the sidewalk a block to my dad's car(imagine carrying a rifle in downtown today. Yikes!). We promptly took it to a gunsmith and had some work done to it to lighten the trigger and we had Lyman peep sights put on the rear and a Redfield hooded front sight. Dad and I also put a sling on it. On the 50ft range I was able to achieve Expert with that $69.00 rifle. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I was on my way to Distinguished Expert, but the instructor moved away, I turned 18(had to get out of the youth program) and the YMCA cancelled the rifle programs all around the same time. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

We still have that rifle. It will make a nice 1/2" group vertically at 300ft but is very susceptible to windage left and right. It is a beautiful firearm as well. Nice looking stock, light colored sling and I now have a Bushnell Sportview 3-9 x 40 scope on it with Weaver see through mounts so the peep sights are still functional. The problem with the see through scope mount is the scope sits so high over the barrel. I really only use it for a spotting scope as I like to shoot with the peeps. I hope to have my daughter shooting it by the end of summer, time permitting. She'd like to get in the 4H shooting program next year. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

On a side note, many YMCA's had youth shooting programs back in the mid '70s. YMCA ranges were common and they probably had a couple hundred rifle teams back then. Two of the guys on our team were ranked in the top 10 in the nation, one was about 15th, but I only managed 38th /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif I attribute the success of our team to our instructor, a nice young man named Dan. He taught us proper positioning, breath control and timing our shots to our hearbeats. You knew when you were on target when you could line up the target in your sights, close your eyes and relax for 5-10 seconds, open your eyes and you were still on the target. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif That kind of stuff is hard to teach a punk kid. But he had a way with us. It was a very fun time and I encourage people to get their kids into the shooting sports because of my positive experiences as a teenager. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

ManofMystery · Jul 7, 2004

Marlin Golden 39A - I got one of these for my tenth birthday. Still got it, and it still shoots great. I remember that the action was so stiff that I could barely work the lever. My old man told me, "If you take care of this rifle, by the time you're my age it'll be loose as a goose." He was right.

isucrazy · Jul 7, 2004

I am proud of mine too. Outstanding little gun. I got the son a REM. 572 fieldmaster 22 pump about 16 years ago You can also feed it C.B's up to L.R. in any order and it has been flawless in operation. Another pawn shop find. After tax time and after the holidays is prime gun shopping time around here. The pawn shops are stuffed with em! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif I dont know how old my 39A is but it is still alot tighter than my WIN. 9422 mag. that I did buy new about 10 yrs. ago. I wonder about WALMART guns sometimes.

TresCrows · Jul 9, 2004

( I just got a Ruger Single Six in .17HMR. It's a blast to shoot, but my favorite is my blue 6-7/8 inch bull barrelled Ruger MkII with Tasco PDP3 Red Dot sight. I can get 1 inch groups at 50yds using a rest and 1-2 inch at 25 yds offhand. Haven't really grouped the 17 yet but it's gonna be fun to find out. )

I have an old Crossman 22 caliber air rifle. Works good.

I just bought a Marlin 917VS 17HMR bolt. WOW--what a shooter. It is a lazer beam. Awaiting the new Ruger 22 auto in the new Mach II. The Single Six in 22 caliber is great as is my Ruger 512 bull barrel auto. My favorite is the newest so now it is the Marlin. J

sweettractors · Jul 9, 2004

My favorite is the 22 cal. Remington Nylon 66. I have the Chrome finish model with Black stock and forearm. Lightweight,dependable and after almost 20 years of use, still showing no signs of wear--Ken Sweet

Sweet Farm Equipment LLC *New 5 ft First Choice Double Action Sickle Mowers $2289*

YanmarFever · Jul 9, 2004

I saw someone runover his remington nylon 66 with his pickup on accident, That thing shot just as good as before and still did not jam, even with a cracked stock!/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
Ernie

GaryM · Jul 10, 2004

I had one of those in the brown and blued many years back. Late 60's early 70's? Fun rifle. If I remember correctly didn't it load through the stock. IE, pull the follower out of the butt and drop the rounds through a port in the side?

sweettractors · Jul 10, 2004

That is right, It loads from the stock butt plate, 14 Long Rifle, I believe. I have not run over mine with a truck like Ernies friend, however, Mine has spent a lot of years in the gun rack on my 4x4 farm truck chasing cows and puddle jumping and is still as dependable as day 1--Ken Sweet
Sweet Farm Equipment LLC *New First Choice Finish Mowers and Roto Tillers*

TresCrows · Jul 10, 2004

( A Marlin mod. 39A GOLDEN ORIGINAL lever! Hang you a 2" washer on a fence post get out a box of C.B.shorts or longs and have at it! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif The 5 yr. old grandson will tell ya if you dont hear a TING that grandad hit the hole! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I hope its awhile before he thinks ta put some tape over the hole ! He will tell ya straight up that grandad is a heckova shot fer sure! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif Hardly ever hear a TING when he is shooting! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Never too young ta teach em gun safety . Yes there is a bank of dirt behind the post, yes the shootin chair is in the shade in the back yard. Ta be honest with ya aint a whole lotta tinging going on lately and I aint gonna hock the ranch to buy a scope , MAN good optics are REAL high! )

I was not thinking much of Marlin in recent years but decided to get the Marlin 917VS. Like I said --holy cow---take your washer out 100 yeards--oh--heck--take it out 150-----now it won't be any trick at all to shoot through the hole. Don't want to be deceiving the kid--might as well do it for real /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif.

I got an older friend here who is into bench rest competition, he was a sniper in 'nam. He actually knows what he is doing most times. He has all these special made custom target rifles---little ol'Marlin gave him a run--straight out of the box it will shoot through the same hole at 100 yards.
I am going to do a little trigger work on it, the barrel is hitting a high spot in the stock so that needs some work and a few other things. I think I can say this rifle will out shoot just about anything out there, going head to head with rifles costing thousands of dollars with a sub 400 dollars rifle is good enough for me. This thing will allow you to shoot the eyeball out of a grackle at 150 yards or shoot the toes off a nasty ol' toad at 50 yards /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif. J