The new .22 rifle selection is dismal,,,
What I mean is I can't find a rifle that I want to buy.
Since October of last year I've been looking for a new high-end .22 rifle,,,
It is supposed to be my retirement (08 Jan 21) gift to myself.
So I've scoured every on-line seller,,,
And I've probably put 1,000 miles on my car visiting stores all across Oklahoma.
At first I was looking for "exotic" rifles,,,
Like .22 LR versions of "Sharps" style rifles.
Nada in stock.
Then I was looking for something to use in NRL .22 matches,,,
Lots of rifles fit the bill here but I can't find anything on the shelf.
The Savage B22 Precision caught my eye,,,
On paper it looks like the rifle for me,,,
But the reviews are very mixed.
Apparently if you get a good one out of the box,,,
The rifle will shoot very precise groups.
But I've also read way to many bad reviews,,,
Ammo gouging and ejection problems seem way too common.
I finally found a dealer in Muskogee who had one new in box,,,
I made the almost 2-hour drive to take a look at it.
Because of the ammo gouging/ejection problems I've read about,,,
I asked the dealer if I could load/cycle a ten round mag.
He was very reluctant to allow me to do so,,,
He kept saying "It's not safe to do that."
I laid the cash on the table and said I'll not buy it if I can't test it,,,
He still didn't want me to but finally agreed if I had the ammo.
It was a dang good thing I was adamant,,,
I could easily see how the mag was askew in the rifle,,,
We oiled the bolt copiously and it still drug badly and chewed up the ammo.
My friends,,,
I was very disappointed,,,
But relieved that I stuck to my guns (so to speak).
So even if one comes available from an on-line dealer,,,
I won't buy a Savage B22 Precision sight unseen.
So I switched gears and started looking at some other rifle brands,,,
I have had fantastic good fortune with all of my CZ rifles,,,
So I have been looking for a 457 Precision Varmint.
Same thing there,,,
None in stock anywhere in my state.
Buds does have one of the 16.5" barrel versions,,,
But I think that rifle is ugly as original sin,,,
And the 24" version is unwieldy.
There is always the Ruger Precision Rifle,,,
It has that fully adjustable modular stock I desire,,,
And it has been a decent performer at NRL matches I've attended.
It just doesn't hold any visual appeal for me,,,
I don't like that barrel hand-guard at all.
There is one Ruger rifle that did catch my eye,,,
It's the
Ruger American: Rimfire Target with the laminated thumb-hole stock.
This rifle is very sexy,,,
A tad bit "gaudy" for my tastes but still,,,
I think I would smile big every time I opened it's case.
I can't find one of these either.
I started looking at Voodoo and Bergara rifles,,,
They are pricey as all heck,,,
But not out of reach.
Trouble is they also have none in stock,,,
And from what I've read there is a long waiting list.
It's funny I can find all the rifles I want in the 200-300 range,,,
But nothing at all in the higher end of the spectrum.
The only good thing about this is,,,
I have been setting aside $100.00 a month for almost 2 years,,,
It's been so long now that I could afford just about anything I may find out there.
If something that "twangs my chimes",,,
Would just show up in the local marketplace.
I know this is just another whine about the Covid marketplace,,,
But I'm a little bit bored and very much frustrated.
I have money to spend and nothing to spend it on.
Aarond
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