"It's Just a .22"

[P-990]

We’ve all heard it, and likely even said it a time or two if we’re going to be honest with ourselves. “It’s just a .22.” It’s overheard as justification for putting on a $40 scope that comes in a clamshell pack from a big box store. It’s used to explain the poor condition of an old barn rifle that’s served life keeping pests out of the feed and gardens. It’s used to imply that ammunition should come in big buckets that can be purchased for a couple hours of wages. It can even be used as a way to scoff at the price tag of a nice firearm. ”But it’s just a .22.”

Well, I’m here to admit that I have a problem! Why? Because I like “just .22s”! I get excited about Winchester 52s, Remington 541s, CZ452s, Browning T-Bolts, S&W K22s, Ruger Mark-series pistols and almost anything .22 related. I still shoot an old single-shot Remington 514 that was handed down to me over 20 years ago from a relative who’d had it a long time at that point. Still shoots pretty well, though the iron sights are a bit tough to use on the wooded plinking range.

People check out one of my “nice” .22 rifles or revolvers and generally ooh-and-ahh at them. Nobody has turned down a chance to fire a couple of cylinders through a K-frame .22. Everybody has a smile after putting a magazine through a Browning T-Bolt. (No, seriously, don’t feel bad about using my ammo. Be safe and have fun.) Inevitably the question is going to come out at some point, “How much for one like that?” When I answer honestly, the frequent response is “I can’t spend that on a .22.”

Why not? If you enjoy shooting it and drag it to the range every trip you get, $400 on a used CZ452 is a bargain. Where should your clearest scope go, on the .308 you put half a box of ammo through between sighting in and hunting season? Or on the .22 that you shoot once a month and look through the glass constantly? (Trick question: I’d put good glass on both; I’m a snot and really like good glass.)

The thing to remember is, quality material and time spent crafting the firearm cost the same, whether it’s a centerfire or “just a .22”. It doesn’t make sense to have the rifle or pistol you shoot the most be the cheapest one you own with the worst glass you have. If it’s something that’s going to last for decades, don’t look at it as “just a .22”, look at it as a nice firearm, that happens to be a .22.

And since I didn't want to leave you hanging after reading all of that, some "just .22s"!

S&W M18


S&W M17


Browning T-Bolt with Leupold FX-I 4x28mm


CZ452s

(Left to right: CZ-452 Lux, FS with Leupold VX-1 2-7x28mm, American with Leupold VX-2 3-9x33mm EFR)

[UncleEd]

Love your firearms.

While I've never been much of a .22 shooter,
I have used the CZ rifles and they are superb.


Used to belong to a club where we regularly took
down steel silhouettes up to 80 yards with .22s.

And being a Model 15 kind of guy, I have to love
your Model 18 although nowadays I don't own one.

[Evan Thomas]

Nice stable of CZs you have there...

[osbornk]

I like 22s in all flavors. I have handguns in semi-auto and revolver form. I have rifles in bolt action, semi-automatic and lever action with magazines ranging from 7 to 25. I shoot with scopes on two and iron sights on two. My only other rifles are a 5.56 AR-15 and a 9mm carbine.

[chadio]

Love me some .22's:

- Browning Buckmark (old slab side barrel)
- Ruger Single Six convertible
- Marlin .22 bolt rifle
- Beretta Minx .22 short pistol

[2wheelwander]

Great post!! I totally agree with you. .22's get brushed aside much like any motorcycle that doesn't displace "x" amount of cc/ci. In the 750's only the hairiest of men could handle a 750. Then it kept growing, and so did the attitudes. The Barrett will always be kind at the range, but that most of those guys pull the trigger 5 times and it goes back into the truck. Then there is the guy shooting all day, spent $10 and is still smiling.

Big barrels and fast bikes are fun, but I've never seen a grown man walk off the go-cart track without a huge grin on his face.

Thanks for sharing your CZ's. I have a small CZ pistol collection going, but haven't jumped into their long guns yet. Gun porn rocks!

[polychoke]

Hurrah! Those are beautiful firearms. Couldn't agree more with your sentiments, P-990. I've thoroughly enjoyed my past and present Remingtons, Rugers, Smiths, and Colts.

[AL45]

I'm right there with you p-990. I just bought an old Marlin 39a lever action .22 lr and am having a blast with it. I put skinner peep sights on it for my old eyes and am really enjoying it. Even though I save money reloading for my guns, I still only put a few rounds through my .308 and 7.35mm at each shooting session. The .22 is just more fun. Also like shooting our .22 pistols more than the .45's.

[SC4006]

I very much have to agree. My first gun was a JM stamped Marlin model 25n that my parents got me for Christmas many years ago. It’s a bolt action .22LR rifle. Though I have many more guns now, this remains my most used gun.

For the longest time it had a cheap Walmart scope on it. It took me until recently to realize I should actually get a good scope for it since this is in fact the gun I shoot the most. Just got a Nikon Prostaff rimfire II 3-9x40 scope for it and couldn’t be happier.

That model 18 brings back memories too. First time ever shooting a gun was with my dad’s S&W model 18-2.

[Areoflyer09]

I’m addicted to 22s! All of my rifles are .22s. Some health issues leave large calibers with limitations that are easier to just not fight with in rifles.

My “just a .22” collection currently includes:
-Henry Goldenboy
-Ruger American Rinfire Talo w/Nikon Prostaff Rimfire II
-Tippman M4-22
-CZ 455 Varmint w/Vortex Crossfire II
-Browning T-Bolt w/Leupold VX-1
-Tactica Solutions X-Ring w/Vortex Razor HD LH
-Ruger MkIV Target
-S&W Victory

Everyone has a price point that achieves what makes them happy. It may be that the lower end of the spectrum meets the person criteria for a .22. We see similar habits with purchasing optics. A lot of people are happy with a $100 scope on a $200 rifle, and to some degree I’m jealous of them. Once I got accostomed to the higher end items, it’s really hard to go back.

[10-96]

One of these days I'm going to have to break down and bring a S&W Victory 22 home. Probably soonerish ruther than laterish. Does anyone know of a solid, non-fiber optic front sight that will swap onto one with the existing screw?

[seeker_two]

This thread is causing my itch for a Bearcat to flare up.....especially since my daughter is getting old enough to start learning how to shoot.

Sent from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk

[SIGSHR]

I did not learn to shoot a handgun until I practiced Bullseye with a 22, and yes, the shooting skills you acquire with a 22 WILL carry over to larger calibers.

[mk70ss]

Let’s see: Browning BLR .22, Ruger 10-22, Ruger Single Six, Ruger Single 10, Beretta Cheetah .22, Taurus 941 .22 magnum, Ruger MKII, and Walther GSP. Yup, I like .22’s a lot too.

[kenny53]

"My first gun was a JM stamped Marlin model 25n"
I also have a Marlin 25N and enjoy shooting it. They are great guns.

I tend to put a less expensive glass on my guns. I have good guns but I get cheap with glass. I think with medication and intense therapy I may be okay.

[TailGator]

A .22LR goes with me darn near every trip to the range, no matter what else I am taking.

Some nice hardware in your collection, OP.

[johnwilliamson062]

I recently decided to cull the last of the safe queens in my collection. Freed up some money and a CZ 22 FS is top of the list of purchases. Such a great looking rifle.

My quality 22s that cost about what their centerfire equivalents cost have long been my favorite firearms. I think some people get turned off by 22s because they get the cheap ones.

[Lohman446]

I know... "it's just a .22" but to me there is a 22, maybe a .22 magnum, and then "everything else" So while the "everything else" in the aggregate may get more love than the 22 nothing comes close, by itself, to the .22.

[bamaranger]

I have more fireamrs chambered in .22lr than any other caliber. I didn't really set out to own as many as I do, it just sort of happened. Some of them I don't shoot that much at all. Others see more regular use.

Back when .22 ammo was scarce (the second scare) my .22 shooting ebbed a bit. I'm back in business now. A commercial cowbell target here at the house at about 100 yds is a real hoot. There was a time when I tried to shoot .22 rifle every day.....10 rds.

Anybody that does not own or shoot much .22 is suspect in my book. And any gun scribe that does not list the .22 on their top 10 is suspect too. A great disappointment back in the day, was an article with assorted writers listing useful cartridges. One of my favorites, Elmer Keith himself, did not list the .22.

He was way up in years at that point, so I cut him some slack!

[stuckinthe60s]

its just a rem 514, but it was free and does very well on the farm.

[vito]

I love my S&W 617. This 10 round 22LR revolver is my favorite at the range. Even though it is "just a 22" it is one of the most expensive guns that I own.

[JWT]

I have a Browning take down .22 auto: Winchester Models 61, 62, and 63: and an older Stevens clip fed semi auto. Enjoy shooting them all but especially like the little Browning and the Winchester Model 61 and Model 62. Nothing is less expensive to shoot and more fun for the buck.

[Ricklin]

I have a full stable of .22 rimfire. I love them all, for different reasons.

Ruger, Walther, High Standard, and even Taurus have a space in the lineup.

My Ruger Mk. 3 wears a multi reticle red dot sight, it's my space gun...

The Walther G22 wears both a laser and a Nikon 3 X 9.

Wife's 10/22 also wears a 3X9.

Both the HS and the Taurus wear their original iron sights.

Most accurate of the handguns? The HS is phenomenal.

The G22 is the most accurate of the two long guns, despite it's crappy trigger.

At least one .22 always makes the trip to the range, usually two or more.

[Minorcan]

I like your stable of .22s, very nice eclectic group. I have always liked the .22. They are so versatile, reliable and cheap to enjoy. I have several rifles and close to a dozen pistol/revolver .22s. The latest is a S&W Model 17 no dash 8” barrel revolver. Very nice set up.

[Scorch]

I also have to admit a weakness for .22LR rifles and pistols (not so much revolvers, although I used to own a 6" Diamondback). I own a Winchester 52, Remington 541T, and 4 Ruger 77/22s of various types, 2 10/22s, and a Winchester 1903. Why? Dunno. I just like 'em, I guess.