The 22 caliber

**CAMO SNOB** · 03-10-2010, 03:02 PM

Most all of us own or have owned a 22 caliber rifle. I learned how to shoot with a 22 single shot Remington model 514. I still have it... it has a nice patina from the abuse it received from my brother and I over the years. I have killed a lot of criters with that gun... everying from squirrels to a deer once, we hit it with the truck and finished it of with the ole 514. I have killed more living things with this gun than an other gun I have... none I have will catch it either.

What are some of your favirite 22 rifles and stories of these rifles?

**JABIII** · 03-10-2010, 03:16 PM

I have an old Rem Speedmaster that has killed about everything that walks or flies in SC. Some years ago, the year after Hugo in fact, I lost the tube rod on a walkabout in Fork Swamp. I have been meaning to replace it and get that sweet shooting piece of iron back in the rotation. Reckon it has been long enough?

**Rebel Yell** · 03-10-2010, 03:20 PM

My old man has a Winchester Model 35 (?) levergun .22 - over 45 yrs old, I have kilt lots of shit with it starting when I was about 8 or 9- I won't go into detail about what I kilt cuz the statute of limitations may not have expired.

I am waiting on a the gestapo to send my paper work back to the dealer to pick up my .22 can, gonna have fun with that thing.
Anybody got a CHEAP 10/22 for sale? I really only need a reciever and trigger group to build a bad ass project to go with the can.

**CAMO SNOB** · 03-10-2010, 03:21 PM

oh hell yeah JAB... that thing need a little tlc and back in the rotation. Mine needs a gunsmith but I don think it can be repaired... the breech is worn out where the ejector comes in. I have gotten powder burned on my face twice before I put mine away, that was several years back.

pic soon to follow of this problem..... could this be repaired?

**millero** · 03-10-2010, 03:21 PM

we used to shoot skeet with 22 pistols... i wonder where those bullets came down...

**Saltydog235** · 03-10-2010, 03:22 PM

Originally Posted by JABIII

I have an old Rem Speedmaster that has killed about everything that walks or flies in SC. Some years ago, the year after Hugo in fact, I lost the tube rod on a walkabout in Fork Swamp. I have been meaning to replace it and get that sweet shooting piece of iron back in the rotation. Reckon it has been long enough?

I have that same little .22. My dad gave it to me for plinking and small game. I imagine that it will be my son't first rifle.

**nitro5x6's** · 03-10-2010, 03:45 PM

JAB...........

http://www.gunpartscorp.com/catalog/...spx?catid=4309

get to ordering......$9.80 plus S&H.

Every young boy and man needs a good .22 rifle.

**Swamp Rat** · 03-10-2010, 03:49 PM

I have had several. But the one that stands out in my mind as my favorite is a basic Ruger 10/22 that my dad had. It's an older model - late 60's or early 70's. Due to that status, I won't modify it other than to add a scope (which I just bought).

I have taken a pile of game with it, mostly squirrels. I grew up walking with him along the trail behind the "cabin" at the Columbia-Sumter Club, the one that paralleled Big Lake, shooting squirrels with that rifle.

My current .22 for day to day use is a Ruger 77/22 I bought from a co-worker some years ago. I AM going to modify it... just got glass for it, and am leaning heavily towards a new barrel (Shilen) and sear kit (Timney) for it. I plan to get back into small game hunting this year.

**SCLAND&TIMBER** · 03-10-2010, 04:20 PM

I own several .22 rifles and pistols but the most fun to shoot is a Glenfield Model 20 (70's gun) that I bought for $20. The barrels has some rust on it and it isn't the prettiest gun I have ever owned but I have probably shot at least 5,000 rounds through it without a hiccup.

I'll probably get around to re-finishing it one day but it is dang fun. Next on my list would fall the Henry .22 lever gun. If only the tin cans and road signs could talk

**BUBBASULLIVAN** · 03-10-2010, 08:28 PM

got one of the glenfields in the dogbox now! it is a great all around plinking gun! plinked many of night bandits out with it!

**Redleg** · 03-10-2010, 09:03 PM

I have several 22s, but two are extra special. Both belonged to my great-grandparents before they passed away (before I was born). The first one is a Stevens 22 pump. My grandfather gave it to me a few years ago with the understanding that I pass it on to my oldest son. It belonged to his father, but he had to sell it because times were tough and he needed the money. My grandfather's brother in law somehow bought the rifle back and held onto it. My grandfather was a painter and did some work for his BIL and took the rifle as payment for the job.
The second is a Remington 512 single shot bolt action. It belonged to my great-grandmother. She kept it hanging on 2 wooden pegs over the back door. When she saw critters in her garden, she would pull it down and put an end to them. My dad inherited it when she passed away, and he gave me the rifle a few months ago. It's the one I'm using to teach my 6 year old how to shoot. I'd post pics if I had them; like CS said, they've both got a nice, worn look to them. The Remington isn't super-accurate, but the Stevens shoots straighter than a grizzly's dick!

**Phone Man** · 03-10-2010, 09:16 PM

I grew up in the A-team era. I loved how they fired off hundreds of rounds with them mini 14's. Anyway, dad would take me out back and let me shoot his old remington auto. Hadn't messed with it in probably 10 years so i can't remember the model, but we would set up empty shotgun shells on an old sawhorse with the brass facing out and see who could knock em off. Then when i got older it went to spent 22 cases. Anyway, dad taught me about gun safety and respect and a true love for guns. I remember that he drew a sight picture for me at about 4 YO as to what it should look like. We'd shoot several magazines through and then i would tell him "It's A-Team Time" I'd squeeze out those 15 rounds of wildcats as fast as Hannibal or B.A. Those were very memorable times for me and my dad. As i've grown up, my dad doesn't really hunt anymore, he just enjoys me and my brother telling stories of us. Whenever i get a new firearm, it gets checked out by dad and inspected. Then we go outside and shoot it and he gives me the nod of approval. He really loves it when i add to my A5 collection. I bought a 1968 mag 12 a few years ago and stopped by there during lunch. He shot it a couple times and turned around and said" Man you just can't beat the feel of a Browning"

**CAMO SNOB** · 03-10-2010, 09:25 PM

great read fellas, great stuff!!!

thanks for the entertainment... I love stories about Grandparents and 22s

**Swamp Rat** · 03-10-2010, 10:36 PM

My oldest brother decided to go "all in" on his 22, and bought a Cooper single shot. Beautiful gun, and fun to shoot. He experimented with various 22 brands and loadings and found what his liked (Eley Tenex - no surprise there). And he has learned how to shoot it well at distances that most people don't mess with on 22's.

We were shooting it on his deer club last year when a crow landed in a tree out in the pond. I noticed it, but had to "steer" my brother onto it until he found it in the scope. I ranged it with the laser - honestly, I forget exactly, but it was well over 120 yards. I think closer to 130+. I gave him the range, advised 4 inches of wind drift from right to left, and he sent it.... and stoned it.

That's an accurate .22 - oughta be for what it cost.

I have bought and sold a pile of 'em. Basic Marlin "Microgroove" rifled .22's will surprise you as to how well they will shoot. The one I regret having sold more than any other was a Remington Model 12.

**Moatsy** · 03-10-2010, 11:02 PM

We had two guns at our disposal growing up. A single shot .410 with a missing bead and an Ithaca M-49 lever action .22 that shot shorts and LR.

My brother and I took turns using them and, of course being the junior, I always got the one least favorable for whatever it was we were doing. We killed an assload of small game with that 22 including a couple deer. Eventually, being boys, we tore up the spring and had to use it one shot at a time, which was rather difficult to do with any speed but the old rifle did the trick.

Down to my last dime in the winter of 1991 I pawned it for the $50 to pay for my med school application, and though as regrettable as that was I still fell like the rifle is providing for me to this day because of it.

**CYPRESNEAK** · 03-10-2010, 11:09 PM

Remmington 341-P "The SportsMaster"

I was in 6th grade, new school, and on the tail end of my parent’s nasty ass divorce... To say the least my mind was not on the books at the time. I was trying to fit in at school, and find my place in the whole Dad here, Mom there thing.
The night I got my third quarter report card a childhood friend of my Dad's happened to stop by the house. He picked up the report card or lack thereof and looked at me with a bit of disappointment about his face. Several of the teacher’s comments were for conferences, and I was on the verge of failure if something drastic didn’t happen in the last nine weeks.

Mike stepped back and looked at me real serious like and said, "Boy looks like you have some serious catchin up to do.. I know how much you have been going through, but we have to do something about these here marks on your report". I looked up from the couch to see he had roused my Dad's attention. You have to understand Mike was a very big man standing well over 6' tall, with a biker type grit about him. He did not have children, and for the most part he'd rather scare the shit out of youngins than even speak to them. "Boy whatdaya say we make a deal" I'm all ears because of how oddly serious he is speaking to me. "My Dad gave me an old .22 rifle of his before he passed, I don’t hunt, and I know how much you love being in the woods". I'm definitely paying close attention now. "You get those grades up and show me a report in 9 weeks that says you are going to the 7th grade, the gun is yours". Just before we shook hands my Dad stepped in and said, "Mike you better not be full of shit if he pulls this off and you don’t come through you'll see a very upset kid. Not to mention I'll be quite upset as well". We shook hands; Mike hopped in his El Camino and rode out. Dad definitely wanted to see me do better, (and surely appreciated Mikes motivational offer) but did caution me not to get my hopes up.

9 weeks came and went. I'd straightened up my act, kept my nose to the grindstone and pulled off a hail-mary by acing all of my final tests. I came home grinning ear to ear knowing I had done it, and with a call to Mike my gun should be on the way.
About a week later I saw the old rusty El Camino slide up in the driveway. Mike hopped out but was empty handed; I'd be lying if I didn’t say my heart sank to my toes. He let himself in, said hello and walked promptly to the kitchen to talk with Dad. A few minutes later he came out and sat on the couch by me. I knew it was bad for he had a very disappointed look about him. He let me know how proud he was of me for getting my act together, but hated to tell me his sister had given the gun to another kid under similar circumstances. I tried to suck it up and be a man, but I'd worked hard and felt a bit shitted on. Just as my eyes started to well up Dad walked in the room with a shit eating grin on his face and said, "Damn Mike, when you going to let that boy go get HIS GUN OUTA YOUR CAR". Whhhhewwweee,,, I tell you in an instant I went from the lowest of lows, to floating on the clouds. Hot damn, ole' Mike had pulled through for me.

Over the last 20 or so years I have shot all kind of critters, cans, and random stuff with that gun. It has held true, and made a pile of memories as well as amazing shots. Some years ago I had it tapped for a scope. The gunsmith was quite impressed, and said it was made in the early 1900's. I can’t wait to hand it down to my boys. I bet they won’t believe how much this gun, and Mr. Mike helped their Father turn a big corner into becoming a Man.

CamoS, thanks..

**nitro5x6's** · 03-10-2010, 11:12 PM

Those that know me, know I have "a few" firearms.....

The guns I grew up with vary and would make some collectors drool.....my favorite memories involve .22 rifles. We could buy boxes of Win Hi-speed 22 longs for 28-33 cents per 50....walked to the Kenerly's store and they sold us all we wanted. Box after box, brick after brick- we sent rounds down range.

My Dad gave my brother and I a Marlin model 60 - like a mini M-1 carbine and a Sears Ted Williams pump action 22 rifle ........we wore those sunny beaches out. I still attribute my questionable skill with a rifle to the many thousands of rounds we shot through those guns. We also have to this day my Granddad's old Savage "gallery gun" and an Anschutz single shot 22 that was hell on the various cats, squirrels and songbirds that we made our quarry......

My brother grew out of the shooting disease, I never did and now his son and my sister's oldest son join me afield. I started both of them with 22 rifles.. one a Henry Golden Boy I bought cheap at Sidney's in Augusta (only deal I ever made there) and a Browning BL-22 I was saving for the son I never had..........

My girls have plenty of guns, but don't like "plinkers"....... they are handgun shooters.

I have had a 10/22 built for me by Al Dichiara and it's an extremely accurate rifle - fun as hell to shoot. When I want to go walk for squirrels, I take the old Anschutz or my own BL-22 - a grade 2 that is a real nice little gun. I went out to the ammo locker and I have about 18,000 rounds of 22 ammo in the garage. I'm getting a little light and need to buy some more.....

Good Stuff.

**Shotunderit** · 03-11-2010, 06:18 AM

One of my mother's brother's, E, was my favorite uncle. He never married, so he didn't have any children. Around 15 years ago he gave me his yard gun, a Winchester Model 290. He's gone now, but every time I pick up that rifle, I think of him. Thanks Unc.