It’s Time to Buy Another .22
The Smith & Wesson Victory was designed to be accessories. One screw separates the major components,
so adding things like aftermarket barrels is a snap.
I did a spring chore this past week: a gun inventory. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not personally in a position to have to inventory my own guns all the time. I wish that were a problem. The nature of my job means there are loaner guns coming and going constantly. It’s surprisingly easy to lose track and find some sitting around that should have been returned long ago.
But since I was rummaging around the safe, the office, and the gun room down in the garage, I figured it was a good time to make sure my “personal” records matched what’s actually lying around here.
That’s when I figured out I’ve managed to accumulate seven .22 LR rimfire guns of various sorts over the decades. I imagine some of you consider seven rimfires a pitiful example of gun ownership, while others might be envious. Whatever side of that seesaw you sit on is fine with me. We each have our own priorities for collecting stuff.
This got me thinking. I don’t have enough .22s. If I had just one (or, gasp, none), I’d not have enough. And if I had 38, I’d likely still not have an adequate supply of rimfires in the collection. You see, the .22 LR is the firearm that one absolutely, positively has to have. And in the ideal scenario, lots of them.
Where We’re At…
My current collection is certainly nothing to sneeze at, and I’m thankful for it:
Smith & Wesson M&P22 Compact. My favorite everyday gun and rat hunter. Combined with Colibri powerless ammo, it’s good for garage and backyard use (with care), especially since a SilencerCo Sparrow suppressor lives on this one full-time. At about 75% scale (more or less), it’s still large enough for adult use but perfectly proportioned for suppressor use.
My favorite "everyday" 22: the Smith & Wesson M&P22 Compact paired with a SilencerCo Sparrow suppressor.
Ruger Single Six Convertible. I favored the stainless option for this one. While I shoot the .22 LR cylinder 90% of the time, I do enjoy the .22 Magnum option on occasion. I went with the 6.5” barrel because, well, I don’t know why, but I like it.
Ruger Wrangler Birds Head. Another scaled-down handgun that remains perfect for adult hands, especially with the bird’s head grip. It’s just fun and feels great in the hand. The non-traditional coated finishes offer something refreshingly different from the standard blued or stainless finishes.
Everyone should own a Ruger Single Six Conversion with .22LR and .22 Magnum cylinders.
CZ 513. A nifty and shockingly accurate .22LR bolt-action rifle. European-inspired stock and all, it always gets attention at the range.
Smith & Wesson Victory. The neat thing about these is that they were designed as a customizable platform. A large set bolt allows easy barrel swaps, and the folks at Volquartsen made some nifty ones. I’ve got the factory barrel, along with fluted and carbon-fiber Volquartsen barrels. A great performer!
Ruger 10/22. Right now, I’ve got the bare bones, stock model. If I were ever dumb enough to run for President, my campaign slogan would be simple: “A Ruger 10/22 in every home, and preferably two.” I feel like, as bad a politician as I’d be, I’d win with that promise.
Colt Woodsman Series I. This is my crown jewel in the rimfire collection. Purchased new by my grandfather back in 1936, it’s in mint condition. Wow, what a beautiful example of a finely made gun. There’s no box, but that’s OK. While I baby it and stick to standard velocity ammo, it is a shooter in my book, not a safe queen, and I enjoy taking this one to the range.
My prized rimfire: A 1936 Colt Woodsman Series I handed down from my grandfather, who bought it new.
What’s Missing
All in all, it’s a fairly broad representation, but there are some clear gaps that require attention.
I’ve always had an itch to pick up a Beretta 87 Cheetah. It’s a classic Beretta DA/SA with an open-top slide and downsized from the 92 series. Outfitted with wood grips, it’s one gorgeous pistol, and kinda rare. That means expensive. One day…
While we’re talking Beretta, have you ever done something you really regret? I had a Beretta .22 Conversion kit for the 92 series 9mm and… sold it. Why? I dunno, but I sure wish I had it now. Also, they are not cheap, but at least they are also hard to find. Keeping my eyes open.
Yet another in the "why did I ever part with this" list. A Beretta .22 Conversion Kit for the 92 series. A great performer.
Another “sold” regret? A 70s-era Browning Buckmark Target. That one might have qualified as the easiest pistol to shoot accurately that I’ve owned. In hand or on the bench, it was a tack driver. Time to scour the used gun boards, crossing my fingers, I can find one as good as the model I used to have. The only downside was magazines. I never could find magazines that would work with it. Something changed along the way, and newer model magazines were incompatible while originals were impossible to find.
The Browning Buckmark Target is one great rimfire. Stunningly accurate but finding spare magazines was a challenge.
While I’m a big fan of the Ruger 10/22 base model for utility use, I’m itching for one that’s gussied up. You know, bull barrel. Threaded. Upgraded stock. And while we’re at it, it would have upgraded “everything else.” Years ago, I built something like this for a fundraiser where every single part except the core receiver was an aftermarket upgrade. Now, you can even find an aftermarket receiver, although that seems kinda wrong. Would the resulting rifle even be a Ruger 10/22 anymore?
And many more … Antique rimfires? My want list is too long to include here.
How about you?
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