You can read the news release all about this new rifle, the 10/22 USA Shooting Team Rifle at Outdoor Hub
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I'm liking the Ruger Takedown 10/22 more every time I see it. I just saw the USA OLYMPIC SHOOTING TEAM MODEL in blue of the Takedown and have asked my LGS who is a pretty high volume Ruger dealer to get me one. It's a neat rifle and fills a nice niche in my "going fishin" bag that usually as .22 Hornet/.410 combo, perhaps a .30-30 or an AK, a Glock 9mm and a .22 handgun of some sort. I've always got a .22 rifle of some sort, and you can't go wrong with a Ruger and particularly a 10/22. With the new Ruger made hi cap mags for the 10/22, it's a reliable poor mans assault weapon. If that is all you can afford, it is better than a knife or stick and with an inexpensive laser, flashlight and holo/red dot sight on top, you can literally blast small holes in your target no matter what the defense circumstance. And $20 from each sale goes to the team. It's for, er, EL Fisho Jr, of course. Yeah.
INTERARMS/WALTHER PP PPK PPK/S IN .22 LR
showing a Walther PP, possibly but not certainly in .22 LR caliber.
I've been wanting a German Interarms imported Walther PPK, PPK/S or PP in .22 LR. I don't know when they stopped importing them, or even if they still make them over there. But I bought one in the mid-70's and was an idiot to trade it but I did lo so many years ago. I want another one. I've seen a few PP's but they had horrid bores and were sorta raggedy looking on the inside. Like they'd had a bad case of restoration gunsmithing. The decent ones I've seen are too rich for my blood, but I know I'll stumble across perhaps a cosmetically challenged shooter for a decent price.
Again, I'll say that S&W should be making the PP series in .22 LR and that they are missing the boat in a huge market. Not only are people buying "look alike" centerfire handguns made in .22 in flocks and droves like the 1911's, Beretta M9 and several other look-a-like guns, and certainly the historic PP series of guns fits into this catagory.
But folks are buying lots of .22 handguns period. And there are many high end and excellent .22's hitting the market lately. Like the Browning version of the 1911, the new Ruger SR22, the newish Ruger SP101 in .22 and a host of other .22's being made right now.
Likewise, folks have been snapping up the quality versions of assault rifles chambered in .22 caliber like hotcakes. They don't seem to say on the shelves long. Umarex/Colt, Walther (under Umarex), H&K (under Umarex), S&W, Sig Sauer...each of these makers are making some really excellent assault rifle and pistol clones that shoot well and shoot reliably.
.22's are great to have around any time you're wanting to do a lot of shooting. It's a cheap caliber and fun to shoot and if you are so inclined, you can stockpile thousands and thousands of rounds for very little money.
So I'm just saying there, Smith and Wesson, you've got the tooling and the factory to make these pistols in .32 and .380...let's see them in .22. I know, it'll take some parts changing for the rimfire firing mechanism and possibly other parts, but the cost would pale in comparison to the R&D of a new gun.
FWIW...
THREE BIG GUNS: THE DESERT EAGLE, THE COONAN .357, THE AUTOMAG AND THE WILDEY
I almost moved at the chance for some trading on a Desert Eagle in .50 Caliber. The owner wanted way, way below market, because he had not been able to move it at market price and was hard up for buckaroos. But what would I do with such a gun? I have no idea, so I passed on the deal. I enjoy shooting the various magnums, the .357 a lot moreso than any .44 magnums, but shooting a Model 29 is always a pleasure, but just for a shorter time than shooting, say, a Colt Python with magnum loads. Even the well designed S&W 329 PD is not too bad to shoot, but again, I'm not likely to devote as much range time to it as say a Glock 19 or any other number of guns that are vastly more inexpensive to shoot.
Nonetheless, I'd like to have a Desert Eagle if I ever lived in bear country (where I'd be fishing) but now is not the time. Although I did see a guy from Bellaire, Texas on TV some months ago when he scared away some kind of alleged neighborhood perpetrator by simply brandishing that 4 pound + piece of heavy steel. It's a BIG gun and apparently he was able to convey that idea to the perp and put the quietus on the situation. Bully for him. Back in my police officer days, even though this good citizen wasn't a cop, we would've remarked amongst ourselves that his actions were some "good policin".
I also like the older Automag pistols, and the sort of follow up HUGE PISTOL which was the Wildey. Recently, they had one at a Cabela's in like new condition with a 4" and 6" barrel, a Halliburton hard case, a bunch of extra mags and a holster, and I shoulda put that thing on layaway. It was going for something like $1100, which is under market for a Wildey with one barrel. In that same vein, I like the Coonan .357 Automatic pistols, sort of a 1911 derivative with a big wide grip.
Years ago, I got to shoot all three of the above...the Automag, the Wildey and the Coonan. The Coonan shot the easiest, being in .357, but a 6" Python gives it an even run for it's money. The Automag and Wildey were both in .44 Automag, and yes, they kicked like a peeved mule. But the Automag, for some unknown reason, was more fun, to shoot. However, after messing with the gas adjustment system on the Wildey, I think it's a fine pistol to shoot and perhaps "easier" to shoot than the Automag due to the gas adjustment feature. Either one would be a hoot and might get me interested in metal silhouette shooting again.
THE AMT AUTOMAG II
Another cool gun that I've always liked was the Automag II in .22 magnum caliber. You can go here to GUNBLAST for a post and review back a few years ago when production of this gun was revived by High Standard. I don't think they are still making them, High Standard, that is. Here's a great article by Paco Kelly, also at Gunblast, about the AMT Automag. It's good reading.
I'd get an Automag II in .30 caliber if I came across it at an extremely good price, but the .22 magnum is the preferred model. .30 caliber is not well suited as a handgun cartridge, as I found with the Ruger Blackhawk years ago in that same caliber. Nonetheless, it's a powerful cartridge, and if you don't mind flames shooting from your handgun, it's a great gun. Plus, surplus ammo is not too bad for the .30.
As I mentioned some months ago, I came across a pristine example of an AMT Automag II in the long-defunct and impossible to get ammo or even brass in something called "9mm magnum". It was way over priced, simply because it's not a shooter cause there is no ammo for it. Before I realized that it was in this defunct caliber, which I had never heard of and had to google on the spot to find out about it, thinking it might be some rare, euro ammo that would be expensive, I was thinking of what I could bargain this guy down to for a cash deal. Business was slagging at this locale, a tourist haven near Lake of the Ozarks and I feel sure that cash money would've lowered the price. But to me, unless it's a family heirloom or collectors piece, there is no sense owning a gun you can't shoot.
One day, I'll come across one at a decent price. Too bad that the vacation gun was in that funky caliber. It would have been a great gun. Even had an extra magazine with it.
THE STOEGER DOUBLE DEFENSE OVER/UNDER
I like the Stoeger Double Defense that they introduced this year in the Over/Under format, in both 12 and 20 gauge. As I've often said, although I do have 12 gauge guns, I'm more of a 20 gauge guy these days. One of these in 20 gauge would be a great woods gun as well as a good home defense gun. Although I prefer an old school parkerized, wood stocked, extended magazine 18" barreled Remington 870 pump for home defense, I see the DD as a great fun gun around farms and ranches and a handy gun to keep in one of those $19.95 nylon shotgun scabbards you can get on ebay or amazon. Keep it in the farm truck or on the tractor and you're ready for any skunk or big snake you might encounter. Side by side or over/under, it appears to be a well constructed gun and I was impressed by the side by side version I got to look at but not shoot.
THE WEATHERBY SEMI-AUTO SYNTHETIC STOCK 20 GAUGE
Most of my skeet and clay shooting is done with an 1100 or an Over/Under, both in 20. Lately, El Fisho Jr used a synthetic stocked Weatherby 20 gauge semi-auto which was quite inexpensive and a great shooter. I don't know what it's called but retail street price is $400 something and it's as described above. I liked the way it felt and it really fit both El Fisho Jr. and I quite well. Our host has a ton of fine shotguns, and I mean really fine O/U and S/S sporting guns from his ancestors and a bunch of pump and auto shotguns from modern makers, and finds himself using the Weatherby cheapie 99% of the time for it's easy recoil. I didn't shoot it enough to really get a feel on the recoil, but it was definitely on the light side compared to what I was expecting.
A NICE MODEL 13 SMITH AND WESSON WITH A 3" BARREL
I used to have a 4" version of the M13, and it's a fine shooting handgun. The 3" version lends itself to concealed carry more than it's brother, the snubnose 2 1/2" Model 19/66, since the 13/65 has fixed sights. I've always liked the look of the bull barrel, and it's a solid K frame that feels familiar and like an old friend in the hand. It's a grip you're familiar with if you've shot K frames.
Ideally, I'd like to have a RB version of this gun in either blue (13) or stainless (65) with the 3" barrel. Good enough for field carry and field use with the 3" barrel, and also a good concealment gun. This is the version that the FBI briefly adopted in the early 80's before moving to semi-autos. I've seen the gun of my dreams but it's priced at about double what it should be, or at least 30% too much taking into account it's fine condition. A nickle 3" version. It hasn't sold at the shot it's at for well over a year, but there is no bargainin' on it.
It's a solid gun, and I'd be happy with a well carried and worn but little shot police trade in. I've seen them lately with 4" barrels but none with the 3".
There's a Ladysmith version of the M65 that's significantly lighter than the regular Model 13's and has a RB and some kind of stainless finish. That's the gun I'd like to find. I've been seeing a ton of Ladysmith Model 60's, a great gun in itself, and a bunch of Model 10's both new and police trade ins, but only one 4" M13 in many years.
A 3" COLT PYTHON BARREL IN ANY FINISH
Speaking of 3" barrels, I'd love to find a 3" Python barrel. Colt made at least one small run, I think from the custom shop, of these guns with the 3" barrel. I recall seeing 3" barreled Pythons for sale in the Shotgun News about 1983 or so and they were called the California Special or the California Python or something like that.
I'd surely like to have a 3" barrel, or even a 4" barrel, to put on a project gun. I recently vied for a 4" version on ebay, and lost. But it's that 3" version I really want.
THE RUGER AMERICAN RIFLE
I am very impressed with this very inexpensive rifle. My LGS owner, who is a trained gunny and quite knowledgeable about repairs and construction of bolt action centerfire rifles of some quality, took one of these apart for a group of us and showed us why it was a superior gun destined to last for generations. My friend has one in .270, and it's a great shooter. I want one in .223, but they're not making that caliber yet, so a .243 would be the closest you could come. It's also in .30-06.
A very impressive rifle for very little money.
THE RUGER SR1911
I've seen one. Every gun shop I know has a waiting list for them. Well constructed with everything you need in a 1911 and nothing you don't. Solid steel. Shoots like a 1911 should. Reasonably priced and that Ruger feel and quality that tells you it'll be around for your grandkids' grandkids' to shoot. So engrave your name on it and 150 years from now your kin will be talking about you. I think you can do that with pretty much any of the old school Rugers and this one.
A COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY OR PEACEMAKER
Although not true to the west, one of these in reasonable condition of the 3rd generation in .38/.357 would be a great gun to have. That four click cocking mechanism. This caliber is much cheaper to shoot than .44 or .45 or any of the less popular calibers like .44-40 and the .357 is quite an effective round.
There's one gun shop that has a nice, early 80's nickle version with someone's three initials largely engraved on the right side of the receiver. That wouldn't bother me, and perhaps one could get some "cover up" engraving done such as tattooists do with cover up tattoos. Then again, I don't think having some prior owners initials would be a biggie. Again, a shooter not some museum piece. It's somewhat reasonably priced due to it's pristine condition, but they could take another couple of hundred off of it since it's not going to ever be a collectors gun.
THE UMAREX UZI .22 LR PISTOL
I just think this would be an incredibly fun gun to have and so cheap to shoot.
That Ruger takedown .22 may just prompt me to sell my old classic .22 Browning takedown. It sure would make a great trunk monkey, and the old Browning is just too nice for me to lug around anymore.
ReplyDeleteThat Ruger 1911 has cured one problem that some of my Colts suffered from; poorly staked plunger tubes. Ruger has the tube as part of the frame; THAT is great engineering.
Agreed on the Ruger, I like them. All of the Rugers I own/have owned/whose family has owned have been excellent, trouble free weapons. And they are at the top of their game right now with no sign of letting up. With all the new guns they've been introducing the past few years, you think they are out of ideas, then spring forth with the takedown and the 1911 and then the SR22, which I can personally attest shoots great with cheap .22 ammo.
ReplyDeleteI see several rugers, perhaps three, in my semi-immediate future. A Vaquero in 357, another mini-14, the .22 takedown and perhaps an American if they make it in .223.