DD, I’m 77 years old and have been shooting the .22 LR since I was five years old and I have to tell you your treatise on it is the best I have ever seen or read! Great job!!!
Concur. I'm 78. Fond memories of the first firearm I ever used (also at 5 years old): Remington Model 12 pump. The magazine tube could be loaded with a MIX of .22 short, long or long rifle and it would "tie every bundle". In fact, that information was stamped on the receiver from the factory! It got my grandparents and their family through the Great Depression by killing whatever varmint could be eaten.
@@randykelso4079 Mine was an old Harrington & Richardson single-shot, so I learned to make each shot count, I still have that .22 in my gun safe and recently one of my grandsons shot it a few times. First time it had been shot in probably 50 years or more. It still worked just fine. My Granddad had one of those Remington pumps and he used to take one of my cousins and me out to the fence line of the back pasture and we would shoot crab apples off the trees. Fun times. That cousin and I later both served in Vietnam. I made it home. He did not.
Welcome home, brother. Many condolences. I was there too. 7 schoolmates KIA, 2 shipmates KIA and one POW. Vote carefully, Bill. Thank you for serving our country.@@billfisher6708
I'm 76 years old and while I don't remember what age I was when I started shooting, I know it was several years before I got my very own .22 rifle at age 8. My dad bought it (used?) for $7.00 and used it to help feed his family during the depression. When he went off to WW2 he gave it to his dad. Grampa was fixing to go in a nursing home when I was 8 and he told me that rifle was mine now. Then he looked at my dad and said "Is that ok with you?" Dad said "yes sir, it is". Grampa said you teach him what he needs to know. Dad did just that. I don't know how old that gun was, but I know it didn't have a serial number. In 1992 someone broke in and stole that rifle and 2 shotguns. The police recovered the shotguns, but not the rifle.
I’m my opinion, this video was long overdue; thank you for blessing the .22LR community with the video we’ve been anticipating for a long while now. Your knowledge & wisdom is of much appreciation.
My Dad only had one weapon in his life and it was a single shot bolt action Stephen's. I learned from him that you have to be accurate with your first shot.
My wife had 22LR competition rifle that was made in Czechoslovakia it is called a Bruno, it was gifted to her by the wife of the guy who passed away he was teaching/coaching her in competition shooting, and she had won quite a few trophies with that riffle it had a real light trigger you barely even had to touch it to fire. This was a very interesting podcast I really enjoyed it thank you.
Just took my kid out plinking for the first time with our M&P 15-22 Sport rifle and Ruger Mark IV 22/45 Lite pistol. Creating those memories for both of us. ❤ Great video! Thank you.
Hi desert dog from Pennsylvania buddy Jeff. I couldn't agree more. My 22 is a Winchester 9422. It's all I will ever need. It gets all my squirrels I need every year. I have a 1-5 Leopold scope. It's a squirrel getting machine. I wish you could try my wife Beth's squirrel casserole. Yummy. God bless desert dog. From Pennsylvania buddy Jeff. 😊
.22 LR is way more dangerous than a LOT of folks give credit. I had a friend who was shot through the chest by accident with a .22 short and killed instantly. The bullet passed completed through his chest bone, his heart and exited his back. He was only 16 in 1969 and so sad since he was really a great guy! The .22 is so underrated.
9th grade high school Jrotc With .22lr, I scored a 98 at 25 yards, Sarg new I was a country boy, and he had no problem making me a squad leader with the SSGT rank ..and a sharp shooter pin to boot 👍🏾🇺🇲
Awesome! All I can say, is that I'm 68 years old a retired US Army veteran and know a lot about firearms. This man always teaches me something new. Keep up the good work Desert Dog.
I grew up in the 50s and 60s shooting shorts for less than 25 cents for a box of 50 rounds. I want to say I paid 18 cents in the 50s but I can't pin down that memory.
We are just senior cheap plinkers...as such we don't worry about ultimate accuracy, but we are glad so many folks out here do chase those small, ragged hole groups...we use inexpensive rifles, cheap scopes, and the cheapest, nastiest ammo we can find...it is all about leisurely shooting 100-200 rounds, hitting 4 inch targets at 100 yards under half the time, and flat enjoying ourselves...we own other calibers dedicated to other purposes, .22 is all about fun (we have carried .22, and it's been quite a while, but squirrel and rabbit do taste good), trigger time, and staying in some practice...very good video...
My grandpa (1890-1991) gave my dad his Remington Model 33 when dad was a kid. My dad gave the rifle to me after teaching me to shoot when I was 12 or so. I taught my son to shoot with it and we will both teach his son with this weapon. I know my grandson will carry on the family tradition with this rifle. Oh, and he'll be a crack shot because at 6 years old he can nail anything he points his Daisy BB gun at.
My first gun was a little Stevens .22LR semi-auto w/ scope around 1960 bought used from a local gunsmith. The first time we went plinking was a dream come true. Some of the best fun I ever had. Most of my friends had a .22LR such as a Marlin, etc. In those days in the Midwest guns were used for hunting and target practice. There were fields and woods everywhere. Thanks for reviving good memories and the reminder of its versatility and enduring relevance.
I shot 22 BB Caps and 22 Shorts with my Grandfather in the 50s as a teenager. We took I don't know how many squirrels and rabbits on our farm with both ... and then came the 22LR. He gave me an old Winchester bolty single shot, model 17 or 21 or something like that .... that's what I learned to shoot with from a Grandfather who was a calvery sniper in WWII. Today, 22LR is what I've taught my children and grandchildren to shoot with. As a veteran of the 82nd Airborne Division, I've taught them all military style, just as my grandfather did, and 22LR is a stalwart in my family. We have all sorts from standard Ruger 10/22s to customized Rugers to (my personal favorites) Marlin bolties and leverguns (my most accurate 22LR is a Marlin Model 39A) as well as Savage bolties, etc. Really enjoyed this video. Thank you. So much new 22LR ammo coming-out, new technologies, etc. Anyways, subscribed, bell rung, commented, upvoted, liked, shared ... may the algorithm gods smile favorably upon your channel friend.
My first 22 was a Remington pump action gallery gun that I bought from a hardware store used and hunted ground squirrels. It was stolen from my and I replaced it with the Marlin 39A and put a 2-7 power scope on it. I limited myself to 10 squirrels a day with all head shots and CCI Stingers came out and revolutionized the taking of game. From coyotes to badgers, foxes, crows ,cotton tail rabbits ,raccoons, rattle snakes and even a few trout met their end
Thank you for the fantastic video on the 22 . So true, fun affordable and versatile, I shoot 22 every time I go to the range, yes I have cheap economical ammo and yes I can hear and feel the difference in recoil , that’s for a guess at the range. Thanks again !
Thanks for pointing out the inconsistencies of .22lr ammunition. I've known alot of people that have huge problems with .22lr semiautomatic pistols and rifles over the years. I'm 42 years old and still have the browning lever action rifle and a revolver that i learned to shoot as a kid. Both chambered in .22lr. Cant tell you how many rounds have gone through these two guns, and they're both still very accurate and have never jammed. I am a true believer that a proven and simple gun mechanism will always be best for a .22lr round.
I started with 22 Shorts with a single shot 22 that my dad got as a teenager in the middle of the depression before WWII. He used that open sight rifle exclusively with Shorts for squirrels his entire hunting life which was to when he was about 80 years old. When I was growing up in the 1960’s Shorts were all we could afford. I was out of high school and in college in the early 1970’s before I ever got my first box of 22LR.
I've been shooting firearms for decades. This is the best and most comprehensive video [lecture] regarding .22 I have ever seen. I thought I knew everything about the .22 in all its interactions until now. Bravo sir.
@@bmo72 My all time favorite is a rifle that I inheirited from my Dad. Walther KKJ sporter and 45 yrs later, still one of the most accurate rimfires I've shot. It would be impossible for me to pick a favorite beyond that. I started my collection searching for at least one of every type of action, be it lever, pump, semi, single shot (that one can get expansive) and such. After scratching that itch, I turned to highend bolt actions and had to buy a second gun safe. A divorce forced me to part with several that I sure wish I still had. Anschutz, Walther, Kimber, Cooper, CZ, Browning, Winchester, Sako and early Remington all made wonderful sporters. Force me to pick one with no sentimental influence and I would choose the Kimber. Whether it is a single shot Cooey or a Cooper Jackson Squirrel, if they shoot well or better, I get the same goofy grin.
That's a lot of 22's gahd DAMN! Did you ever have any issues with mag fed 22? Whenever I get around to buying a 22 rifle I'm probably just going check around my local stores for something cheap.
@@ABadGamble I say never go cheap on a .22. It will probably be the rifle you shoot most often and quality is a good thing in that regards, particularly function Unless you are looking for pure utility, save up and get yourself something you will cherish for life. 22's to me are bluebird days, good friends and gophers galore or crisp midwinter with cottontails in the rosebushes. It also doesn't hurt when your shooting pals cast an envious glance at your prize. What with her supermodel lines and a figure in her walnut butt.that just won't quit..who among us could resist a second look? Pride in ownership and great resale value are the payoffs.
My first .22 rifle was a Remington bolt action, single shot, so old it didn't have a serial number. That gun could hammer in tacks at 50 yards. Open sights so that was a long shot for me. Unfortunately, it was stolen from my home. A year or so later I bought one just like it and it shoots just as good as my first rifle. It is a Remington Target Master Model 41 and stamped on the barrel it says "22 short, long, and long rifle". I thought it had a serial number, but I just looked and can't find one now.
The Air Force idea to use the 22LR in training saved the American Taxpayers a lot of money. I wish our current leaders practiced such wise and conservative use of our hard-earned tax dollars. 🪖
From Oz, a professional rabbit shooter told me he uses a CZ452 Boyd thumb hole stock Zies Conquest 4-14x44, Win 555 40grn HP, barrel accuracy drops off after 200K, he replaces the barrel every 4 yrs, his average is 49 head shots for 50 cartridges, each night he shoot 80-120 pairs. Distance 5-35m.
At my shooting range, we hold 22 rimfire matches at ranges from 10 to 175 yards. Yes, there is a lot of drop at over 100 yards. Most all competitors have range cards taped to their rifles with sight adjustments for elevation and windage. They get unbelievably small groups out to 175 yards.
I have a BRNO Mod 52 with a shortened 16 inch barrel fitted with a moderator for squirrels etc. Best results with Eley subsonic hollow points. It does not shoot very well with high velocity cartridges. Great video DD 🇬🇧
Excellent review Sir I'm 73 yrs old I hold 5 1000 yd. World records, tons of F-class 1000 yd. records. I've shot more 22 lr than anything else. Take care, flea
I really enjoyed this video. I'm 66 & I still have the semiautomatic 22 my dad got me from the Western Auto store for my fifteenth birthday. I got my first squirrel when I was 8 & remember that like it was yesterday. I've got all kinds of guns now but the 22Lr will always be one of my favorites. Thanks for doing this video. I really enjoyed it.👍🇺🇲☝️
I used to get 22 ammo at the Western Auto. My dad would take me in and I would drool over the matchbox cars, too. They were 50 cents back then. A box of 22's was 54 cents. A long time ago.
Greatest invention since gunpowder. My 97 year old Model 52 is my most often used bench gun. It's not as particular about ammo as many. We've been having very calm weather here in Western SD and we've been shooting .22 rifles a lot. I'm still looking for the perfect load/lot, but I already shame my buddy with his Ruger Precision Rifle and Chinese glass. My 1956 Litschert 12x Targeteer Jr. with micrometer adjustments helps me shoot 5/8 to 1" groups at 100 yards with Federal Auto Match and nearly 60 year old eyes. Won't win any competition, but guys will fist fight over my 52 when I'm dead, just like I had to in order to get it. I want Miroku 52 Sporter, but even they go for over $2k here.
TY-22LR is my favorite also. "Quiet" ? I once had an old box of CIL 'canuck' and I could still hear the BB cycling on my 10/22. I once had some real hot rod Aussie ammo which promptly blew out my extractor and it's spring. What fun ! ;)
Over 100 yrs ago, there was a lot of controversy over using the 22lr for small game. There were several other larger rimfires at the time,along with the 25-20 and the 32-20. Most authorities at the time considered the 22lr on game less than 5 lbs. Good video.
The Best Man in my wedding was raised on a homestead in Alaska. He tells a story of he and his brother being chased up a tree in their back yard by a bear. His mom stuck the barrel of a .22 rifle out the kitchen window and killed that bear that was threatening her kids. Bear particulars - ??? Rifle particulars - ??? @@timbenham516
I know a lot of people complain that YT doesn't show them what they want to watch. Not the case here. Just minutes ago, I made the finishing touches to a 22 charger(10/22 style reciver) "mare's leg" pistol. I lay down to relax and watch some YT videos, and then this video popped up in my recommendation feed. As for that .22LR addiction you mentioned. It's one I can live with and will NOT be seeking help for.😂 *legal disclaimer. I used a stripped aftermarket receiver to assemble/build the aforementioned mare's leg pistol.
@DaddyDaGuido Yeah, but there's bound to be some keyboard lawyers crying about how it's a felony. I had made a post on reddit, and it was like talking to a brick wall. Eventually, I got tired of the stupidity and just deleted the post. So I decided to add this "disclaimer" to hopefully mitigate that on here.
@@srbontrager Oh boy. God forbid anybody actually know what they're talking about eh? Then again one problem might be just going on reddit in the first place lol
I concur with you on that Mark III target pistol for accuracy! I have the one with the 7" round barrel that looks sort of like a German Luger and it is the most accurate pistol I have ever shot.
Up to 1990s the .22 lr was in Germany also called.22 lfb ( sometimes slso 5,6 lfb). The lfb simply means ,lang für Büchsen' ( long tifle , translated in german).
I remember back in the early 70's, my uncle paid 2 dollars and some change for a box of 22lr from Kmart. He left me that 22 rifle that I still have to this day. Good ol days.
I used to have a CM79 that I had given to a gun smith to accorise. Oh boy did he do a real good job. I didn't even know a 22 could be that accurate. I only went for what he called stage 1 which involved cold rolling the barrel and checking all the tolerances round the bolt. The whole lot including the price of the rifle was about the equivalent of $400USD (about 10 years ago). I then got a 6x42 Zeiss lensed scope. My grouping with that was so tight it was unreal. I ended up shooting penny (old UK penny) targets at 44 yards. Bit of a niche sport but it's fun and cheap. Out of 10 targets I hit point blank all but once. Each target has 5 penny targets on it. So 49 out of 50 point blank. I was placed just 11th out of 20 as the top 10 got all 50 and were ranked on centering. IE who had dead center or closest to it of their shot hitting point blank. There was also a 50 yard and 65 yard competition. 65 was a club event as their range only went out that far and was underground in a WWII bunker. 44 yards is two cricket creases in length and dates back to 1890 I think.
1-2 gr variation in bullet weight? Remington Lighting. Two distinctly different repots, and target impact. I weighed four cartidges, and found a 5 gr varience, consistantly. I weighed two more. I knocked down two each, and the entirety of the varience was the bullet. Same case and powder charge. If anyone finds this, change brands. I'm currently using CCI and Federal.
Great video! I picked up my first rimfire a few years back, and my ‘addiction’ has since blossomed into a great hobby for me and the family! I recently picked up a *lever-action Browning BL-22, made in ‘73,* and man oh man is it a hoot! Can’t beat the satisfaction of working the lever, the walnut stock, and having a beautiful 50 year old gun that still runs like new! With the short-throw lever, can shoot surprisingly fast, plus ability to hold 16-22 rds of S, L, or LR in the tube, my Ruger 10/22 is lacking attention for once. But, best to always have a 2nd rimfire handy for friends or family anyway. Can’t wait to use our “Dueling Tree” target to have shoot-off between the Browning and my Dad on the 10/22! Not to say the addiction doesn’t have me constantly wondering what my next .22 or 10/22 upgrade will be. *Building 10/22s is like Legos for adults!* The Browning BL-22 seems more accurate, consistent, and reliable than the 10/22, so _the turtles in my pond best pray to god or hold their breath come this summer!_ With a 10/22, lever-action, and revolver checked off the list, the next itch to scratch will be a bolt-action (CZ457), a Ruger Mark IV for close range plinking, and/or a suppressor and bull barrel for the 10/22. Got into shooting rimfire only 5 years ago, and now i completely understand how one could accumulate a dozen 22LR platforms, given enough time and money! With 10 nephews and nieces between 6 and 16 yrs old, it’s a good time with the whole family! Even my gun-shy sister-in-law from the Northeast doesn’t worry, now that she’s seen how relatively tame .22 is compared to center fire rifles or handguns! We also keep a single-action 22LR revolver at the ranch, loaded with birdshot, as a ‘snake-gun’ in case of water moccasins. (Though, need to test what the spread is, no way its very accurate with the rifling. For that reason I wish someone made a smooth-bore 22LR revolver. Looks like only smooth-bore on the market is the Henry (or Ruger?) “Garden Gun”, which is a pump action rifle. Too big to lug around ranch and switch to when needed.) Anyone else knowledgable on the Browning BL-22? I didn’t know they existed till the day I bought it, I was looking for a Henry, but has been most satisfying impulse purchase ever! Is ‘73 a “good year”? Or has the design, quality, and reliability been about same from 60s to now?
Just started the video, but I wanted to say. These caliber lore videos are my favorites. The .357 magnum video you did was probably my favorite video of yours to date. Liked the 25-06 one a lot too. The puma white hunter video was also great, similar feel even though it was about a knife and not a caliber.
Why am 😢 my dad had me shooting his 22 bolt action when I was 5 years old. Shot my first 12 gauge when I was 8, Dad and uncle Homer warned me of the kick! They were shocked and elated when I not only took it like a champ but hit the target as well!!!...
My dad bought me a Remington scoremaster what a great bolt action iron sight gun it was sold as a budget target rifle. I remember it shoot with an ammo even cb caps. I would highly recommend if you want a quality bolt action rifle that is super accurate look for a score master