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I guess it was inevitable. Especially now that I'm retired and on a fixed income. Add to that the awful cost of gasoline and ammunition today. It's just hard to swing a 70 mile round trip and 2 boxes of .45s and 2 boxes of 9mm once a week. That's about what I was doing (or trying to do at least) only a couple of years ago.

Things are different now.

But in '06 I was with my BIL at Carter's Country when he bought his Ruger Mark 11. Me, being the weakling I am, I went back the next day and bought one for myself. Had a blast with it too. Then a couple of weeks later, I began lookin' at the Ruger 10/22 carbine. I had one about 30 years ago and have always hated that I sold it. Soooooo, still suffering from a total lack of self decipline, I got one of those too.

I would occasionally take them to the range in lieu of the .pmm, .40, or .45s. Lots of fun to shoot and a LOT cheaper to shoot.

Over the weekend my wife showed me the new Academy ad. It had the Heritage Rough Rider .22/,22 mag combo w/6 1/2" barrel on sale for $149.95. I am extremely leary of inexpensive fire arms. But I went and checked this sharp looking six shooter out and I was impressed with it's weight and balance. I thought for 150 bux what do I have to loose. LIsten, y'all, That thing is a total hoot. I have always loved the old cowboy six shooters and I have fallen in love with this gun. I have put 200 rounds through the .22LR cylinder and 50 rounds through the mag cylinder. I can't get enough of it.

Of course I dislike being restricted in my shooting but I must admit that the current conditions have re-opend my mind to the absloute pleasure of rimfire. You don't have to shoot a big gun to have big fun!

So here is my rimfire collection. It's small now but I expect there'll be a Henry leaver action rifle in there soon.

Ruger Mark 11 w/Bushnell Red Dot scope


Ruger 10/22 carbine w/scope, trigger job, quick mag release, and bi-pod


Heritage Rough Rider .22/.22 mag combo 6 1/2" bbl

.22 is the most fun round. I have a Beretta Model 70S (same one the Mossad used to dispatch some deserving folk) that is probably the most fun handgun I've ever shot.

I regret getting rid of my Model 76, I won some 100 yard metallic silhouette rimfire matches with that beauty.

I'm seriously considering getting a Walther P22 for my next purchase. I think the biggest reason I'd like to get one is that I have no smaller handguns to start folks off with when I take them shooting for the first time. Cheap ammo and ease of shooting are bonus benefits, as well.

It's tough to beat a good .22. I've got a few myself. I'm thinking about a conversion kit for my AR also.

I have a S&W 22A pistol,A Henry and Marlin lever action 22's,An AR7 22,A US Shooting Team commemorative 10/22,A match grade 10/22,A 22 LR conversion kit for my AR15's ,A GSR 5 HK MP5 clone in 22 LR.and If all I took to the range were 22's I don't think I could shoot them all in one outing,my favorites are the USST 10/22,and the GSG 5 rifles,but the AR7 is a lot of fun and accurate too,ah heck I like them all and you can shoot all day for less than a box of centerfire handgun ammo costs

I have a Browning Buckmark that won a couple of first placements for me at a local turkey shoot.

I sure like my old Ruger Single-Six.

I like my Single-Six and my wife's Buckmark.

Your right, the .22's are fun and inexpensive to shoot.

I have a Ruger MK III that I shoot almost every time I go to the range. For me, it is great for practice, ...and practice ...and more practice ...

Those heritage rimfires are real sleepers - best bang for the buck out there.
Mine is the silver satin finish with adjustable sights and "camo" laminated grips.
I use it to shoot CB caps in the backyard mostly.

And you're right about .22. I spent many a carefree evening in my youth with an Ithaca single shot 49, and of course my dog.
Now 40 years later I get just as much enjoyment from them, but there are a lot more of them:

Henry H001
Marlin 39A, 60 & a new 982VS
Ruger - 10/22 and 2 Single Sixes
NAA Black Widow and Minimaster
Stevens 87C bolt
S&W 22A-1
H&R 929 (project)
Ciener 1911 conversion

Now if I could just find a place to go plinking in the evenings. Looks like I need to ease off on the gun purchases and buy some real estate.

I love my Beretta Neos (actually, I love my WIFE's Beretta Neos...). I always put about 100 rounds through it at every range session. 22lr is just plain fun