#.22lr

It’s been a few years since the Great Ammo Shortage began, but it hasn’t been so long we’ve forgotten the difficulty of locating .22LR. Some states were worse than others, for example, back in Washington State .22LR was quite literally nonexistent. There wasn’t a single gun store on the western side of the state with a stock of the diminutive round and that remained true not for months but years. At the same time, gun stores in Kentucky were selling cases on a semi-regular basis. They couldn’t keep it in stock long, but at least it appeared now and then.

.22LR is a popular round for many reasons from its soft report to its minimal recoil – and, of course, it’s just plain fun. It was designed in 1887 by the J. Stevens Arms and Tool Company, and if you really want to trace its roots all the way back they technically began with the Flobert BB cap back in 1845. That said, its parent case is actually the .22 Long, and its bullet comes courtesy of the .22 Extra Long. While many new shooters pick up a .22LR as their first firearm, it’s great for everyone and useful for a variety of things from taking down squirrels and coyotes to plinking away at a row of empty soda cans. Then there’s the fun of seeing just what the .22LR can penetrate, and that’s where YouTuber 22plinkster comes in.

Found this image in a Facebook Group about FNH SCARS. The post did not have any information other than some jokes about it.

Anyone familiar with the Ruger MKII/III or the 22/45 know it is infamous for being a pain to field strip and even more of a pain reassembling. Majestic Arms makes a kit that you can install to make field stripping the Ruger pistol easy. Here is a video explaining the installation and operation of the speed strip.

The Mossberg 715 gets a bad rap. It is as popular as Hi Point firearms. The people who do like it have different values than the people who despise it. It is a glorified 702 Plinkster in a polymer shell. It is like a Pontiac Fiero dressed up to look like a Ferrari.

Last Sunday, I shot a pin and plate match at a local range. One of the shooters had a .22LR AR SBR. His SBR uses M&P 15-22 magazines. I asked him how this was possible and he showed me the magazine adapter called “Better Mag”. It is made by Redimag and allows for the use of S&W M&P 15-22 magazines in almost any AR-15 magwell. The adapter will even hold the bolt open on the last round.

My friend Tom has one of these loaders for his .22LR AR. It works so well and it is made in the USA. Even better for me, they are made locally here in Pennsylvania.

Winchester just announced a recall of two batches of their M*22 line of .22LR ammunition. The lot numbers that are part of the recall are GD42L and GD52L. According to Winchester these lots may have double powder charges which can cause your gun to go kaboom and seriously injure you. If you have any of these batches of ammo DO NOT use them, I know finding .22LR these days is like finding a unicorn, but it’s better to be safe than sorry. More info on the recall can be found below.

American Tactical Imports (ATI) showed off their sweet looking all metal .22LR version of the German MP-40 submachine gun a few SHOT Shows ago with different shipping dates every year. Well the reps at ATI confirmed today that their MP-40 will be shipping this summer with an MSRP of $539.95 (note the GSG STG-44 retails at $499.95). It will come in a wood crate just like the STG-44 as well.

As a Marlin 795 fan I’m always on the hunt for new accessories for it. I recently stumbled on this bullpup kit called the Badger M22 stock for the Marlin 795, Model 60 and Model 70 Papoose. Available in black, green camo and pink camo, the M22 is made of ABS plastic in the USA. The stock features a Picatinny rail on the side for accessories such as lasers or lights as well as a storage compartment in the buttstock. You can also store a spare 795 mag in the handle grip. They retail for $99.99 for the black stock, and $115 for the pink and green camo stocks. They also sell a scope mount for $20 that moves the scope position forward of the receiver. Check them out at Badgerm22.com. Below is an installation instructional video that shows the features of the M22 stock.

The 1911 needs no introduction.  As the standard service pistol for the U.S. Armed Forces from 1911 to 1985, the 1911 served our country for a literal lifetime.  This storied heritage of performance, in combination with the 1911’s ubiquity, translated to a steady and enthusiastic adoption in the civilian market.  Without question, the M1911 .45ACP enjoys one of the most fervent fan bases in the civilian shooting world for a number of reasons.  The ease of obtaining aftermarket parts, the typically crisp single-action trigger, and the patriotic symbolism of this old standard have made this one of the most popular guns on the market today.

American Tactical recently introduced the new GSG Target 1911 chambered in .22LR. American Tactical is the exclusive importer of the new GSG Target which features a new target-style wood grip, adjustable rear sight and magazine extension. As with other models of the GSG 1911, it comes with a threaded 5″ barrel, beaver tail and grip safety, adjustable skeletonized triger and picatinny rail. The parts on the GSG Target is also compatible with other 1911s as well. The new GSG Target will retail at $429.95.

The GSG .22lr 1911 is a pretty neat pistol, unless you’re one of those purist who thinks John M. Browning’s gift to mankind should only be chambered in .45acp. That’s a topic for another post. With the rising cost of .45acp, .22lr versions of the 1911 have been gaining in popularity. Just like with many other popular firearms, the aftermarket is starting to come up with new parts and mods to trick out the GSG 1911, as well as the Sig 1911-22 which is essentially the same pistol. CW Accessories makes some pretty cool parts for the GSG 1911, their newest is the EXoSKELETON slide.

Check Current Prices

Here’s something out of James Bond’s arsenal, ok maybe Sean Connery’s Bond. Shadow Ops Weaponry is producing these cool little .22lr single shot pen guns. You’d better have a James Bond kind of budget for one however, they currently go for $495. They’re a limited run from Shadow Ops at only 500 made a year. They’re constructed of stainless steel, aluminum and brass, oh yeah they’ll require a $5 tax stamp from the ATF and will need to be transferred to a class 3 dealer as well.