Category: All About Guns
Rimfire guns are popular with shooting enthusiasts. When it comes to .22-caliber rifles, many are fans of the higher velocity and additional applications the .22 WMR has over the .22 LR. Here are 10 .22 Mag bolt-action rifles to consider for your next purchase.
March 23, 2022
The late 1970s rise of hyper-velocity .22 Long Rifle loads and the later advent of various .17s threw a bit of shade on the .22 Magnum’s status as the muscle rimfire. But the fact remains that the .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire, introduced in 1960, is never a bad choice. A .22 Mag. rifle is capable of handling projectiles from 30 to 50 grains in weight and at velocities from 1,600 fps to nearly 2,300 fps. In a good scoped bolt-action specimen, you will have to step up to a centerfire .22 Hornet to beat it by much.
The .22 Magnum is, primarily, a hunting cartridge. As such, it outranges and outperforms the .22 Long Rifle on small game and varmints by a considerable margin. It is not really an optimum coyote load, but I have seen it do a respectable job on called-in coyotes out to 50 to 60 yards or so. And it tends to be an accurate cartridge. Over the years I have shot examples of modestly priced .22 Mag., and with loads they liked they would stay at an inch—often under—at 100 yards.
And speaking of hunting, in many areas rimfire hunters are close to civilization, and as such, suppressors are becoming ever more popular. Not only is it safer for the shooter’s hearing, suppressed gunshots are less likely to annoy landowners, livestock and neighbors. So today many .22 Mag. rifles are threaded for suppressors, and that is a great thing.
Let us look at some of the newest entries in the bolt action category. They are presented from least expensive to most expensive.
1. Rossi Rimfire
Rossi is best known for its lever actions, but the company also manufactures bolt guns, including a .22 Mag. The rifle comes with a stylish polymer stock, and the 21-inch matte black barrel is free-floated for accuracy. It is a nice, light 5.6 pounds, perfect for the hiking hunter, and a crossbolt safety is in the forward portion of the trigger guard. The rifle feeds from a five-round detachable box magazine. RossiUSA.com, $221
2. Citadel Trakr-22M
With its collapsible black synthetic stock, this tactical-looking .22 Mag. import is available through Legacy Sports International. Its threaded 21-inch barrel will squeeze out every bit of velocity from the .22 Mag. cartridge, and it features a 5-round detachable box magazine and a push-button safety as well as a cocking indicator that protrudes from the rear of the bolt when cocked. There are no iron sights, but Weaver scope bases come installed. Weight is 6.3 pounds. $249
3. Savage 93 Minimalist
The name may imply bare bones, but this little .22 Mag. rifle features a distinctive partially skeletonized wood laminate stock. Further, the 18-inch barrel is threaded for a suppressor, and it includes Savage’s user-adjustable AccuTrigger. The minimalist aspect really comes into play when you talk about weight, and the 93 Minimalist’s 5.5-pound weight should make it a dream to carry. It feeds from a 10-round detachable box magazine, and it comes with Weaver bases for scope mounting. It is available in green or brown versions. $359, SavageArms.com
4. CZ 457 American Synthetic Suppressor-Ready
The 457 is an expansive line from a company that really knows how to make a rimfire. The 457 American Synthetic Suppressor has all the features a hunter could want—starting with an all-weather American-style synthetic stock with twin sling swivels up front so you can mount a bipod and a sling simultaneously. The 20.5-inch cold-hammer-forged barrel is threaded 1/2×28, and the rifle features a fully adjustable trigger. In an update over older CZ models, the safety now pushes forward to Fire. The 60-degree bolt throw ensures it will clear today’s big-ocular scopes. No iron sights, but it has a grooved 11mm dovetail for scope mounting. Weight is 5.4 pounds. $519, cz-usa.com
5. Savage B22 Magnum BNS-SR
This new model features a good-looking, ergonomic stock with a higher comb for scope use and a vertical pistol grip for proper hand placement when shooting prone or from a rest. Its 18-inch carbon steel barrel is button-rifled and threaded for a suppressor. And Savage does not skimp on accuracy just because it is a rimfire. The BNS-SR uses the same thread-in, zero-tolerance headspacing for its barrel as centerfire rifles do, and the gun comes with Savage’s user-adjustable AccuTrigger. Weight is a Goldilocks-right 6.6 pounds—easy to carry and solid from shooting positions. Feeding is from a 10-round rotary magazine, and the gun comes with two-piece Weaver scope bases. $529, SavageArms.com
The Americans have been well-received by hunters and shooters because of their features and typically excellent accuracy. For the .22 Mag. fan looking for something a little different, the version with a Go Wild Camo Brush synthetic stock and Burnt Bronze Cerakote (model 8373) is a good-looking, hard hunting rifle. It comes with interchangeable modules that change length of pull and comb height, and these are easily changeable. The 18-inch barrel comes with a brake and is threaded 1/2×28 if you want to change to a suppressor. The barreled action is Ruger’s Power Bedding, with an integral block to locate the receiver and free-float the barrel, and the Marksman trigger is adjustable. It comes with a Picatinny rail attached to the receiver for easy scope mounting, and the 60-degree bolt throw will clear even big-ocular scopes. Feeds from a nine-round rotary magazine, and weight is a handy 5.9 pounds. $559, ruger.com
7. CZ 457 Lux
For the hunter who appreciates the finer things in life, the 457 Lux is served up with a European hogback-style stock in Turkish walnut. The design is just right for use with the adjustable iron sights that come on the rifle, and the receiver also sports a grooved 11mm dovetail for scope mounting. Its long, 24.8-inch cold-hammer-forged barrel provides an excellent sighting radius for the irons. Weight is a just-right 6.1 pounds, and like other 457s it now features a safety that pushes forward to Fire like Americans expect. The 60-degree bolt throw ensures it will clear today’s big-ocular scopes. $605, cz-usa.com
8. Browning T-Bolt Target
If it is traditional elegance you are looking for, plus the rapid-fire capability of a straight-pull bolt action, this .22 Magnum addition to the straight-pull T-Bolt stable features a 16.5-inch bull barrel with target crown that is threaded for a suppressor. The stock is satin finished Grade 1 black walnut. Overall length is 34.75 inches and the weight is 6 pounds, 2 ounces. The detachable box magazine holds 10 rounds, and it is drilled and tapped for scope mounts. $720, browning.com 9. Bergara B-14R Carbon
This respected Spanish company is now offering its full-size trainer in .22 Magnum. The barrel is 18-inch carbon fiber with a No. 6 taper and threaded muzzle/thread protector. It features the company’s HMR stock with a full-length mini-chassis, adjustable cheekpiece and length of pull. It is compatible with Remington M700 scope mounts, has a 38-inch overall length (with spacers) and an 8.1-pound weight. The rifle features a 10-round AICS-style magazine: There is also a steel-barrel version for about $100 less. $1,245, bergara.com
10. Anschutz Model 1761 AV Threaded Classic
Anschutz is one of the most respected brands in the world when it comes to competition rifles, but the company makes sporting guns, too, including models in .22 Mag. The 1761 AV Threaded has an 18-inch barrel with a heavy contour and is, like it says, threaded—1/2×28 in this case. The stock is wood, styled classic, and one of the big selling points for some people will be its two-stage trigger. Anschutz triggers are among the finest on the planet, and it contributes a lot to accuracy. The rifle feeds from a five-round magazine. Weight is 6.1 pounds. $1,850, AnschutzNorthAmerica.com
The Worshipful Company of Gunmakers was incorporated by Royal Charter in 1637 to promote and regulate gunmaking. Unlike many of the old guilds and livery companies, it still performs that role through its management of The Proof House which is also known as the London Proof House.
According to its history, King Charles I bestowed the Royal Charter upon the Company. There had been an argument going back to the 1300s over which guild or company should govern gunmaking. The Blacksmiths and the Armourers each thought they should be the ones in charge. A royal commission was established and its recommendation was that an independent company be given the charter.
The Charter defined the role that the Gunmakers still play today. It created a proof mark, a stamp of the letters ‘GP’ surmounted by a crown. The mark is stamped on guns that meet the statutory safety requirements. Only the Company can bestow it, and it is illegal to sell a gun without a recognised proof mark. To administer proof, the Company was given broad powers of “search, gage, proof, trial and marking of all manner of hand guns in London or … imported from foreign parts”. The power to search (with a constable) for unproved guns and seize them is still vested in the Company today.
The Proof House along with the Birmingham Proof House has the responsibility to proof barrels, to improve gun safety, and to certify de-activation of certain firearms. Proofing a barrel involves firing a proof cartridge through it that exceeds the maximum theoretical service pressure by anywhere from 25% to 50%. This is done remotely. After a reinspection of the barrel and making sure its measurements are still within spec, then it has the proof mark affixed.
The Worshipful Company of Gunmakers also certifies those that through training or apprenticeship can be called Gunmakers. The Gunmakers’ Certification requires a minimum of four years work in a specific gunmaking craft such as barrel making, engraving, or stockmaker. The candidate submits a portfolio of his or her work along with other evidence to a committee of Master Gunmakers for evaluation. If they pass, they are awarded the Certification. The Company also recognizes Master Gunmakers who usually have 20 or more years in the trade. Like the apprentices, they submit a portfolio. If they pass, they are deemed Master Gunmakers and can affix the title “MAsR.G” after their names. For example, it would be Mr. John Bull, MAsR.G.
I mentioned guilds and livery companies earlier. While many no longer serve to govern a trade, they still have a legal role in the governance of the City of London. They elect the Sheriffs, the Bridgemasters, and Ale Conners of the City of London and endorse the election of the Mayor of the City of London. As an aside, the term “livery” comes from the clothing and regalia adopted by the guilds and companies to distinguish themselves in times gone by.
The Worshipful Company of Gunmakers ranks number 73 in precedence. The oldest is the Worshipful Company of Mercers (general merchants) whose charter dates to 1394. Gunmakers rank ahead of lawyers, insurers, lightmongers, and tax advisors in terms of age and precedence. The responsibility for approving new livery companies is that of the Court of Alderman who act like an upper chamber in the legislative administration of the City of London. The primary role for most livery companies now is charity and education. Many also have affiliations with British military units. The Gunmakers, for example, are affiliated with the Light Dragoons.
I stumbled across a link to the Worshipful Company of Gunmakers from a posting on the AfricaHunting.com forum. There had been a discussion of what gun shops and gunmakers to visit while in London.
One last note: the Gunmakers have been in their present location on Commercial Road in Aldgate, London since 1675. They were one of the few guilds or livery companies to have been located outside the old walls of the City of London but this was presumably done for safety reasons back in the day.
For the last couple years, there has been an epidemic of mass shootings targeting people in bars, malls, and outdoor parties. These have generally been gang members targeting other gang members.
It’s spring. We see this stuff every year as the temperatures warm. This year seems even worse, with lots of “Spring Break” parties targeted. That, combined with “de-policing” means criminals are going to do what criminals do with no one to stop them.
Understand that if you get caught up in a mess like this, the cops won’t be speeding to your rescue. The community doesn’t want the cops arresting bad people anymore. The cops will respond, getting there after all the shots have been fired to coordinate medical care and write a nice report.
I’ve received several emails similar to this one lately.
“Let’s say I’m at a place of business or some other public place and a scuffle breaks out resulting in shots fired such as at Polaris this week or another mall last week or in front of a bar last night. Last night, 15 shots were fired. Being armed competently what should I do? What would you do?”
I’m going to answer this one simply and directly. You off-duty cops and legally armed citizens have exactly one role in this situation: Make sure you and your family/friends don’t get shot. That’s it. End of lesson.
When I hear shots nearby, I immediately get down on the ground or behind cover. I assess where the shots are coming from and I plan a path of retreat in the opposite direction, ideally moving between large pieces of cover as I make my escape. That’s it. There is absolutely nothing else you should do.
These are young thugs fighting other young thugs. These are gang bangers fighting other gang bangers. These are drunken idiots who decide to whip out a pistol when they are insulted. None of those situations involves you in any way, even if you are in danger of catching a stray round.
They don’t want to shoot you. The only way you will get hit is by accident. Don’t go looking for trouble. Don’t try to intervene. There is no “innocent third party” to protect. Let the dumbshits shoot each other. You don’t have to play their game.
And you don’t have to “be a good witness” either. If these jackasses get arrested, do you want them getting you and your family’s names, addresses, places of employment, and phone numbers? As soon as their court appointed attorney files for discovery, all of that information goes directly to them. Now you’ve become an active player in their game. And in that game, they don’t care about the same rules you do.
A friend of mine’s 18-year old son was at a mall where there was a gang shooting. A ricocheting bullet hit him in the arm, but didn’t penetrate his jacket. He was listed on the police report as a victim and the boy (he was still in high school) was issued a subpoena to testify against the accused who had fired the shots. My friend’s son didn’t see anything and provided no useful information for the prosecution, he was still ordered to appear in court. Does that sound like a good plan to you? Would you instruct your teenage child to “be a good witness?” Not me.
Don’t involve yourself in this stupidity. It will only harm you in the long term. If you intervene, you will either get shot by the thugs, shot by the cops, sued by the person you shoot, or criminally arrested. If that doesn’t happen and you make a statement to the cops you take the chance of being hunted down by the arrested party’s crew at a future date before trial.
Say it again with me: “Not your people, not your problem.”
Get out. Not playing is the only route to victory.
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Browning model 65 .218 Bee
At right is a French Model 1935A. At left is a U.S. Model 1911.
There is much hoopla in the firearms press about the new .30 Super Carry and the handguns being built for it. I don’t own one of the pistols, have never seen one of the cartridges and doubt I ever will shoot a .30 Super Carry. This isn’t being ugly; it’s just the Way of the Dinosaur. (That’s me.)
This is an original box of the U.S. .30 Auto Pistol Model of 1918 ammunition.
The cartridge at the left is a round from the box. At right is a round of French 7.65mm Long.
The Pedersen Device
But I can give you some interesting backstory. Let’s return to 1917/1918. The U.S. Army was embroiled in World War I’s trench warfare. Invading German trenches with five-round capacity Model 1903 Springfield rifles battle-zeroed for 547 yards and fighting at off-the-muzzle ranges just wasn’t an optimal situation. Especially considering the Germans had thousands of their 8″-barreled P08 “Artillery” 9mm Lugers with 32-round drum magazines with which to shoot back. Of course, the reverse was true when German Sturm Truppen landed in Doughboy trenches.
Therefore, a solution to the U.S Army’s dilemma was envisioned in 1917 by noted arms designer J.D. Pedersen. On his own, he developed a device that could be fitted to M1903 .30-06 Springfield rifles converting them from bolt action, five-round shooters to semi-auto, 40-round shooters. U.S. Army officials were wild about the idea.
However, the Pedersen Device necessitated a new cartridge. Mr. Pedersen had developed it too. It used a rimless case, 0.78″ long with a 0.308″, 80-grain bullet giving nominal velocity from an M1903’s 24″ barrel of 1,300 fps. The U.S. government christened it with the lengthy name of U.S .30 Auto Pistol Model of 1918. (The words “Auto Pistol” were used to fool German spies.)
The Pedersen Device fed those rounds from an awkward-looking magazine angled from the top right of special Mark I M1903s and ejected fired cartridges through a port on the action’s left side. Pedersen Devices and its “.30 Auto Pistol” ammunition made it to France but hostilities ended before them seeing action.
Duke’s favorite 7.65mm Long handload uses 81-grain cast bullets from
Lyman mold #313249 in newly manufactured Starline brass.
The French Go .30
Now we’re into the mid-1930s. A French engineer named Charles Petter, working for Societe Alsacienne de Constructions Mechaniques (SACM), designed a new pistol for the French Army. Although it vaguely resembled the American U.S. Model 1911, it was petite in comparison. Barrel length was 4.30″ with a weight of only 26 oz. Chambering was for a likewise petite cartridge called 7.65mm Longue (Long). Have you figured out where I’m heading here? That’s right, the “new” French cartridge had a rimless case of 0.78″ length, with an 85-grain bullet at a nominal velocity of about 1,100 fps. Evidently, the French had obtained some of the U.S. .30 Auto Pistol Model of 1918 ammunition and liked it, except they increased the bullet diameter to 0.310/0.311″.
France’s new military pistol was designated Model 1935A. It is a delight to handle with a slightly curved grip frame that fits hands better than most straight grips. Also, its checkered black plastic grips are comfortable. Safety is a hammer block type. Flip it up and solid steel blocks the hammer from hitting its firing pin. A magazine disconnect doesn’t allow the pistol to fire if its magazine is absent. Sights are simple: a small blade front dovetailed to the slide and notched rear machined integral with the slide. What ruins its aesthetics is a baked-on, black paint finish.
Are you wondering why I’m so familiar with the French Model 1935A? The story is too long to detail here, but I got my first while in my teens and sold it long ago. I bought another in 2010. I managed to purchase some original French ammo with the newest one. In sealed boxes and looking pristine, not one round of it would fire. My shooting has been chiefly with cast bullets from Lyman mold #313249, sized to 0.313″ and weighing 81 grains. Brass is brand-new from Starline. In fact, I use properly adjusted .32 Auto reloading dies. My velocities are running around 1,100 fps, depending on the exact handload.
What Comes Around, Goes Around
So how does this connect to the new .30 Super Carry? Well, the new case is rimless, 0.827″ long and loaded with 100- to 115-grain, 0.313″ jacketed bullets. The velocity quotes I see mention 1,250 fps but with stupendous pressures of 45,000 psi. By comparison, the maximum 9mm Luger pressures are 35,000 psi. Is the .30 Super Carry just a copy of the old U.S. .30 Auto Pistol Model 1918 round but made a mite longer for safety’s sake? Supposedly not. Regardless, there is definitely a backstory worth considering.
Categories
SMITH & WESSON EQUALIZER
A full-sized pistol that’s optics ready, hammer-fired with a 30 (!) round capacity magazine.
Smith & Wesson has just released the new M&P22 Magnum, a full-sized polymer-framed pistol chambered in .22 Mag.
This latest addition pistol brings more capacity, and more features to the M&P series. The internal hammer-fired design is paired with the Smith & Wesson’s unique Tempo gas-operated barrel system that keeps components locked in place until the bullet passes the gas port, increasing accuracy and performance. The rimfire .22 Mag. cartridge has a significantly thinner diameter than most centerfire cartridges, which allows the M&P22 Magnum to have a standard capacity magazine that holds thirty rounds.
The pistol ships with two magazines and comes with a fiber optic front sight and a black notched rear sight. It has a flat-face trigger, and it is also optics-ready, allowing you to direct-mount most of the popular micro red dots available today. It is also fully ambidextrous, with a 4.35-inch stainless steel barrel that has an Armornite finish and has a Picatinny-style rail for mounting accessories.
“The M&P22 Magnum combines the best features of our internal hammer fire control system with the patented TEMPO barrel design, creating a smooth operating experience for the shooter. The .22 WMR is a versatile and field-savvy cartridge that has been a legacy among American shooters, hunters, and trappers for decades. Smith & Wesson is proud to offer a new pistol that further supports the use of this cartridge outdoors or on the range,” said John Myles, Senior Manager of New Products.
Smith& Wesson M&P22 Magnum Specifications
- Width: 1.1 inches
- Length: 8 inches
- Height: 5.6 inches
- Weight: 22 ounces
- Caliber: .22 WMR / .22 Mag.
- Capacity: 30 rounds
- Action: Internal hammer fired
- Barrel Length: 5 inches
- Grip: Polymer
- Sights: Fiber optic front, blacked out rear
- Optics Ready: Yes
- Safety: Thumb safety
- Threaded Barrel: No
- Frame: Polymer
- Number of magazines: 2
- Barrel Material: Stainless steel
The M&P22 Magnum has an MSRP of $649, and for more information on this pistol as well as other products from Smith & Wesson, please visit smith-wesson.com.
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Little hint, not cheap huh & a little hard to find also at the store. Grumpy
M1909 Benet Mercie – American’s First LMG
This Benet-Mercie is being sold by Morphys on October 30, 2018.
The first light machine gun adopted by the United States was the M1909 Benet-Mercie, made by the Hotchkiss company in France. The gun was adopted when the US military realized that machine gun doctrine reuqired different guns for the light and heavy roles, and the M1904 Maxim gun was only suitable for use in the heavy role.
Less than 2,000 of the M1909 guns were acquired, virtually all of them being made under license by Springfield Arsenal and the Colt company. They were used as training guns by US forces mobilizing for World War One, but did not see combat in that war.
Indeed, the only action of note the Benet-Mercie saw was in Pancho Villa’s 1916 raid on the town of Columbus, New Mexico.
There’s quite a lot of science that goes into modern expanding bullets.
In the end they do exactly what they are supposed to do.
It still amazes me after all these years that I can speak so dispassionately about this stuff. Ours was a fairly large, extremely violent city, and I didn’t know many people. The possibility that a patient might be an acquaintance was small. This made it easier to depersonalize. An inability to depersonalize would disqualify you from service. Nobody could do this long-term otherwise.
The cops rolled in with the ambulance. Witnesses said this guy’s car veered off the crowded Interstate and onto the shoulder. The vehicle gradually lost speed until it came to an unceremonious but not unduly violent stop against an overpass abutment. The first bystander opened the door to find that the driver’s head had exploded.
That’s not hyperbole. The front bit looked quite normal. However, there was a defect to the right rear occiput, the back part of the skull, that would admit an adolescent tangerine. The skull was peeled outward, and a substantial volume of the poor guy’s personality was still back in the car someplace. Amazingly, when we met he was still breathing.
Of the literally countless things I found shocking about medical training, principal among them was just how tough it can be to kill a man. I’ve seen folks shot straight through the brain who kept on kicking and twitching for a quarter hour or more before their bodies finally got the memo. So it was here. There was clearly no happy ending to be had, but we still needed to go through the motions.
The physics behind guns and gunshot wounds can at times seem otherworldly.
When it was all done we put the guy in the Trendelenburg position. Modern medicine is so freaking stupid. Trendelenburg simply means you orient a person head down and feet up. Why we couldn’t just say “lower his head” or something similarly sensible escapes me. To make it worse, to orient a patient head up and feet down is called “Reverse Trendelenburg.” Please…as though the study of modern medicine were not sufficiently complicated already. We arranged a big garbage can underneath his nugget and let him be for a while.
I was just a medical student, but I spoke guns more fluently than anyone in the hospital. The cops literally had no idea what happened to the guy. There was no visible damage to the vehicle—no bullet holes or blown-out windows—and they could find no weapons in the car. He had apparently just been cruising down the Interstate when his head detonated. To exercise a tired cliché, the authorities were baffled.
I went back into the trauma room alone to study the guy for a while. Aside from being motionless and a little colder nothing was different. I donated a pen to the cause and started poking around the exit wound. A substantial piece of skull had been lifted loose and rolled back but was still attached to a flap of scalp. As I explored amidst the gore I saw it.
There was a circular scrap of gold-colored metal trapped between the skull fragment and scalp. I tugged it free, ran it under the sink, and studied it in good light. To the experienced eye it was clearly the base of a bullet jacket.
I moved around to the front and studied the dead man’s face. There just wasn’t anything out of the ordinary there. I then pried his mouth open and oriented the bright trauma room light so it would angle down his gullet. There back in the deepest recesses of his oropharynx I could see the beginnings of some powder burns. This was a suicide. The guy had shoved the muzzle back past the back of his tongue before he stroked the trigger.
I miked the bullet jacket on a piece of EKG paper at eleven millimeters. I then put it in a little bag and tracked down the cop who had come in with the guy. Our dude had killed himself with a .45ACP handgun. The pistol was still in the car someplace. They just hadn’t found it yet. The cop made a radio call.
They found the .45-caliber Glock deep underneath the passenger seat. Nobody had any idea the physics that could have put it there. The bullet core was lodged in the headliner and impossible to see if you weren’t specifically looking for it. I was just a lowly med student at a Level 1 trauma center, but that night everybody thought I was a rock star.