The idea of rimfire savings is irrational exuberance

[Narragansett]

OK, in the last few months, I have been at the range 3 times a week, and the cost of ammo is noticeable relative to my discretionary income. So I thought switching to 22 rimfire would be a help in managing costs so I got a CZ 457 varmint, scoped it and headed to the range. Well, bench shooting takes time, and the savings idea is working. Then I got the bright idea that I should have a 22 semiauto target pistol. In comes the Ruger MK4 target model plus 2 additional 10 shot mags for 40 round loaded capacity.

Upon receipt of the Ruger, I boxed the lower frame and sent it to Volquartsen for their complete accuracy package. Trigger included. in the meantime, I posted a thread for info on a semiauto AR 22, and got lots of great feedback. Thinking that might be a nice toy to have.

So the Ruger comes back with all new parts and a 2.3 pound trigger pull and the parts to rebuild 4 mags ( buttons and springs ). I also put a front Hi-Vis green fiber optic sight on the barrel and purple Hogue rubber grips on the frame when it returned.

OK, all done now, off to the range. I loaded 4 mags, set up targets and sighted it in. Now here comes the problem. I emptied 4 mags in no time, and kept doing that till I had gone through 300 rounds in short order. I wanted to keep going, but I had other guns I wanted to shoot.

The point is, that shooting a tuned semi auto is so much fun, it defeats the cost savings. I could have easily shot 600 rounds. Now, I have to rethink my AR22 acquisition. I can see how this would go with a few 30 round mags. Especially if the pistol came along for the ride.

As for the work that was done on the Ruger, Volquartsen is top notch. It was back in the mail to me 3 days after they got it. The Hi-Vis front replacement sight is designed to work with the OEM rear sight, and really works for old eyes.

 

[TJm15.38]

.22's are still a bunch of fun after all these years. I'm still shooting my Ruger Mk I from 1981. It's stock and still shoots really well. I like to put Wolf Target or CCI Standard Velocity through it.

 

[BAM-BAM]

With the S&W 15/22 I have the 25rd mags but for the range I use the 10rd mags....... rarely do mag dumps....... mostly double taps.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

I do need to shoot my .22s more, yessir, but I generally ignore them. Maybe next range trip!

 

[fiasconva]

My .22's always go to the range with me. I usually start out with one just to get back into the swing of things if I haven't been in a while.

 

[Empe]

Ahh the rimfire ! Between my rifles and handguns I go through thousands of rounds of .22 per year .
You can buy a 500 round brick of CCI Stnd Velo or Mini Mags for around $35 and at that price I don't even consider the cost . I've gone through 600 - 700 rounds in an afternoons worth of shooting ...paper targets ...steel reactive targets ...soda cans at distances ranging from about 20 yards out to 100 yards.

 

[robvious]

22's are a true personal favorite.. even 22 conversions.. big & little.. long & short... all fun... and still cheap...

 

[Bald1]

I’m revisiting 22s as well. My new TechSights just arrived for my 10/22. Hoping to mount them and sight them in this week. If it ever stops raining.

 

[tlawler]

I’ve acquired a rimfire addiction in the last few weeks. First I picked up an FN 502 and suppressor, then I thought, hmmm…this thing is quiet enough to shoot in my garage. Then I got a rimfire bullet trap and lately I’ve been putting about 75-100 rounds a night through it when I get home. To make matters worse, I just ordered extra mags, 3-15 rounders and 3-10 rounders, so I’ll be able load two full boxes at a time. Before long, I’ll probably be up to a 200 round a night habit. I even had to get a more robust bullet trap, as I’m shooting this one to pieces, and it should arrive Saturday. Before this, I was limited to a rotation through my rimfire collection as I made range trips.

I’m constrained to about 21 ft. because of my garage layout, but I’ve got a heavily wooded empty lot next door, so I’ve been thinking about shooting out of my side garage door with the trap on the ground with a 3/4” sheet of plywood behind it. That would let me stretch it out to about 45 ft. I was eyeing the long hallway in the back of the house since the kids have all moved out, but mrs tlawler said no way, jose…oh well!

 

[GnarlsR2]

My KelTec P17 is by far my favorite handgun. It’s my FUN-GUN.

I always take it to the range with other firearms.

The green laser makes it super fun to shoot at about any distance to 25 yards and as rapid fire as I can pull the trigger.

It’s very light with a full 17-round mag, same exact weight as my BG2, 9-rounds in 10-round mag inside a Muddy River Tactical kydex holster – 1.0 lbs. 0.6 ozs.

It has a perfect, very comfortable grip for my long fingers.

It shoots all my old 1978 22LR ammo.

 

[InTheWoods]

I thoroughly understand your situation, as I live on my own range. One step out my front door and onto the patio, I've got a .22 bullet trap at fifteen yards. Another few dozen steps and I'm at my fifty yard range. My passion over the decades has been shooting accurate bolt action target quality .22 sporters (Anschutz, Sako, Win 52, Cooper, Kimber, etc.) into tiny groups at 50 yards. Makes for few rounds fired, but they tend to be expensive rounds (Lapua,Eley,etc.). No savings there. I also enjoy my SW .22 revolvers. Cheaper ammo and relatively low ammo consumption. Better.

Still shoot those at least every two or three days, but I am now enjoying my .22 autos (Woodsman, 41 with 3 barrels, and Mark 4) more than ever. Just can't stop pulling the trigger!! Even with CCI ammo it gets expensive. So much for "cheap" rimfire!

 

[GnarlsR2]

Based upon the comments in this forum I am probably like others... in FRUGAL MODE.
After our 1 hour morning range day, 4 to 10 of us head for the restaurant for lunch.
Lunch costs me more than 100 rounds of 9mm FMJ.

 

[JiminMaine]

It is easy to dump a lot of ammo through those semi-autos. I have to pass by my club/range any time I head to the store and will stop and shoot off one box every time. I have forced myself to only shoot one box per visit. Of course some weeks I have to go by every day.

I shoot slow, mostly with my old Remington 513-T or a K22.

 

[pharmer]

"I was eyeing the long hallway in the back of the house since the kids have all moved out, but mrs tlawler said no way, jose…oh well!"


Wives are like that Tom. My "range" in the house I owned before marriage. Bag holds a year's worth of Shotgun News. Joe

 

[Rodan]

Rimfire is the foundation of our shooting, and what keeps things 'affordable'...

Our weekly range trips trips almost always include my Tikka T1X, my wife's CZ 457 and Ruger Mk4, and some rimfire handgun for me. Those four account for ~100-200 rounds of .22LR per range trip. We also take several centerfires, but the rifles may get as few as 10 rounds, and the handguns usually only 20-50, depending on the gun(s).

I have specifically not encouraged my wife towards semi-auto rifles, and her Mk4 consumes cheap bulk ammo.

 

[GnarlsR2]

"I was eyeing the long hallway in the back of the house since the kids have all moved out, but mrs tlawler said no way, jose…oh well!"


Wives are like that Tom. My "range" in the house I owned before marriage. Bag holds a year's worth of Shotgun News. Joe

There are known VERY BAD gases and chemicals in primers and gun powder exhaust. I would not be shooting inside my home.

 

[pharmer]

But it smells so good. Joe

 

[VincentW]

OK, in the last few months, I have been at the range 3 times a week, and the cost of ammo is noticeable relative to my discretionary income. So I thought switching to 22 rimfire would be a help in managing costs so I got a CZ 457 varmint, scoped it and headed to the range. Well, bench shooting takes time, and the savings idea is working. Then I got the bright idea that I should have a 22 semiauto target pistol. In comes the Ruger MK4 target model plus 2 additional 10 shot mags for 40 round loaded capacity.

Upon receipt of the Ruger, I boxed the lower frame and sent it to Volquartsen for their complete accuracy package. Trigger included. in the meantime, I posted a thread for info on a semiauto AR 22, and got lots of great feedback. Thinking that might be a nice toy to have.

So the Ruger comes back with all new parts and a 2.3 pound trigger pull and the parts to rebuild 4 mags ( buttons and springs ). I also put a front Hi-Vis green fiber optic sight on the barrel and purple Hogue rubber grips on the frame when it returned.

OK, all done now, off to the range. I loaded 4 mags, set up targets and sighted it in. Now here comes the problem. I emptied 4 mags in no time, and kept doing that till I had gone through 300 rounds in short order. I wanted to keep going, but I had other guns I wanted to shoot.

The point is, that shooting a tuned semi auto is so much fun, it defeats the cost savings. I could have easily shot 600 rounds. Now, I have to rethink my AR22 acquisition. I can see how this would go with a few 30 round mags. Especially if the pistol came along for the ride.

As for the work that was done on the Ruger, Volquartsen is top notch. It was back in the mail to me 3 days after they got it. The Hi-Vis front replacement sight is designed to work with the OEM rear sight, and really works for old eyes.

Hats off to anyone running a Ruger with Volquartsen upgrades—or even better, a full Volquartsen build. That’s a truly beautiful, highly prized tool. The precision, craftsmanship, and attention to detail in those setups are on another level. You can tell right away it’s made by people who are passionate about performance and perfection. It’s the kind of firearm that turns heads at the range and earns respect the moment it hits the bench. Wish I could afford it.

I typically go through a 1,400-round bucket of .22 LR each time I hit the range. At around $99 per bucket, it’s a cost-effective way to enjoy a full day of shooting. .22s are always a blast—low recoil, cheap ammo, and surprisingly accurate, making them perfect for both training and casual plinking.

For years, my go-to was the 1986 AMT stainless steel Ruger Mark II. It's a true classic—reliable, accurate, and a joy to shoot. I still have a soft spot for it. But lately, the GSG Firefly has taken the top spot in my lineup.

The Firefly is essentially a .22-caliber version of the SIG Sauer P226, and it handles great. Lightweight yet solid, with well-placed controls, it delivers impressive accuracy for a budget-friendly pistol. I’ve added a small suppressor—not so much for noise reduction, but to give the muzzle a little extra weight. That added balance makes for smoother follow-up shots and gives the pistol a sleek, well-balanced feel overall. In terms of fun, reliability, and bang for the buck, the Firefly has become my favorite.

The 1986 AMT stainless steel Ruger Mark II is a standout piece in any rimfire collection—a blend of rugged engineering, classic design, and enduring performance. While technically based on the iconic Ruger Mark II, this particular model was manufactured by Arcadia Machine & Tool (AMT), known for crafting all-stainless firearms during a time when stainless steel was still considered premium.

The Mark II platform itself, produced from 1982 to 2005, is beloved for its reliability, accuracy, and simple blowback operation. Chambered in .22 LR, it features a 10-round magazine, fixed or adjustable iron sights, and that unmistakable Luger-inspired grip angle that naturally points well.

What sets the AMT stainless variant apart is its full stainless steel construction—slide, frame, and internals—which not only gives it a unique, sleek appearance but also adds a level of corrosion resistance that’s perfect for long-term use or harsh conditions. It’s built like a tank and has the smooth cycling and pinpoint accuracy that rimfire enthusiasts crave.

Whether you’re using it for plinking, small game hunting, or just admiring it in your collection, the 1986 AMT Ruger Mark II stands the test of time. The trigger, especially in older models, can be surprisingly crisp. Add a Volquartsen trigger kit or bolt, and it rivals even some of today’s high-end competition .22s.

To this day, the AMT stainless Mark II is not just a shooter—it’s a piece of history. If you own one, you’ve got more than just a reliable rimfire pistol—you’ve got a beautiful, well-crafted classic that’s only becoming more prized as the years go by.

Every now and then, I even break out the Heritage revolver with the 16" barrel. It’s definitely a conversation piece at the range. If it weren’t for the fireball that blasts out of the cylinder gap, it would be close to perfect. Still, it’s very accurate—and the sheer weight of that long barrel gives your shoulder a serious workout after a while. It’s a fun change of pace and always draws attention.

 

[brucev]

Re: Op. Spent my life pastoring small to medium sized local churches. Realized about 15 years ago that in retirement I would not be able to shoot my .45 revolver or even my .38's much. Did think I could afford to shoot my .22LR handguns. Bought .22 LR ammo as available/affordable. Retired in 2023. Turns out my expectation was correct. If it were not for my wonderful .22 LR's, I'd seldom get to shoot. As it is, I get to enjoy my S&W 18-3, Colt Woodsman, Ruger Mk. I and II and a Marvel .22 LR conversion unit that is installed on my Rock Island 1911 frame. Thoroughly enjoy shooting these handguns!!! When centerfire pistols are shot, on target results reflect the skills maintained with the rimfire handguns. Hope to go to the range tomorrow. If that's not possible, will for sure do some shooting on Saturday. Sincerely. bruce.

 

[VincentW]

Re: Op. Spent my life pastoring small to medium sized local churches. Realized about 15 years ago that in retirement I would not be able to shoot my .45 revolver or even my .38's much. Did think I could afford to shoot my .22LR handguns. Bought .22 LR ammo as available/affordable. Retired in 2023. Turns out my expectation was correct. If it were not for my wonderful .22 LR's, I'd seldom get to shoot. As it is, I get to enjoy my S&W 18-3, Colt Woodsman, Ruger Mk. I and II and a Marvel .22 LR conversion unit that is installed on my Rock Island 1911 frame. Thoroughly enjoy shooting these handguns!!! When centerfire pistols are shot, on target results reflect the skills maintained with the rimfire handguns. Hope to go to the range tomorrow. If that's not possible, will for sure do some shooting on Saturday. Sincerely. bruce.

Bruce sounds like you are enjoying your retirement. I retired recently, on March 28, 2025, after a 35-year career as an electrical engineer, project manager, and MBA in finance. Before that, I served as a construction electrician in the Navy from 1985 to 1991 (NMBC40), and I still keep in touch with a few of the Seabees.

Living in the city, makes shooting challenging. I wish I didn’t have to pay range fees—it’s making the idea of buying a few acres increasingly appealing. Last year, I completed a civilian gunsmithing course and am just now diving back into the hobby. Ironically, I enjoy rebuilding firearms as much, if not more, than shooting them. I’m even considering creating a laser target system to keep my quick-draw skills sharp.