Not sure if any of you are into airguns, but I subscribe to a YouTube channel called "Ted's Holdover". Quite entertaining, as the guy hunts barn pigeons, squirrels, chipmunks, etc, with .25 calibre air guns. It's entertaining as hell. He just put up a bit of a recap of his visit to the German Air Gun Show... pretty interesting and "I WANT" stuff, thought you might get a kick out of it.
Here's an example of one of his normal hunting videos... probably belongs in the Hunting thread, but figured I'd put it here because of my previous post. It ain't your normal hunting show, that's for sure.
I think IdealConceal is missing out by not having their own YouTube video posted, but that's the best one I saw. http://idealconceal.com/
Have you seen this gun? http://fox2now.com/2016/03/28/st-charles-police-offer-25000-reward-for-serial-killers-gun/
I love his videos. Fun stuff. Pellet guns are awesome. I recently bought a bunch of JSB match pellets for my gun- 7.3 and 8.4 grains for paper (turns out 8.4s are better in my Crosman), and 10.3 grains for critters. The 10.3s pack a lot more punch than the 7.5s I'm used to, which makes sense considering they have nearly 40% more mass. They are extremely accurate and at about $15/500 shipped, even better. I would say .22 ammo of equal quality would be $100/500 rounds and I can't shoot that stuff at tiny miniature silhouette targets in my basement like this: Spoiler: target
Pelican rifle cases are not only built like brick shithouses, but you also get a super fun custom foam rifle cutout when you're done fitting them too. That's a Leupold VX-3 6.5-20X EFR scope with a custom dot recticle attached to the rifle with Leupold QRW rings. A silhouette shooter's dream and squirrel's worst nightmare. The KIDD is done at last. It was a project that took for-fucking-ever but good things are worth waiting for. It's the finest semi-auto .22 I'm aware of and am proud it was a product of my workbench.
If you don't have any good eye protection or want a replacement, here's a good deal: Smith Optics Elite Aegis Arc kit $18 shipped for who knows how long. Looks like they fared pretty well in testing and those ones on sale are the real deal, mine just came in. I am so, so fucking close to being done with this thing. Just a few more coats of Waterlox buffed on then I'll let it sit for a couple weeks for the finish to really cure and then polish. There's been lots of excruciating work done gently cleaning up the checkering and touching up the finish that is hard to show in photos but hey, at least I can show close-ups again now.
One of my newer purchases... I honestly just love the classic styling of any 1911. I couldn't afford a Kimber or a Colt but the Springfield shoots fairly awesome.
Just got my LTC yesterday. Three month turnaround. Not too bad all things considered. Cool part is, it's basically a driver's license with "License To Carry Handgun" across the top. Has the DL# and everything, all the same security features as my DL, and it's a valid form of ID throughout the state.
I'm in the process of replicating the original checkering pattern on the old fingergroove style stocks made for Ruger 10/22s in the late '60s. It's a very retro design but is sort of iconic in it's own way. Doing it just based on some photos I found. I am fully dug into the fore-end and am still working on getting the bastard grip patterns laid out. This is the first time I've checkered cherry wood too, so far is cuts fine but finishes rather fuzzy. Hopefully that doesn't become problematic later on. What's really stupid about this is how I made my fancy dancy new checkering cradle a few inches too short so I can't use it with this stock... so it is currently being supported by a 1" dowel that has been taped tight to the barrel channel and then chucked up in my bench vise. I have to constantly re-position and rotate the whole thing as I work but it's (barely) getting the job done. Would have waited until I had rebuilt the cradle frame but I had been mulling over whether or not to checker the stock in the first place for too long and snapped.
Finally just shipped this thing out. What a relief. Getting the finish done just right took forever because I am too picky and then it had to sit for another few weeks so the finish was cured 100% before buffing it with rottenstone (a fine rock powder like confectioner's sugar) to knock down the glossiness and further smooth it out. It may not look any different than it did a few months ago based on photos but in person, well, it was all worth it. So there you have it folks... from: to: Next step for the rifle is rust bluing, for a nice satiny black look. Then it gets custom low-profile scope bases and rings and will wear a proprietary Remington 24x scope, just one of three made. It was designed by Mike Walker, same guy who designed the Model 700 and 40X rifles and the .222 cartridge. Pretty cool. I am glad this rifle won't be a safe queen and is built to shoot, so vermin beware.
Cross-posting from The Serious Thread: It seems to me that whenever anyone talks about their .22 they're talking about a Ruger. They must make a great .22 considering how popular they are. Would this be a good choice for someone looking to buy their first .22?
Yup. A Ruger 10/22 is a great first 22. Highly modifiable. Very inexpensive. Semi-automatic. Good luck finding cheap ammo though.
Absolutely. I have several .22s, and got my Ruger because I fell in love with the easy with which I could modify my AR to fit my specific needs. It hasn't had a problem with any ammo I've run through it, and the thing is a nail driver. It's the only .22 I'd consider for your first .22, and probably the last one you'll buy too (unless you get another 10/22 that is)
To echo everyone else, they have been in production for 50 years now and are wildly popular for a reason. If you want a semi-auto, they are the go-to. The other gun I'd recommend is a CZ 452 or 455 if you'd be up for a bolt action. They cost a little more than the 10/22s and some other popular bolt action .22s like Savage rifles but are very well designed and built. By far the best value for a .22 under $500.
There are so many aftermarket parts available for the Ruger 10/22 that it is possible to build one without using a single Ruger part. I bought my 10/22 more than 30 years ago and still fire it regularly, Last year my son was turning 18 and for his birthday I got him a 10/22. My son really likes lever and bolt actions, but really appreciates the Ruger for what it is.
Exhibit A: The KIDD: It was never a Ruger in the first place, just based off that design. I had a good long phone call with a very high end custom gunmaker and he strongly feels there will be a large trend towards people shooting more .22s (especially high end .22s rather than big bore customs) and smaller centerfires. Fine by me. You know which rifle in your safe can be shot and enjoyed the most without punishing your wallet and body.
Didn't even think about bolt action vs. semi-auto; I like the idea of a semi-auto more but when I think about shooting one it seems like a good way to go through a lot of ammo really quick.
You can shoot a semi-auto just as slow as a single shot if you want, but at the same time yes they can be very good at burning up ammo if that's the goal. I would handle a CZ 455 American before buying a 10/22 just so you know what else is out there.