I really do enjoy my .22's.
My standard workhorse is a 10 shot bolt action Stirling M14 made in the Philippines. Fitted with a suppressor, 4 X 32 scope and a high intensity streamlight it is my small game nighttime rifle. Uncountable numbers of rabbits, hares, possums and other small game have fallen to this rifle since I came to own in in the early 1980's.
Sitting alongside it in my cabinet is a very nice Brno #2 5 shot bolt action. Compared to the Stirling the trigger on this rifle is smooth and light. It too wears a 4 X 32 scope but apart from the odd range trip seldom get shot, which is a shame.
I have a second Stirling .22. This one, a M16, is built on their semi-automatic action. Originally it wore a rough timber and plastic pistol grip stock and muck metal AR type sights. Recently I have set it into the M20 sporting stock and fitted it with another 4 X 32 scope. (It shares the M20 action and only required a few simple modifications to fit). I'm really not sure what I'll use this one for. I really need open sights for competition to match my pistol category so it may very well end up getting sold. Then again a semi-auto .22 does come in handy.
I have had other .22's pass through my hands over the years. My first was a Stirling M20, but I had a number or issues with the wide flat firing pin which would hydraulic and give light spikes with
any hint of lubrication. I traded it for the M14 before I realised what the problem was. And then there were the Norinco copy of the takedown Browning pump and a single shot Australian made Lithgow that were stolen a year ago. That little single shot was a wonderfully accurate gun, even with just open sights. Some of the shots I pulled off with it I can never forget.
For many years my ultimate .22 was the Winchester 9422. I got to shoot one a very long tome ago and fell in love with it, but could never afford to buy one. Now that Winchester have discontinued them prices are even higher. About a year ago I was looking at a Henry .22, preferably the Goldenboy, to match my Henry Big Bore. Again the price was holding me back, then I saw a little Chiappa lever action .22 for sale on a local auction sight. In new condition with less than a box of .22 rounds through it I bought it that same day.
The Chiappa is a nice rifle with a good trigger, but the sights are a bit lacking. The rear sight is very wide and groups at 25 meters a bit bigger than I like. I was going to put the .4 X 32 scope that now adorns the M16 action on it but it was really too big for this little gun.
Some mates steerred me towards a Chinese made red dot sight for sale on Ali Express and it arrived yesterday. It mounts on either 3/8 dovetails or a 5/8 Weaver base. Turning the mounting rails around to the 3/8 side I very quickly mounted the sight on the Chiappa with the supplied allen key and fitted a battery. The good thing with this sight is that by undoing the two mounting screws I can slide the sight off and still use the open sights for Cowboy .22 side matches.
It feels fine, not top heavy or unwieldy, but looks a bit strange, leaving me to wonder if the 30mm tube is just a bit too much?
Too Much?
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