I just shot the Illinois State and Michigan State NSSF Rimfire Challenge Matches (Rockford IL, then Rockford, MI) and realized this is the start of my 4th year traveling and shooting NSSF Rimfire Challenge. Time flys.
I bought two 15-22s just for this as I had nothing suitable. I built two duplicate guns, one goes along as a back-up. They get "rotated" so both get shot. Functionally they've been about as perfect as it gets.
Aside from Geissele trigger groups all the functioning parts are original except one firing pin that broke and was replaced. I have 2 VQ extractors in my gear bag that haven't been installed. The originals are still functioning just fine. These are both "blue spring guns" that have the latest parts.
Trigger groups aside the only "tuning" was to run a stone over the rails to deburr them (they weren't polished) and the ejectors were adjusted. The bolt and rails are run dry. The trigger and hammer pins get a drop of synthetic ATF once a year when I install a new hammer spring as periodic maintenance. Nothing else aside from the usual before each match cleanings spinning a brush with a drill motor to keep the chambers clean.
Functioning is still just fine. No noticeable wear of the pin holes, I use Colt 901 trigger and hammer pins. Accuracy is actually better than when they were new.
I've haven't had an OOB bang.
I didn't formally keep track but these guns have shot a minimum of 20,000 rds each. 40,000 rds split between them over 3 yrs.
Seems like I'm getting my moneys worth.
Maybe it's a good thing a project appleseed instructor hasn't been near them...