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Q:
I'm looking to get a .22 for the wife and I to plink with. I even have permission and a budget. I like the feel of the Remington 597. It sets like a more substantial rifle would. The sights adjust well, and line up easily for us. I am concerned that the magazine release is a bit loose, and the magazine itself looks to be tin-foil type aluminum. I ask the ones who've handled one if I'm being paranoid, or should have any real concerns about this?

Question by Jeff4066. Uploaded on November 04, 2009

Answers (17)

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from SD_Whitetail_Hntr wrote 2 years 14 weeks ago

There is definitely a number of .22 rifles out there that a guy can pick up and feel comfortable with, but in my opinion it comes down to performance, and I truly believe there is not a .22 rifle out there that will perform as well, for as long, as the Ruger 10/22. At least not for that price.. I wouldn't even want to begin to guess how many thousands of rounds have gone through mine, and I don't necessarily like to advertise it, but my .22 gets neglected in my gun collection and might get cleaned once every couple years at best. But even with that low standard of cleaning (that none of my other guns would perform under), that .22 has never let me down.. I can shoot silver dollars at 75 yards with open sights.. I can't think of a better gun for the money.

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from Jere Smith wrote 2 years 14 weeks ago

I would also got with the Ruger.

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from mihunter wrote 2 years 14 weeks ago

Go with a ruger 10/22. never had a single problem, and there are tone of aftermarket mods. for them.

+2 Good Comment? | | Report
from babsfish4life wrote 2 years 14 weeks ago

Do you really mean "the wife and I to plink with"? Or is that just to make you feel better about the purchase? Nothing wrong with either.

+4 Good Comment? | | Report
from Jeff4066 wrote 2 years 14 weeks ago

I'm not knocking the Ruger. I owned one in the '80s. It eventually had so many add-ons my friends called it the "Star Wars Gun". I sold it to buy a .308 and haven't owned a .22 since.

The 10/22 is a nice one, but I specifically asked about the 597 since it feels better to me, like a larger-caliber rifle, and alos maybe better to other shooters with long arms and fingers.

+2 Good Comment? | | Report
from Jeff4066 wrote 2 years 14 weeks ago

to babsfish4life...

Yes, for both of us. I delayed buying one until she could handle different ones. I want her to enjoy shooting again. The 597 is in a very short list of ones we both like.

When she said "Well, if you get one, it's your Christmas present.", for a moment, I was on the verge of peeling out the driveway to the gun store.

Then a logical, loving, conniving, insidious part of me remembered that before I had to sell most my guns in Atlanta (both laid off), she often wanted to go shooting. Now we live near her sister, her fiance with a nice collection, and their 16-acre shooting range (I mean farm) in the country.

Guys take heed... a spouse's interest means more shooting.

+3 Good Comment? | | Report
from bigjake wrote 2 years 14 weeks ago

nothing wrong with the 597, I think its a great gun for under $200, if you dont ike the 10 shot mag you can buy 30rd mags for under $20

+5 Good Comment? | | Report
from rocketman121 wrote 2 years 14 weeks ago

I own a 597, and it's an excellent gun. My only complaint is the standard plastic magazine. It would occasionally jam, or fail to feed a round. The problem was corrected by buying a metal magazine from Remington, which was around $20.

+2 Good Comment? | | Report
from Jeff4066 wrote 2 years 14 weeks ago

Thank you both. I hadn't ever laid eyes on one 'til recently, and thought it was a new thing. After reading your answer, I looked around some more and found out that if I get one, get a new one. A lot of people really complain about the older ones. Feedback on post -2006 ones are better.

+2 Good Comment? | | Report
from Christian Emter wrote 2 years 14 weeks ago

If you want a semi auto get a Ruger 10/22 with a Carbine clip. They are very reliable and the clip won't come out as easily.

0 Good Comment? | | Report
from huntnow wrote 2 years 14 weeks ago

the savage with the accutrigger is a great plinker. if you get the laminated stock, it feels like a larger caliber gun and the accutrigger is great.

+3 Good Comment? | | Report
from jhed67 wrote 2 years 14 weeks ago

My dad has a 597 and I have a Ruger 10/22. Both are good guns and I personally feel comfortable with both. He has yet to have any problems with his so I'd say it would be an excellent choice for you and your wife

+3 Good Comment? | | Report
from Hunter Savage wrote 2 years 14 weeks ago

buy her a ruger 10/22 and you wont have to every worry about if you made the wrong choice . and you can trick it out for her if she feels the need to upgrade it at some point

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from shane wrote 2 years 14 weeks ago

If you're going to go semi-auto get a 10/22, they make larger, heavier rifle models that will feel more substantial to you. The 597 feels like a toy to me. I recommend the Savage MK II series, lots of variety, great prices, very hard to beat accuracy.

+2 Good Comment? | | Report
from jestr1 wrote 2 years 14 weeks ago

Go with a Ruger 10/22. Great gun for target shooting. Fast reliable lightweight and comfortable to shoot.

0 Good Comment? | | Report
from Jeff4066 wrote 2 years 13 weeks ago

Well, this worked out differently and more expensive than expected, but I was right to let her try out different ones.

We went to 4 places that had a good stock of .22s around here, and she got to try out a dozen or so different ones. She ended up picking out a Marlin semi for herself because of the light weight and best feel to her. I still couldn't find anything I liked better, so I got the Remington 597. Even .22 ammo is a bit scarce around here, but by the end of the day I scored a couple bricks of Thunderbolts.

Our extended family is having a "shoot fest" the weekend of Thanksgiving. It will be on their ranch with about a dozen of us bringing some 40-50 rifles. The host group is setting up a nice range and food for all.

Safety will be our biggest concern, as there will be young people on the range with .22s for plinking.

And thanks to Bigjake, Rocketman121, and Jhed67 for their information.

To Huntnow and Shane, the Savage is nice, but felt way too narrow and short-stocked for me. That is really a shame, since Gander had the only left-handed bolt action .22 I have seen in years.

0 Good Comment? | | Report
from talbaugh wrote 2 years 13 weeks ago

cant go wrong with a ruger 10/22

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from bigjake wrote 2 years 14 weeks ago

nothing wrong with the 597, I think its a great gun for under $200, if you dont ike the 10 shot mag you can buy 30rd mags for under $20

+5 Good Comment? | | Report
from babsfish4life wrote 2 years 14 weeks ago

Do you really mean "the wife and I to plink with"? Or is that just to make you feel better about the purchase? Nothing wrong with either.

+4 Good Comment? | | Report
from SD_Whitetail_Hntr wrote 2 years 14 weeks ago

There is definitely a number of .22 rifles out there that a guy can pick up and feel comfortable with, but in my opinion it comes down to performance, and I truly believe there is not a .22 rifle out there that will perform as well, for as long, as the Ruger 10/22. At least not for that price.. I wouldn't even want to begin to guess how many thousands of rounds have gone through mine, and I don't necessarily like to advertise it, but my .22 gets neglected in my gun collection and might get cleaned once every couple years at best. But even with that low standard of cleaning (that none of my other guns would perform under), that .22 has never let me down.. I can shoot silver dollars at 75 yards with open sights.. I can't think of a better gun for the money.

+3 Good Comment? | | Report
from Jeff4066 wrote 2 years 14 weeks ago

to babsfish4life...

Yes, for both of us. I delayed buying one until she could handle different ones. I want her to enjoy shooting again. The 597 is in a very short list of ones we both like.

When she said "Well, if you get one, it's your Christmas present.", for a moment, I was on the verge of peeling out the driveway to the gun store.

Then a logical, loving, conniving, insidious part of me remembered that before I had to sell most my guns in Atlanta (both laid off), she often wanted to go shooting. Now we live near her sister, her fiance with a nice collection, and their 16-acre shooting range (I mean farm) in the country.

Guys take heed... a spouse's interest means more shooting.

+3 Good Comment? | | Report
from huntnow wrote 2 years 14 weeks ago

the savage with the accutrigger is a great plinker. if you get the laminated stock, it feels like a larger caliber gun and the accutrigger is great.

+3 Good Comment? | | Report
from jhed67 wrote 2 years 14 weeks ago

My dad has a 597 and I have a Ruger 10/22. Both are good guns and I personally feel comfortable with both. He has yet to have any problems with his so I'd say it would be an excellent choice for you and your wife

+3 Good Comment? | | Report
from mihunter wrote 2 years 14 weeks ago

Go with a ruger 10/22. never had a single problem, and there are tone of aftermarket mods. for them.

+2 Good Comment? | | Report
from Jeff4066 wrote 2 years 14 weeks ago

I'm not knocking the Ruger. I owned one in the '80s. It eventually had so many add-ons my friends called it the "Star Wars Gun". I sold it to buy a .308 and haven't owned a .22 since.

The 10/22 is a nice one, but I specifically asked about the 597 since it feels better to me, like a larger-caliber rifle, and alos maybe better to other shooters with long arms and fingers.

+2 Good Comment? | | Report
from rocketman121 wrote 2 years 14 weeks ago

I own a 597, and it's an excellent gun. My only complaint is the standard plastic magazine. It would occasionally jam, or fail to feed a round. The problem was corrected by buying a metal magazine from Remington, which was around $20.

+2 Good Comment? | | Report
from Jeff4066 wrote 2 years 14 weeks ago

Thank you both. I hadn't ever laid eyes on one 'til recently, and thought it was a new thing. After reading your answer, I looked around some more and found out that if I get one, get a new one. A lot of people really complain about the older ones. Feedback on post -2006 ones are better.

+2 Good Comment? | | Report
from shane wrote 2 years 14 weeks ago

If you're going to go semi-auto get a 10/22, they make larger, heavier rifle models that will feel more substantial to you. The 597 feels like a toy to me. I recommend the Savage MK II series, lots of variety, great prices, very hard to beat accuracy.

+2 Good Comment? | | Report
from Jere Smith wrote 2 years 14 weeks ago

I would also got with the Ruger.

0 Good Comment? | | Report
from Christian Emter wrote 2 years 14 weeks ago

If you want a semi auto get a Ruger 10/22 with a Carbine clip. They are very reliable and the clip won't come out as easily.

0 Good Comment? | | Report
from Hunter Savage wrote 2 years 14 weeks ago

buy her a ruger 10/22 and you wont have to every worry about if you made the wrong choice . and you can trick it out for her if she feels the need to upgrade it at some point

0 Good Comment? | | Report
from jestr1 wrote 2 years 14 weeks ago

Go with a Ruger 10/22. Great gun for target shooting. Fast reliable lightweight and comfortable to shoot.

0 Good Comment? | | Report
from Jeff4066 wrote 2 years 13 weeks ago

Well, this worked out differently and more expensive than expected, but I was right to let her try out different ones.

We went to 4 places that had a good stock of .22s around here, and she got to try out a dozen or so different ones. She ended up picking out a Marlin semi for herself because of the light weight and best feel to her. I still couldn't find anything I liked better, so I got the Remington 597. Even .22 ammo is a bit scarce around here, but by the end of the day I scored a couple bricks of Thunderbolts.

Our extended family is having a "shoot fest" the weekend of Thanksgiving. It will be on their ranch with about a dozen of us bringing some 40-50 rifles. The host group is setting up a nice range and food for all.

Safety will be our biggest concern, as there will be young people on the range with .22s for plinking.

And thanks to Bigjake, Rocketman121, and Jhed67 for their information.

To Huntnow and Shane, the Savage is nice, but felt way too narrow and short-stocked for me. That is really a shame, since Gander had the only left-handed bolt action .22 I have seen in years.

0 Good Comment? | | Report
from talbaugh wrote 2 years 13 weeks ago

cant go wrong with a ruger 10/22

0 Good Comment? | | Report

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