My favorite ".22"...................
Posted on 09/24/2010 8:45:36 AM PDT by marktwain
Mossberg’s unveiling its entry into the tactical .22 market with a product cleverly called the Tactical .22. Here’s the press release:
Mossberg International introduces the Tactical .22–an alternative firearm for those shooters and enthusiasts who want the look and feel of an AR-style .22 rimfire with an affordable price.
Mossberg knows its target market: price-driven firearms buyers (Hecho en Mexico baby!). It’s a bit surprising that they’re so late to the AR-style .22 game. Even slow-mo Smith & Wesson’s tapped the AR gestalt, with a damn nice product too: the M&P15-22, in both standard and CA-compliant version for around $500 – $600 bucks. The Mossie clocks in at roughly half the price. Right answer . . .
With the rising costs of centerfire ammunition, the new Tactical .22 rimfires are a great choice for recreational shooters, as well as those searching for a cost-effective training platform.
Ain’t that the truth. Well, maybe. While an AR .22′s trigger and general ergonomics would help sharpen a shooter’s full-size AR skills, there’s nothing like the recoil. In fact, you wouldn’t even call it recoil, and managing recoil is the Big Kahuna. Also, baby ARs weigh less. So . . . it’s not really the same, is it? There’s no substitute for training on the weapon you’re going to use with the ammo you’re going to fire.
Also, while .22 is as cheap as it gets, and Mossberg’s audience is into cheap, there are a lot of handgun-caliber carbines hitting the market at the moment. They’re a far better choice for less than 5.56 protection; you’d have to hit a human exactly in the right place or many times with .22s to do any damage.
The lightweight and fast-handling Tactical .22 parallels the look and feel of today’s AR-style rifle while being built around Mossberg International’s reliable .22 autoloader. Taking cues from their proven 702 autoloader, the Tactical .22 matches an 18” barrel to a quad rail forend allowing the operator to fit the rifle with lights, lasers or other tactical accessories.
Now we’re getting closer. It’s a toy gun that’s not really a toy but it is but it isn’t.
Two stock configurations will be offered in this series: a six-position adjustable and fixed stock. The six-position polymer stock adjusts the length of pull from 10-3/4” – 14.5” accommodating youth and smaller framed shooters up to adults. The fixed position stock has a standard 13” LOP. The Tactical .22 is integrated with an A2-style carry handle and an adjustable rear sight aligned with a front post sight.
Another smart move. No question: the Tactical 22 will be THE ultimate Christmas Story gift for an entire generation of young boys. I reckon that’s an extremely price-sensitive market, and Mossberg nails it.
The Picatinny handle mount is included, allowing versatility in scopes and other optics while providing the clearance necessary to utilize the AR-style sights. Other features included with the Tactical .22 are sling mounts and a ten round magazine.
The 10-round capacity sucks. A Henry Repeating Rifle gives you 16. But the Henry’s a heavy old thing and it doesn’t LOOK like an AR (Western vs. military). You can’t put lights and lasers and cup holders on a rifle that you use from a horse. It’s only a matter of time before someone offers a 30-round mag for this bad little boy. I wonder why Mossberg didn’t do it straight out of the gate. Lawyers. Bah.
MSRP: $276
There’s your headline attraction, although one wonder just how “cheap and cheerful” this product will be. If it’s a piece of junk for that price, well, who cares, really? Beggars can’t be choosers, even if they’re armed.
Robert overstates it a bit. While a .22 is not my first choice for a defensive gun, in most defensive situations, you need to have good deterrence, and you do not have to shoot. Better deterrence, less need to shoot. This .22 provides lots of deterrence!
3 .22s out of a rifle equal one 9mm out of a handgun. 6 are about like a .44 magnum. You can place six shots from a .22 rifle in less than a second.
Wonder if Walmart will have them...
Can you post a picture, I am blocked at work.
It seems as though “tactical” and “.22” don’t belong together, but what do I know!
.22 can cause suprising damage to a human body.
My favorite ".22"...................
I can tell you this, I’d be ducking and running if someone was shooting a 22 at me.
.22lr hollow points can wreak a lot of havoc.
This rifle should sell like hotcakes.
My choice of defensive gun in the home is my Remington 870 LH Wingmaster with the deer barrel. I don’t need six shots. Just one will do. Nothing chambered but the magazine is buck/slug/buck/slug. I might have to get off the first shot quickly so aiming could be an issue. If I need to get off a second shot, I will be dialed in...
Mossberg is not high on my list of firearms...Actually, it’s not on my list at all...I’d rather throw rocks than own a Mossberg.
CCI Stingers out of a 30 round Butler Creek steel lipped magazine in a Ruger 10-22 wouldn’t be my first choice, but I wouldn’t cross someone with that combo either. Point shooting someone right between the eyes with a 10-22, across a room would be relatively easy and would drop them right where they were standing.
We run 16” flat tops with Aimpoints, and telescoping stocks, of course.
Still, 5.56 x 45 is still a .22!
"Vincent 'Vinnie' Antonelli: Richie loved to use 22s because the bullets are small and they don't come out the other end like a 45, see, a 45 will blow a barn door out the back of your head and there's a lot of dry cleaning involved, but a 22 will just rattle around like Pac-Man until you're dead. "
I have a Sturm Ruger Mk 2 w/ the stainless steel “bull barrel”. I had some questions about the effectiveness as a home defensive weapon. A local shooter told me that with that gun I could barrage the assailant with a narrow cluster in a short amount of time. A number of .22 LR’s hitting within a second will do a lot of damage.
Fortunately I have not had to fire the gun in defense. There was one instance where someone was trying to break in by working open the bedroom window. The blinds were down so he could not see me. He did however hear me chamber a round. Next thing I heard was feet - getting the hey outathere.
PMR-30
This "22LR" is really intimidating................
Sorry for my ignorance about varieties of .22 cartridges, I know 9 mm and .223, but isn’t there the .22 LR which is pretty serious business. I wonder if this gun can handle that cartridge.
You won't be ducking mine FRiend. I have a John Norrell trigger, and Gemtech suppressor on mine. Great varmint gun. Fast, accurate, and quiet.
For those who hate cleaning our ARs (which was not designed to be cleaned!) and want something with similar ergonomics to take to the range, it's a great idea!
I would prefer a .223 AR or an AK in a SHTF scenario, but for the range, small rodents or plinking, sure!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.