Gun Comparison (OT)

A local sporting good store was going out of business and had all of it's firearms on clearance. I picked up a Remington model 597 .22 cal rifle for a touch over a hundred dollar bill. I fit it up like my Ruger 10/22 with a Braska 4x12 (30 mil) scope and an extended magazine in case there is ever a gopher invasion.

Boy was I surprised at how well the Remington shot and functioned!!! The factory trigger is crisp and has a real clean break. I always thought the Ruger's trigger was decent for a factory job, but it in no way compares to the Remington. There are a few thing about the 597 I would maybe change, but overall I was pleased.

I fit both guns up in the bench vise last night after scrubbing both bores. I fired five rounds through each gun twice at one minute interverals and the 597 flat out groups better than the 10/22. That may not be the case with all ammo, but the CCI Stingers I was putting through them last night have always been my .22 ammo of choice.

So far I like my new acquisition.

I also have a remington 597. That was my first .22 lr. My only gripe would be the factory magazines. They hang up.... ALOT... Ive tried many mags and they are all the same. So i only load 5-6 rounds in and it acts perfectly. I just recently got a 10-22 and i prefer my old remington. But both fire in very comparison groupings. And you are right on about the CCI stingers. Best bullet for the .22 imho

Is that what they called the "viper?"

Got one of those for my son - was a big disappointment. Less than a box of shells and it had to go back to the factory... Wouldn"t cycle. Took them 6 weeks, but works OK now. Not that it gets used much. I prefer a 10/22.

My son won a 597 in a drawing. Worst .22 we have around here. Not depenable at all even after being worked on twice under warrantee.

The 597 is not the "Viper" model. The early 597s had several issues with feeding, firing and ejecting (what else is there?) but Remington eventually cleaned that up. Ones produced from 1997 to 2000 or so I would avoid - even if they have been "fixed" at the factory. After that they seem to be pretty good. Occassionally they fail to feed issues with the factory magazine but it is a magazine issue and replacing it seems to take care of the issue.

They are noted for being much more accurate out the box than the Ruger 10/22. They do not have near as much after market options that the 10/22 has.

I read about a lot of issues they had with their magazines. And it sounds like it did take them a while to clear up the issue. I'll let you know how it continues to function once I've get a few thousand rounds through it. To this point I've probably only got a hundred down the tube.

597 was not the Viper.

Early 597's had feeding, misfiring and extraction issues that were supposedly related to the magazines and guide rods. Problems have been corrected.

Ruger 10/22 is "supposedly" the standard in semi. .22's. They are great rifles. Lots of after-market stuff.

But later 597's are great rifles too and just as, if not more accurate out of the box. My 597 fits me better than the 10/22.

But the real "sleeper" in semi. 22's is the Marlin 795. Mine outshoots my 597 and 10/22.

I have been pretty much a pre '64 firearm guy. I recently joind the 21st century and bought MArlin Model 60SSK semi auto. Very reliable shoots better than my 50's era Marlin lever action.

Try some CCI Velocitor ammo and you will toss your stinger ammo. The Velocitor shoots better in my guns and has the highest energy. Tom

I'm glad this came up. I've been thinking of getting another one.
I have a Winchester Model 77. Right handed semi-auto with the
bolt on the left side. Anyone have experience with these?
Extremely accurate, but has started to jam. Been to 3 different shops.
It has always been cleaned and oiled.

I stand corrected, son informs me his is a 522. I bought it for him, thinking it was a updated NYLON 66.... Nope, not even close. Always wanted one of those - wife got me a 10-22 and I never looked back.

The 522 is the Viper. Biggest POS I've ever owned. Wish I had gone with the 10-22 when I was buying. Thats what happens when you are a MOPAR man and someone puts "Viper" on a gun.
AaronSEIA

I've owned both an 10/22 and a Rem 597. The Rem was a bit more accurate than the 10/22 I think because of the slightly longer, stouter barrel. I have had zero malfunctions with both! Both are good guns but if I wee to get another semi I thing I'd go Ruger.

The most accurate .22s I've had the pleasure of shooting were both bolt actions. The Springfield M2 .22 cal rifle and the CZ 452-2E. The M2 I got from my dad and I passed his guns onto my sons while they were still young enough to enjoy them. Oldest boy got his sporterized (by dad) Springfield with Star gauge barrel O3A3 30.06. # 2 son got his model 12 Win pump 12 Ga. #3 got the M2 and #4 got his .22 revolver. Giving my sons those guns gave me an excuse to buy replacements. I started with the .22 and got the Rem 597. I got into some local compitition shooting and dumped that to my #2 son and got the Ruger 10/22.....dumped that and got the CZ....that one isn't going away any time soon. It will shoot a 1/2 inch group from the bench at 100 yds!!!!. I replaced the Win 12 with an Ithica feather weight and that with a Rem 1100 (upper back problems make an auto loader a no brainer). I replaced the O3A3 with a Stevens 270 (270 has less recoil again better for my back).....was going to buy a Browning A Bolt but my son had a son (my grandson who is now 5 and doing well) with a serious heart problesm at birth. They needed a little extra cash so I downgraded to help them out. That Stevens has now been traded up to a Ruger M77 270, very accurate but I'd like a nicer gun. I replaced the Iver Johnson .22 revolver with a Ruger 22/45 that I really like!

Now the best part.....the wife is convinced that something bad is going to happen so she is all for me buying different guns and relaoding equipment!!!! So for me when he starts with the stupid doomsdayers stuff I don't argue!!!! I buy!

Rick

Well I have an old Remington 550 semi-auto that I have had for about 54 years, reckon I will just keep it. I also have a Mossberg 43L, this is a fun rifle for peep sights. Since I am left handed it works out well, only complaint is magazines only hold 5 rounds. If I need anything more the Marlin lever in .44 mag is nearby. Anything still moving after that tube is empty I may want to leave it alone.
Bryce

There are plenty of older 22 rifles for sale at gun shows that are better quality than the new ones sold now.A Stevens 87 or Savage 6 semi auto will out shoot the new stuff.These rifles will handle short,long or long rifle cartridges as a single shot or repeater or semi auto.Ive seen them for 35 bucks and up.