Best Tactical RimFire Rifle - Non Restricted

varazar

varazar

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I'm looking for either an M4/AR Type or another Tactical Rimfire rifle that is non restricted. I've seen rifles like the S&W M&P 15, however this is restricted. If anyone knows of a good tactical type 22 LR that is no restricted, and where to buy it, that would be great.

Thanks
 
Mossberg Tactical, Remington 597 VTR, Ruger SR 22, Kel-Tec SU-22 (newcomer in the lot of options)

I haven't shot any of them, but suspect the SR 22 is probably the best-built. I've held one, and while I'm not a Ruger fan, it's hard not so smile a little. The VTR looks OK to me too, just a little wary about the 597 internals. The Mossberg looks cheesy to my eyes, but the price reflects that. The Kel-Tec...I can't wait to shoot one, hope I get the chance before dropping $500 on one. My guess is...it's an honest-to-goodness $250-$300 gun max in the quality dept., but I think it's the coolest-looking of the lot.
 
Anyone how says bad things about the mossberg (usually and it being plastic) should then say the same things about the Kel-tec! I've owned both versions of the mossberg and now also own the Su-22. Love how it folds, love the bolt hold open, hate the trigger partly because it's plastic. Those who don't complain about the su-22 being mostly plastic are hypocrites. When I said nice things about the mossys there were always the haters. Guess we'll see if that's the same for the Kel-tec.
 
My vote is also for the 10/22 with a Nomad kit... you get the bullet proof and well liked action of a 10/22, a SOLID chassis and better looks than any of the others. My brother has a mossberg and it feels like a toy.

DSC02884.jpg
 
Something 10/22 based gets my vote. Mossberg feels cheap but some people can look past that. ISSC is a problematic ticking time bomb, 597 vtr inherits the 597's issues, etc. With a 10/22 you can build it however the hell you want. With all the aftermarket kits and barrels out there, there isnt much you cant turn it into. I like my little NEA-22 pdw build and have almost all the bugs worked out. Of course money was no issue for me on this one so it may be a bit pricier than your looking for. A stock 10/22 dropped in a Promag Archangel stock, fed with butler creek steel lips mags and your preffered optics/sights on top can be done for less than $500 with the flat top AR look. Add $200 for a nice short barrel and youre rockin. And dont worry airwolf, Kel tec has more haters than the lieberal party of Canada. Though Im not a Kel Tec hater myself I just dont trust anything they make enough to go out and pay a huge premium to own one.
 
One more vote for the 10/22+nomad option. Mine is the last .22 I'll ever need or want. That thing is ###y, bulletproof, kinda cheap and mine works like a sewing machine.
 
little_airwolf said:
Anyone how says bad things about the mossberg (usually and it being plastic) should then say the same things about the Kel-tec! I've owned both versions of the mossberg and now also own the Su-22. Love how it folds, love the bolt hold open, hate the trigger partly because it's plastic. Those who don't complain about the su-22 being mostly plastic are hypocrites. When I said nice things about the mossys there were always the haters. Guess we'll see if that's the same for the Kel-tec.
Click to expand...

Ahhh, to each his own I guess. I actually thought about getting a Mossberg until the first time I held one. 2 hours later, I was on a range with 2 guys shooting one, and they had all kinds of trouble with it....and it was brand new. Maybe it was a lemon, but I couldn't find much appeal in an all plastic AR look-alike. I'm a cranky, jaded, middle-aged guy who has grown tired of gimmicky ANYTHING though. :) Tired of fixing them, tired of tracking down parts, etc. etc. I'm no SR-22 fan either, save for the fact that I could probably strip-down, clean, reassemble a 10/22 with my eyes closed. I know they're reliable, eat a wide variety of ammo. The Kel-Tec...well, they're original-looking if nothing else, quality/durability remains to be seen. If the SU-16 is any indication, Kel-Tecs are over-priced for what you get. At least Mossberg knows what price-point they belong in.
 
Varazar, I'm happy you brought up this question as I too am considering a non-restricted 22 rifle that also must meet a minimum "coolness" factor. :) From what I could find that is in .22lr and are "tactical":

- Mossberg Tactical (M4/AR Style)
- ISSC MK22 (based on the FN SCAR design I think)
- Umarex 416 (M4/AR style based on the H&K 416 rifles [hk22rimfire.com], not sure if it's available in Canada or if it's non-restricted)
- Ruger SR-22
- Remington 597 VTR
- Kel-Tec SU-22 (recently read about that one)

Those above models are ready to go and not always the best looking options (last 3 in the list I think are the worst looking [don't flame me, it's just my opinion]), but you can also get a Ruger 10/22 and put an aftermarket stock as others have indicated like the Archangel Nomad/Marauder or Troy Industries stocks. You can even put it into a Muzzlelite Bullpup stock which I just recently found.

I'm actually leaning to either the least expensive route, Mossberg 715T Flat Top (approx $350 before taxes and accessories), or the Ruger 10/22 with an Archangel Nomad/Marauder stock (approx $500 before taxes and accessories).

Oh, and the images provided by Pavment & Timber look friggin awesome and really make it difficult to choose!

Timber, what changes did you do to the Mossberg 715T as it looks better than the stock model?
 
I went with the 10/22 with a archangel 556 stock, no regrets, I dislike how the stock wiggles a little, but I'll fix that up, and I don't like the look of the barrel because of that plastic sleeve I have on the end of it, but I'm getting a new barrel soon enough anyways.

Shoots greats though!
 
Venombite said:
Timber, what changes did you do to the Mossberg 715T as it looks better than the stock model?
Click to expand...

No changes , no mods... just accessories added

-M4 type rubber butt pad
-CAA cheekrest
-Armour and ladder rail protectors
-AFG
-rail mounted sling swivel
- 3 point bungee sling

The sights are removable for whatever optional optics you choose.
I chose a tripower reflex sight for this unit
I've been "thinking" about folding sights

m715a.jpg

IMG_0609.jpg
 
Timber, in your inital post of your 715T, and in the last photo, the barrel looks "stepped" right behind the flash hider, is that how it comes on the stock model? From the pictures I see online for 715T, the barrel is just plain.
 
A while back Gun Tests did a extensive test of the Mossberg, Umarex/Colt M4, S&W and the MK22. They agreed the Mossberg was the most 'plasticy'...but the problem was it was also the most accurate.
They do have issues with the mags...most of the FTF issues you read about are easily rectified by exchanging the mag.
All I know is I've had my Mossberg since spring. It came with a bad mag, which very nearly turned me off...my first day at the range and it wouldn't fire 3 shots without malfunctioning. But I read about the mag issue, exchanged it and bought an extra and this weekend we finished our 3rd 525 bulk pak of Blazer's...with no more than 2 or 3 FTF.
As Gun Test says (after giving it an A-) 'only those wishing for exact detail would pass up on this gun'.
If you're looking for a trainer to practice you AR skill on...I'd give the Mossberg a pass...but if (as we were) you're looking for a plinker that has an AR look and can be accessorized to personalize it to what you want...it can't be beat.
 
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