Mighty 22 Long Rifle Part 1

1. Handguns:

   Browning Buck Mark

   S&W Model 34

   Walther TPH

   Walther P22 - Silencer

   North American Arms - mini revolver

   Colt Woodsman

   High Standard Sport King

   Ruger 22/45 in holster

   Ruger 22/45 on table

   Ruger 22/45 light

   Ruger Bear Cat

2. Rifles:

   Ruger 10/22 Thermal

   Ruger 10/22

   Ruger 10/22

   Browning

3. Ammunition:

   CCI 22 Long Rifle Mini Mag

Transcript

Hi folks, we're at our Idaho office again today, and there's a lot of anticipation in the air right now. It's just before Christmas 2024, and in January, we get to leave for our African ranch for a few months. We're kind of winding things down here and getting ready to head to Africa.

This video is titled The Mighty .22 Long Rifle, and there’s so much information to cover that we’re probably going to break it into two or three parts. The .22 long rifle is the most used cartridge in America by far. In fact, there’s probably more .22 ammo shot in America than all the other cartridges combined. It’s incredibly popular, and for good reasons.

Handguns and rifles—this is by no means all of our .22s. Many of these handguns aren’t even made anymore, but I’ve been shooting them all my life. This one here is a High Standard Sport King. I shot this pistol as an 8-year-old boy. It was my mother’s, and my dad wouldn’t let me shoot it unless he was with me. So, I’d have to be nice to my dad so I could stand in the garden and shoot butterflies and stuff with the .22.

I’ll only show you equipment that works. I may show you some failures too, because there’s a lesson in that. I’ll tell you this—professional hitmen probably use the .22 more than any other cartridge combined. Why? Because there’s no recoil, it’s quiet, and if suppressed, it can be dead quiet.

Where to start with this cartridge? There are 100 rounds of .22 ammo right there. It probably weighs half a pound. Compare that to 100 rounds of .45 ACP or even 9mm, and you’ll see how much lighter .22 ammo is. It’s also way cheaper. In 1992, when Bill Clinton was elected, I knew gun control measures were coming. So, long before I started Buffalo Bore Ammunition, I bought a quarter million rounds of .22 ammo. I still have about 70,000 rounds left.

Now let’s look at some handguns. First, this Walther P22 is a suppressed .22. This setup has a light, a laser, and a really lightweight suppressor. The sights are high enough to use over the suppressor. I painted the rear sight yellow and the front sight pink for better visibility. A suppressed .22 like this is a professional’s dream—it’s incredibly quiet and accurate.

Next, we have a couple of smaller .22 handguns. This Smith & Wesson Model 34 is a classy little revolver. It’s very nice, but I don’t have much use for snub-nosed .22s. Across-the-room distances? Sure, but I’d rather use a 9mm or .45. This Walther TPH is another pocket pistol. Back when I bought it, small concealment pistols weren’t common, so this was a good option. I’m still better off with eight or nine shots of .22 than a left hook, even though I have a good left hook.

Here’s a little North American Arms revolver I got for my wife. It’s tiny, fits in a pocket, and some even come with a lanyard chain to wear around your neck.

Now let’s talk about really useful .22 handguns. This Colt Woodsman is a classic, but I don’t use it much because it’s collectible. This Browning Buck Mark and Ruger Mark IV 22/45 are excellent pistols. They’re hyper-accurate. I can knock pigeons off rooftops at 50 yards without needing a rest.

However, I need to beat up on Ruger a little. Their designs are excellent, but their execution sometimes leaves a lot to be desired. I bought this Ruger Mark IV Lite for my wife, and the rear sight had almost no adjustment. I sent it back to Ruger, and they returned it with an even worse sight. Eventually, I fixed it myself, but that’s not what you want from a new gun. Ruger’s quality control needs improvement.

Moving on to rifles—this Ruger 10/22 Tactical has thermal optics for nighttime use. We live in the middle of nowhere, and owls, hawks, and eagles make raising chickens and rabbits impossible. This setup is my "owl medicine."

Here’s another Ruger 10/22 with a heavy barrel. I bought it for my wife because the heavy front end makes it easier to hold still, simulating a big-game rifle. It’s a great training tool.

This Browning .22 Takedown loads from the buttstock and breaks down into two pieces, making it easy to pack on a horse. I cut a few inches off the barrel, and when I set up camp, I reassemble it and check the zero. It’s accurate enough to put deer in the pot if needed.

.22s are incredibly versatile. If you’re getting into shooting, you should have at least one .22 pistol and one .22 rifle. They’re great for training, practice, and small-game hunting. Each .22 gun has a favorite ammo type, so once you find what works best, stick with it and sight the gun in using that specific ammo.

In closing, the .22 long rifle is a must-have for anyone interested in shooting or outdoor activities. It’s affordable, reliable, and incredibly useful. Get yourself a couple of .22s, and you won’t regret it. Thanks for tuning in, and may God bless you.