Michigan Joe

I put the 10149 (the one with the rails already on it) on layaway at Bud's Gun shop. I looked around and found that most places were out of them, so I figured I better reserve mine. I think that Bud's prices are great, but that layaway option at Bud's is dangerous.

I remember that whole I was in the NY National Guard we got brand new M1's in 1969 so we could have them for the riots. We got those long WWI bayonets too. I was a sniper who was to stand near the LT and kill people upon hos direction. Nobody else was to have bullets because the Guard had shot up Baltimore pretty bad and ruined the buildings. Then after a few years we got M16's. But they still kept the m1's for riot duty. I liked the M14 the best. They need them now again. Think they have any brand new M1's left?

Do any of you use the archery red dot scopes for your .22's? I bought a red dot from Cheaper than Dirt, and they sent me an archery red dot with the three vertical dots. I think it is pretty neat. And like it for my .22's.

The rail and sight worked perfectly when I shot the Marlin. Amazon has several different red dot sights. That is also where I got the rail from. The sight is raised up, but I did not notice it. It was a lot of fun to shoot.

I always use a brush, as if you simply use a solvent or bore cleaner and look down the barrel, it does not look completely clean. I have heard that some people think that you need some lead in the barrel so the gun will shoot accurately. Is the theory that the lead fills up the rifling or something like that? I imagine that if a clean bore shot better, then everyone would clean their bores after each shot. I always felt that the purpose of cleaning the bore was to enable you to get down to bare metal and then put a little oil on the surface so it would not rust. However, I never really researched what would happen if the bore was not cleaned.

Sorry about the multiple posts. I don't know why the link is not showing up correctly: the "ebay" part is missing. should be cgi.ebay.com etc. http://cgi.ebay.com/WWII-Rifle-Bore-Cleaner-RBC-NOS-2-Cans-M1-Garand-/130469790835?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1e609b0473

the link was incorrect. here it is: http://cgi.ebay.com/WWII-Rifle-Bore-Cleaner-RBC-NOS-2-Cans-M1-Garand-/130469790835?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1e609b0473

I saw on some other websites that many people like the U.S. Army rifle bore cleaner from WWII. That is what I use. I looked on ebay and found that people are still selling these 70 year old cans of the stuff. I use the white colored cleaner. I think guys have said that it does not work on getting out copper. However, I only use uncoated bullets. Works fine for me. The bore is always shiny and bright after that stuff. Probably has chemicals they would not be allowed to put in stuff nowadays. Here is the ebay place I got mine from: http://cgi.ebay.com/WWII-Rifle-Bore-Cleaner-RBC-NOS-2-Cans-M1-Garand-/130469790835?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1e609b0473 Or just type in under ebay search, ... rifle bore cleaner. Two cans for about $13.00 shipped.

Glad you like your Sig. I feel the same way about mine. With respect to cleaning: I don't recall ever seeing a gun that was so easy to break apart and clean as the Sig 522. What I do to clean my guns is first run a patch dipped in bore cleaner down the barrel, followed by the bore brush. Then I send another patch dipped in the bore cleaner. Then some fry patches and oil. The bore cleaner I use is a 1942 can of US Army rifle bore cleaner that is a milky white in color. Where I got it from is lost in the mists of time. The gun grease I use is from a large can of US Army gun grease from 1965. Just use a touch of that here and there. That bore cleaner takes out any stubborn spots of soot on the action.

Reading a little more on the web, it appears that the 22 is is Russian manufacture. It is unclear to me now. Apparently, there is a lake in Russia called Lake Baikal. Everyone seems to like their guns in any event. There is a YouTube review by a Danish guy who likes it.

According to Wikipedia, the company that makes these guns is a state owned company in Serbia. Been making guns, one way or another, for about 200 years. The company makes a bunch of pistols, rifles and shotguns. Makes military weapons too. Actually, the gun looks pretty cool in my opinion. I like the adjustable stock. Looks like something out of "Starship Troopers," which is about all the reason I need to buy something. They are so crazy over there, they probably know how to make good guns. They have been importing here since 2005 The list price was about $340 I think. Wonder what they are going for on the street?

I did not know that the bulk packs were hollow points. If 500 of the Lightnings go for $15, how does that compare with the bulk packs?

It must be really inexpensive to manufacture a gun nowadays. I mentioned on another post that Gander Mountain has the Marlin 795 semi auto on sale for $125 and after that you send in for a $25 rebate. So, you get this pretty nice gun for $100. OK, so how can Marlin/Remington make any money on that? What could their profit be, maybe $25? Given the fact that we, the gun owners, expect the guns to be built to last our lifetimes and the lifetimes of our children, or let's say at least 100 years, we put a pretty high standard on what we expect the guns to live up to. Most of the time if a company builds crap, they won't be selling guns for long. I think it is interesting that gun owners have, for the most part, accepted plastic being used on gun stocks and lower parts instead of wood and steel. We have accepted alloys instead of solid steel for the moving parts and upper receivers. Of course, plastic and aluminum are lighter than steel and if we had a choice for the same price, many of us would intentionally choose the plastic and alloy guns. Glock proved that without a doubt. So, gentlemen, through the use of plastic and computerized machining, have we entered an age where manufactured items, such as guns, have become so cheap to make that Remington/Marlin can afford to let us walk into Gander Mountain, slap down in effect $100 and walk out with a rifle that we fully expect to pass on to our grandchildren? Is this possible in a time when $100 is the cost of a tankful of gas for the old F150? Or, is it that overseas competition has forced our American gun manufactures to lose money on guns like the Marlin 795, and make it up by slapping some plastic and aluminum on the receiver and barrel and sell it as a "tactical .22" like my Remington VTR (which I dearly love regardless (or because) of its heritage)? I tried out my Sig 522 yesterday, and it shot and handled like a dream. But, it is made out of plastic and aluminum, as well as being so cleverly designed that if you were buying it in pieces at the grocery store, you could use the "less than 12 items" line. I paid $375 delivered from Bud's Gun Shop for that gun and feel like I got my money's worth. But are they making that gun for $75 or $50 as they must be with the Marlin 795? Perhaps I am just an old fart who simply has no idea of how modern manufacturing works nowadays. But $100 for a Marlin 795 just seems a little strange. Three magazines for the gun would set you back 60% of the price of the gun. Finally, I think that some of our gun manufacturers, such as Remington, have missed the boat by not bringing out new models of guns every year or so. We like guns and like to buy them regardless of how many we already have. It seems that Ruger brings out a new pistol model every few months. Yet, Remington has three nonbolt action 22's, (597, 552 semi and 552 pump), that it has been making for years and years. CZ, for example, just revamped its 22 line. Wake up Remington! You have this name that can sell guns, but you have to bring out some new ones. I've got my 552 and my 597 VTR, and am down to trying to justify a pump. Don't make it so easy for me to pass you up for all these other neat offerings, like the Sig 552. OK, Rant over.

I do not know if the Federal bulk bricks are different than the Federal Lightning ammo they sell at my local Walmart for $15.00, but the Lightning (lead solid roundnose, 40 gr), work fine. They are 1000% better than Thunderbolts or Golden bullets by Remington. I did have one FTF out of 400 rounds shot yesterday, but I have a FTF with the Blazers too every once in a while. The Lightnings come in ten separate boxes to the brick, so you do not get 525 like the bulk packs.

Gander Mountain has the Marlin 795 on sale for $125. Marlin then gives a $25 rebate. Can't get much cheaper than that.

Is it hard to put a rail on a Ruger pistol? Or is the gun tapped so you can just screw it on?

Hello Rob. Welcome I have been looking at the Ruger 22/45. Are you happy with it? Did you go with the new upper just for the decrease in weight or was there a performance improvement of some sort?

Ended up shooting 400 rounds. Except for the one FTF, gun and shells worked perfectly. Finished up with two mags shot as fast as possible while standing. Worked fine and shots held a pretty good group, within an orange-sized area, at about 30 or so yards, which is good for me. Overall, this is a very nice gun.

I thought I would give an on the spot report of my new sig via my iPhone. I am out back of my house here in Michigan, near Ann Arbor. It is about 4o degrees. Shooting federal lightnings from Walmart which are about $15.50 got 500 out the door. So far I have shot about 100 rounds. Had one ftf. You could see where the firing pin hit, but shell did not go off. This gun is great! It feels tight and smooth. Took about ten shoots or so to get the red dot sight sighted in, and the gun feels good and solid and seems to hit where pointed. Just shooting at metal targets, so cannot give any more detail than that. Basically, there should be a law that says everyone should have to get one of these. Well, back to shooting.

If you cut and paste this url it should get you to these mags. I think they will fit 552's. http://www.lg-outdoors.com/proddetail.asp?prod=58085 Joe

Well goes to show I have to study up on posting somemore. Sorry.

Regarding why I would like an A2 stock on a 522, the reason is that I need a high comb on my stocks. So, the A2 stocks are perfect for me as they have no drop. I know there are sniper stocks that raise the comb up too. Don't get me wrong, I think the folding stock on the 552 is really a nice stock. A really nice stock. It is just that I have to hold my face up beyond what is natural for me. I always fool with my stocks. I might just put a cheek pad on it somehow.

Hello. These mags look like a good deal. The fit the sig552, don't they? http://tactical22.net/forum/index.php?action=reporttm;topic=814.10;msg=10804 Found them on LG Outdoors. Searched 22conversion mags.

I also thought the Vtr was front heavy. The shot helped a little. Thought about taping some wheel weights in the pistol grip.

What type of bayonet hooks on to the Sig 552? The same that would fit a 556? I got my Sig 552, but it is in the garage because wife does not know about it.