Fun on the Cheap

by
posted on April 16, 2010
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
lessons_ah2015_fs.jpg (1)

Most of us have—or have had—a rimfire handgun or two in our life. As our handgunning becomes more sophisticated, though, we tend to leave the rimfires in the safe or, worse yet, sell them. However, wrist-wrenching magnum revolvers for hunting and pistols with goiter-like magazines are expensive to feed. To sate a shooting fix inexpensively I often break out a .22 LR handgun.


I have several—both revolvers and semi-autos—but recently Kimber sent me a Rimfire Super from its Custom Shop to play with. The pistol is a rimfire version of a full-size 1911, and this one has pretty much all the bells and whistles—ambi-safety, target sights, match trigger and barrel, beveled magazine well, et al. While the gun ain’t cheap, the ammo is. And I have been having a blast with it lately (pardon the pun).

When I need a quick shooting fix I can dump a couple of magazines into an impromptu plinking target in my yard. I haven’t yet done a formal accuracy evaluation, but look to see that coming soon. A quick bouncing of a soda can or scrap of wood from my shop has been a great stress reliever during the past couple of weeks. I have shot rimfire-adapted 1911s in the past, but forgot the joy of using this platform without the extra recoil, noise and expense.

Of course, not everyone can step out their door and plink in their yard, but with most centerfire ammo approaching or even exceeding a buck a shot, practice can suffer on the basis of expense, as well as the hassle of going to a formal range. Break out a rimfire handgun, and nullify at least one of those excuses. Pretty quick now, I’ll be loading up a few of them for a gopher safari, and I’ll let you know how it goes.

Latest

001 TRCR26 W Cover 01 (1)
001 TRCR26 W Cover 01 (1)

Range Review: Tippmann Arms M4-22 RCR-26 .22 LR Rifle

This lightweight, competition-grade semi-automatic from Tippmann is an ideal all-around sporting rimfire.

New for 2026: Woox Elegante Stocks

The Elegante is Woox's first purpose-built bolt-action platform for both sport shooters and hunters who build or upgrade their rifle to keep and pass on for generations. While most manufacturers put chassis systems inside synthetic or mass-produced wood stocks, Woox utilizes a single hand-selected piece of hand-oiled Claro American Walnut on the outside with an aerospace-grade aluminum mini-chassis on the inside.

Recall: Stop Use Order for CVA Paramount Series Muzzleloaders

CVA is issuing a safety recall for all Paramount, Paramount HTR, Paramount Pro, and Paramount Pro V2 muzzleloading rifles. This recall pertains.

An Ode to the Double Rifle

There are few who appreciate double rifles more deeply than our regular contributor, Phil Massaro. From the guns' storied history, to their heft and utility, the double rifle has fascinated Phil for a lifetime, and he has carried them in pursuit of game at home and abroad. Read on for his tribute to the classic design.

New for 2026: Spartan Precision Equipment Valhalla Gen 2 Bipod

Spartan Precision Equipment has announced the Valhalla Gen 2 Bipod, a shooting support system engineered for exceptional stability, rapid deployment, and lightweight performance for hunters and long-range precision shooters.

D.C. Legislators Who Understand Hunting and Shooting’s Role in Conservation

Yes Virginia, there are members of U.S. Congress and the Senate who hunt, fish or participate in the shooting sports despite their Beltway jobs.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.