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

Massaro Cleaning
Massaro Cleaning

Clean 'em Up—Gun Cleaning 101 for Hunters

Ever wonder how often to clean your gun? How about what to clean it with? How about what to clean it with if you're hunting at 40-below? Phil Massaro answers all these questions and more, in this clean-freaks primer.

Hunting Show Attendance Shattering Records

Attendance records have been shattered at this year’s major hunting shows. The latest, Ducks Unlimited’s DUX (Ducks Unlimited Expo), set a new high-water mark in Memphis, Tenn. According to the Commercial Appeal, the July to Aug. 2 event attracted roughly 30,000 attendees. The 2025 event, also held in Memphis, drew a crowd that numbered nearly 20,000.

The Colonel’s Caliber in an Interesting Rifle—.35 Whelen

“Only accurate rifles are interesting.” Townsend Whelen

New for 2026: Beretta A400 Solo

Beretta USA has launched the A400 Solo, a new semi-automatic shotgun engineered for hunters who demand performance in the harshest conditions. Built on Beretta's A400 platform and packed with the company's latest advancements, the A400 Solo combines Beretta's B-Link Pro gas-operating system, Steelium barrel technology and Kick-Off Plus recoil reduction system into one dependable platform.

Know How: Find Your Long-Range Limit

Curious where your ethical limit is in the field? Mark Kayser shows you exactly how to find it.

Smith & Wesson Honors America's 250th Anniversary with Limited-Edition Model 1854

Smith & Wesson has announced the launch of its America 250 Limited Edition Model 1854 rifle, created to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.