Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Rimfires How many rimfires is too many rimfires...?

Not to get a support group going or anything, but I hear of guys (even know one) who have stashed away 100+ rimfires. And we're not talking collectors really, more like accumulators. OK, "enthusiasts"

I love them too, and I have probably a good dozen different rimfire rifles and I'm always on the lookout for the next one.

I've started wondering where it ends. IF it ends. Honestly, the front of my brain knows that I'm covered and the back of my brain just laughs and keeps looking for the next one.

Speaking for myself, I know that part of it is knowing that every individual rifle is a bit unique and a mystery to be solved by trying different ammo, etc.
But still - what is it about a rimfire that makes a lot of us obsess and just keep buying them?

Not that I mind...... lol

I don't think there is a limit.. After rifles then there are pistols. I know in my safe they breed like rabbits.

As many until your spouse leaves you, minus 1.

I've got 5 and that's really too many. I only really ever use 3. The other two collect dust. Course I was raised to be practical in everything and have a hard time shaking that.

I currently have 98 rimfire rifles, handguns, and Savage 24s.

I'm watching another one on GB, so breaking the 100 count barrier might not be so far off.

Oh man.... I don't know whether to root for you or set up an intervention.

Just kidding - you go get #99 on Gunbroler, then make #100 something really special.
He'll, I want you to post #100 here when it happens!

I have three RF rifles and two handguns. I doubt I’ve shot a brick of ammo in all of them combined in the last 10 years.

When I was in my 20s I would burn through a brick every other weekend. Those were the days.
Now it seems that I only have time to hunt for guns after work, not shoot them.

Maybe ill hit 100 too someday....

I could get by with just my lever Marlin 22 s,l,lr. But I like having a semi auto and a 22 mag.
Hmmm...Now if I got a 22 Mag in semi auto, I could get down to just two...
and a single pistol.

Although I guess if I was to have a “collection”, then a standing rack of classic 22 rifles with Hornets and deuces and an HMR mixed in might be attractive. But never a hundred.

I probably shoot an average of 200 rounds of .22 LR, 100 rounds of 17HM2, and 100 rounds of 17HMR per week during a normal summer. This summer I have been shooting more 17HM2 because I have a couple of rifles that I didn't get to shoot a lot when 17HM2 ammo was hard to find. Now it is both relatively cheap and easy to find, too bad that it is Hornady and not Eley, but you have to go with what you have.

Let go of some that I shouldn't have but I probably own more than I could ever enjoy in this lifetime. That said, there are several more I'd like to acquire and learn more about...

For no particular reason, I think roughly half a mans collection should be rimfires.

About the only time you can have too many rimfires is if you have so many it starts interfering with other people from getting their share. Other than that. I would consider your statement a cry for help...

I keep looking for that magical .22 rifle that will shoot ALL l.r. ammo into 1/2" or less at 50 yards. When I find it I may have too many.

HERESY......

always need one more than I have in the safe

I myself cant say how many I have without getting my books out and count them but I'm way one 1000 easy

There is the correct answer.

Indeed. When a fella runs out of room in the safe there are several options:

1. Second safe
2. Bedroom closets
3. Under the shelf at the work bench
4. Under the Christmas tree
5. -fill in the blank-

Or, one more than the nursing home will tolerate . . . .

Currently, I have guns in the gun cabinet, both sides of the gun cabinet, on top of the gun cabinet, under the futon in the room where the gun cabinet is, in the extra bedroom closet and under the bed in the extra bedroom . . . .

i am always buying another one [ for the grand kids ]

I have a Stiller 2500X / Benchmark competition silhouette rifle that gets 10 - 12 000+ rounds annually, and a Cooper Classic that gets another 5 000. Otherwise there is a CZ synthetic for rough use and a 1957 4-screw M17.

How many more do I need?

I shoot rimfire more than anything else, so it only makes sense to have a large selection to choose from.

I did have a guy at the range one day who I caught opening my soft cases. I asked him wtf he was doing and he said he'd seen me shooting a couple of Anschutz and Coopers and was now shooting a Sako, so he wanted to see what else I had. He said I had more money tied up in rimfires and scopes than he did in his truck...

I told him to gtfo and go buy a better truck.

One of these days, I'm going to do a shoot off and see which one shoots the best...at least for that day.

To me, rimfires are some of the best investments you can make in the gun world. Anyone can shoot them without fear of recoil or noise, the ammo is cheap, and plentiful again and you can go from an ultralight little rifle to a 15lb bench rifle and anywhere in between.

My biggest challenge now is to stop looking for better deals or rifles that I've never owned before. I just came across a 52B that I don't need, but will probably convince myself to get...because you know...I don't have one...

alot

Tide, share pics of the 52B once you get it...

Kragman1: Well apparently 98 rimfire pistols and Rifles is NOT "too many" as I am dealing on another high end (expensive!) rimfire Rifle as of now to add to that number.
The rimfire Rifle I am currently dealing on is a Ruger 77/17 WSM Varmint type Rifle - I am anxious to try that newish rimfire caliber.
Long live rimfires.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

‘Tide....
Never a shortage of jerk offs at the range is there. Something new amazes me each time

had this happen to me a few times, enough that I built a range on the farm

I need more than I have

There is no such thing as too many rimfires, whether handguns, rifles or even shotguns (and yes, there are rimfire shotguns).

I was too slow and somebody else picked it up...I guess that means I'll just have to keep looking.

Yeah. I'm starting to give in....
Saw a clean old 552 Speedmaster tonight - instantly wanted it and I already have 2.

I love the 552's kragman

Yeah - to my surprise it was on consignment for $500.
Really clean late '60s gun, but I couldn't wrap my head around the price.

My 1st on is an excellent shooter though and they point like a shotgun.

How many rimfires is too many rimfires...?

All you can get + 7 more.

Stop storing your Viagra in your gun safe.

I find I neglect them so too many turn into a pile pf cleaning procrastination.

My reason for many is I teach youth firearms safety so I have one in every action and they are cheap to shoot...

However I've noticed I only grab my cz 452 now; even when I need a skunk gun in the truck for family farm visits. I could sell all of them except the 452 and my 39a...
and better keep the 77/22,
and I better keep the rem 121...
and I better....

(sense a pattern here...)

Sadly, the custom Remington 580 in 17HM2 sold for about twice what I was willing to pay, so I'm still at 98 and holding.

17HM2 x 08
17HMR x 08
5mm RM x 02
22 rifles x 37
22 handguns x 17
22 Savage 24s x 02
22 MAG rifles x 15
22 MAG handguns x 06
22 MAG Savage 24s x 03

Geez... I bet you order ammo by the, what, pallet?

OK - maybe the better approach is "one safe for rimfires" and no judging people on how big their safe is.

I could definitely make that work. Awwwwwww yeaaaahhhhhhhhh.

But I'm gonna need a bigger safe. Or a vault door for the spare room......

Three.

I let you know when/if I ever reach “that number”......always searching for that “holy grail” and just like the holy grail not sure what it looks like😊

PennDog

I have no idea what the number is. At my stage of the game, I’m looking for quality. Not numbers. Don’t have time to shoot what I own now. But still trying. Hasbeen

On a more serious note, I have several .22RF rifles that have stayed with me for many years, and recall a number that went down the road. I have one that goes both ways and one chambered only for shorts. The survivors remain because they are remarkably precise and consistent when fed quality ammo, and I do. They are not guns that I shoot a lot, but that only means that someone down the road will wind up with a keeper. Even the 10/22 does a fair job running a bit under MOA out to 100 yards.

If someone had the presence of mind to reintroduce the .44 Henry Flat and ammo to go along with it I would buy my last RF rifle. Saw one of the original brass babies in near perfect condition at a gun show awhile back with a $175K sticker and I asked if he had ammo. He replied "No." and I thought "You silly girl, what good it is?"

Johnny Reb bitched about them damn Yankees loadin' on Sunday and shootin' all week. I get it.

200 gr (13 g) lead 1,125 ft/s (343 m/s) 568 ft⋅lbf (770 J)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.44_Henry

Anyone wanna race?

Hasbeen,

I hear you on quality - sure am a sucker for anything well built 😄......especially like well built and accurate - pretty wood usually puts me over the edge!

Digital,

A 44 Henry would be cool.....that’s one rimfire I don’t have. Have a Vetterli though and no ammo - it is pretty much useless but I could buy ammo at $10 a round😬 or convert to centerfire (kinda pointless either way). Do have .22 Automatic, 22 shorts, many 22 lr, 22 magnums, 5mm Remington, 17 HRM and a 9mm shotgun - just love rimfires - I guess any rifle will do though😊

PennDog

To me its a quality, not quantity, thing.... Having 100 $50 rimfires does nothing for me or the gun. No way can you ever shoot them and then they just rot away..

Just have super nice stuff and a "few" rimfires that you actually use.

My theory, too.

Can't say how many is "too many" - not even for myself, let alone others.

Right now I have three .22 rifles and four .22 handguns. Definitely not "too many". Would like to get a rifle that shoots .22 Mag to go with the Ruger Single Six convertible.

5.When you have too many, it is time to extend the front porch.

I do have one Annie that will do that.

...except for some bulk crap ammo. I think, because I never have used that ammo in it.

I have found the Sporter weight Annie's are more forgiving with various ammo than the heavy weights. They may not shoot better than the heavy weight barrels, but are more versatile.

Here's my 22 list:

Anschutz 1813L
Anschutz 54MS Left hand
Anschutz 54 Bnechrest
(2) Mossberg 144 LSA
Vudoo V22
Marlin 39A
Nylon 66
Kimber 82 Gov
Kimber 82 Custom Classic Left hand
AR15 22
Browning Buckmark

I love 22's

I don't know. I just bought 2 new 17hmr rifles last week. One being an A17. Damn thing shoots good enough that I may get rid of my 10-22..

I usually start with the cheap bulk stuff just to see if it may be "the one". Figure if it will do it with that stuff it will only get better with better ammo.


Kind of hope I don't find said rifle till I'm about to pass on. It wouldn't be near as much fun searching for #2.

I have all the rimfires I need. Until I find the next one that I need.....

Aaaaaaand..... Just like that, I added 1 more to my list.
Ran into an "all-there" Savage 23AA this afternoon. Been mildly on the lookout for one for a few years.

The store gave me a great deal ($80) and the answer to my question -

It's not that you can have too many rimfires.... Its that you won't live long enough to enjoy them all.

That might be the perfect answer. If there actually IS an answer...........................

Yes - that was my thought when I saw TNriflemans post also...