Looking for a new iron or piece of kit to enhance the one you already own? Check out these 7 new bits of guns and gear to grow your firearms wish list.
The New Guns And Gear:
Rock Island Armory TM22 Feather
Plinking, pest control, teaching youth—there are a lot of different roles a rimfire rifle can fill. Whether you already own one or several, given its very affordable price, the Rock Island Armory TM22 Feather is worth a look. With aesthetics inspired by old-school AR carbines, the TM22 is a lightweight semi-auto chambered for .22 LR. Despite the removable carry handle rear sight, it still has plenty of modern features. Among these are a top optics rail and fully adjustable stock. Plus, the pistol grip and buffer tube adapter can both be replaced by AR-pattern aftermarket parts. The rifle ships with two, 10-round magazines, but 15- and 25-round mags are available as well.
MSRP: $249
Chiappa Little Badger Take Down Xtreme Rifle
Whether you’re a bush pilot or a backpacker, having a firearm of any type can mean the difference between life and death if things go south. When space and weight considerations take priority over firepower, Chiappa’s Little Badger Take Down is a top option. A break-action single-shot .22LR, the Little Badger is capable of breaking down into two pieces, each about 16 inches in length. With a total weight of only 2.9 pounds, this is ideal for anyone who needs a compact survival gun. The rifle features built-in iron sights as well as Picatinny rail segments on the barrel and grip area for attaching accessories like a red-dot or a proper pistol grip. It might not be a standout at the range, but it could save your skin.
MSRP: $310.37
Smith & Wesson M&P22 Magnum
Fans of .22 Magnum should be excited to see Smith & Wesson’s latest foray into the caliber. Called the M&P22 Magnum, the pistol uses the same TEMPO barrel system as Smith’s new M&P 5.7 pistol chambered for 5.7x28mm. This unique system will theoretically improve the full-size polymer handgun’s performance and reliability, but perhaps the most notable feature of the M&P22 Magnum is its 30-round capacity. That’s a lot of firepower for what’s a relatively small package, and it would be just as useful for varmint control around one’s property as it would be fun at the range. Modern features like an optics-ready slide, accessory rail and flat trigger only make it more appealing.
MSRP: $649
Heritage Manufacturing Co. Tactical Rancher
Tactical is a word that’s not too often used to describe revolvers, but Heritage’s Tactical Rancher is one of them. Just how tactical is it? Honestly, not that much, but it has a Picatinny rail for mounting optics, a threaded muzzle and provisions for attaching a sling, and that’s more than most revolver carbines can claim. The rifle comes with a six-round .22LR cylinder, but it can accept a .22 Magnum cylinder as well. Whatever cowboy operator fantasies you might have, the Tactical Rancher would be a solid way to live them out.
MSRP: $355.99
CCI Clean-22 Hyper Velocity
Anyone who shoots a lot of rimfire knows just how dirty these little guns can get. If you’re a high-volume .22LR shooter, CCI’s Clean-22 Hyper Velocity is a great option. This ammo is loaded with 31-grain round-nose projectiles that have been coated in purple polymer, resulting in less fouling. This is especially true if you have any cans on your rimfire guns, as CCI says that Clean-22 will reduce lead buildup in suppressors by up to 80 percent. With an advertised muzzle velocity of 1,550 fps, CCI ensures that the ammo is both accurate and reliable in semi-auto firearms.
MSRP: $10.99 / box of 50
Lapua .22 LR Super Long Range
The .22 LR cartridge is good at a lot of things, but shooting at long ranges isn’t one of them. Thankfully, companies like Lapua are working hard to mitigate that. Lapua .22LR Super Long Range was designed specifically for use at distances beyond 100 yards, making it a great choice for any shooter who needs accuracy at extended ranges. The load features a 40-grain round-nose projectile with an impressive G1 BC of 0.172 and an advertised muzzle velocity of 1,106 fps. Whether you’re a hunter, competition shooter or anything else, this ammo should help you hit your mark. It’s not cheap, but it could revolutionize your .22LR rig.
MSRP: About $0.45 per round
Winchester Ammunition XPERT .22 LR
Winchester Repeating Arms released the Xpert .22LR bolt-action rifle not that long ago, and now Winchester Ammunition has designed the perfect ammo to go along with it. Bearing the same Xpert name, the ammunition features a 42-grain copper-plated hollow-point projectile and has an advertised muzzle velocity of 1,320 fps. Winchester says that the ammo is loaded very consistently and describes it as very flat shooting, making it easier to score good hits at longer ranges. Plus, the im-pressive velocity helps ensure reliable expansion. Whether you shoot paper for sport or game for sustenance, Xpert .22 LR will help get the job done right.
MSRP: About $0.10 per round
Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in the January 2024 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
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