rimfire

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Savage RXR22

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Savage RXR22

  There tends to be a lot of 22 rimfire rifles on the market today. There are lots of reasons for this, but this review is not about the reasons. Instead I am taking a thorough look into the Savage RXR22. The RXR22 is a lightweight semi-automatic 22 long rifle with some features that make it a great deal in the saturated 22 market.

  I received a Gun Metal Gray RXR22. Which just means the stock is a gray color. The barrel and receiver of the firearm are a black color. Savage also has a Flat Dark Earth version. I was surprised to find out that they don’t have an all black version. The main key points of the RXR22 are its compatibility with 10/22 magazines, barrels, and trigger groups. This gives you some options to expand the RXR’s capabilities.

  From Savage, the RXR22’s synthetic stock comes with some decent features. Probably the first thing you notice about the stock is that it has a 4 slot picatinny rail at the front. It would make a nice spot to put a little bi-pod. Right behind the pic rail is a metal sling swivel stud. There is also another stud at the rear of the stock. The forearm and the pistol grip of the stock have some decent texture. The pistol grip also comes with two extra “grip inserts”. The RXR22 comes with the medium size installed. I swapped out for both the small and large one, then proceeded to install the medium one and use it. Having these inserts is a nice touch. Lastly, the stock has a rubber buttpad to keep it in place on your shoulder. 

  The heart of any rifle, even a 22, is the receiver and barrel. The receiver on the RXR22 is polymer. I have no problem with polymer receivers on 22’s, especially with the advancement in polymers over the last 10 years. Built into the receiver is a top picatinny rail. This is a good thing, especially since out of the box there are no sights on this rifle. On the right side of the receiver is an extended charging handle. It sticks out about an inch and does reciprocate when firing the rifle. Having the charging handle extend out a little farther than other semi-auto 22’s I own, really made charging the rifle easier. On the rear of the receiver is a hole for cleaning, thank you Savage for this. 22’s get dirty, and being able to properly clean the barrel from the chamber end is a big plus.

10/22 trigger assembly installed in RXR22 receiver

  Attached to the RXR’s receiver is the barrel, of course. The barrel attaches just like any 10/22 barrel, with a 2 screw clamp system. This design allows the RXR22 to be compatible with aftermarket 10/22 barrels. Yes, I tried it, different 10/22 barrels do fit. The RXR factory barrel is 16.5 inches long and tapers down to the 1/2x28 threads at the muzzle. Savage does have a removable plastic insert in the stock so that bull barrels will fit, if you choose to swap out the stock barrel. Savage uses a button rifled barrel with the standard 1 in 16 twist rate.

Dots are 1 MOA

  I was pleased with the accuracy I got out of the Savage RXR22. However, I did not mount a huge magnified optic to it and shoot it at 100 yards. After all, the RXR is a lightweight 22 rimfire rifle. So I mounted a 5 MOA red dot I had lying around on it. Even with the large dot size, which limits me seeing small targets, I was able to keep 10 shot groups under 2 inches. This was at 25 yards. Various types and brands of ammunition were used. Most groups were under 1.25 inches with one being right at an inch. I chose 10 shot groups because it gave me a better average over the standard 3 or 5 shot groups. Being that the RXR is imported by Savage, and not built in the USA, I was pleased with the accuracy outcome.

10/22 trigger housing installed in receiver, RXR22 trigger assembly next to it for comparison

  The trigger assembly on the RXR22 is interesting, in a good way. As far as the trigger pull, it is better than some more expensive 22’s. My sample came in at a 4.5 pound pull, no pre-travel, but with some creep during the pull. It’s a good trigger for a $250 rifle. The trigger housing on the RXR also holds the magazine release and the bolt hold open lever. The magazine release is extended, but only sticks out wider on the right side of the rifle. This is so you can push the release lever with your trigger finger. If you are left handed, you are out of luck. It needs to stick out on the left side also. Also on the left side, in front of the mag release, is the bolt hold open lever. This lever works way better than the tiny 10/22 ones you might be used to. A cool design in the RXR22 is that if you do not like the trigger assembly, or you want to upgrade it, you can. Savage designed the RXR22 to take complete 10/22 trigger housings. The advantage to the 10/22 trigger housing is that you can use all the available aftermarket goodies like extended mag releases, match triggers, and different bolt hold open levers. To do this, the RXR has a quick release pivoting system to pop the factory trigger assembly out. Then you just set it aside and install a new 10/22 compatible one. The only notable difference is that you will need the two 10/22 pins that hold the trigger assembly in as the Savage trigger assembly mounts differently. Yes, I tried this also and the 10/22 trigger assemblies do fit and function. 

10/22 trigger assembly and magazine installed into RXR receiver and stock

  One of my favorite aspects of the RXR22 is the compatibility. I previously mentioned the barrel and trigger assembly. But the RXR also uses Ruger 10/22 magazines. However, they do not lock the bolt back like the factory Savage magazine. But, if you swapped the trigger assembly out, the bolt wont lock back even on the Savage mag. Because of the compatibility with all these parts, you can basically set up the Savage RXR22 just like you want it.

  The Savage RXR22 is a really fun gun to shoot. I was really surprised at how well it performed. Accuracy was decent and so was the factory trigger. Not coming with sights does add a little to the price, since you have to get a red dot or something for it. It is a 22LR, so pretty much any red dot or optic will work and mount to the top pic rail. I really appreciated the RXR22 being lightweight. It might be a great 22 rifle for a child, even though the length of pull on the stock might be a little bit long for them. When I used the RXR22 at a local steel challenge match, its lack of weight really helped the rifle swing from target to target. It performed way past my expectations in the match. The only problem I had was that it did not want to manually eject a live round, after the string of fire, at that steel match. It did this twice to me. One time I cycled the bolt 3 or 4 times and the extractor finally pulled the cartridge out, the other time I had to use a knife to get under the rim and pop it out. It is possible that the chamber was getting dirty and caused this. I was using CCI Minimags, so I do not suspect it was an ammunition problem. The RXR only comes with 1 magazine, luckily I have a metric ton of 10/22 mags. The RXR magazine does have a little tab that holds the bolt open after the last round, or should I say “did”. That little tab proceeded to break off almost immediately, it did not make it through 3 full magazines. Luckily the piece fell out and the magazine still works, it just doesn’t lock the bolt back when empty. Lastly, since the RXR22 has a threaded barrel, I did put a suppressor on it and use it quite a bit. Of course it made it quieter, but it also helped it function better with lower powered ammunition , like the Gold Metal Target ammo I have. Being able to have the 10/22 compatibility is probably my favorite thing about the Savage RXR22.

  When I first received the Savage RXR22 I wasn’t sure how it would perform. Let’s just say it exceeded that thought. I really like shooting the RXR, it is a lot of fun. It’s accurate enough to do everything I did with it. It is threaded so you can make it quiet, Savage even has their own suppressor line for that. In my opinion, the key selling point for the Savage RXR22 is its modularity with aftermarket 10/22 accessories. If you want a fun little 22LR that you can add stuff to , the Savage RXR22 could be it.

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Inexpensive semi-auto 22LR that has trigger, barrel, and magazine compatibility with Ruger 10/22

Target Market:

Anyone wanting a fun lightweight 22LR that has 10/22 compatibility

Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:

  • Caliber: 22 Long Rifle

  • Weight: 4.6 pounds

  • Rugged polymer receiver with integral Picatinny top rail

  • 16.5” Precision button-rifled barrel with recessed target crown

  • Twist Rate: 1:16

  • Threaded barrel – ½”x28

  • 10-Round rotary magazine with polymer body and metal feed lips

  • Accepts aftermarket Ruger 10/22 compatible magazines, triggers, and barrels

  • Quick-release trigger group

  • Metal sling studs

  • Picatinny accessory rail located under the fore-end tip

  • Stylish synthetic stock with ergonomic grip

  • Interchangeable grip inserts

  • Cleaning port located in the rear of the receiver

  • Overall Length: 35.25 inches

  • Length of Pull (LOP): 13.75 inches

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Flat Dark Earth

What others are saying?:

5 out 5 stars at Sportsman.com    

Fun 22 for all day plinking…

Love this 22LR semi automatic. I can plink all day and not break the bank. It also can accurately reach out and touch something.

Link to other reviews:

Surprisingly I could not find much as of publishing this review

Price point:

MSRP = $259.00

Retail = $230.00 ish

I need it now! Availability:

Guns.com, Midway USA, Palmetto State Armory, or your local dealer

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Grip inserts

  • Takes 10/22 trigger housings, barrels, and magazines

  • Hole in receiver for cleaning

  • Threaded for suppressor use

  • Lightweight

  • Price

Cons:

  • Receiver is longer than 10/22, so no aftermarket stock support yet

  • Mag release is not ambidextrous

  • Weakish extractor

  • Need to add a sight, as it doesn’t come with any

Score: 7.50 Good

Favorite Link:  Viridian RFX45 review 

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TriStar KR22

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Tristar KR22

Review

  In my opinion, everyone should have a 22lr rifle. You can go mild to wild when it comes to 22’s. The Tristar KR.22 would be considered mild. Mild enough to make it an inexpensive entry level 22 rifle. The KR22 has some good features, as well as a few that don’t quite hit home.

  I had asked to get one of the TriStar KR22’s after talking about it on the Gun & Gear Review Podcast. The KR22 comes with a lot of features. Most important is that it will accept standard, available everywhere, Ruger 10/22 magazines. This is the reason I wanted to review it. I was also curious if more parts were compatible with the 10/22. They are not. The only parts compatible are those magazines. However, that does not stop the KR22 from having some good features.

  The KR22 uses a synthetic stock. This stock comes with built in swivel studs. I like this because it not only gives you the ability to easily mount a sling, it also gives you the ability to mount a bi-pod. A bi-pod can help young shooters to use the rifle easier. There is also a nice rubber buttpad . But more important is that the KR22 has an adjustable cheek riser. So if you are mounting up some optics, you can adjust it to get just the right position to look through those optics. To adjust it, you just loosen a set screw, adjust the riser up or down, and then tighten the screw back up. I really liked having the adjustable cheek riser since I ran the KR22 with a Primary Arms GLx MD-21 red dot. I also readjusted the riser when I mounted a Primary Arms 4-16x44 for doing accuracy work. Also on the stock is a really nice textured pistol grip. It is grippier than most and I really liked it.

  One of the nice features on the KR22 is the ability to move the bolt handle. You can swap it from the right side to the left. Just unscrew it and then screw it in the other side of the bolt. If you are left handed, or just like the bolt on the left side of the rifle, this feature just makes sense. The push button safety of the KR22 is not reversible though, sorry lefties. I would also like to mention that there is no feature to lock the bolt back. This doesn’t really matter to me, but if you are at certain ranges, or teaching a child, you will need a chamber flag to see if the chamber is empty and safe. 

  TriStar uses a fiber optic front sight on the KR22. The front fiber and standard style rear notch give the KR22 a decent sight picture. Windage is adjusted on the rear notch sight with an allen wrench and set screw set up. The front sight adjusts elevation , also with an allen wrench. These sights are tall enough to clear a suppressor, if you choose to mount one onto the threaded muzzle. All of this works okay, until you notice that the rear sight can move side to side a little. There is no way to tighten this down. So with iron sights, you can’t get very precise shot placement. Luckily, red dots are cheap and you can mount one on the built in pic rail. 

  I was pleasantly surprised with the KR22’s trigger. It is a flat style trigger with a flipper safety in it. The flipper safety just adds a little bit of extra safety and it isn’t noticeable when using the KR22. Of course there is a normal push button safety at the front of the trigger guard. Trigger pull came out at 4.5 pounds. There is essentially no pretravel, a decent wall, and then some over travel. But for a stock 22 trigger, it is better than I expected. The magazine release is located in front of the trigger guard. It is a flat style paddle that you push forward to drop the magazine. The size of the mag release is large enough to make it easy to reach and use. 

 Accuracy of the little KR22 was, what I would consider, normal. Using bulk box, cheap, 22LR ammunition I would get 3-4 inch groups at 50 yds. That was with about 5 different types of 22LR. The KR22 is not a match rifle, and that is about what I get with other 22’s. In this case, it is the ammo’s fault, as bulk 22LR ammo is not very consistent. I was able to get a few 2-2.25 inch groups with CCI MiniMags. This also did not surprise me as the CCI stuff is usually more consistent. For reliability in the KR22, I found the Winchester 36gr bulk packs and the CCI MiniMags functioned the most reliable. Some standard velocity 22LR didn’t always cycle the bolt all the way back to pick up a new round. So I would stick with hi-velocity 22LR ammunition in the KR22.

  I do like the TriStar KR22 rifle. Once I figured out which ammo it liked, it functioned quite well. This is however the 2nd KR22 I was sent. The first KR22 had a burr in the chamber where the extractor slides next to it. I contacted TriStar and they immediately sent me a call tag. Within a week or so, the new KR22 had arrived. So if you do have a problem with anything TriStar, their customer service is top notch, and will have you up and running again in no time. Besides this minor setback, I did find an inconvenience with the KR22. Both rifles I received had slop in the rear iron sight. Even with the adjustment tightened down. These sights would move a little back and forth where they sit inside the picatinny rail. Enough that if I moved it to one side, and then the other, it would change the point of impact by an inch or so at 25 yards. As mentioned, just install a red dot on it and you won’t have to worry about that. Even with these minor problems, I think the KR22 has a lot of good features. The trigger is nice. It has that adjustable cheek riser for when you mount a scope or red dot. It also has a threaded barrel which allows you to install a muzzle brake or suppressor. The KR22 is a fun little 22 rifle.

  The TriStar KR22 isn’t bad for what it is. It has a lot of nice features previously mentioned. Probably its biggest pro is the ability to use 10/22 magazines. Followed by its built in optics rail, because you will want to use it. The trigger is also pretty decent for a $250 22 rifle. So if you are looking for a lightweight 22 plinking rifle, the TriStar KR22 might fit the bill.  

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Inexpensive 22 rifle

Target Market:

Anyone wanting a 22lr rifle that is suppressor ready

Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:

  • Threaded Barrel (1/2 x 28 right hand thread)

  • Blow back semi-automatic operation

  • Push button & trigger safety

  • Reversible Bolt Handle

  • Adjustable Comb

  • Swivel Studs

  • Picatinny Rail integrated on receiver

  • Adjustable Front Fiber Optic Sight

  • 2 -10 rd. Rotary Magazines

  • Accepts 10/22® Magazines

  • Barrel: 18.6”

  • Weight: 4.9 lbs

  • Overall Length: 38″

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

ODG/Black and FDE/Black   

What others are saying?:

Nothing found as of publishing

Link to other reviews:

Shooting News Weekly on YouTube   

Price point:

MSRP = $289.00

Retail = $234.00 at MidwayUSA     

I need it now! Availability:

Tristar, MidwayUSA, or your local dealer

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Lightweight

  • Threaded barrel

  • Built in picatinny rail for optics

  • Reversible charging handle

  • Adjustable cheek riser

  • Uses 10/22 magazines

Cons:

  • Rear sight moves side to side

  • No way to lock bolt back

Score: 6.50 Okay

Favorite Link:  Primary Arms GLx MD-21 Review

Faxon 10/22 barrel

  Faxon Firearms has been making quality barrels for some time now. They recently entered into the rimfire barrel market with their 10/22 barrels. Faxon has three different barrel contours to choose from as well as two types of fluting options. There are also three different coating options to choose from. I opted for the flame fluted standard profile in chameleon PVD.

  The Faxon 10/22 barrel has a bunch of features not provided on the factory Ruger model. Most notably is probably the addition of Flame fluting. Faxon does a unique style of fluting as one of the options. As one can guess, the fluting looks like “flames”. If you get the “Chameleon” PVD coated barrel, the flutes are actually a different color than the rest of the barrel, which actually makes the flames look a bit more realistic. Since the barrel is PVD coated, the look of the coating will vary from barrel to barrel. This particular one is more of a lavender to blue fade with the flutes being a yellowish orange color. Some are more a blue to green fade. Fluting, both standard and Flame, provides better cooling of the barrel by providing more surface area for the barrel to give off heat. More important to me, is that on a rimfire barrel, it reduces the overall weight. In this case, the Faxon barrel is 0.4 lbs lighter than a factory Ruger 10/22 barrel. Faxon’s pencil profile reduces the weight by another 0.4 lbs, so a 0.8 lb reduction total. The Chameleon barrel sent to me weighs 1.4 lbs total.

  When manufacturing the rimfire line, Faxon uses all the same quality materials they use in their other barrel lines. The Rimfire barrels are made from 416-R stainless steel bar stock, in Cincinnati, OH at the Faxon plant. The barrel is given 6 groove rifling with a twist rate of 1:16. The 1:16 is pretty standard for 22 rimfire barrels. They then cut a recessed target crown into the muzzle. The muzzle is also threaded ½-28” to a depth of 0.625”. A thread protector and spacer is also included. The spacer is to be used on muzzle devices that use the 0.400” depth instead of the 0.625” depth. Faxon rimfire barrels are also magnetic particle inspected for flaws and then heat treated and coated. Currently all of the Faxon Rimfire line barrels come in a 16” length.

  When looking into 10/22 barrels, one typically finds “bull” style barrels. Faxon has those now too. But the standard profile is really nice if you're not into those “heavy” barrels. The Faxon Rimfire barrel has a tapered profile. It goes from 0.912” after the chamber down to 0.600” before where the muzzle threads start. This is pretty close to the Ruger’s standard barrel profile. The Faxon does fit in my standard 10/22 stock. It may not fit all of them, but it fits mine fine. Faxon also gives the Rimfire line a “Sporting” chamber. This gives the Faxon 10/22 barrels the ability to feed almost all the .22lr ammunition out there. I personally would have liked to see a slightly different chamber used, something like a “Bentz” for a little better accuracy. But I understand why Faxon went with the normal “sporting” chamber. 

  I ended up mounting the Faxon barrel to a stock Ruger 10/22 action. The barrel fit about the same as the stock barrel I removed. Meaning it slid into the receiver easily with little side to side movement. I then proceeded to mount it in an Enoch Deep-Six chassis. I opted for a chassis because I felt that a regular stock would not do the Faxon Chameleon barrel justice. The barrel looks really good mounted in the chassis. The chassis is also lighter than some wooden stocks, making this barrel/chassis combination very light. 

  After essentially making a complete different 10/22 than I had started with, I headed out to the range. Since ammunition availability is scarce, I rummaged through my stores of .22lr ammo. I found around 8 different types of plinking ammo, but no match ammo. I figured plinking ammo would be fine for this test. Especially since I don’t consider the Faxon barrel to be a true match barrel. Yes, the barrel is very high quality, it just doesn’t have a match chamber. I shot the various “cheap” 22lr ammo, through the barrel, at 50 yards. All but one of the major brands seemed to group around 1 - 1.5”’s at the 50 yard mark. I started with 5 shot groups and then moved to 10 shot groups. I was really pleased with how well the Faxon barrel shot. My factory barrel shot around 2 - 3” groups with these kinds of .22lr ammo. So as far as accuracy is concerned, I think the Faxon is good to go. If someone were to take the time and figure out which ammunition their barrel prefers, I would expect better results than what I had.

  If you’re looking for something different in the 10/22 game, look into the Faxon Rimfire barrels. They aren’t necessarily cheap, but they are excellent quality and made in the USA. With all the different options, you can get extra lightweight, fluted, flame fluted, coated, etc. I’m very pleased with the quality of the barrel along with how it stands out from everyone else's boring barrels. Go give the Faxon Rimfire line a look if you’re building a 10/22 or just looking for something different.

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Lightweight 10/22 barrels

Target Market:

10/22 owners or builders wanting a lighter, more accurate barrel

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

  • Chamber: .22 LR Sporting

  • Flame Fluted

  • 416-R Stainless

  • Weight: 1.4 lbs

  • Length: 16"

  • Twist rate: 1:16

  • Chameleon PVD coating

  • Rifling: 6 Groove

  • Target Crown: Recessed

  • 10/22, non-takedown

  • Taper - 0.912" after chamber, .600" before thread shoulder

  • Muzzle Thread: 1/2x28

  • Thread protector included

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Straight fluted, Pencil, Heavy, all in black, gold, or chameleon

What others are saying?:

 5 stars at Faxon Firearms

Great barrel

Barrel came in fast and well packed. Looks better in person. Fits like a glove no issues setting it. Shoots great but I only have 150 rounds through it so far.

Link to other reviews:

Nothing found

Price point:

MSRP = $175.00 - $355.00

Retail = $355.00 as tested

I need it now! Availability:

Faxon Firearms or your local Faxon dealer

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Lightweight

  • Looks great

  • Accurate

  • Threaded to 0.625 length 

  • Thread protector and spacer included

  • Fits standard 10/22 stocks

  • Lifetime guarantee

Cons:

  • Price

  • Sport chamber

Score: 7.50 Good

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Tasco .22 Rimfire Red Dot Riflescope

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IMG_9353IMG_0635It wasn't long ago that red dot sights were rare and expensive pieces of equipment, which were all but unattainable for most shooting enthusiasts. But, over the past decade or so, they've gained tremendous popularity, as the number of options on the market have increased and prices have decreased. It's now possible to purchase a functional red dot sight for less money than a used copy of Call of Duty. This is fantastic news for the frugal gun owner, but the options can be overwhelming. With all of the inexpensive options on the market, how do you know what's worth buying? I found myself in just such a dilemma when I decided I wanted a red dot sight for my newly purchased Ruger 10/22 Carbine. If you spend any time on the internet, you'll quickly realize that most of the commonly recommended red dot sights are more expensive than the 10/22 itself (often they're many times more expensive). Most owners of .22lr rifles are just looking to do some cheap plinking, and would rather buy a few thousand rounds of quality ammunition than a red dot sight designed for military use.

That's where the Tasco BKRD3022 comes in: it's an inexpensive red dot sight designed for use on rimfire rifles. It doesn't offer any frills or a plethora of features - it's just a basic red dot sight meant for plinking. There are only three controls on the entire unit: elevation adjustment, windage adjustment, and power/brightness adjustment.

Elevation and windage can be adjusted in .5 MOA (1/2" at 100 yards) increments. The adjustment knobs are concealed underneath threaded dust caps, and a screw driver or coin is needed to turn them. Each click of the adjustment knob is satisfying, crisp, and light. Make sure you don't lose those dust caps, otherwise you'll likely end up accidentally turning the knobs all the time.

Power and dot brightness are controlled via a large knob located on top of the unit, which gives you 11 different brightness settings. On the lowest settings, battery life is claimed to be 6,000+ hours (250 days) of continuous use. However, the brightness knob ended up being the only thing I didn't like about the Tasco BKRD3022, as I felt it was too difficult to turn. Sure, this will keep you from unintentionally turning it, but it becomes difficult to turn if it's wet from rain or sweat.

So, how does it actually perform? For a red dot sight that can usually be found for about $30, the Tasco BKRD3022 feels and performs very well! The construction is surprisingly solid and durable, and it manages to feel hefty without being heavy (it weighs just 6 ounces). The 1x30mm glass is nice and clear, and the lens coating works well without being too obtrusive.

IMG_9355

With it's 5 MOA dot, it's obvious that this wasn't intended to be used for any kind of serious target shooting (but then again, what red dot sight is?). But, I found it to be more than adequate for my uses. Once zeroed, it was easy to keep 3" groups at 50 yards from my completely stock 10/22 Carbine (and I'm no crack shot). I found the maximum brightness to be suitable for broad daylight, and the lower settings were useful indoors. And, other than one minor mishap, it had no problem staying zeroed.

"What was the mishap?" I'm sure you're asking. A pretty silly mistake on my part: I forgot to put Loctite on the screws for my 10/22 Weaver mount. So, after ~500 rounds or so it started to come lose. The BKRD3022 itself stayed securely fastened to the weaver mount though (because I did remember to use Loctite on that). Obviously, this is not the fault of Tasco, I'm just bringing it up to remind you to always use Loctite! Make sure to use the Blue 242 variety of Loctite, as if you use the green, it will require heat and heavy force to remove and you would risk damaging your gun, sight, or both.

All in all, I've been very satisfied with the Tasco BKRD3022. For the price (which really is "bargain basement"), I think you'd be hard pressed to find a better red dot sight. In fact, I think you could spend 2 or 3 times as much and still not find anything better.

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame: The price

Target Market: .22lr rifle plinkers

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

  • Low cost
  • Brightness Adjustability
  • Battery life
  • Easy mounting

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?: The Tasco 22 Rimfire Red Dot Riflescope is only available in black.

What are others saying?: 

  • "The Tasco Red Dot sight is the company’s basic entrant in the red dot sight competition, and is a pretty good choice for desert- and snow-dwelling target shooters, or anyone operating under heavy glare" - RedDotSights
  • "The Tasco Red Dot feels nice and sturdy, I dont expect it to break on me anytime soon. I've bumped it into a few things over the months that I've owned it and haven't seen a loss in accuracy, nor have I had to re-zero it." The XtremeConditioning Blog

Price Point:

I need it now! Availability: Amazon

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Very low price
  • Solid construction
  • Good performance

Cons:

  • Brightness knob is hard to adjust
  • Need coin/screwdriver for elevation and windage adjustment
  • Loctite is basically a necessity

Score: 7.5 Good75

 

Cameron's links:

Serial Hobbyism

LaserLyte Trainer 22 LT-LR Review

Laserlyte Trainer 22 LT-LR Training with a 22 caliber pistol or rifle used to be the cheapest way to shoot all day, but these days with ammo availability thats no longer the rule of thumb. While some turn to dry fire practice in the comfort of their own home, there's a limit to knowing precisely if your shots are breaking true at your intended target reference point.

Laser products help achieve precisely that, giving the shooter instantaneous feedback as to where that hypothetical bullet would have gone in relation to your sight picture and trigger press. LaserLyte has produced a number of different caliber laser product that interface directly with your own gun so that you can train with the same controls, weight, and familiarity of your own firearm. The Trainer 22 LT-LR was recently release and is uniquely universal to 22 caliber firearms. Be it 22 lr, 22 short, 22 long, 223 Rem, 22-250 or any other cartridge in the 22 caliber family, the LaserLyte Trainer 22 LT-LR simple installs through the muzzle and into barrels with a minimum length of 1.875" inches. There is a small black plastic arbor on the end of the Trainer that expands when an even smaller screw is tightened, which lets the use firmly install in a barrel with enough friction to prevent it from falling out due to gravity.

I found that for use in a pistol, double action is best to have. That way you don't have to rack the slide and reset the trigger each time, you can just keep pulling that bang switch while pumping up your finger strength in the process.  For my T&E I used a Ruger SR-22, but a revolver or other semi auto with a hammer should work well too. The width of the trainer at its fattest point is about 3/4 of an inch, so depending on your gun of choice it may or may not be wider than the muzzle, thusly interfering with the holstering of the firearm.

The T&E model I received worked during the first day of experimenting but a week or so later when conducting the official review the laser seemed to have some problems. The activation became inconsistent, and then non existent altogether. I did replace the 1x1632 coin battery and it functioned consistently once again, however the brightness of the laser was not enough to activate some LaserLyte Laser Plinking Cans I was testing for another review. I used a different manufacturer's laser boresight to verify the targets functioned properly and that the Trainer was the issue. This is reflected in my rating, which will be updated when the manufacturer gets back to us.

Being 22 caliber, the manufacturer claims it is compatible with multiple 22 caliber platforms, but not specifically any type of model. I found that while it will mount in the barrel of a Ruger MKIII 22lr pistol, a 223 Rem AR-15 Carbine, and a 22-250 bolt action rifle, it will not necessarily activate upon dry firing. The sound and concussion from the trigger/sear/hammer is what makes the laser activate, and the potency of that effect really varies in every firearm. I do believe that longer barrels are a contributor in dampening the sound from reaching the Trainer. Racking the bolt, charging handle, and slide would set off the laser but the dry fire of the trigger in most cases would not. Based on my experience using the firearms I had access to, I would say this product is ideally meant to work best in pistols, even more so in revolvers because the solidarity of the frame would allow the transfer of energy from the hammer to the Trainer most efficiently.

From a design and operation standpoint, the on/off of the Trainer is very minimalistic. You just unscrew slightly to cut the battery off from completing the circuit. This isn't ideal, especially when the exterior of the Trainer has no texture, so big fumbly fingers like mine had difficulty unscrewing the two halves especially if overtightened during use. I had to be extra conscious not to overtighten the Trainer.

Overall I would say that malfunctions aside, this training aid is very useful for dry fire practice indoors, especially when used in combination with a laser compatible electronic target system, like the LaserLyte Reaction Tyme Target (see FI review).

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame: Simply the easiest way to train without ammo for any of your 22 rimfire pistols.

Target Market: Gun Owners who want to add laser functionality to their dry fire practice, safely and indoors.

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product)

  • Compatible with: 22LR, 22WMR, 22 Short, 22 Long, .223 REM with at least a 1.875" barrel
  • Length: 3.0 inches
  • Diameter: .20" Min./ .76 inch Max
  • Battery Life: 10,000 shots
  • Batteries: 1 x 1632 Lithium
  • Activation: Sound of striker or hammer
What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?:  none

What others are saying?:

Price Point:

I need it now! Availability: Readily available at Brownells.com or Amazon.com

Our Rating: UPDATE +-Easy to operate +-Short enough to fit most pocket pistols or snubnose revolvers +-Battery life is high, batteries are hard to find + Tested and confirmed functional in Ruger MKIII Pistol, Ruger SR22 Pistol, Ruger 10/22 rifle, AR15, and Savage 22-250 rifle + Customer Service was very responsive in replacing first malfunctioning laser Trainer with a correctly working model

  • No knurling to assist with unscrewing, which is the only way to preserve batter life.  Overtighten= Bad Time

Score: 8.5 Great* *Score increased after initial defective model was replaced and reevalutated

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