Ruger 10 / 22 in Israeli Military ( IDF ) Use

In 1987, the Intifada – the Palestinian uprising against the Israeli regime in the Occupied Territories – broke out, and involved mass violent clashes between Israeli security forces and Palestinians protestors. As a result, the Israeli security forces needed a weapon with a more potent firepower then the standard riot control metal covered rubber round, but at the same time less lethal then the standard issue 5.56 mm round of the M16/Galil assault rifles. So the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) searched for a 0.22 caliber accurate rifle that will be used to take out the key protest leaders by shooting them in the legs.

Isreili IDF soldier using a Ruger 10/22

The Ruger 10/22, fitted with a X4 day optic, a full length suppressor and a Harris bipod was selected for this role and was due to be issued to all infantry oriented units, including both special and conventional forces. However, as often happens in the shoestring budget IDF, financial problems prevented the weapon’s mass distribution, and it was mainly issued to Special Forces (SF) units. Moreover, instead of using the rifle as a riot control weapon, as originally intended, the Israeli SF deployed the Ruger 10/22 more as a “Hush Puppy” weapon used to silently and effectively eliminate disturbing dogs prior to operations.
In the recent Israeli-Palestinian clashes began in 2000, the Ruger resumes it’s original role as a less lethal riot control weapon. However, it’s usage in this role was rather controversial this time. After several incidents involving the death of Palestinians by the Ruger fire, the IDF conducted a field experiment in the Ruger at the IDF Sniper School in Mitkan Adam under the supervision of the IDF Judge Advocate General (JAG). The test showed that the Ruger was more lethal then thought especially in upper body injuries. Also, since it’s suppressed and was considered less lethal by the troops, the soldiers were much more likely to use the Ruger loosely then intended.

Isreili IDF Soldier with Ruger 10/22 Anti Protest

As a result of this test, the JAG reclassified the Ruger as a lethal weapon. As a lethal weapon, the usage of the Ruger in riot control is much more limited today. In the IDF Center Command it was completely prohibited to use and the IDF South Command it’s deployment was cut down dramatically.

Sexy Tactical Firearm of the Month: GSG-5E

This time around we will be featuring Tactical Rifles for the ''sexy firearm of the Month'' post & Today we have gone all out with this one, German engineering FTW!

The GSG-5 was launched in 2007 by German Sports Guns GmbH, the rifle is similar in design to the HK and some interchangeable parts makes it highly attractive to total gun nuts, further note that parts are also interchangeable from Airsoft variants too!



GSG 5 E .22LR Tactical

^ Myself if I ever got to fondle one >>

Chambered in .22LR, various magazine sizes are said to be available including a 110 round Drum Magazine.
Heckler & Koch has also won a lawsuit against GSG and the end result was that GSG had to stop manufacture of the rifles and had an allowable cut off date of sale of existing manufactured firearms (Until 31 January 2010) Contovercially, the American ATF in the Same Month decided that the previosuly approved Barrel Shroud (which was added to give the look of a real suppressor) was actually a suppressor despite the fact that it was not capable of operating as an actual ''silencer'' and therefore Recalled the Rifles under the National Firearms Act.

GSG-5 L sporting a Red Dot Sight

.22 Long Range Shooting at 500 Yards !!

We just found this cool little video on youtube, they start at 200 Yards and work their way to 500 Yards with a Ruger 10/22 ...

There's just something about Long Range Plinking, oh how most of us in the UK wish we could have the freedom to do this here ....

Voting Poll result #1

Finally the polls closed on our first voting poll which was: ''What is your favourite type of rifle?''

Unfortunately not many visitors made the effort to vote, so if you are a regular or if you plan on visiting again, please remember to vote, you do not need to log in or give any details, it is one click and you're done!

Vote options;

• Semi Auto
• Bolt Action
• Lever Action
• Pump Action

There were no votes for pump action or lever action, the end result was a Tie for Semi Auto and Bolt Action...

Bolt Action Rifles vs Semi Auto's Rimfire Blog Vote

Legal Pistols for UK

We just wanted to show our fellow shooters & Firearms Enthusiasts overseas what is still actually legal in the United Kingdom in terms of Pistols, since we are the Rimfire Blog we will only be showcasing some in .22LR Calibre.

As you can see in the below images, the Pistols have to have an extended barrel (yes, they are not suppressors / moderators) and also a horrible extention connected to the grip thereby extending the length even further!

These are the Pro TSC 1911 .22LR pistols Made in Germany...

PRO TSC .22LR 1911 Pistols in Tactical and two tone with wooden grip

PRO TSC .22LR 1911 Pistol

PRO TSC .22LR 1911 Pistol - not the various barrel options between the different images above

Going for around £800 or less, I for one find the pricing and the fact that you still have to (by law) have the ridiculous extentions added on, just makes this too sad to comply with, I'd rather keep shooting rifles, you can pick up a decent brand new .22LR for as low as £175 even in Semi Auto.

Handguns including small calibre such as .22LR were outlawed in 1997 following the 1996 Dunblane Massacre.

Last year there was a petition to reclassify .22LR pistols as Section 1 FAC licences which failed to get enough votes by the public (only 13,000 of the 100,000 needed) It would be a good idea to say that a person wanting a .22LR pistol should have already owned or currently own a .22LR, .22WMR or .17HMR Rifle and  have been shooting for no shorter than a year.

British Shooting Show 2013

British Shooting Show 2013 .22 Rimfire .17HMR

The British shooting Show 2013 starts tomorrow Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th February 2013, I found out too late about this and it is also too far from my city so will be missing it unfortunately!
It is said to be Europe's biggest annual shooting and country event which is some good news amongst the decline of this sport & lifestyle in this country over the last few decades.
There will be a .22 Live Firing range and Marlin bolt actions, SS60s and the GSG5 Semi Auto's are said to be available.

Rimfire brands present at the Show:

• Anshutz (.22LR, .22WMR and .17HMR including some tactical .22 Semi Auto's),
• Browning (.22LR & .17HMR)
• Chippa,
• CMMG,
• Colt,
• CZ (CESKA ZBROJOVKA),
• HK,
• Magtech (selling the 7022 which is made by CBC and same as the Mossberg 702 Plinkster),
• Savage Arms with Varmint rifles,
• Ruger (SR-22 & 10/22),
• Sako with the Quad Varmint,
• Sig Sauer with the SS522,
• Smith & Wesson,
• PRO TSC 1911 .22LR Pistol,

A Firearm we Want chambered in .22LR !

If you could get any firearm chambered in your favourite caliber - what would it be?
Although we would love to see the following Rifle chambered in .17HMR as well as .22WMR, I would have to say it would be most practical in .22LR, atleast to get it into the market first before going into the other calibers ....

Vektor CR-21 Assult Rifle, Produced for the South African Military to replace the current ''R'' family of weapons (R4 being the most dominant and then R5 serving the police and possibly special forces including the R6)
The Firearm has not been selected to replace the R4 due to funds being used for other armaments in the country's recent large upgrade (Fighter Aircraft, Attack Helicopters, Submarines, Frigates and many more) Due to this Vektor has apparently ceased operations. Apparently the Moulds of the CR21 for the original 5.56mm NATO assult rifle has been purchased by another private company - so there is still hope yet! Perhaps they will stumble upon my blog and see there could be a demand? (Pssst ... be sure to leave lot's of comments just incase!)

Vektor CR-21 Black 5.56mm NATO



A scene from the movie 'District 9' Vektor CR-21 in a white finish and some extra tactical gear

R5 - 5.56mm NATO (top) & the proposed replacement Vektor CR21 - 5.56mm NATO Bullpup

DISCLAIMER: Because I know that some fun hating, control worshipping anti-gun nut will probably stumble across this blog and only notice the words above: ''Assult Rifle'', So before you throw a Fit - I would like to point out that the Original Firearm is a Military Grade weapon ... so for interest sake and to be true to the point / true information, I had to put the words ''Assult Rifle'' in the description of the firearm I Am Referring To ! When I say: ''A Firearm we want chambered in .22LR'' - I mean the same gun body, with a .22LR caliber (a much lighter caliber ie: much smaller bullet [you may want to google ''caliber''] and obviously Not An Assult Rifle ie: Full Automatic fire capability but in Semi Automatic form!


Sun Newspaper owns up to their false Information

A few posts back we helped to expose an article from the notoriously known UK newspaper The Sun, this article had been written in a way (a way that could only be the work of a anti gun activist) to attempt to get .22LR semi auto rifles under the spotlight and made them out to be ''The Same Weapon used in the Sandy Hook Massacre''

Here is a copy from the NRA Website News section:
__________________________________________________________________________________
The Sun issues a clarificationIn an article published on the 24th January 2013, The Sun newspaper printed the following clarification.
IN a story 'Massacre guns on sale in UK' we stated that lethal assault rifles like the AR15 weapon used in America's Sandy Hook school massacre are being legally sold in Britain. A Welsh-based firm describes the Ruger SR22 semi-automatic as a 'clone of the AR15'. We would like to clarify that these replica guns are scaled down versions of the originals, requiring .22 ammunition rather than the more powerful .223 calibre.

                                                                               Updated: 25-Jan-13 (Original posting: 25-Jan-13)___________________________________________________________________________________    They have issued a clarification but I suppose no apology, in my opinion the damage is done - I still strongly feel this newspaper has gone on for too long and published hundreds if not thousands of severely manipulated articles that bear almost no relation to the actual events that lead to the stories going into the interest of the media. They owe the shooting community in Britain an apology - but I feel they should also have their License Reviewed!

How far will a .22LR kill ( penetration / lethality test )

In this 9 Min Youtube video, these blokes test the lethality of the .22LR round on 1/2'' ( 127mm ) Pine Wood Board at various distances starting with a Beretta Minx (.22 short) at 9' ( 2.74 Meters ) eventually going out to 440 Yards ( 402 Meters ) with a Ruger 10/22 (.22LR) with clean penetration at all intervals

 

I must say that I am severly impressed with the accuracy and range of the Ruger 10/22(And the shooters) in this video! I would have never imagined a .22 LR Rifle being able to hit targets at such distances accurately - below is another video from the same channel, 300 - 400 yards Ruger 10/22:

 

Media Lies - Sun Newspaper

Here is a great example of how uneducated journalists, editors and the general public can be when it comes to ... well, anything really! The Link below is of a Sun newspaper article (I honestly don't know how anybody can read this newspaper and come off not being stupider) The article is an excellent show of how the British Media system plays on the general public's ignorance and blows almost Everything out of proportion with mass exaggeration - in this example someone either from the newspaper itself or a person ''concerned citizen'' informed them that a UK based company sells the ''Sandy Hook Massacre Guns''

Yes, they are trying to say that a UK company is Legally selling AR-15's but guess what? What is it that they are selling? .22 LR semi automatic rifles that are similar to AR-15's but are NOT AR-15's !

AR 15 .223 Rifle

What is an AR-15 ?? A semi automatic rifle that fires Similar ammunition to military rifles (.223 cal or 5.56mm), this ammunition is used in the UK to Hunt Foxes etc. the ammunition is Too Powerful for Squirrels, Rabbits & so on, in fact, it is not recommended for Deer stalking as it may not have enough power to kill the animal. Further AR-15's are Not even Assault Rifles!







Ruger SR22 - 22LR Rifle

Now on to the SR22 made by Ruger and perfectly Legal in the United Kingdom, The SR22 may look similar yo the AR15 but just look closer, you don't have to be an expert to see the difference in the shape and also magazine size (which gives an idea of the size of the ammunition) This rifle shoots .22LR Rimfire ammunition which is not in any way in the same category and firepower as the .223 of the AR15!



AR-15 on Left & .22LR on Right

The .22LR is a much smaller bullet (the entire bullet being about the height of a 2pence coin), much much smaller and is in fact the smallest cartridge in firearms today, it Does Not have the same ability to kill or ''Massacre'' as this moronically written article seems to moan about - these rifles only look mean but they are NOT on the same level of firepower as the rifle used in the Sandy Hook Shootings.













Here is a small snippet of the article:

''LETHAL assault rifles like the one used in America’s Sandy Hook school massacre are being LEGALLY sold in Britain.

A Welsh-based firm is advertising a Ruger SR-22 semi-automatic as a “clone” of an AR-15, the gun loner Adam Lanza used to kill 26 people.
Shocked campaigners are demanding new gun controls after The Sun discovered British dealers selling the weapons. ''


Article Link
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/4721772/Sandy-Hook-shooting-weapons-on-sale-legally-in-the-UK.html

Here is the email of the Journalist who Investigated this story: n.millard@the-sun.co.uk

The Freedom of Plinking

Plinking ... or Informal Target Shooting is a form of outdoor recreational shooting whereby the enthusiasts are merely looking for a little more freedom when using firearms in rural / deserted areas, as per the Wikipedia article on Plinking: ''Plinking in general allows a shooter much freedom of choice in creating his or her shooting experience. In particular, the plinker is set at liberty from the very restrictive rules found at many gun ranges.'' - the most common target being a tin can, ie: Soft Drink, Soda or Beer and even tinned food cans!

In most countries this is an okay thing to do as long as you are not trespassing on private property and exercising some safety to ascertain that you are not sending ricochet bullets in the direction of people, property or animals and also your own safety.

A typical Plinking target - these are actual products called 'Spinners'

Shot to hell ... an old disused piece of junk now used as a Plinking target

 

To prevent Plinking becoming the next thing your government wants to regulate, follow some basic safety;

• If in an area where you are not sure if others are around (woods, forrests, hills etc) yell out a warning before shooting,
• Wear some safety gear - mainly shooting glasses,
• Do not trespass on someones property! This will be annoying to them and may get the Police involved,
• Don't place a target in front of rocks or other solid objects - make sure there is an adequate backdrop,
• Don't dress in full military camo or black tactical gear - it's just too suspicious and draws attention,
• Clean up your area after the session - Don't litter or leave a mess, again this will draw criticism to Plinking but mostly to shooting sports culture as a whole,
• Check out the area, just use common sense and make some good judgements before starting

 

Large bore rifle shooters use thick steel plates and 'Plink' from very long distances, the steel will return a loud Plink sound confirming a hit - check out the video at the bottom of the post. Steel plate plinking can also involve penetration tests whereby the shooter has the right documents to allow the purchase of Armour Piercing ammunition or sometimes 'Copper Washed' ammunition that holds some convincing when it hits the armoured target compared with standard 'Ball' ammuniton, again, this is only for interest sake - these people are Not criminals they just want to see the effects on steel etc.

 

 

An old drum can - probably an old paint tin used as a target - the entry holes look like Rimfire ammunition but could also be .223   In some cases it would have had a printed target or hand drawn target attached to the front

 

A home made plate on chains - note the shooter used a powerful firearm on the far right middle which penetrated the plate.The fact that the plate is hanging loose on chains and not fixed will prevent ricochets and dramatically reduces risks (now how do I convince the UK police with this FACT)

I hope that one day Plinking can be seen as a innocent form of recreational shooting and not so alienated as it is (well it is pretty much non existent and if done in the UK I bet its very underground)

If anybody knows how to get the government and local authorities involved in supplying a designated area outside every major city in the UK where Plinkers can go for a shoot, please comment, it is something I would seriously like to see happen in the future - I know it would be a major H&S pain the the crack but why not try?

For those overseas who'se governments still have not taken away all of their rights, well have fun next time you go out plinking! and also have a minute of silence for us poor UK shooters!  ;)

 



 

Long Range Steel Plinking video:

(hey I know these are Centerfire rifles and not Rimfire - just watch and shut up!)  ;)



.22 Rifle with Tracers - this is a really awesome video

This guy made a musical montage with .22 Tracers Plinking steel targets and background music using a Ruger 10 22: