Rimfire open is one of the best and easiest divisions for new shooters to get into. No recoil, easy to shoot guns, and you have a platform for hours of fun with shooters of any skill level. Making an entry level open gun is pretty simple as well. Here’s how I did it.
I took a Ruger 22/45 Threaded Barrel and put an RMR on it. If I need a comp, I’d get one from Tactical Solutions and then I’d be done. Boom, Rimfire open gun. Total cost counting the gun, optic, mount, and comp is less than a grand out the door. Some might question putting a 500 dollar optic on a 400 dollar gun, but I’d disagree. Quality is important, and having good gear the first time around will guarantee that you won’t be replacing the optic in two weeks when it breaks. I’ve bought plenty of 30 dollar red-dots, and they’re all garbage.
Back to the gun itself, if you want to do something like this, the Ruger 22/45 is absolutely my number 1 recommendation for .22 LR platforms to build on. The amount of aftermarket support is massive, you can get all manner of parts from triggers to super lightweight barrels, and the guns tend to be fairly reliable as well. Hard to go wrong building on the Ruger rimfire platforms.
You don’t even really need to shoot open with this gun. It could just be for fun, or instead of putting a comp on it, you could put a can on the front end. A small .22 suppressor like a Gemtech Alpine on this would make it a sweet little hushpuppy, perfect for recreational shooting without the need for hearing protection. If you want to build this gun for yourself, you can buy a Ruger 22/45 Threaded Barrel at that link.
Gah! I had no idea they made threaded versions of the 22/45. I bought a non-threaded one a few years ago and have been meaning to get it threaded for my Outback II suppressor. One of these days…
That said, that pistol looks pretty sharp. Well done.