Author Topic: 2 New Rimfires  (Read 4662 times)

billt

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2 New Rimfires
« on: July 18, 2017, 09:11:54 AM »
Yesterday my dealer called to tell me the 2 new .22 rimfire pistols I had ordered had come in. A new Beretta Model 87 Cheetah in .22 L.R., and a Ruger Mark IV Hunter. This is my second Ruger Mark IV. A couple of months back I purchased a new Ruger Mark IV Competition 100 Year Anniversary Model with the matching knife. I was very pleased with the gun, but because it was a limited production commemorative, I decided not to run up a high round count with it. So I went with this new Hunter. This is a post recall gun with the "improved" safety. The funny thing is I can't tell one bit of difference between the safety on this gun, or the pre recall model.

Both safeties feel and operate the same. Both can be positioned halfway if you try to position them that way. So I'm not sure what, if anything they actually "improved". Anyway, I'm very pleased with it. I didn't think I would be too excited with the shallow V-Notch rear sight. But after playing with it, it's not bad at all. Especially with the fiber optic front. It really stands out. I still however prefer the square notched rear target sight on the Competition Model.

The Beretta I was more concerned about because I purchased it sight unseen. These Beretta .22 Cheetah's are very hard to come by, and few dealers stock them. They are crazy expensive, with a MSRP $50.00 higher than the full size Model 92 Stainless 9 MM Inox Model. But after conversations with several people who owned them, I went ahead with the purchase. I wasn't disappointed. This gun just oozes quality. The slide to frame fit is like it's on ball bearings. The fit and finish couldn't be any better in my opinion. The bluing is deep and rich.

I felt somewhat comfortable with buying it because I already have the Model 87 Target, and it's a high quality piece. The Cheetah was no different. Another nice thing is the Cheetah will accept the 10 round magazines with the bumper pad from the 87 Target. The magazine doesn't look out of place when installed in the gun, and it gives it a 10+1 capacity, over the 7+1 of the 2 standard magazines the gun comes with. I hate shooting at indoor ranges, (too many idiots), but with the high Summertime temperatures we have out here this time of year, I don't have much choice. And I'm not about to wait until it cools off to fire both of them up. Here are a couple of quick and dirty phone camera pics of both guns.




tombogan03884

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Re: 2 New Rimfires
« Reply #1 on: July 18, 2017, 12:38:42 PM »
I like the looks of the Ruger. Beretta hasn't changed in 100 years except the put a bridge between the 2 prongs of the slide, but that was back in 34 . Does it still eject straight up and back ?

billt

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Re: 2 New Rimfires
« Reply #2 on: July 18, 2017, 12:57:33 PM »
.....Does it still eject straight up and back ?

I haven't fired either yet. I just got them both yesterday. I won't be able to get out to the range with them until early next week. But if this new Cheetah shoots the same as my 92-FS in 9 MM, it pretty much ejects like you say. Way up and to the rear.

On the Ruger, I'm not sure if I like the fluted barrel as much as the slab sided barrel on the Competition Model. The flutes are growing on me. I really like the frosted satin finish. It comes apart and goes back together like child's play. You can do both in about 15 seconds.

Rastus

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Re: 2 New Rimfires
« Reply #3 on: July 31, 2017, 03:05:44 PM »
OK Bill you've had more than enough time to shoot them. 

Let's hear it.  Keepers or future gun show maidens?
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alfsauve

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Re: 2 New Rimfires
« Reply #4 on: July 31, 2017, 03:35:40 PM »
Yeah.  Is the Mk IV subject to recall?   I've not kept up with on goings of that since I don't have one.


I'll put my Mk I up against any of the modern Rugers.  If only they had made a 10 round mag.
Will work for ammo
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Re: 2 New Rimfires
« Reply #5 on: Today at 06:35:23 AM »

billt

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Re: 2 New Rimfires
« Reply #5 on: July 31, 2017, 05:31:06 PM »
OK Bill you've had more than enough time to shoot them.

Not yet. We've had really crappy weather here this past week. Lots of rain and wind. Not to mention it's like a sauna out there the humidity is so high. I'm going to wait until it cools down a bit. No fun shooting and sweating at my age. If it keeps up, I'll go to the indoor range.

Yeah.  Is the Mk IV subject to recall? I've not kept up with on goings of that since I don't have one.

Not this one. It is a post recall model. I have my other Mark IV, which is a 100 Year Anniversary Model, which was subjected to the recall. I never sent it in for 2 reasons. Ruger never sent me the box yet for returning the lower. (You don't return the whole gun, just the lower receiver). Secondly, is I can't tell a single bit of difference between the recall model, and the Hunter that I just purchased, which has had the modification done.

I can still position the safety in between "Safe", and "Fire" on both pistols if I try to do so. Both operate exactly the same. I think this was more of a "lawyer proofing" recall than anything else. If you operate both safeties the way they are supposed to operate, they both work just fine.

These are range, target, plinking guns that I will never carry, or use the safety on anyway. When we have a range break at our club range, all semi autos are placed on the bench with the slide locked back, and the magazine removed from the gun. No one is allowed to touch their weapons until the signal is given that the range is "Hot". So the safety is useless as far as I'm concerned. But if it is called upon, it works just fine. The gun is not dangerous in the least.

Rastus

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Re: 2 New Rimfires
« Reply #6 on: August 04, 2017, 08:30:28 AM »
The Ruger...I don't care so much about how it performs we all know it's going to be a shooter.

It's the Berretta.  How does the Cheetah perform?  Cycles well?  Any failures?

It's been what, 2-3 days since my last post?  Get that thing out to the range and let me know how it works.
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billt

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Re: 2 New Rimfires
« Reply #7 on: August 04, 2017, 08:51:59 AM »
The Ruger...I don't care so much about how it performs we all know it's going to be a shooter.

It's the Berretta.  How does the Cheetah perform?  Cycles well?  Any failures?

It's been what, 2-3 days since my last post?  Get that thing out to the range and let me know how it works.

For sure next week. The rain is finally out of here. At least for a while anyway. I'm shooting for Monday morning.

billt

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Re: 2 New Rimfires
« Reply #8 on: August 08, 2017, 07:42:54 AM »
Yesterday I got both the Cheetah, and the new Ruger Mark IV out to the range with plenty of ammo. It was hot, but I got there early and it wasn't too bad. I first got started with the Cheetah, because I was the most anxious to fire it. I lubed up both pistols well before I left. I set the targets at 50 feet, and rested the guns on the frames.

The Cheetah's sights were right on the money with a shallow 6 o'clock hold. I went through about 40 rounds this way, and the gun was printing perfectly. After that I just shot using a conventional 2 handed hold. The gun ran flawlessly all day. Both magazines ran perfectly, as did 2, 10 round magazines I brought from my Model 87 Target. All locked the slide back on the last round, and fed with zero FTF's or FTE's.

The trigger on the Beretta 87's takes a bit of getting used to. It's a bit different than most triggers. It has a lot of travel. But once you get used to it, you know exactly when let off is going to occur, and accurate shooting is easily accomplished. All total I ran about 300 rounds through it, without a single malfunction. This was with both high speed bulk ammo, as well as standard velocity in both CCI and Aguila brands. After about 100 rounds I shot mostly standard velocity because it ran the gun just fine.

The Ruger was up next. It was such a different gun compared to the Cheetah, it took some getting used to. Much heavier and far more muzzle heavy. Like you would expect from a long barreled target pistol. The sights were a bit off, with the gun printing about 4 inches low, and about 3 inches to the right. But they were easily adjusted, and after that I had no trouble chewing the hell out of the bull at 50 feet. Naturally with it's longer barrel and sight radius, the Ruger grouped tighter than the Cheetah.

I had the same flawless reliability from the Ruger. I had a total of 4 magazines with me, and all of them fed well, and locked the slide back on the last round. It also fed both high speed, and standard velocity without a hiccup. I would say I ran around 250 rounds through it total. After that it was getting hot, so I packed it in for the day. As you could imagine both guns were filthy when I got them home. I really loved the way the Ruger Mark IV came apart, and went together in seconds. You can get at everything for cleaning. After a good wet Kerosene wash, and a blow dry with compressed air, both guns were as clean as when they came from the box. A little oil, and both were good to go.

The Beretta was a little tricky to get the guide rod and recoil spring back into battery. But after a couple of tries, it slipped back together nicely. By the time I finished cleaning both guns it was about 105F outside, and I was pretty sweaty. So I took a shower and went for a swim to cool off. Overall I couldn't be much happier with either gun. A good day at the range for sure. Albeit a hot one! But when you live in the desert in August, you can't complain.

Rastus

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Re: 2 New Rimfires
« Reply #9 on: August 08, 2017, 12:15:34 PM »
Nice.  I was wondering about the Cheetah...maybe I'll put in on my "I wanna buy one" list.  Maybe the Cheetah will replace the sorry SIG Mosquito I have.  I like having the 22 to switch off to when practicing with my carry.

The Mark IV should have been the slam dunk we expected. 

Do you know if anyone makes threaded barrels for the Cheetah?
Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom.
It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves.
-William Pitt, British Prime-Minister (1759-1806)
                                                                                                                               Avoid subjugation, join the NRA!

 

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