Well, I also bought a .22, finally. Since my wife was brought up in rural Texas she agreed that this is really a necessity so she had no objections when I wanted to use some part of a small windfall (if $500 is a windfall) for a .22 long rifle. The choices were either a Savage package gun or a Ruger 10/22, both from Big 5. Because what I like about guns is the doing and modifying and assembly and dis-assembly more than the actually shooting, this made it easy to decide on the 10/22. Then I had the fun of researching all the options and upgrades. I didn't like the hardwood stock so I painted it matte black, added the quick release for the bolt (an easy Dremel tool task), polished up the trigger and bolt and in general had fun fixing it up to what I wanted. There's a thread in Rimfire Rifles with pictures. Some day I'll go to a .920 barrel and possibly a Hogue overmolded stock (love those!) but I'm happy with it now and think it was the right decision (can you say cognitive dissonance?)

With options, new parts, bipod, etc. I probably wound up spending the same as if I had gone the black rifle .22 route. I'm not a real fan of the 'black rifle' (AR) look, but do like black rifles, so I'm a happy camper now.

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