By Ken Cultraro
With 22LR ammunition beginning to return to store shelves, also returning is the opportunity to plink and practice at a reasonable cost. With that in mind, my wife asked what I wanted for our anniversary. I asked for a 22LR rifle and the one I selected was the Remington 597.
The day after receiving my gift, I headed straight to the range to give it a try. I set it up on a Caldwell front bag and put in the neighborhood of 150 rounds through it that first day. Right out of the box I was able to shoot fairly tight groups, 5 rounds each at 50 yards using CCI Standard Velocity rounds. The 3-9 scope was very good and I sighted it in without too much effort. There was only one misfeed and that was due to a bad round and not the rifle. I departed the range quite happy with my new gift.
I returned the following week to confirm the zero on the scope and also try shooting the rifle offhand. 25 rounds off the Caldwell confirmed the zero and so I moved onto offhand. The first thing I noticed was that the rifle was heavier than I expected. That being said though, it felt solid in my hands and allowed me to take a confident stance. The first few groups were not as tight as off the bag, but I attribute that more to my shakes than to the rifle.
Claim to fame: Reliable, easy to shoot and reasonably priced.
Target market: People who love to plink (target shoot) and those who want to teach the next generation the fundamentals of shooting.
FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):
- It comes standard with a 3-9 scope.
- Shoots semi-auto with virtually zero recoil.
- Comes with a 10-round detachable box magazine.
What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?: My 597 is a dark green synthetic stock with a black barrel. The rifle comes in many different finishes from traditional, tactical, camo and "Gen Y" for the tween shooter. Here is the link to see them all. Remington
What others are saying: Judging by these links, people seem to agree that the 597 is a good rifle.
MSRP vs Retail: My wife paid $199 for the rifle at our local Dick's Sporting Goods.
I need it now! Availability: From my online research, it appears that the 597 is available at most places that you would expect to find it (Dick's, Bass Pro, Gander Mountain, Walmart, etc.).
Our rating:
+ Easy to shoot + Low recoil + Good scope for the purpose / price + Reasonable price
Score: 8
