There are few things more American than heading out to the back 40 or your nearest range with a rimfire rifle and a brick of .22 ammunition to just have fun. Really, there's not much more that you need than that, though there are a whole bunch of products available that will turn your plinking experience up a notch or two. Here are five we really loved:
1. Dead Air/Ruger RXD22Ti .22 LR Suppressor
The Dead Air RXD22Ti, made in collaboration with Ruger, is easier to use and to clean than many other .22 LR suppressors on the market. Rated for .22 LR, .22 Mag., .17 HMR, .17 WSM and (to a certain extent) 5.7x28 mm, this suppressor is made of skeletonized titanium and weighs only 5.6 ounces. It’s designed with a single-piece core instead of a series of baffles, making it far easier to clean, and brings a noise rating of about 113 dB at the ear to a Ruger 10/22. Its coolest feature, though, is the included XRF muzzle brake, which the manufacturer says helps to capture lead before it enters the suppressor. MSRP: $499; deadairsilencers.com
2. Do All Outdoors Self-Healing Targets
The Do All Outdoors Impact Seal self-healing targets are a great option for plinking fun. Make an epic shooting gallery with typical gongs, bouncers shaped as cubes, spheres and “top hats,” and even a 3-D prairie dog. The targets are also rated for calibers much larger than your typical plinking fodder—including .45 ACP—and will return to a near-new state even after many impacts. MSRP: $19.99-109.99; doalloutdoors.com
3. ATI GSG-16 Rotary Magazine 22LR 110-RD
Plinking’s primary downside is that you can tear through a whole bucket of .22 LR in no time at all—and that means lots of loading. This American Tactical rotary magazine, though, holds a whopping 110 rounds, so you can take care of that chore in advance instead of letting it eat into range time (especially if you buy several). Made of polymer with steel feed lips, a high-tensile spring and a built-in loading lever, it’s an easy win. It fits GSG’s .22 LR rifle or Ruger 10/22s (shown here). MSRP: $89.99; americantactical.us
4. Velocity Triggers Ruger 10/22 Trigger Kit with Mag Release
There’s nothing wrong with the standard Ruger 10/22 trigger; however, a more premium plinking experience can be achieved with minimal work, and this match-grade trigger kit from Velocity Triggers is a favorite quick upgrade to fine-tune both function and style. This kit replaces the mag release, hammer, plunger spring, sear, disconnector and trigger-shoe components, and you can set either a 2- or 3-pound trigger pull weight. MSRP: $149.95, velocitytriggers.com
5. Champion Pre-filled Two-Tone Sandbags
You might not need to set up a shooting support each time you plink, of course, but for dialing in sights and for times when you’re teaching a young person, they’re invaluable. These Champion sandbags are ideal gear for quickly and easily setting up supported shooting. The handsome, pre-filled, two-tone bags are just the right size to easily transport and use, and you don’t have to worry about getting a shovel out every time you want to shoot off them. MSRP: $43.99, primos.com
