Mossberg Plinker .22? Any opinions?

[CT9A]

Found one at Wally World for under $100 and figured it'd make a good LTR.  Anyone have any experience with these?  I did a Google on it and didn't find anything bad about them.

[SamD]

 I've never had one come in for repair.

Sam

[CT9A]

I've never had one come in for repair.

Sam

LOL, well I guess that's a good thing!

I was also wondering if anyone knows the availability of support for it.  For instance, can I put tech sites on it?

[SamD]

You can put Tech Sights on it.
The ones for the Marlin clamp onto the scope mounting dovetail. You may need to tinker with the front if the threads/dia are different but I doubt it.

Sam

[TAZDevil]

I bought an old Mossberg from the CMP late last summer.
$175
has more than adequte iron sights and trigger.
I shot a 226 AQT with it yesterday
just another option to consider
TAZ

[AFTERMATH]

It definately seems to be the most $-friendly, s/a .22 lr on the market at this time.
I have no experience with them, though.
Pretty tiny for me, but probably great for younger shooters.
I've never seen them with sling swivels, and I don't know what it would take to add them.
But I'd keep it in mind(for a loaner)

[CT9A]

Well, I went ahead and picked it up tonight.  I'm trying to schedule in some range time either tomorrow or Monday to go play with it and see what I think. 

Aftermath, you're right, there is no sling studs on it, so I'm trying to figure out how to get this done.  If anyone has any bright ideas, I'd very much appreciate it.  The stock is plastic and has a seam (split) down the middle where you would typically drill a stud in. 

[AFTERMATH]

Somewhere on the 10/22 LTR thread they have advise on mounting to a 10/22 syn. stock.  You may want to check that out.

[Colorado Sam]

Just picked up a Mossberg 702 plinster at my work for $75. Soon as i add a sling, some sights, and pink duracoat it'll be the perfect LTR for the girlfriend.

[Cowdog]

I picked a Plinkster up at walmart after a positive review by Massad Ayoob in Backwoods Home magazine. It feels like a bb gun, but is functional. I have just played with it--maybe 200 rounds. The single stack mag feeds well, and it does hold the bolt open on the last shot. I can shoot it offhand as well as my more expensive 22's.

The bad thing is the rear stock seems a little thin to hold a sling swivel. Seem to be fewer accessories too. It is a bit complicated to strip for cleaning--but I have got used easy cleaning Russian guns. 

Hope this helps.

[Wheeler44]

I have a 702 plinkster that I use...mostly as a loaner LTR...I was able to slick up the trigger a little and I am quite happy with it..

Last shot bolt hold open, 10 rd detachable mag., free floated barrel, yep, it's a fine LTR..

Find the ammo that it likes and it's plenty accurate enough for what we do..

Wheeler44

[gunville]

The bad thing is the rear stock seems a little thin to hold a sling swivel. Seem to be fewer accessories too. It is a bit complicated to strip for cleaning--but I have got used easy cleaning Russian guns. 

Clean russian guns? 

...Who cleans russian guns?


Just kidding - I clean my AK every 5-6000 rounds - if it needs it or not.

[AFTERMATH]

...Who cleans russian guns?

I just like to take them apart and put them back together, really fast(blind folded) .

[ivyleague28477]

Somewhere on the 10/22 LTR thread they have advise on mounting to a 10/22 syn. stock.  You may want to check that out.

Where?   I seem to be missing it (even using "search" 'n all).  I'll need to do this before April 18-19th. 

I have a 702 plinkster that I use...mostly as a loaner LTR...I was able to slick up the trigger a little and I am quite happy with it..

Last shot bolt hold open, 10 rd detachable mag., free floated barrel, yep, it's a fine LTR..

Find the ammo that it likes and it's plenty accurate enough for what we do..

Wheeler44

Good to know - I'm borrowing my 3 year old son's Plinkster for my first Appleseed coming up. (yes, my three-year-old has a 702 plinkster... yes he is supervised when he gets to shoot it.)  I figured - it's about the training, not the rifle.  Learn the techniques & skills, and they'll transfer to any other rifle I might ever use, so why not use something that's easy enough for my son to handle? 

[Buckshot]

I have been building a LTR from a Mossberg 702 Plinkster.

The Tech Sight for the Marlin 60 will fit it, but I started before it was available.

I have the Williams FP-TK-SR which is a Foolproof rear sight with target knobs and a mount that lets it clamp to the scope rail.

I will be putting in Uncle Mikes' 1 1/4" detachable sling swivels.  Since the 702 has a hollow stock, I am going to take hardwood and make a block to fit between the webs in the foreend and inside the buttstock (butt plate is removable) and epoxy the wood blocks in then mount the sling swivels in the wood blocks.  If you don't make a mistake all of this is hidden.

The front sight is not too much fun.  They have a pair of screws holding the plastic front blade on.  Not really anything available with that same spacing.

I am taking a novel approach, but it will be expensive if you don't all ready have the parts in stock.  I am mounting the fake flash suppressor from a Chinese M14s on the 702 which provides a little more "cool look" factor and a higher sight mount just where I need it.  Without having parts in the bin it would take a flash hider, castle nut, castle nut lock screw, front sight and front sight screw along with machining splines and threads.

Wal-mart also stocks the mags, IIRC they were right at $10.00 each, I got 4 spares to go with the one that came with the rifle.

Buckshot

[wcmartin1]

Please give us a range report when you are finished, Sir.

[big 54r]

the 702 plinkster is a very good 22lr rifle.
my BIL has one and he can put 10 shots into the bullseye from 25 yds. in the wind!
we both plan on attending our 1st appleseed shoot in college station on April 18/19 2009!

[AFTERMATH]

Ivyleague,

There is some info. here;  http://appleseedinfo.org/smf/index.php?topic=6023.0 
for mounting studs on a syn. stock 10/22- It should translate to your Mossberg.
Hope this helps.

[Colorado Pete]

Would a barrage of emails to Mossberg induce them to factory-install swivels?

[Devnull]

Anyone else have issue sighting it in with the factory sights? Mine consistently with the rear sight dialed all the way down shoots about a foot high! I am considering making a spacer for the front sight to alleviate it. Any thoughts?

[RickB]

All,
Installing Uncle Mike's sling swivel studs in a hollow plastic stock is easy.  Did it for my oldest teen's 22 several years ago and it has been through 5 Appleseeds so far.
Drill the hole for the stud (a little large is much better than too small).
Screw the stud in.
Get some fairly thick epoxy (Home Depot, etc.).
Put a nice big glob on the threads and the inside of the stock (this takes the place of wooden blocks).
Let it harden.
Attach swivels and shoot.
RickB

[Buckshot]

All,
Installing Uncle Mike's sling swivel studs in a hollow plastic stock is easy.  Did it for my oldest teen's 22 several years ago and it has been through 5 Appleseeds so far.
Drill the hole for the stud (a little large is much better than too small).
Screw the stud in.
Get some fairly thick epoxy (Home Depot, etc.).
Put a nice big glob on the threads and the inside of the stock (this takes the place of wooden blocks).
Let it harden.
Attach swivels and shoot.
RickB

RickB,

I would suggest, should you do that, that you epoxy the whole section between the webs where the screw is in solid.

We have had three sets of swivels come out of more expensive stocks than what Mossberg is using on the 702.  If you don't have a wood block, steel reinforcement on the inside of the stock or an epoxy block to spread the load, it will come right through the plastic on these stocks.

One was a very expensive McMillan stock, also a Bell & Carlson and soem kind of composite for a Ruger 10-22.  The guys were high power shooters with .22 rifles and MAY have been slinging up a little tighter than most, but it is something that needs to be watched for.

I was using wood blocks so I could use the standard machine screw front swivel and wood screw rear swivel.  It would take a LOT of epoxy to get the whole rear "wood screw" into epoxy, but not so much with a hardwood block epoxied in.

Buckshot

[Devnull]

Well I figured out the sight issue. The front sight is made out of PLASTIC! 

Apparently the last time that I used this gun before the appleseed this weekend (We were fishing at Conchas lake and taking some small game while we were at it) the gun must have gotten kicked around on the boat. After being frustrated with good groups about 4-5 inches high I borrowed one of the instructor's 10/22. Well later saturday night I sat the gun down on the table in the cabin we rented and my buddy who was also as frustrated as I was with the problem looked at the gun and said "Hey Devnull, the *#^% front post is broken off!"

Long story short protect that front sight! I am thinking of getting the marlin techsights and seeing if the front sight will replace the front sight. A hood might be a good idea if you still have a factory sight.

[dwarven1]

We had a Plinkster on the line at Throop this weekend. Can't say I was terribly impressed by it - the shooter was complaining of a lot of misfeeds. I tried to help him adjust the factory sights, too... yech. Replacing them with Tech-Sights could only help them.

[Buckshot]

You asked, here is some info.

No range report yet, that will happen probably Tuesday 05/19/09.

Just got it back from the guy installing the front sight base late this afternoon.

IF I can make it work, three pictures (bad, too much contrast, too much sun, bad background) will kind of give the idea.







I don't think those are going to take, someone help me if you will.

Thanks,

Buckshot

[Wheeler44]

A hood might be a good idea if you still have a factory sight.

This rifle should have come stock with a hood on the front sight...look at the front sight base it should be grooved for the hood.

Can't say I was terribly impressed by it - the shooter was complaining of a lot of misfeeds.

Another common misconception is that any .22 will digest any ammo......How much dope (Data On Personal Equipment) does the shooter have?  Or did he just buy the cheapest rifle and the cheapest ammo that he could find? My 702 Plinkster (which is pretty much relegated to loaner status) just turned out ANOTHER rifleman last weekend in Montana...... Ithink that's four now or it could be five.....Mine likes Blazer in the 50 box best and will shoot between 2 and 3 MOA with it... IF the shooter does their part...   Like all things Appleseed it just takes a little gettin' used to ...

Wheeler44