Has anyone had any experience with this model? I am looking for a plinker to shoot around the range and maybe teach my daughter with. Probably a 17HMR or 22WMR.

I've got one and had some problems with the magazines feeding properly. They've updated the magazines since I got my 597, but you might be better off with a 10/22 or a Marlin semi-auto. If you do a search, you'll find the magazine problem is somewhat common. Also, when cleaning, there's a couple of screws that hold the bolt guide rods in place. in order to clean the bolt good, you have to remove the screws and take out the rods and their associated springs. The springs can be a pain to re-install.

It's a nice little plinker, but these are a couple of issues to consider. It's the only .22 semi-auto that I have owned, so I can't really compare it to others. Other rifles may have their shortcomings. These two are the ones I've encountered with the 597.

If I bought another .22 rifle, I'd probably look at either the 10/22 or a Marlin semi-auto.

I've never actually owned one myself, but friend I shoot with from time to time has one, and like xd9x19, he has problems getting the magazines to feed properly.

I opted for the Ruger 10/22 and I absolutely love it.

If you are just looking for a plinker or something to teach your daughter I would go with either the 10/22 or a marlin .22 LR. The shells are a whole lot cheaper and you can shoot all day long for around $15. We shot a box of 550 rounds through my pistol this weekend and bought an new box for $10. So it is hard to beat a .22LR for just plinking.

[Deleted by Admins]

One other note. So far I've only used Remington ammo - the ammo that comes in the 550 round value packs and some of the limited edition metal tins. Ammo might have contributed to the feeding problem, but I would think Remington ammo should work reasonably well in a Remington rifle.

That's what I was affraid of.

I'm in the middle of Ruger country with a plant near by in Newport, NH and many of the guys at the range shoot 10/22. Awesome rifle. I was just checking other options and I was looking for other caliber options.

Thanks for the feedback. I had heard about the magazine issue.

Hey chief, I live in NH and let me tell ya, go with either a 10/22 or marlin .22 Both are great guns and will not let ya down!!

-Dave

If you're going to teach your daughter to shoot w/ it.. how about a nice bolt action like a CZ or something? It will be much more accurate and easier to find in a .22mag or .17HMR. But if you have to have a semiauto.. then??? For a semiauto.. the Ruger 10/22 is very hard to beat... although many have tried... none have succeeded!!!

I won this one...Looks nice
So nice I've never fired it.