The Remington Model 33 and Other Single Shot .22s

The Remington Model 33 is a single shot, bolt action rifle chambered for the .22 Long Rifle Cartridge. It was introduced in 1932 and discontinued in 1935; according to Remington, approximately 263,550 were produced with serial numbers ranging from 00001 to 263,550. The specimen pictured, serial number 195,XXX belonged to my great grandfather who passed it along to my father who in turn passed it to me. Well worn from from countless thousands of rounds of ammunition and nearly eight decades of service, the old rifle still performs admirably, despite its dings, blemishes, and missing rear sight blade.

Such rifles, once popular due to their rugged simplicity, inherent safety, reasonable accuracy, and modest cost, have been first rifles for many youthful shooters and continue to serve as excellent training tools. Though unexciting in the age of Tactical .22s, single shots like the old Remington 33 eliminate distractions and provide a deliberate focus upon safety and marksmanship with each round that is chambered and fired. For seasoned shooters, they offer unparalleled reliability and flexibility: their simple actions incorporate few moving parts, rendering them unlikely to fail, and they reliability digest most non-magnum .22 rimfire ammunition from mild mannered CB Caps to hyper velocity Stingers. This reliability and flexibility can make them viable survival tools.

Bolt action, single shot .22s are currently available in adult and youth models from Savage Arms and Keystone Sporting Arms, LLC (manufacturers of the Crickett and Chipmunk Rifles) while Marlin offers a single shot youth version of the XT Series. Other single shot .22s that are available include Savage's reintroduction of the venerable Stevens Favorite, a falling block design, and the inexpensive break actions produced by H&R and Rossi in both adult and youth models. While all are good rifles, the Rossi Model S411225BS, a youth sized rifle that comes with matching .22 Long Rifle and .410 shotgun barrels represents exceptional value (retailing for around $150) and versatility.