TTAG’s resident sharp shot Kirsten Joy Weiss began her trick shooting career behind the trigger of an Anschütz competition rifle. When certain members of our commentariat chided Ms. Weiss for using a German low-caliber high-end rifle to demonstrate her prowess we reached out to various manufacturers for something more prosaic. And so Ms. Weiss is headed to TTAG central command to tape Trick Shots 2.0, where she’ll be plying her trade with various long guns including a Benelli shotgun, some way-cool ARs, an FN product or two and a brace of Henry lever guns. Which one will be KJW’s go-to gun? Wait! Don’t answer! How about an Anschütz MSR RX22? They’ve been as rare as Henne Zähne. But the company’s presser (after the jump) informs us that RX22’s are finally headed stateside. Will Kirsten be SCARed for life? Watch this space . . .

After a long wait for American consumers, Anschütz Sporting Arms has delivered a substantial shipment of its much sought after MSR RX22 small-bore tactical training rifles to Steyr Arms, the exclusive importer of the rifle. This shipment included the popular Desert and Black Hawk models, as well as the extremely rare Precision and Precision Black models—all of which are currently shipping to distributers and dealers around the country.

World-renowned for its gold-medal winning competitive rifles, Anschütz introduced the MSR RX22 last year, but until now, demand has far exceeded availability. Featuring a target barrel and a competition-inspired trigger, the MSR RX22 is certainly no plinker. Rather, it’s a full-featured, precision .22-caliber training and small-game hunting rifle.

The MSR RX22 was developed from the ground up as an extremely accurate semi-automatic .22-cal. rifle with excellent shooting performance that is suitable for the intense requirements of most shooting disciplines as well as semi-auto precision shooting. The MSR RX22 offers an extremely accurate self-loading rifle platform with excellent shooting performance and exceptional reliability. This new Anschütz rifle operates on a force-locking blowback action system with a hammer lock.

The MSR RX22 barrels are manufactured to the same exacting tolerances of Anschütz’ target barrels with a special button-rifling process, and the barrel features a recessed target crown. The single-stage trigger’s components are hardened and finely ground to produce a fast trigger with a very consistent release. The trigger is factory set at 4 lbs. and can be adjusted from 3.3 to 5.5 lbs. by the user.

The MSR RX22 was designed for ease of use for either a left- or right-handed shooter. The cocking handle can be quickly located to any of three positions on either side of the rifle for a total of six possible cocking-handle locations. The trigger-locking safety is easily engaged by way of a large selector switch, familiar to most tactical centerfire rifles on either side of the receiver. [h/t ammoland.com]

18 COMMENTS

  1. Y’know, I don’t care which rifle Kirsten uses to knock the eye out of a newt. The fact that she can is far more important than the instrument that she uses.

    I’m sure that Hilary Hahn would be a darn good fiddle player whether she was plucking a multimillion dollar Guarnerius or a $300 Cremona.

    Likewise, Ms. Weiss is a darn good shooter.

  2. Am I the only one that finds FN-SCAR’s (and this lookalike) to be quite ugly? It’s like shooting a piece of 2×4 lumber.

    • I have held the SCAR-17 but not shot it, found it as comfortable as an AR. The wierd one is the FS2000, that thing is like trying to shoulder a small tuna.

    • Yeah, not so much in the looks department…that is a heinously ugly rifle. At least FN has its stuff together in the shooting department.

    • I own a SCAR-17 and it shoots great. It looks a bit odd because you are not used to it. Go shoot one a few times and you will know why i like it.

  3. Which one of you fools be criticizing KJW? Really? Her shooting skills are awesome and I wish I could shoot as well as her.

    • I have no doubt she can out-shoot 99% of us here, but I think the interest is in seeing what she brings to the table with every day guns as opposed to what the $4,000+ custom rifle provides (which would probably make all of us shoot at least a little better).

      It’s kinda like the hate on the Tracking Point scopes… when the hardware is that good, it masks (or replaces) the true skill underneath.

  4. I was pretty excited to see a tactical plinker made by Anschutz, but then I visited their website and read:

    “The MSR RX 22TM is a joint development by three German companies: ANSCHÜTZ, GERMAN SPORT GUNS and ESC Ulm.”

    GSG? Thanks but no thanks, especially since they’re going for $770 and up on Gunbroker 🙁

    • The rear BUIS? Does it really matter? Just a peep sight that looks the same from either side…

      Maybe they aren’t all the same… I only notice that since my AR sight hinges the other way…

      • Front and Rear Troy or Troy Style. I suppose they are going for the full-on Front Folded Sight overhang SCAR look.

  5. “competition-inspired trigger”…

    What, exactly, is that? I strongly suspect it is not a real competition trigger.

  6. Kinda cool, if too expensive for myself.

    Speaking of .22LR replicas, the S&W M&P 15-22 is pretty kick brass, as their marketing is wont to advertise. Eats all brands of ammo, and satisfyingly has the same functional major controls. Good rifle for <=$400.

  7. KJW should try and use a CZ .22 rifle, the 452 or the 455. Those rifles are superb pieces, and boring accurate.

  8. I happened upon this rifle by accident online and was very surprised to see the Anschutz name attached, I purchased the ISSC MK22 a couple of years ago when they first hit the Canadian market and I regretted it after about 200 rounds. 50% FTF due to a light strike and flaking paint on the upper plus screws that would loosen then strip when reinstalled. A supposed fix for the light strike that was posted on YouTube didn’t help mine so I contacted the importer, returned the firearm to them and it’s been fine after it was returned to me 3 months later. Anschutz claim to have addressed the problems associated with the Gen 1 ISSC model but who wants to pay that kind of money to find out especially when the RIA Mig 22 is a far superior tactical 22LR at about 1/3 the price. I am much happier with the Mig 22 and my ISSC MK22 is currently just taking up precious cabinet space.

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