Break Barrel Ruger Impact Max Elite .22

[IAMzehTOASTY1]

Hi, I usually go by Jon or Toast
The second name was earned many years ago through too many nights of literally partying too much and thinking that it would be an awesome stage name: Toast Mckrumbs! (I played guitar on open mic nights in Manhattan, KS). Only the first part stuck.

Fast forward to 8 years behind today.
Grew tired of partying and nursing hangovers. Walked into the sporting good section of Wal mart.
Saw the airguns and got to thinking...
I should be plinking...not drinking!
So I scanned the available inventory. Red ryders....760s...880s...then it happened.
What's this?
A break barrel?
What's that?...Well there are a few...I'll check them out and see what the boxes say.
I like guns.
After examining the first box; I thought: 1 pump?! ok....so I set it down.
It was a crosman ....forgetting what model...so I thought what else...Gamo...some other brands that I don't remember the other boxes because i didnt recognizethe brand...
Once again; thought: wow, lots of new to me stuff...but the 4th!!!
RUGER
Now I KNOW-know that brand for absolute 100% certainty. I grew up on a farm in southwestern Kansas...so firearms were tools that I already knew how to use and am familiar with many of the name brands already.
So once I saw the Ruger...I quickly examined the box.no way! This is a Ruger?!
In .22?! I glance over to the pellets that I didn't even look at yet bc I knew i had to choose a slinger first
RUGER PELLETS?!?! IN .22?!
That's it; I'm done, I've decided, getting it, Now!
8 years go by... it is now today.
Never given me a fuss, irons are always there to verify if a scope doesn't work.(The one that came with it; has proven to be the best one for it too).
I can't say enough good things about this slinger bc of what is helped me through. Sober almost as long as I've had her. Growing up; hunting was a privilege and it still is. So after I had gotten my Ruger initially; if I were to drink again, I found myself staring at it and cursing myself for being under the influence; which in my eye and my family is frowned upon if you wish to handle any weaponry of any sort. You drink; you don't shoot: that's it.
Then I compared prices...
A tin of pellets is less than most packs of beer and definitely cheaper than a bottle of liquor.
So this one has technically been in my possession the longest in my life....
Making it my "oldest in years to me" slinger.
Some pics of info and tinkering of the years photos included.

Base stats


Tinkering around pics over time

 

[IAMzehTOASTY1]

Picture 1: Tin from back then that I still save.

Picture 2: Newest of the batches to me.

 

[AtlasAirguns]

Walmart special!

 

[IAMzehTOASTY1]

Walmart special!

She is special to me for sure!

 

[Hateful McNasty]

She is special to me for sure!

Walmart? How sweat

 

[IAMzehTOASTY1]

Walmart? How sweat

I knew nothing of break barrels before even seeing it in person just knew the brand. Saw some more "powerful" ones but i didnt know the brands. Plus the last time I slung pellets before that(when i was 12 or 13), I didn't even know .22 airguns existed
So it had me hook, line, and sinker

 

[Hateful McNasty]

Heres the joke i was going for...

Atlas "Walmart special!"

You "She is special to me for sure!"

Me "Walmart? How sweat "

Get it ? ..lol.

 

[IAMzehTOASTY1]

Oh sweetheart!?did I mention my blonde moments?

 

[Hoppalong Doc]

Well Toasty1, your story is a compelling one and well written as well. You aren't alone in your dealing with demons, many of us have and are. We all share one common experience, our love of airguns. Toasty, you're welcome to sit around my campfire anytime. Orv.

 

[IAMzehTOASTY1]

Well Toasty1, your story is a compelling one and well written as well. You aren't alone in your dealing with demons, many of us have and are. We all share one common experience, our love of airguns. Toasty, you're welcome to sit around my campfire anytime. Orv.

Thank you!
Haven't sat around a campfire for...a while now

 

[CTAirgunner]

Great write up and story brother!!! Keep plinking!!

 

[IAMzehTOASTY1]

Great write up and story brother!!! Keep plinking!!

Thank you! been working like madman lately...need a break to go plinking

 

[Dogowski]

Hi, I usually go by Jon or Toast
The second name was earned many years ago through too many nights of literally partying too much and thinking that it would be an awesome stage name: Toast Mckrumbs! (I played guitar on open mic nights in Manhattan, KS). Only the first part stuck.

Fast forward to 8 years behind today.
Grew tired of partying and nursing hangovers. Walked into the sporting good section of Wal mart.
Saw the airguns and got to thinking...
I should be plinking...not drinking!
So I scanned the available inventory. Red ryders....760s...880s...then it happened.
What's this?
A break barrel?
What's that?...Well there are a few...I'll check them out and see what the boxes say.
I like guns.
After examining the first box; I thought: 1 pump?! ok....so I set it down.
It was a crosman ....forgetting what model...so I thought what else...Gamo...some other brands that I don't remember the other boxes because i didnt recognizethe brand...
Once again; thought: wow, lots of new to me stuff...but the 4th!!!
RUGER
Now I KNOW-know that brand for absolute 100% certainty. I grew up on a farm in southwestern Kansas...so firearms were tools that I already knew how to use and am familiar with many of the name brands already.
So once I saw the Ruger...I quickly examined the box.no way! This is a Ruger?!
In .22?! I glance over to the pellets that I didn't even look at yet bc I knew i had to choose a slinger first
RUGER PELLETS?!?! IN .22?!
That's it; I'm done, I've decided, getting it, Now!
8 years go by... it is now today.
Never given me a fuss, irons are always there to verify if a scope doesn't work.(The one that came with it; has proven to be the best one for it too).
I can't say enough good things about this slinger bc of what is helped me through. Sober almost as long as I've had her. Growing up; hunting was a privilege and it still is. So after I had gotten my Ruger initially; if I were to drink again, I found myself staring at it and cursing myself for being under the influence; which in my eye and my family is frowned upon if you wish to handle any weaponry of any sort. You drink; you don't shoot: that's it.
Then I compared prices...
A tin of pellets is less than most packs of beer and definitely cheaper than a bottle of liquor.
So this one has technically been in my possession the longest in my life....
Making it my "oldest in years to me" slinger.
Some pics of info and tinkering of the years photos included.

Base stats
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Tinkering around pics over time
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It's an awesome rifle. I've had mine about 3 years and it's never had a problem. It mostly sits in my gun cabinet now that I have been shooting pcp airguns. I shoot a few rounds thru it every month or so to keep the seals from drying up. One of my better purchase decisions for sure! Happy shooting.

 

[Dogowski]

Hi, I usually go by Jon or Toast
The second name was earned many years ago through too many nights of literally partying too much and thinking that it would be an awesome stage name: Toast Mckrumbs! (I played guitar on open mic nights in Manhattan, KS). Only the first part stuck.

Fast forward to 8 years behind today.
Grew tired of partying and nursing hangovers. Walked into the sporting good section of Wal mart.
Saw the airguns and got to thinking...
I should be plinking...not drinking!
So I scanned the available inventory. Red ryders....760s...880s...then it happened.
What's this?
A break barrel?
What's that?...Well there are a few...I'll check them out and see what the boxes say.
I like guns.
After examining the first box; I thought: 1 pump?! ok....so I set it down.
It was a crosman ....forgetting what model...so I thought what else...Gamo...some other brands that I don't remember the other boxes because i didnt recognizethe brand...
Once again; thought: wow, lots of new to me stuff...but the 4th!!!
RUGER
Now I KNOW-know that brand for absolute 100% certainty. I grew up on a farm in southwestern Kansas...so firearms were tools that I already knew how to use and am familiar with many of the name brands already.
So once I saw the Ruger...I quickly examined the box.no way! This is a Ruger?!
In .22?! I glance over to the pellets that I didn't even look at yet bc I knew i had to choose a slinger first
RUGER PELLETS?!?! IN .22?!
That's it; I'm done, I've decided, getting it, Now!
8 years go by... it is now today.
Never given me a fuss, irons are always there to verify if a scope doesn't work.(The one that came with it; has proven to be the best one for it too).
I can't say enough good things about this slinger bc of what is helped me through. Sober almost as long as I've had her. Growing up; hunting was a privilege and it still is. So after I had gotten my Ruger initially; if I were to drink again, I found myself staring at it and cursing myself for being under the influence; which in my eye and my family is frowned upon if you wish to handle any weaponry of any sort. You drink; you don't shoot: that's it.
Then I compared prices...
A tin of pellets is less than most packs of beer and definitely cheaper than a bottle of liquor.
So this one has technically been in my possession the longest in my life....
Making it my "oldest in years to me" slinger.
Some pics of info and tinkering of the years photos included.

Base stats
View attachment 1018
View attachment 1019View attachment 1020View attachment 1021View attachment 1022
Tinkering around pics over time
View attachment 1023View attachment 1024View attachment 1025View attachment 1027View attachment 1026View attachment 1029View attachment 1028View attachment 1030View attachment 1031View attachment 1032View attachment 1033View attachment 1034View attachment 1035View attachment 1036

I've had mine for about 8 years as well. It's my go to break barrel that never fails and is an old reliable type air rifle that's accurate. Now years later my obsession with PCP rifles is getting out of hand so the Ruger doesn't get much action these days. But she'll always be ready when I need her. Lol

 

[Dogowski]

Hi, I usually go by Jon or Toast
The second name was earned many years ago through too many nights of literally partying too much and thinking that it would be an awesome stage name: Toast Mckrumbs! (I played guitar on open mic nights in Manhattan, KS). Only the first part stuck.

Fast forward to 8 years behind today.
Grew tired of partying and nursing hangovers. Walked into the sporting good section of Wal mart.
Saw the airguns and got to thinking...
I should be plinking...not drinking!
So I scanned the available inventory. Red ryders....760s...880s...then it happened.
What's this?
A break barrel?
What's that?...Well there are a few...I'll check them out and see what the boxes say.
I like guns.
After examining the first box; I thought: 1 pump?! ok....so I set it down.
It was a crosman ....forgetting what model...so I thought what else...Gamo...some other brands that I don't remember the other boxes because i didnt recognizethe brand...
Once again; thought: wow, lots of new to me stuff...but the 4th!!!
RUGER
Now I KNOW-know that brand for absolute 100% certainty. I grew up on a farm in southwestern Kansas...so firearms were tools that I already knew how to use and am familiar with many of the name brands already.
So once I saw the Ruger...I quickly examined the box.no way! This is a Ruger?!
In .22?! I glance over to the pellets that I didn't even look at yet bc I knew i had to choose a slinger first
RUGER PELLETS?!?! IN .22?!
That's it; I'm done, I've decided, getting it, Now!
8 years go by... it is now today.
Never given me a fuss, irons are always there to verify if a scope doesn't work.(The one that came with it; has proven to be the best one for it too).
I can't say enough good things about this slinger bc of what is helped me through. Sober almost as long as I've had her. Growing up; hunting was a privilege and it still is. So after I had gotten my Ruger initially; if I were to drink again, I found myself staring at it and cursing myself for being under the influence; which in my eye and my family is frowned upon if you wish to handle any weaponry of any sort. You drink; you don't shoot: that's it.
Then I compared prices...
A tin of pellets is less than most packs of beer and definitely cheaper than a bottle of liquor.
So this one has technically been in my possession the longest in my life....
Making it my "oldest in years to me" slinger.
Some pics of info and tinkering of the years photos included.

Base stats
View attachment 1018
View attachment 1019View attachment 1020View attachment 1021View attachment 1022
Tinkering around pics over time
View attachment 1023View attachment 1024View attachment 1025View attachment 1027View attachment 1026View attachment 1029View attachment 1028View attachment 1030View attachment 1031View attachment 1032View attachment 1033View attachment 1034View attachment 1035View attachment 1036

Lol, I've got one as well i purchased about 7 years ago. Reliable little rifle.

 

[Hoppalong Doc]

Jon, I enjoy reading of your journey into airgunning, as well as sobriety. I too grew up shooting and with safety in mind. My shooting was further honed by military service, including two tours in Vietnam. Upon arriving home I swore that I'd never shoot again, but seventeen years later, and with two teenage sons, I was once again drawn in to shooting. I've been able to separate the combat experience from the now wonderful hobby of shooting. I still can't enjoy hunting, but the enjoyment of shooting I still have with my sons and grandchildreen. Orv.

 

[Murfdurf82]

This is awesome! Keep shooting. I got into it this year because I NEEDED something. My relationship w my girlfriend and some wild children who are going through a lot themselves w there parents divorced, and now I live in. It was rough and I needed 2 things. ONE I needed a hobby, girlfriend was off work for the summer as she's a school employee and hurt her back so it was her time to recover. She Never left the house. TWO I needed a way to reach her boys, have fun and expand our relationship. I now have a great hobby and things have progressed, haven't choked out my girlfriend lol. I owe a good part to air rifles and a hobby I enjoy. So Kuddos my man and keep going!

 

[Madhatter]

Jon, I enjoy reading of your journey into airgunning, as well as sobriety. I too grew up shooting and with safety in mind. My shooting was further honed by military service, including two tours in Vietnam. Upon arriving home I swore that I'd never shoot again, but seventeen years later, and with two teenage sons, I was once again drawn in to shooting. I've been able to separate the combat experience from the now wonderful hobby of shooting. I still can't enjoy hunting, but the enjoyment of shooting I still have with my sons and grandchildreen. Orv.

The airguns don't go bang anywhere near what a powder burner does.

 

[Dogowski]

Jon, I enjoy reading of your journey into airgunning, as well as sobriety. I too grew up shooting and with safety in mind. My shooting was further honed by military service, including two tours in Vietnam. Upon arriving home I swore that I'd never shoot again, but seventeen years later, and with two teenage sons, I was once again drawn in to shooting. I've been able to separate the combat experience from the now wonderful hobby of shooting. I still can't enjoy hunting, but the enjoyment of shooting I still have with my sons and grandchildreen. Orv.

Thank you for your service Orv and keep enjoying the shooting!

 

[Hoppalong Doc]

The airguns don't go bang anywhere near what a powder burner does.

Ahhh. . . so true, but the targets still run the same and the look in their eyes never changes. Orv.