I have been buying rimfire ammo for a couple of year,s despite the fact that the only thing I have to shoot it with was a conversion for my Glock 19. The current sitiuation led me to order a pair of 597s yesterday. I then bought another used one while talking to a budy that needed some money. So now I will have three. The only personal experience I have with a .22 in a long gun is with my fathers Winchester model 61. What are your personal experiences with the 597? Good? Bad?
I can't speak of the 597 personally, but I've heard only good things about it. Having 3 of them is an excellent decision - you have interchangeable parts and magazines, which should serve you well in the long run. If parts start to break and/or wear out, you have a complete set of spare parts in your other rifles. If all 3 guns break, combine parts to make 1 or 2 good ones. You have chosen... wisely.