Heathways plainsman MC22 .22-CALIBER Co2 rifle

Heathways MC22

When you hear Heathways you probably think of the Plainsman 175 pistol. Heathways made several pistol variants. But they also made two almost  unknown rifles. The MX175 .177 used standard bbs and the MC22 .22 steel coated round ball sold and manufactured by Heathways for this rifle and a couple of their .22 pistols.

The MC22 used proprietary .22 lead ammo, that was steal coated so the magnetic feed would work. The MC22 also had a rifled barrel. Other than this they were identical.

The gun today I shoot and examine is the MC22. using .22 gamo round lead balls. The gun shoot them but not as a semi-auto. because the magnetic feed will not pick them up.

There is very little information about these rifles. I think the production started in 1969 to the mid 70's

The Plainsman MC22 could be fired as fast as the trigger can be pulled. It is actually a double action mechanism that fires and loads another steel coated lead ball almost simultaneous. Having a large valve body probably gives the gun its power.

8g or 12 gram co2 cartridge can be used. opening the cart chamber revels the steel coated ball loading tray and cart carriage. closing it charges the gun. I believe it holds fifty lead balls. The safety is located by the cart receiver. having a fixed front blade and adjustable rear sight. and a rifled barrel.

Today I shoot at 25 feet off hand. Indoors as the temperature is 58° outside.

I wish I had some of Heathways steel coated lead ball ammo to properly test the gun. The last time I seen some a tube cost $70. luckily I can shoot it a few times today useing .22 lead roundballs.

SPECIFICATIONS: for MC22
SIGHTS blade front adjustable rear

POWER 8g with the space cart or 12g co2

AMMO  .22 steel coated lead ball * no longer available

STOCK  wood

BARREL LENGTH 20 Inches rifled steel

GUN LENGTH 41 inches total

WEIGHT 4 lbs.

MUZZLE VELOCITY 530 fps