My Beretta Weatherby Mark XXII .22L.R.

[5-SHOTS]

Hello all friends and guests of THR. A couple weeks ago my cousins decided to give me one of the guns that belonged to their father who passed away in December 2022. I cannot describe the surprise and the joy I felt when they communicated their decision and the pride for this honor they decided to give me in memory of my beloved uncle. It is a Beretta Weatherby Mark XXII carabine .22L.R caliber. Once I cleaned and lubed it, I took it to the range. I shot 200 rounds, 100 Fiocchi Semiauto 40gr. and 100 Fiocchi Ultrasonic 40gr. I only tried a couple of paper groups because it was too much more fun to shoot shotgun cases and other small objects. The group in the pic is a ten shot group at 25 yards, standing, using the original iron sights with Fiocchi Semiauto. It is my first and only long gun I have and will stay with me until I die. To you the photos. I will publish many more photos in the coming days of both the carabine and its internal parts since it has a particular system with a selector that allows you to shoot in semiauto or single shot mode.

 

[ms6852]

Great cousins you have and a beautiful rifle. I would remove the rifle recoil pad to make sure the wood is still good. Sometimes depending on humidity ,moisture gets inside and can ruin the finish.

 

[redneck2]

Great cousins you have and a beautiful rifle. I would remove the rifle recoil pad to make sure the wood is still good. Sometimes depending on humidity ,moisture gets inside and can ruin the finish.

I was going to post the same thing

Many things we never really own, we are simply blessed to be able to use and enjoy them during our very short time here. That’s a beautiful rifle. Congrats

 

[1KPerDay]

Sweet rifle! Nice of them to think of you.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Very cool! Ive only ever seen those in books, yours is gorgeous!

 

[I6turbo]

Very nice, 5-SHOTS! Congratulations, and it's really great that your cousins think this much of you.

I would remove the rifle recoil pad to make sure the wood is still good. Sometimes depending on humidity ,moisture gets inside and can ruin the finish.

^^^ And please post a picture back with the pad removed so that some of us here can rest a bit easier, myself included.

 

[Walkalong]

That's a very cool rifle.

 

[Jeff olson]

You're going to fall in love with that rifle. I have 2 of the Japanese versions. Very fine rifles. You're very lucky.

 

[Riomouse911]

Cool! The Weatherby Mark XXII just exude class, they are one gun I would love to own but probably never will.

Great looks and a great shooter, you received a double score. Congratulations!

Stay safe..

 

[Jim Watson]

I am not clear, is it a Weatherby marked "Made in Italy" like mine,
or is it a Beretta offering on the same design as Weatherby?
I have only seen one with Beretta trademark and a plainer stock.

 

[5-SHOTS]

Great cousins you have and a beautiful rifle. I would remove the rifle recoil pad to make sure the wood is still good. Sometimes depending on humidity ,moisture gets inside and can ruin the finish.

Thanks. The wood under the recoil pad is in very good conditions.
I left the recoil pad only for carrying the gun and when I took it off the holster to place it on the bench. Since I don't have much experience in handling rifles, especially regarding the balance of the gun, I initially preferred to leave the recoil pad in place because I was afraid that the gun might fall and ruin the wood. As soon as I gained some confidence with the handling and balance of the gun, I removed the recoil pad also because it made the wood too long for my shoulder. As I understand, this type of stock is called Montecarlo, right? At least it is called that way here in Italy...

 

[5-SHOTS]

You're going to fall in love with that rifle. I have 2 of the Japanese versions. Very fine rifles. You're very lucky.

Thanks. Yes, I've seen some japanese made Weatherby Mark XXII and the wood is even nicer than the one of my italian made example.

 

[5-SHOTS]

I am not clear, is it a Weatherby marked "Made in Italy" like mine,
or is it a Beretta offering on the same design as Weatherby?
I have only seen one with Beretta trademark and a plainer stock.

Thanks.
I think it is a Weatherby rifle made by Beretta in Gardone Val Trompia, under license.




I also have the original warranty certificate and italian instruction manual. The gun was sold new to my uncle in 1967 by a local gun shop now not existent anymore.

 

[Jim Watson]

How neat. The one I saw had an oil finished stock, very plain. Yours is glossy like mine but lacks the foreend tip.

 

[tallpaul]

Great cousins you have and a beautiful rifle. I would remove the rifle recoil pad to make sure the wood is still good. Sometimes depending on humidity ,moisture gets inside and can ruin the finish.

???? I have an italian made like that- what are you looking for when the but pad comes off and what is the fix? it is a beautiful rifle- the wood is great on mine and definately old school awesome!

 

[5-SHOTS]

How neat. The one I saw had an oil finished stock, very plain. Yours is glossy like mine but lacks the foreend tip.

Yes, the finish is absolutely glossy and no foreend tip. I don't know if a version with a stock made with more precious woods and finishes was available in Italy at that time. From what little I have been able to see on the web, the examples made in Japan have beautiful stocks and, I believe, of superior quality.
Some more pics:

 

[Spats McGee]

Beautiful rifle!

As someone mentioned above, I'd get that recoil pad off of there. I wouldn't want to risk damage to the wood/finish, and it's not like you really need a recoil pad on a .22.

 

[Jim Watson]

Probably put on to add to the length of pull, even though the XXII is definitely an adult sized rifle.

But yes, it needs to come off. Maybe furniture polish will clean up under it, although it may be left with a line at the edge of the rubber.

ETA
Oops, I jumped to the bottom and did not see the picture of the bare butt.
Looks fine.

Take care of your magazines, they are rather expensive, $40 for a copy of the 5 shot, $50 for an OEM 10 shot at Numrich.

A friend found they would fit his Walther GSP if he got the catch notch just right.

 

[redneck2]

But yes, it needs to come off. Maybe furniture polish will clean up under it, although it may be left with a line at the edge of the rubber.

I think he already answered that

 

[ms6852]

???? I have an italian made like that- what are you looking for when the but pad comes off and what is the fix? it is a beautiful rifle- the wood is great on mine and definately old school awesome!

It would immediately be noticeable to the eye. If the wood is great you have nothing to worry. The finish on the stock has protected it. I've seen discoloration like a water spot on the part of the stock where the recoil pad covered it and some mold spots which are darker than the wood itself. No wood rot though.

 

[5-SHOTS]

Thanks to all for your replies.
When I removed the recoil pad I didn't notice anything anomalous either in the underlying wood or in the transparent protective layer. I'll check again. The recoil pad is very loose so it doesn't adhere particularly to the surface so I think the possibility of damaging the finish was very limited despite the stock having remained for decades with the recoil pad inserted. As I said, I don't use it because with the recoil pad mounted the stock is too long for my shoulder.

 

[5-SHOTS]

Probably put on to add to the length of pull, even though the XXII is definitely an adult sized rifle.

But yes, it needs to come off. Maybe furniture polish will clean up under it, although it may be left with a line at the edge of the rubber.

ETA
Oops, I jumped to the bottom and did not see the picture of the bare butt.
Looks fine.

Take care of your magazines, they are rather expensive, $40 for a copy of the 5 shot, $50 for an OEM 10 shot at Numrich.

A friend found they would fit his Walther GSP if he got the catch notch just right.

Thanks.
At the moment I have two magazines, one 5 rounds and one 10 rounds. I hope in the future to be able to get some other magazine, even used. In any case, the two supplied with the gun work correctly.

 

[John Dunbar]

I've always wanted one.

 

[I6turbo]

Thanks. The wood under the recoil pad is in very good conditions.
I left the recoil pad only for carrying the gun and when I took it off the holster to place it on the bench.

That's great!
You've probably seen examples before, but here's what can happen with a pad that is left on for an extended period.

 

[horsemen61]

Great .22 there OP I’d love to have one like it one day