POTD: Daisy Model 2202 – The BB Gun Company’s Rimfire Experiment
Sam.S 03.26.25
Welcome to today’s Photo of the Day! This Daisy Model 2202 bolt-action .22LR represents the company’s brief venture into actual firearms during the late 1980s. While most know Daisy for their Red Ryder BB guns, this rifle came from their short-lived “Legacy” series produced from 1988 to 1991. The rifle featured a distinctive copolymer stock with an adjustable length-of-pull system – that black disk in the buttstock could be rotated to accommodate different shooter sizes. Its 10-shot rotary magazine bears a clear resemblance to the Ruger 10/22 design that dominated the rimfire market. Daisy had previously dabbled in firearms with their experimental V/L rifle in the 1960s, which used a unique caseless ammunition system before regulators halted production. This more conventional rimfire attempt came as the company sought to expand beyond their air gun roots. The Legacy series didn’t last long. By 1991, Daisy had exited the firearms business entirely, returning to their air gun specialty. Today, these rifles have become interesting collectibles – reminders of a curious detour for a company that spent over 130 years teaching generations of Americans to shoot.
“Daisy Model 2202 Bolt Action Rifle with Box.” Rock Island Auction Company, https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/5002/82/daisy-model-2202-bolt-action-rifle-with-box. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.
