I've spent a lot of time on the range lately, but nothing quite puts a smile on my face like the pietta pps 50. It's one of those guns that looks like it belongs in a gritty black-and-white WWII movie rather than sitting on a modern plastic shooting bench. If you're a fan of historical firearms—or at least firearms that look historical—this little rimfire carbine is likely already on your radar. It's an Italian-made tribute to the famous Soviet PPSh-41, and honestly, it's one of the most entertaining ways to burn through a box of .22 LR ammo.
Most people know Pietta for their high-quality black powder revolvers and Old West replicas. They've built a solid reputation for making things that feel authentic and sturdy. When they decided to pivot toward a semi-automatic .22 rifle styled after a Russian submachine gun, it was a bit of a curveball, but it somehow works perfectly. It's not a precision target rifle, and it's not a tactical home defense tool. It's a fun-machine, plain and simple.
That Iconic Soviet Aesthetic
The first thing you notice about the pietta pps 50 is the silhouette. It mimics the Soviet PPSh-41 almost perfectly from a distance. You've got that perforated barrel shroud that just screams "Eastern Front," and the chunky wooden stock that gives it a substantial, "real gun" feel. Unlike a lot of modern .22 rifles that rely heavily on polymer and feel like toys, the Pietta has some actual weight to it. It's made of steel and wood, which gives it a sense of durability that you just don't get with a budget plinker from a big-box store.
The barrel shroud isn't just for looks, though it definitely does the heavy lifting in the style department. It gives you plenty of places to grip the front of the rifle without worrying about touching a hot barrel, although, let's be honest, you'd have to shoot a lot of .22 LR very quickly to get that barrel truly scorching. Still, the ergonomics are surprisingly comfortable. It feels balanced in the hands, and the weight actually helps keep the rifle steady when you're trying to pop soda cans at fifty yards.
The Magazine Situation
We have to talk about the magazines because that's a huge part of the pietta pps 50 experience. Usually, these come with either a stick magazine or the iconic 50-round drum. If you're buying this gun for the "cool factor," you're going to want that drum. There is nothing quite like slapping a big circular magazine into a rimfire rifle. It changes the whole vibe of the shooting session.
However, if you've spent any time with rimfire drums, you know they can be a bit temperamental. Rimmed cartridges like the .22 LR weren't exactly designed to play nice in high-capacity circular feeds. You have to be patient when loading them. If you rush it and a rim gets caught behind another, you're looking at a jam. But when you get it right and that drum is humming, it's pure joy. The stick magazines are much more reliable for everyday plinking, but they don't have that "wow" factor that makes people stop and ask you what you're shooting.
How It Actually Shoots
When you get the pietta pps 50 out to the range, the first thing you'll realize is how little recoil there is. I know, it's a .22, so recoil isn't really a thing anyway, but because this rifle has a decent amount of mass, it stays rock-still. It's a blowback action, which is standard for rimfires, and the cycling is generally pretty snappy.
I've found that it really likes high-velocity ammunition. Like many semi-auto .22s, if you try to run the ultra-cheap, low-powered bulk stuff, you might run into some cycling issues—usually "failure to eject" or "stovepipes." But if you feed it something like CCI Mini-Mags or any decent 40-grain high-velocity round, it runs like a sewing machine. It's one of those guns where you can just keep pulling the trigger and watching the brass fly until the magazine is empty, which happens way faster than you'd expect even with 50 rounds.
Accuracy-wise, it's more than enough for what it is. I'm not saying you're going to win any Olympic gold medals with it, but for hitting reactive targets, spinning plates, or the occasional pest, it's plenty accurate. The iron sights are functional and fit the aesthetic, though they are a bit old-school. If you're used to modern fiber optics or red dots, there's a bit of a learning curve, but that's part of the charm.
Living With a Pietta PPS 50
One thing people often overlook when buying a "cool" rimfire is how hard it is to clean. The pietta pps 50 isn't the simplest gun in the world to strip down compared to something like a Ruger 10/22, but it's not a nightmare either. You'll want to keep the bolt and the chamber clean, especially because .22 LR is a notoriously dirty caliber. Carbon buildup can eventually lead to those annoying jams I mentioned earlier, so a little bit of CLP and a quick scrub after a long range day goes a long way.
The finish on the wood and the bluing on the metal are actually quite nice. Pietta puts some effort into the presentation. Over time, the wood might get a few dings and scratches, but on a gun styled after a WWII submachine gun, a little "character" actually looks pretty good. It's not a safe queen; it's a gun meant to be used.
Why Choose This Over Other .22s?
You might be wondering why you'd go for a pietta pps 50 when there are so many other rimfire rifles on the market. Let's be real: it's about the personality. A Ruger 10/22 is a fantastic tool, but it's everywhere. It's the "beige sedan" of the gun world. The Pietta, on the other hand, is like driving a vintage motorcycle. It's got style, it's got history (or at least looks like it does), and it starts conversations.
It's also surprisingly affordable for what you're getting. When you consider the amount of steel and wood involved, the price point is usually very reasonable. It's an accessible way to own something that feels unique without breaking the bank on a transferrable machine gun or a high-end historical reproduction.
Final Thoughts on the Range Experience
At the end of the day, shooting is supposed to be fun. Sometimes we get too caught up in groups, ballistics, and tactical applications. The pietta pps 50 reminds you why you started shooting in the first place. There's a certain primal satisfaction in hearing that tink-tink-tink of lead hitting steel in rapid succession.
Whether you're a history buff who wants a cheap-to-shoot version of a classic Russian design, or just someone who wants a rifle that looks different from everything else at the local club, the PPS 50 delivers. It has its quirks—mostly related to the drum magazine and ammo preferences—but once you figure out what it likes, it's a blast. If you ever see one sitting on a rack at a gun shop, do yourself a favor and pick it up. You'll feel the weight, see the shroud, and probably realize you have a space in your safe for one. It's just a great way to turn a boring afternoon into a great one.