Made In Mexico: America Gets The Mendoza RM-22
![Mendoza RM-22 1000 [Mendoza]](https://cdn-fastly.thefirearmblog.com/media/2025/04/25/03561/made-in-mexico-america-gets-the-mendoza-rm-22.jpg?size=720x845&nocrop=1)
If you want a made-in-North-America rifle, something unique but also affordable, your wish can come true. This year, a long-established Mexican gunmaker is making inroads into the U.S. market with a new rimfire, the Mendoza RM-22.
Mexico and Guns @ TFB:
Who’s Mendoza?
If you’re not familiar with Mendoza, rest assured, the company was not started by a villain from a Rainier Wolfcastle movie. Mendoza kicked off production in Mexico all the way back in 1911, and they have been making rifles, pistols and airguns for generations since.
The RM-22 series (there are three sub-models coming to the U.S.) is very retro in that it is a semi-automatic with a—gasp!—tube magazine. Just like the classic Savage/Springfield 87 “birdcage” models, just like the sadly-missed Marlin Model 60, just like the Winchester 190 and many other popular semi-auto .22s of the 20th century. In the past 20 years, tube mags have fallen out of popularity in the rimfire world, but they were once a staple and the RM-22 still has one, with a 17-round capacity.
The action is not a copy of the Ruger 10/22; it’s a variation on a Hammerli blowback design, from Switzerland. There are ties between the two companies; Mendoza makes airguns that Hammerli rebrands with their own name.
Three variants
Mendoza is shipping three variations of the RM-22 to the States this year. They’re all basically the same thing; the RM-22 1000 comes with open sights; the RM-22 3000 comes with a Picatinny rail for optic mounting as well as irons and a thumbhole stock; and the RM-22 6000 has a Monte-Carlo style stock as well as irons and a Picatinny rail.
![Mendoza RM-22 3000 [Mendoza]](https://cdn-fastly.thefirearmblog.com/media/2025/04/25/03562/made-in-mexico-america-gets-the-mendoza-rm-22.jpg?size=720x845&nocrop=1)
All rifles are supposed to have options for either wood or synthetic stock. You can see them all listed here, but take note that there is no MSRP listed yet.
![Mendoza RM-22 1000 [Mendoza]](https://cdn-fastly.thefirearmblog.com/media/2025/04/25/03563/made-in-mexico-america-gets-the-mendoza-rm-22.jpg?size=720x845&nocrop=1)
Mendoza RM-22 1000 specifications:
- Caliber: .22 LR
- Operation System: Semi-automatic by simple blowback
- Tubular Magazine: 17 Rounds
- Total Length: 40.95"
- Height: 7.48"
- Width: 1.77"
- Barrel Length: 21.26"
- Accuracy at 54.7 yards: 1.4"
- Trigger Pull: 2.55 lbs.Safety: Manual
- Buttstock: Wood-German beech
- Buttpad: Rubber
- Mechanism Finish: Anodized
![Mendoza RM-22 3000 [Mendoza]](https://cdn-fastly.thefirearmblog.com/media/2025/04/25/03564/made-in-mexico-america-gets-the-mendoza-rm-22.jpg?size=720x845&nocrop=1)
Mendoza RM-22 3000 specifications:
- Caliber: .22 LR
- Operation System: Semi-automatic by simple blowback
- Tubular Magazine: 17 Rounds
- Total Length: 40.95"
- Height: 7.48"
- Width: 1.77"
- Barrel Length: 21.26"
- Accuracy at 54.7 yards: 1.4"
- Trigger Pull: 2.55 lbs.Safety: Manual
- Buttstock: Wood-German beech
- Buttpad: Rubber
- Mechanism Finish: Anodized
![Mendoza RM-22 6000 [Mendoza]](https://cdn-fastly.thefirearmblog.com/media/2025/04/25/03565/made-in-mexico-america-gets-the-mendoza-rm-22.jpg?size=720x845&nocrop=1)
Mendoza RM-22 6000 specifications:
- Caliber: .22 LR
- Operation System: Semi-automatic by simple blowback
- Tubular Magazine: 17 Rounds
- Total Length: 40.95"
- Height: 7.48"
- Width: 1.77"
- Barrel Length: 21.26"
- Accuracy at 54.7 yards: 1.4"
- Trigger Pull: 2.55 lbs.
- Safety: Manual
- Buttstock: Wood-German beech
- Buttpad: Rubber
- Mechanism Finish: Anodized
Professional hoser with fudd-ish leanings.
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RM-22 3000 will not be imported. That is an assault weapon. it has a pistol grip and looks scary.
Is this the only thing from Mexico that California won't bring in?