I am an experienced shooter and own several handguns, however I have always ignored any and all .22's Due to the financial practicality of shooting .22's, I have given some serious thought to buying a .22 and I think that I am ready now. I am undecided as to whether i should get a semi auto or bolt action so I would love to hear suggestions on all of the above. I would prefer magazine fed, but not a requirement however I have no interest in single shot. I have seen a lot of popularity/hype over the 10/22 and I am not quite sure why so please do tell. Also if you have a bolt action that you like, let me know what it is. Long term durability and reliability is very important to me. thanks!
Looking for a .22 rifle
- Thread starter Chris1
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In a bolt action .22, you just cannot beat the combination of looks, feel, reliability, accuracy, and VALUE in the CZ 452 line. My own is the American model, but they have something for everyone in the line.
The Savage .22 bolt actions are also very good in accuracy and reliability, but it definitely looks and feels "like a .22" whereas the CZ (and the Ruger 77/22) have more of a "big gun feel," which many of us like.
In a semiauto, the 10/22 is the "standard," the Chevy small-block of the field. Use it as-is, add a couple little tweaks, or drop the price of a good used car in bolt-ons and accessories. You can get into a new 10/22 for as little as $200 if there's a Walmart in your area.
The Savage .22 bolt actions are also very good in accuracy and reliability, but it definitely looks and feels "like a .22" whereas the CZ (and the Ruger 77/22) have more of a "big gun feel," which many of us like.
In a semiauto, the 10/22 is the "standard," the Chevy small-block of the field. Use it as-is, add a couple little tweaks, or drop the price of a good used car in bolt-ons and accessories. You can get into a new 10/22 for as little as $200 if there's a Walmart in your area.
Do you own any other rifles? If so, it is often a good idea to mimic the action styles of your center-fires with your rim-fires... It's not necessary, of course, but doing so can pay benefits as well as go a long way toward your satisfaction with whatever rifle you choose.
The 10/22 is a good base gun, accurate enough out of the box for off-hand plinking and small game hunting, but rarely accurate enough to compete from the bench... however, it can be modified easily by the end user to provide match-grade accuracy, but that comes with a sometimes healthy price tag.
For Bolt Actions, the CZ line is well regarded, but I am not a fan... just something off about them in my hands. I do like the Ruger 77/22 and wood (or laminate) stocked Savage and Marlins... the synthetic stocked bolt guns are just too out of balance to me.
In lever actions, the Henry line can be had at a good price, and their performance is usually quite good. For more money the Marlin 39A is excellent, and there is also the Browning model to consider.
The 10/22 is a good base gun, accurate enough out of the box for off-hand plinking and small game hunting, but rarely accurate enough to compete from the bench... however, it can be modified easily by the end user to provide match-grade accuracy, but that comes with a sometimes healthy price tag.
For Bolt Actions, the CZ line is well regarded, but I am not a fan... just something off about them in my hands. I do like the Ruger 77/22 and wood (or laminate) stocked Savage and Marlins... the synthetic stocked bolt guns are just too out of balance to me.
In lever actions, the Henry line can be had at a good price, and their performance is usually quite good. For more money the Marlin 39A is excellent, and there is also the Browning model to consider.
9x19":1w3sp7ni said:
A good price for the quality and craftsmanship MADE IN USA with action smooooooooooooooooooooth as hot butter, but not inexpensive either. Not around here anyways. They run about $479.00 here at Ranch & Home!
One of the best things about the 10/22 is the availability of aftermarket parts to trick 'em out however you'd like. The one I shoot is pin-point accurate and the only thing different from factory original is the folding stock and scope. In general, a bolt action should give you the greatest accuracy and I've heard complaints of the 10/22's accuracy, but mine has been a tack driver since I bought it new. I just keep it clean. Excellent availability of 10/22 hi-caps on the market, far more brands and styles than any other .22's on the market.
And as far as magazine-fed .22's I think it is a REAL PLUS that the Ruger 10/22's factory mag does not hang down below the bottom of the stock. Flush like the 10/22 factory mag fits is how they all SHOULD be (except in the use of hi-caps).
45flattop
Single-Sixer
I put my vote in for the M77/22 while its still available in POLISHED
and blued steel, the magazines are as easy to find as popcorn on a
movie theater floor and utterly reliable. The CZ s are great too now
that Kimber has dropped their quality one, but the magazines may
be tough to locate if you need a spare.
and blued steel, the magazines are as easy to find as popcorn on a
movie theater floor and utterly reliable. The CZ s are great too now
that Kimber has dropped their quality one, but the magazines may
be tough to locate if you need a spare.
Rat76
Single-Sixer
In a bolt action the Marlin 981T is hard to beat. I picked this one up on Gun Broker for $106. With shipping, FFL, $20 scope I picked up at a garage sale, a $16 bipod & new trigger/sear & sear springs from the Marlin Model 2000 (available from e-gunparts for $10 shipped) I'm inot it a little under $200.
I packed the stock with foam & 5/8 pound of lead shot & polished the contacting points on the trigger & sear.
There is no pretravel take up & the trigger pull is down around 2 pounds. Can't beat Marlin Micro-Groove barrel for accuracy out of the box.
They also have a box magazine version. The spring change can be done to any Marlin with the T900 trigger group.
Photo is pre bipod;
Marlin Model 60 is a good Semi-Auto but the trigger is not good & can't be easily fixed.
Ruger 10-22, don't have anything to add except it's the best feeling (fits my shoulder) rifle I've got.
I packed the stock with foam & 5/8 pound of lead shot & polished the contacting points on the trigger & sear.
There is no pretravel take up & the trigger pull is down around 2 pounds. Can't beat Marlin Micro-Groove barrel for accuracy out of the box.
They also have a box magazine version. The spring change can be done to any Marlin with the T900 trigger group.
Photo is pre bipod;
Marlin Model 60 is a good Semi-Auto but the trigger is not good & can't be easily fixed.
Ruger 10-22, don't have anything to add except it's the best feeling (fits my shoulder) rifle I've got.
CajunBass
Single-Sixer
I haven't seen a 22 that I don't like to tell you the truth. The 10/22, and the Remington 597 are both good inexpensive sem-auto's.
I've got a couple of Ruger 77/22's that are my bolt guns. They're not inexpensive, but shoot just fine. Marlin and Savage make bolt guns that are a lot less expensive and seem to shoot well. I've never heard anyone who has one say anything bad about a CZ (I think they're ugly.).
Marlin's 39A is the king of the lever guns in my opinion, but that's because I have one. If I had a Browning or a Henry, I'd probably say the same thing about them.
I don't have one yet, but the Remington 552 "Speedmaster" is next on my list. That is one fine looking, and from all reports fine shooting semi. It's also afaik, the only semi that will shoot shorts, longs, and long rifles.
I'm sure there is a "bad" 22 rifle out there somewhere. I just haven't seen it. Watch the racks, especially the used ones, and you'll find one you just can't live without.
I've got a couple of Ruger 77/22's that are my bolt guns. They're not inexpensive, but shoot just fine. Marlin and Savage make bolt guns that are a lot less expensive and seem to shoot well. I've never heard anyone who has one say anything bad about a CZ (I think they're ugly.).
Marlin's 39A is the king of the lever guns in my opinion, but that's because I have one. If I had a Browning or a Henry, I'd probably say the same thing about them.
I don't have one yet, but the Remington 552 "Speedmaster" is next on my list. That is one fine looking, and from all reports fine shooting semi. It's also afaik, the only semi that will shoot shorts, longs, and long rifles.
I'm sure there is a "bad" 22 rifle out there somewhere. I just haven't seen it. Watch the racks, especially the used ones, and you'll find one you just can't live without.
I_Like_Pie
Blackhawk
CajunBass":29auoq49 said:
I dunno...I have a Savage 87a that is about the ugliest and most complicated gun made. Fun to shoot (Click---Clack---Click---Clack) But it looks like someone dried a fish and mounted it to a stock.
Here is what it looked like when I got my hands on it! (click for larger)
back to topic...Chris you did good to get a 10/22 as it is the most versitile .22 on the market. Surf on over to rimfirecentral.com to find out why. Customizing that gun is a multi-million dollar industry.
I happen to fancy cz-452 bolt actions also...they shoot unbelievably well.
A
Anonymous
I'm a big fan of my CZ ZKM 452s (.22 and .17HMR)
A demo model I tried at the local gunshop/range shot one ragged hole 10 shot groups on the bench rest with CCI Blazers from an out of the box rifle. Sold me on buying mine.
A demo model I tried at the local gunshop/range shot one ragged hole 10 shot groups on the bench rest with CCI Blazers from an out of the box rifle. Sold me on buying mine.
