Best semi .22 for $200 and below? No 10/22's

Remington 550 gets my vote.

I would get a Remington 597.

I have a marlin 795 and it's ok but feels like a toy. A marlin 60 is a step up from that in my opinion.

I would stay far away from the rossi, mossberg, and ar7.

The question then is what other options are there for a semi at under $200?

Remington 597. I’ve seen these for $75. Some people really think they are junk. They are close, but a few simple and inexpensive mods can be done to make them 100%.

Remington 552s I have seen for as low as $250. 550s for a hair less.

Mossberg Plinksters are competent even.

If you just want something that works well out of the box, the Marlin 60 is hard to beat in my opinion.

JonF. said:

I'm look for a good semi-auto .22 for a while now, debating picking up a Marlin M60 as my local pawnshop sells 'em for 130-150$

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The marlin model 60 is a great gun. I would highly recommend.

The Savage 64 is also an option.

But the model 60 is hard to beat in my opinion.

The Marlin/Glenfield line are accurate and reliable. Lots to choose from generally well under 200..

Marlin 60 is classic and great, but I prefer the stainless/synthethic 795. Same rifle, just detachable box mag vs tube mag. My wife’s is stupid accurate... it even shoots thunderbolts decently.

The Savage 64 is also an option.

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+1

I would say Marlin 60. It ain’t sexy but it works. Always.

Maybe not the best out there but my favorite is the Stevens 87, the ka-chunk 22.

Another vote for the Savage 64. I got mine from Walmart for $99. With a $25 scope it'll smack golf balls all day at 50yds. Not precision but certainly MOS (minute of squirrel) and a fun plinker. I did upgrade the trigger with an Mcarbo kit for like $20. It's my go to .22lr.

Aside from that I'd go Marlin 60. My LGS's have them regularly for around $150.

+1 on the M60. Tube mag, baby!

If you're open to used...
Remington 550-1, 552 speed master. Either will eat s, l, lr.

Armored farmer said:

If you're open to used...
Remington 550-1, 552 speed master. Either will eat s, l, lr.

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Most I have seen are a little more spendy.

I have a Model 60 that was given to me as a Christmas gift in 1965, it still works fine. I've bought several more over the years; usually ended up giving them to friends, but my first 60 is still in the safe - and I still shoot it several times a year.

If you don't have a Model 60, you need a Model 60. It's a classic.

nudder +1 on the Marlin 60.
I traded it off & wish I still had it

Chevelle SS said:

Maybe not the best out there but my favorite is the Stevens 87, the ka-chunk 22.

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I had one when a teenager. It killed a lot of rats in the area dumps, squirrels in the woods and cans in the gravel pits. Then after mounting a scope, I decided to shoot it at a target from the bench at 50 yards and it didn't group better than about 5 inches. So, despite all the things it did well, I traded it for another rifle that same day. The moral of the story is: "If you think a rifle is shooting well and it's killing stuff for you, don't try to shoot tight groups with it." (Yeah, like I listen to my own dumb advice.)

Not sure if there is a hands down “best”, more of a 6/half dozen, the difference depends on you more than anything else.

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/side-by-side-597-10-22-model-60.811602/

My favorite .22 is still the 597
I have a like a 795 and have had M60s and 10-22s
They are all sort of different guns.

The 597 feels the most like a full size rifle to me, and ive not experienced issues with mags as others have. They DO have a really bloody heavy trigger pull, but that can be remedied for about 60 bucks and 5 mins of time. My current one is right at 2lbs If i remember correctly.

The 795 is VERY light, feels weird with a scope one it, and has sticky out mags. Its also very accurate, VERY light (makes carrying it really easy) and is probably the cheapest of the lot

M60s hold the most onboard ammo without somthing sticking 8" off the bottom of your gun, they point and hang well with all that weight out front as well. Ive found them to have long crunchy triggers, but beyond that, recoil buffers wearing out, and on one the lifter breaking off, they are pretty solid reliable accurate rifles.

The 10/22 carbine, honestly feels like crap to me right out the box. They are light but broomhandlish, have (new ones maybe better) squishy triggers, and stocks that are too wide and not well enough formed in the grip. They are also usually not the most accurate of the .22s. the mags tho are fantastic
The Pros is simply that every part can be replaced. You can build a 10/22 into anything you want. Thats got a lot of value in it, specially as you can usually pick up lightly used parts for cheap as other folks try and discard different ideas.

A guy HAS to realize, if you ask which 22LR, you’ll predominantly get 10/22 and Marlin 60 as recommendations.

Further, if a guy asks, which SEMIAUTO 22LR, the 10/22 and 60 will remain the common response.

Further still, asking which semiauto 22LR under $200, the same answers will prevail.

Finally, asking which semiauto 22LR under $200, redacting 10/22’s, there remains only one answer to be expected.

...plus a smattering of folks who will recommend the 10/22 anyway.

Personally, if I were to only have one 22LR, without any competition for which specific rules might apply in mind, it would be a Marin 60SB, retrofit with the old style charging handle... regardless of the selection criteria of semiauto, not 10/22, and under $200...

I had a Marlin 795 and liked it, ended up selling it to fund my purchase of a .223 bolt gun because it would see more actual use. It was plenty accurate, and as mentioned very light. Some people say it feels like a toy and while I wouldn't go THAT far, I can see where they are coming from. One thing, though, I would count on buying the MCARBO spring kit and trigger for it because the stock trigger is pretty bad. If you don't mind the tube mag, the 60 would be a good choice, I just prefer detachable mags over tube mags.

The other one I'd look at is the Savage 64. I've handled one but not shot one, but out of what I've handled it felt the most like an "adult" sized rifle to me, likely thanks to the longer barrel.