22lr rifle selection

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joustin

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I have a problem with deciding on which rifle I will buy later today. I have a Savage Mark II with accutrigger in layaway but I can't decide if I should get it or a Marlin XT-22 with adjustable trigger. The Savage feels light but OK, what do you recommend? Either will be for plinking since I don't have a bolt action 22. Please keep comments between the two, I like the CZ's but don't shoot enough to justify the price. Thanks!

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I was very happy with my Savage Mark II.... I wish I hadnt sold it (along with many other guns). I cannot say anything about the Marlin though.
 
While I love my old Marlin there have been enough negative comments concerning QC at Marlin of late to believe it's credible. For another perspective, I've never bought a nice firearm and wished I'd bought a cheaper one, though I've never been one to live beyond my means. If that is a factor then consider another model, if not, buy the best you can comfortably afford.
 
My main concern is price and accuracy. I'm going to buy a CZ in 17hmr later so I'll be happy with that. I have a marlin 60 that will hit anything I want to. The new XT-22 can be hit or muss but the KY made ones are very accurate from what I have seen. The savage is the basic synthetic stock with the skinny barrel the XT is a little beefier it seems. I liked my Savage 93R17 and still regret selling it

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I just got back from shooting my Savage MKII. I am a .22 junky and have a number of accurate .22 rifles (40X, Kimber 82G, Izhmash 7-2, etc.). The Savage is a good gun and the Accu-trigger is well worth it. You might try a few things to increase the accuracy such as fire-lapping the barrel.

My Savage MKII today shot around 1MOA average at 50 yards using Wolf MT (some groups sub-1MOA). I think that's pretty good for a rather 'cheap' rifle. The bolt is very smooth too, smoother than my Savage 93R17 although they are basically the same. I took the 93's bolt apart and polished it. Never felt the need to do that on the MKII.
 
Look around and get an old Marlin. I have several Marlin 81's and everyone is a tack driver. One of them was my first gun. I have put many thousands of rounds through it since 1968 when I bought it for $29.95. I still shoot it and its accuracy still impresses me. I guess I'm easily impressed but I love that gun.
 
I have a walnut stocked Savage Mark II with the accu-trigger. I like it. It is also very accurate. I have never regretted buying that rifle especially since Savage discontinued the walnut stocked version.

I do not know much of anything about the Marlin XT-22 with their new adjustable trigger. Accuracy should be good enough for your needs.

A CZ is probably worth buying for the long haul.
 
Well if you're going to get the CZ in .17 later anyway, consider buying that one now. It's one of the few that shoot ammo that is still on store shelves and you can always hit up a show for an older Marlin 25N once .22lr ammo makes its way back to stores shelves. Off a bag with bulk ammo my Marlin is regularly capable of 1/2" groups at 50 yards in stock form with a cheap nasty Bushnell 4X. I've long suspected the glass is the limiting factor, something I'll remedy soon but not bad for a $140 combo when new.
 
Buy once, cry once. I decided to purchase a quality bolt-action rimfire - and ended up with a CZ455 3 barrel set. .17 HMR, .22lr, and .22 WMR, all for about the cost of a 77/22. Should be here any day.

I do have a Savage 93R17 accutrigger, stainless, laminated thumbhole stock, that is a good shooter.
 
If was going to buy a bolt action 22 wmr in today's market I would look for a high end gun. Prices are rising on the bargain type rifles while the upper end of the 22 wmr bolt action markethas remained stagnant. A Savage 93 is considered a price point rifle and the price is over $400. Yet, the price of a Ruger, Browning, CZ, and other upper end rifles has remained firm.
 
I want to avoid 22wmr since I have many thousands of 22lr and access to more. The 17 will wait until I can get the big discount from CZ for about 40% off msrp then it will be nice and inexpensive.

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No point in .22wmr if you plan on the .17 Definitely makes sense if you can buy later at discount and you already have a stockpile of .22lr. I do like Teachu2's idea, my father bought his T/C Encore Pro with that in mind and has .50cal muzzleloader, .223Rem & .300 Win. Mag. barrels for it now but of course they're all single-shot break-action.

I'd say leaning Savage unless you do some homework on the Marlin.
 
Get a CZ or Savage. I have a CZ and love it. Great gun and worth the extra $80-$100 in my book. The CZ's are a classic.
 
The people talking about Marlins don't know that the XT line is made in the Kentucky factory and they are extremely well made rifles. They do not have the problems that were mainly confined to lever action centerfire Marlins. Some rimfire Marlins had problems but I bought 5 of them in the last 4 years and not one had a problem.

That said I also have a Savage MkII. Mine has the heavy barrel but from what I hear the sporter barrel is nearly as accurate. And they are more accurate than the Marlins. Mine is more accurate than my CZ 453 too but it's close.

Either rifle will serve you very well. I'd probably buy the Savage to be honest because the accuracy is just incredible for the price. Marlin makes fine guns though and the XT is among the very best they make. There are great features with the XT line though like the ability to shoot shorts in the tube models. Those models hold 25 of those shorts in the tube. That's a lot of shooting before you need to reload.

BTW the CZ won't cost $80-$100 more than that Savage you're looking at. it will cost about $200 more or maybe more than that. You are looking at the sporter barrel version of the MkII, right? Those run about $165. A CZ 452 will run about $400 or more. You might find a trainer model. They only cost about $375.

I love my CZ. It's a beautiful and well built rifle and it's plenty accurate. But Savage makes great rifles too and they cost less. It's usually a toss up which is more accurate. Marlin XT's are accurate but they're a step below the Savage and the CZ. At least mine is. It's still a pleasure to shoot. The bolt is as smooth as any rifle I ever picked up. It is clearly a solidly built rifle too.
 
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I went with the XT-22 after finding one with a wood stock. I have my CZ picked out and will be buying one soon, I get about 30% off by purchasing direct

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I am a CZ lover and have several .22's...Cz is the best build, quality, accuracy wise. Then The Savage is pretty nice...MKII FVSR...nice quality heavy bolt action...The Marlin XT-22TR is nice, has a better stock than the Savage, but the does not cycle near as smooth as either the CZ or Savage. The trigger is a bit better on the Savage than the Marlin when tuned too it's lightest...but they are like your kids you love them all the same.
 
Wow I couldn't disagree more on the action of the Marlin XT saenzrich. My XT's action is one of the smoothest I have ever seen. My CZ had a serious burr somewhere when I first got it and at times the bolt would totally stick until I worked it back and forth a few times (it would go so far and stop then it would go back so I just worked it back and forth until it gave way). The Savage MkII I have still doesn't have a smooth action but it is more accurate than my CZ. And the trigger is better on my Marlin than the one on my Savage.

Just goes to show how much every rifle is an individual I guess. I seem to disagree with you on every single point. I know what my rifles are like. That's all I really know. Well I have shot some other rifles of course including other CZ's etc..

Build quality is best on the CZ but it really isn't much better than the Marlin. Yes the Marlin has a synthetic stock but it has a very good quality synthetic stock. Those stocks don't worry me any. In fact I like them for certain situations like to take hunting on a day I think it might rain on me. Rain won't hurt a synthetic stock. It might very well hurt a walnut stock though. It probably won't but you never know.
 
The action is smooth and tight. I got the one with the walnut Monte Carlo stock. Feels nice and solid and looks good too.

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If I were you, I would go with the Savage. They are reliable, accurate, and inexpensive. Plus, if you have any trouble with it, Savage customer service is good and they stand behind the rifles. Have fun.
 
Well, you can't go wrong with any of your options, just go with what your trigger finger feels best... they are all great, but it just depends how on what you decide.
 
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I think he already made his purchase guys. He bought an XT because he found one with a wood stock. Personally I like the synthetic stock on the XT's. They are solid and tight and they won't absorb water if you get caught in the rain. But whatever floats your boat. I know most people don't like synthetic but I think more people like them than some around here think. They certainly sell a lot of rifles with those synthetic stocks. Again I like mine. I actually looked for 2 years for a 60 with a carbon fiber stock. It was their most expensive 60 if that tells you anything. Marlin makes fine synthetic stocks IMO.
 
Yes I did get the Marlin. I found a CZ that I like, just need to make sure they have it in stock. I sell ammo and so far I can get everything I need it may cost more. Thanks for the input, I'll be shooting it in an hour to see if it is as accurate as my 60 and 99.

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Keep us up to date on how it goes. I can always use more input on such things myself.
 
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