Best .22 Semi-Auto

[Mad Jack McMad]

I know, i know... It is probably a subject that has been hammered to smithereens and that the word "best" is a matter of opinion. Anyhow, i thought that a new thread once in a while is nice as firearms production changes overtime which might affect quality.

So my main requirements are: 22LR or 22WMR, semi-auto(obviously) and that it uses detachable magazines.

And as for best i mean most accurate and most reliable, preferably out of the box.

I have mostly been eyeing the Remington 597 and the Ruger 10/22 TD, but i have no experience with any auto-loading rifle so i don't really know what to choose.

/Matthew

 

[carbine85]

I have a Marlin model 60 and the Ruger 1022. I like the 60 over the 1022 even with the tube magazine. Reason being is it's a little more accurate then the Ruger and it's less expensive. The Model 60 is a fine rifle.
I have a Remington Field Master .22. It's a pump action, very accurate but it cost more than the Ruger 10/22 or Marlin 60. It's a well built rifle.
The Ruger 10/22 WMR that I have seen go for top dollars. I don't think Ruger makes them anymore.
I have a Marlin 25MN WMR that shoots awesome but that's a bolt action.
CZ USA has a semi .22 WMR, but good luck finding one and they are expensive. From what I have been reading they are really good rifles.

 

[Inebriated]

"Best"?

I think many will agree that the Marlin 60 and Ruger 10/22 share that title. Since you want semi-auto, then the Marlin 795 can take the 60's place. Same thing, but detachable magazine vs. tube magazine. I personally like the Marlin better than any other semi-auto .22LR I've owned. It's lighter, a little more reliable, and more accurate than a stock the 10/22. Of course, the 10/22 dominates in aftermarket parts, so they can be heavily modified and be very accurate shooters. The Ruger comes in a .22LR and .22WMR version, where the Marlin is .22LR only.

Just my $0.02...

 

[Aix sponsa]

My .22lr experience

There's quite a few great .22s out there. I have a Remington 552 speedmaster and I have a field master pump. I really love my 552 for hunting. It's a tack driver, and I have a second shot without having to make noise or move to pump it. It's tube fed, you have 16 shots, and that's just right for squirrel hunting. I have one, and my dad has one. Our rifles both hold GREAT groups at 50 yards. With quality ammo, like CCI, 3 shot groups inside of a quarter at 50 yards is the norm. The gun is accurate, reliable, and 16 rounds is just right for squirrel hunting and plinking. It's a real tack driver.

Another gun that I like is the 10/22. I really like the fact that it can take 25+ round mags, and I really like its iron sites, too.

I'm not going to bad mouth a Remington 597, but I will say that I have heard others complain about its magazine reliability more than once.

There are many out there, but my first choice for hunting is the 552, and the 10/22 for having fun. As always, find the ammo that your particular gun really likes and stick with it.

 

[Smith357]

Thompson Center R55 is worth a look

 

[TxBobS]

I used to have a Steyr M9 pistol. One of the first models and it shot very well. Problem was you could barely find any accessories for it. I hated that about that gun so I ended up getting a Glock and couldn't be happier. Any time I want to get something or try something with it, I can easily find an assortment of parts/accessories.

Ever since that lesson was learned, I make sure that not only is it a good gun, but that I can also get accessories for it, even if I don't want them right now. With that in mind, I would (and have) get the Ruger 10/22. It's a great rifle out of the box and should you ever decide to change anything about it, you will have a plethora of vendors to choose from.

 

[gotigers]

I have a Marlin mod 60 from the early 80's. It is the most accurate gun i own. The mod 60 starts having feeding issues if it gets dirty. Otherwise the mod 60 is a reliable gun. I have owned a Marlin 795. I had 2 many 22's so i got rid of it. It was a reliable and accurate gun. A good deal for <$150.

I have a S&W15-22. The 15-22 is one of the best guns i own. It is always reliable and almost as accurate as the mod 60. This has become my favorit gun. I have started using it for squirrel hunting replacing the mod 60. Mainly because of reliability. The 15-22 has never failed to feed or fire.

 

[nathan]

Ruger 10/22 Target model with stainless steel bull barrel.

 

[MachIVshooter]

For detachable mag .22 autoloaders, the Remington 597 gets my vote.

 

[palmrose2]

Do some of the Ruger 10/22 models come with better triggers from the factory? I finally worked on my 10/22 trigger and it's bearable now. I don't recall my 1978 vintage 10/22 being so bad.

Most of my experience with 22s is on old Mossberg bolt guns that have fine triggers so I can't tell you about modern semis except for my personal Ruger. As shipped in ~ 1998 the trigger was garbage. Obviously the Ruger has exceptional aftermarket support, so with time and money, the sky is the limit.

 

[travisd]

I like my 795. Worked great out of the box, will do one ragged hole all day long at 25 yards. Only thing I did was add some tech sights and have a couple mags stuck on the butt.

 

[bearman49709]

Over the years I have owned 3 Marlin 60's 1 Ruger 10/22 and 1 Remington 597, I have also shot at least 2 more of each that belong to others. All of them are good, all of them put out a lemon now and then. With all that said I have keep my 597 longer than all others put together, it is just a little better than the others in every way. If I had never shot a 597 I might have been happy with a 10/22 but I will never know because I bought them at the same time in 1998.

 

[kd7nqb]

For me this starts and ends with the Ruger 10/22

its been around forever

TONS of magazines and accessories available for it

you make it what you want, wood stock, rubber whatever you want

I am lusting hard over the new 10/22 breakdown model

All that being said my 10/22 doesn't make it to the range as often at my Marlin 795 but I cant find reliable mags over 10 rounds for that one.

 

[DM~]

Best .22 Semi-Auto

To me "best" rarely means a factory gun, so i'd have to check out the customs and buy what fits my needs best.

"Custom" will mean a much better trigger and much better accuracy too, and i like both of those features. To me, they are worth paying more to get them!

DM

 

[Rembrandt]

"Best" implies top dog......that would have to be a Volquartsen.

 

[Furncliff]

Marlin 795 since you want a box mag. There's a lot of bang for not much bucks in these rifles.

I prefer the M 60 and own two. I shoot them from a bench often and I'm always amazed at the accuracy (with ammo that it likes).

Going up in price is the Browning SA22. This is a John Browning design that's been made since about 1914. Many of the older ones were made in Belgium and are very desirable. I'm not sure how long they have been made in Japan. Do not discount the Japan made guns, they are very high quality with great blue and high gloss wood. If you look around you'll find some of the engraved models costing in the thousands. The only thing about the SA22 is it's small size, some might feel they are too small. A good used one might be $450-750.

Expect to have to work on the trigger on any semi auto under $250.

 

[TwoEyedJack]

The first rifle I ever got was a Marlin 60 back in 1969. I put so many rounds through it that the feed ramp wore out and the barrel came loose. That was probably around 10,000 rounds. I had to take the scope off and use the iron sights because of the loose barrel. Then I had a gunsmith replace the feed ramp and re-peen the barrel. Shoots as good as ever. I have a three 10-22s in various states of modification, and the one with a match barrel is slightly more accurate, but it is not as reliable.

 

[loose noose]

Ruger 10-22 hands down as I've had all the others, and worked on some of the other ones mentioned. Very accurate and very dependable.

 

[VA27]

CZ511 for the 22LR and CZ611 (not the 611A) for the 22 mag. I have yet to see a CZ 512, but it is available in either caliber.

 

[GLG20]

Kidd 10/22 will be right at the top when your talking top notch 10/22's

This is my Kidd that is a work in progress. Kidd barrel and bolt. PC adj trigger will be replaced with one of Kidds triggers.

 

[Fred in Wisc]

The old Weatherby Mark 22 is a sweet gun. But it's not common or cheap, a nice one will run you about $600-800 usually.

My favorite inexpensive new .22 is the Remington 597. Highly recommend the Volq target hammer, it improves the trigger tremendously for about $40.

 

[OpelBlitz]

10-22's are great, the Marlin 795s are cheaper I believe (got both of mine for $99 each). The best for me is the M&P15-22 though.

 

[PGT]

if you want an accurate out of the box gun, the 10/22 isn't top of the list unless you buy the 10/22-T Target model. That said, its quite easy and affordable to mod a 10/22 to make it shoot tighter groups.

 

[Roadking Rider]

I don't know about best, but the Ruger 10/22 is loved by many and have been passed down from one generation to another. That's got to tell you something about there long term reliability and overall value.
Same exact thing could be said for Rugers 22 caliber MK series of pistols.

 

[BGB]

552 Speedmaster Great gun I had one also it is a real tack driver.