Best candidate for a take-down .22 rifle

[goon]

I've got this idea in my head for a .22LR rifle that can be broken down into two halves for backpacking or any other time when I may be able to make use of a compact .22 rifle.
I'm thinking to pull this off, I want to use a bolt action box magazine fed rifle because it will work with any ammo and because it will be legal for hunting in my state.
All I really forsee happening is the barrel being cut to 16.5 inches by a smith and the front sight reinstalled, stock cut down if necessary, and thumbscrew made to retain the action on the stock.
Which stock rifles do you guys think will be best for this type of project?

 

[sniper5]

Sounds like a lot of work. Why not just get a Browning .22 takedown (phenominally accurate) or a Marlin Papoose 70 or an AR-7? They've already done the hard work for you.

 

[goon]

Semi-autos are illegal to hunt with in my state. So if i want this to be more than a cool range toy... it's gotta be manually operated.
And I like box magazines because they feed anything reliably and are easier to fix magazine related problems than a tube - just get a new magazine for $15. So as much as getting an old Marlin 39 Mountie seems like a good idea, I think a bolt action can still be turned into this cheaper and more logically.

 

[toivo]

How about an instant solution? Sako Quad with one barrel. It comes apart in seconds with a T-handled hex wrench.



No iron sights, though.

If you can hack a single-shot, there's the Rossi Matched Pair. You get a shotgun out of the deal, too:

And it's WAY cheaper than the Quad...

 

[exospex]

I bought a Rossi matched pair to teach my boys how to shoot. It is turning out to be one of my favorites to shoot too. It's a great little gun. The .410 is just deadly on squirrels and rabbits.

 

[goon]

The idea of a Rossi or perhaps an NEF sportster has crossed my mind.

 

[rcmodel]

I'd search out a Winchester Model 06 pump with a decent bore.
They don't make anything any better then that for a short light pack rifle that handles any ammo you can put in it.

The Taurus 62 Carbine clone of the Winchester 62A is the same idea as the Win 06, but it is nowhere near the real deal.

http://www.taurususa.com/product-details.cfm?id=418&category=Rifle

rc

 

[Leadhead]

I find the tube's better for all kinds of .22 rimfire from short to long.
If you are OK with single shot the Henry mini is quite compact.
Can you carry a pistol/revolver instead where you live?

 

[Onward Allusion]

sniper5
Sounds like a lot of work. Why not just get a Browning .22 takedown (phenominally accurate) or a Marlin Papoose 70 or an AR-7? They've already done the hard work for you.

No experience with the Browning, but +1 on the Papoose. Stay away from the Henry Survival. Mine doesn't lock tight to the stock.

 

[goon]

Again, semi-autos are out for this project because of legality issues. I can't hunt with one in PA.
I could carry a handgun, but they're loud. I like the idea of using a subsonic .22LR and having it not make my ears ring for the rest of the day.

Basically, in bolt actions I'd need something that secures the barreled action to the stock with only one screw. I think I can turn one up cheap enough to make this worthwhile. The gunsmithing shouldn't cost that much... so if I can do this for around $100 on a used rifle and add another $100 or so for having the barrel chopped and a thumbscrew made, I'll be happy with that.
How do the Marlin 880/980 and Savage MKII stack up in this regard?

 

[Leadhead]

Maybe the henry mare's leg .22 would work for you if you can hunt with handguns in your area.

Check out post #79 in this thread,

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=576326&page=4

 

[Maddogkiller]

The Taurus Model 62 is not a semi Auto. It is a pump action rifle. I have one in stainless steel and it is a very robust rifle. In fact, I just got back from the farm with mine. I put up a poster board with 12 3 inch targets on it at 25 yards and fired 9 types of ammo through it. (resting on the bed of my truck)The 3 best were Remington Golden Bullet ( I was really surprised by this), Federal Champion 36 gr Plated Hollow point, and CCI Mini Mag 40 gr Plated Solid point.
I am late for dinner right now, so pics will have to wait till later. But, I am confidant that it is accurate enough for your task and equally confidant that if you were to purchase one that it would be too.

 

[texaz]

I love my little 1952 Browning .22 auto take-down!

 

[788Ham]

Yo texaz,

Nice looking rifle for almost 60 years old! Got one like it in the vault.

 

[texaz]

Thanks, everything but the stock is original. The magazine feed tube broke at the threads, had to send it to Browning, that's the way they sent it back to me. I still have the original stock and, some day, I'll have a smith do it right for me.

 

[goon]

Maddogkiller - I'm familiar with the Taurus Model 62. I got my dad one a few years back - he had always wanted a Winchester 62 but it had never worked out that he could get one. I saw the Taurus on the used rack at a local shop and quickly grabbed it for him. Other than polishing on the carrier (lifter, whatever it's called in that model) to get it to stop jamming with cheap bulk pack ammo, we've done nothing to it and he's pretty happy with it.
I hadn't thought of that, but it might just do what I need done. I'll consider it.

 

[SleazyRider]

Best bang for $100.00

Take a good hard look at the Rossi double as previously mentioned. A .410 and a .22 single shot that's built like a brick Schmidthouse. They were selling 'em at Dicks and Ginder Mountain less than a year ago for about 100 bucks.





Compared to the Henry Survival Rifle (top):

 

[TonyT]

Another option is one of the older Winchester Model 61's or Remington 121's - very reliable pump action 22's.