Looking for a reliable .22 mag semi auto rifle

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Kaybee

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Im looking at the CZ 512 Tactical and the KT CMR-30.

I saw also The EAA appeal that looks neat but seems to have bad reviews.

Has anyone hands on with any of these? would have to be an online purchase. I value reliability.
 
My only experience with a .22 WMR semi-auto was a Marlin 922M that I had about 10 years ago. Nice rifle, and I regret selling it. They've been discontinued for a long time now.

There are a few on Gunbroker. They mostly want stupid money for them, but this one's not too crazy on price:

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/817067158

The CZ 512 has a good reputation. If you want to go really crazy with discontinued primo rifles, look for its predecessor, the Brno 611. Tom Knapp used to use one to shoot coins out of the air in his shows.

https://www.gunbroker.com/Semi-Auto-Rifles/search?Keywords=brno 611
 
If you aren't completely married to the "tactical" look, Savage has the A22 Magnum which has gotten decent reviews. They did have some reliability issues out of the gate but the reviews I've read lately seem to indicate they have them ironed out. I don't have one personally, just throwing out another option.
 
Cz512 is the best generally affordable option. I consider the Marlin 522 as well.

That out of production HK was probably the best. They go for $2k now.

I use a Remington 597 mag and after some fettling it is 100% with select ammo. I have $300 into it because it was “broke” when I bought it. Volquartsen extractor and new mags made it more reliable. Volquartsen hammer made the trigger better. 1-1.5” groups @100 and it made a lot of sense to buy it.

The CMR-30 would be a no go for me. Too many reliability problems. The A22 seems alright.
 
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I too have a Remington M597M. Runs fine and accuracy like Earls. I have two magazines, they are plastic but work well.
I seldom use it anymore as State regulations have changed regarding allowable weapons for hunting pigs on WMA’s.
 
Im looking at the CZ 512 Tactical and the KT CMR-30.

I saw also The EAA appeal that looks neat but seems to have bad reviews.

Has anyone hands on with any of these? would have to be an online purchase. I value reliability.
That darned "R" word again...reliability. Sorry, I don't know anyone who has/had a .22 WMR semi-auto, much less a reliable one.
 
That darned "R" word again...reliability. Sorry, I don't know anyone who has/had a .22 WMR semi-auto, much less a reliable one.

I think I am in your boat.....automatic 22 mag is the answer to a question that......sorry but that was a stupid question.

It is more expensive, and still a bit harder to find.

It is louder, I know you young children follow the do as I say not as I do, but I never wear ears when shooting 22 l,s,lr out of a "normal" length rifle.....22 wmr....that hurts a bit. And my ears are shot form years of hanging around loud cars, gunz just sealed the deal.

In my experience you can FIND accurate 22 mag.....but it takes a bit of looking and perhaps a bit of fiddling.....the other rimfires.....krap, hard to find a 22 rimfire that will not be minute of pop can at 50.....unless it is a 10/22 (I keed I keed)

So you want that more oomph to shoot X,Y or Z......well if you are not going to turn it into a poof of feathers with a 17, might I suggest some of the center fire choices. You want coyote....IMHO you are an idiot shooting it with a rimfire....get 223 or something. I think we all can agree that rimfire ammo is not the most "high quaility" stuff out there....or perhaps consistent I should say. Last week I was shooting single shot 22 LR....click bang ting....over and over again.....then one click, foof, crickets.....*** was that. Looking it did leave the barrel, (despite what many of you think I ain't an idiot, just thick headed) but god knows where it went.

Now all that said I really like 22 WMR.....it is kinda fun....makes you feel like shooting something when you are really not shooting much more. They do not tear up my normal 22 targets but they sure do fly better....it is just a nifty round....that longer case....there is something about it.

But if I was wanting to put little 22 holes in just that spot.....IMHO there are better choices.
 
Rimfire semi-autos have traditionally had weaker firing mechanisms than bolt-actions/levers/pumps. Twenty-two magnums and .17 HMR rounds have tougher rims than .22LRs, so it makes more sense to have strong firing pin impacts, not only for reliability but also accuracy.

Blow-back actions are also dirtier than other firing mechanisms, so .22 mag semi-autos could be more problematic than .22 LR semi-autos. However, I've had NO experience with them, so it's just conjecture at this point.
 
That darned "R" word again...reliability. Sorry, I don't know anyone who has/had a .22 WMR semi-auto, much less a reliable one.
I guess you didn't read post #7 above...

I didn't lie, mine has been 100% reliable and I consider it fairly accurate...

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That's resting on the back of a 4 wheeler, may be even better off a bench...

It's not picky on ammo either...

DM
 
Mine too has been reliable. (M597).

The only cycling issues I’ve encountered were with the reduced velocity Winchester Dynapoints. If the gun was recently cleaned and lubricated, they would cycle. Sluggishly, but they would! If dirty, they wouldn’t completely cycle the action. But, then the rifle was intended for full power ammo.
 
That darned "R" word again...reliability. Sorry, I don't know anyone who has/had a .22 WMR semi-auto, much less a reliable one.

My 512 has not hiccuped yet. I’ve run about 30 boxes through it, mostly CCI 40 grain but also some Bitterroot Valley.
 
What primarily do people use their semi-auto .22WMRs for? Hunting, varmints, plinking?

It seems that a lever-action could be nice also, especially a scoped one that uses external magazines.
 
What primarily do people use their semi-auto .22WMRs for? Hunting, varmints, plinking?

It seems that a lever-action could be nice also, especially a scoped one that uses external magazines.

I have never understood the 22 WMR either, but there is lots I don't understand.

I always thought the Kel Tec PMR 30 (yes a pistol) was cool looking and all that but what's it for? 22 Mag ammo is expensive so I bought a FN 5.7 and it is cool but useless and costs even more money!:rofl:

If I was gonna buy one it would be the CZ just because I like CZ!
 
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People don’t use .22 Mag in lieu of centerfire....they generally use it in lieu of a .22LR or as a compromise to interestingly written hunting regs.

I don’t care that the .22 Mag isn’t as accurate as a .17 HMR. Accuracy is not everything. Especially when we are talking about accuracy at 100-150 yds which is all the range I am shooting anything at and even then it will have to be ideal conditions.

What primarily do people use their semi-auto .22WMRs for? Hunting, varmints, plinking?

It seems that a lever-action could be nice also, especially a scoped one that uses external magazines.

I use my .22 WMR for everything most people use a .22 LR for. This is a very isolated situation but I hunt an area where you have to register the weapons you hunt with. Bows, muzzleloaders, rifles, shotguns, etc. I don’t want to register all my guns because I wheel and deal guns a lot and the registration and unregistration is an inconvenient process so I compromise and only have one rimfire, one shotgun, and two centerfire rifles registered. My rimfire is my Remington 597 Magnum so that what gets used for small game and hogs.

Hogs bring up another point of using the .22 Mag. Many places dont classify hogs as game animals so there is not a “hog season”. As such you can only hunt them during other hunting seasons such as deer or small game seasons. During small game season you need to use an appropriate small game weapon like a shotgun with shot or a rimfire. .22 LR will drop a hog but I would rather have the .22 Mag.
And make mine a semi auto because when you are under gunning hogs you better have a few quick shots at hand.

Because of all this, I have become quite fond of the .22 Mag and have a lever action and pump action as well.
 
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People don’t use .22 Mag in lieu of centerfire....

I don’t care that the .22 Mag isn’t as accurate as a .17 HMR. Accuracy is not everything. Especially when we are talking about accuracy at 100-150 yds which is all the range I am shooting anything at and even then it will have to be ideal conditions.



I use my .22 WMR for everything most people use a .22 LR for. This is a very isolated situation but I hunt an area where you have to register the weapons you hunt with. Bows, muzzleloaders, rifles, shotguns, etc. I don’t want to register all my guns because I wheel and deal guns a lot and the registration and unregistration is an inconvenient process so I compromise and only have one rimfire, one shotgun, and two centerfire rifles registered. My rimfire is my Remington 597 Magnum so that what gets used for small game and hogs.

Hogs bring up another point of using the .22 Mag. Many places dont classify hogs as game animals so there is not a “hog season”. As such you can only hunt them during other hunting seasons such as deer or small game seasons. During small game season you need to use an appropriate small game weapon like a shotgun with shot or a rimfire. .22 LR will drop a hog but I would rather have the .22 Mag.
And make mine a semi auto because when you are under gunning hogs you better have a few quick shots at hand.

Because of all this, I have become quite fond of the .22 Mag and have a lever action and pump action as well.

I am even more confused.

Hogs on a 22mag.....I pulled a 30 cal bullet out of a shoulder on a hog that had been there a long time.....well not quite shoulder more of an arm pit shot...you think it would be good. Hunting something that thick with a 22....well I will not comment my thoughts on that as you can guess what they are.

I am not in Georgia, so don't understand the statement "register", perhaps you could expand on that.

Personally I like the round, but like most I see it as a "fun" thing as so much else out there does the job so much better.
 
I am even more confused.

Hogs on a 22mag.....I pulled a 30 cal bullet out of a shoulder on a hog that had been there a long time.....well not quite shoulder more of an arm pit shot...you think it would be good. Hunting something that thick with a 22....well I will not comment my thoughts on that as you can guess what they are.

I am not in Georgia, so don't understand the statement "register", perhaps you could expand on that.

Personally I like the round, but like most I see it as a "fun" thing as so much else out there does the job so much better.

It’s not all of GA. It is Ft Stewart where you register your guns you bring on base. They allow civilians to hunt there but you have to jump through a ton of hoops.

Yes. Hogs with a .22 Mag. Not because we want to but because we have to. During small game season on Stewart you still have too. In the rest of GA you can use a centerfire during predator season which overlaps small game.

Many other states have similar laws on public land. Hogs during small game season you have to use birdshot or a rimfire.
 
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cbd1 I see you are in Justin. That area has or at least used to have a large population of fur bearing animals. I used to hunt the LBJ Grasslands before they went crazy on how and what you could hunt and what you could hunt with. I have two 22 mag Marlin bolts with tube fed mags. I love that round. I want a Henry 22 mag lever action. I have 5,500+ rounds of 22 mag on hand.
 
There are many raccoons, that’s for sure.

My 512 is my second favorite rifle, favorite is my 550 American in 6.5x55.
 
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