Recommendations for a Classy .22 Sporter Wanted

[ArmedBear]

Biathlon Basic for a bargain. CZ for a real value.

Weatherby XXII if you want an Anschutz barreled action in a fancy Weatherby stock. Best of both, IMO. I love Weatherby stock fit and feel, myself, and the wood is really nice. That's classy. But it's !@#$ expensive, too.

 

[SwampWolf]

John BT: That Cooper. WOW!

 

[JohnBT]

Thanks, and it looks better in person. And it shoots better than it looks. No kidding.

I wanted to buy a fancy squirrel gun for my father's birthday a few years ago, but nobody had a Custom Classic that month. I finally found it at Whittaker Guns in KY and bought it sight unseen after the woman who answered the phone described it in glowing terms. She was right on the money I'd say. Sometimes it really is better to be lucky than smart.

Whittaker had nothing but years of glowing reports on rimfirecentral, so I went for it. A couple of hundred or so under list and only $16 to ship it IIRC. I know she apologized for having to charge me $4 over their normal shipping due to the extra insurance. On my end, the guy at the gun store peeked in the box and wouldn't take it out to check the SN until I got there.

My father decided they needed to sell the house and move to assisted living two years ago, so he gave me all of his guns. He'll be 87 next month and the only gun he really misses is his favorite Python. I understand completely, it's nice.

John

 

[jkingrph]

I have three that would fit your criteria, a Marlin 39a, Win 52 repro, and a Ruger 77/22. The Winchester is hands down the most accurate and has the best trigger. Ruger is next so far as the trigger is concerned but after installing aftermarket sear . Marlin is in a class by itself. It sports a peep sight vs Leupold scopes on the others so accuracy difference is me. Nearly 50 years ago I had one of the little Weaver small tube rimfire scopes on it and it was extremely accurate. It feels more like a real rifle and would give a quicker follow up shot if need than the bolt action.