Replace Ruger 10/22 with a bolt action?

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I am new to a lot of gun "stuff" and am considering a bolt action to replace my Ruger 10/22. I don't particularly like Ruger's stance on some issues (but that is beyond the scope of this thread) and I would like to consider good reasons to, if there are any, replace the venerable 10/22 with a non-semi-auto .22 rifle.

Is there a .22 bolt action rifle with non-removable magazine (tubular or other) that you can recommend as a SHTF/Survival Hunting rifle? I prefer not to have a magazine to keep up with in the field, or that could have potential problems. I also want to add a scope to it rather than just iron sights, but wanted iron sights as backup option.

Biggest factor, if the rifle can meet those basic criteria (Bolt-action and non-removable magazine that doesn't protrude from the body), is that it has to be Cheap! I know everyone likes to say this, but I am really on a budget and can't afford to spend any more than $200 for the rifle, even selling my Ruger towards it.

Any and all information is appreciated as I am not really partial to any particular brand names, though I had a Savage .17HM2 a good while back that I liked.

Thanks to everyone!
 
I'm not sure there's anything that's higher quality than your 10/22 for that price, as .22 bolt guns are generally more expensive than semi-autos. The reason to replace the ruger with a bolt-action would be accuracy and reliability. I'd say that for $200, you could make your 10/22 more accurate, not sure about reliable. A bolt action might have a better trigger pull, but you can seriously reduce the 10/22's with some Volquartzen components. (I think using their hammer lightens it to 3-5 pounds or so.)

If you're really on a budget, I'd reccomend avoiding .17 HM2. With a .22 you can afford to practice. (I'm in a similiar situation.)


don't particularly like Ruger's stance on some issues
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Bill Ruger is no longer alive :( (may he rest in peace), and ruger now sells 20 round magazines and folding stocks, etc, to the public.
 
Keep the 10/22 and throw a few modifications on it. Mine has a new barrel, stock, trigger group and a few other goodies to the point where just the receiver and bolt are original. I get half inch groups at fifty yards with cheap, bulk ammo.
 
I have a number of Ruger firearms, and I love them.

The only one I have ever sold was my 10/22. It was a lousy rifle, with a good design but many flaws (hence the aftermarket stuff available for it). Accuracy stunk, reliability stunk, it was a PITA to clean for such a simple piece, etc.

For SHTF, I'd get a bolt gun, no question. Easy cleaning, no particular need to clean it just to make it work, good accuracy even from the cheapest ones, works with any ammo.

Mine has a new barrel, stock, trigger group and a few other goodies to the point where just the receiver and bolt are original.
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Soup from a stone, that's the 10/22. For the money, you could have an Anschutz.:)

Makes a fine project/toy for someone with extra cash to spend.

SHTF is a whole other ballgame.
 
In a shtf sit. a tubular magazine is a drawback , one small dent in the tube and your repeating rifle is turned into a single shot.

Again think this out , how many other .22 rimfires have the same availability of parts that the 10-22 has, plus the ease of replacing these parts. If you are not capable of repairing your 10-22 chances are one of your neighbors can.

To get into a bolt rimfire with a truley internal mag , you will have to pay a lot more than $200. CZ, Anshutz ,Ruger M77-22, prices start in the $350.00 and go up from there.

You may want to consider you extend below the stock critera and look at the Savage MKII line with a 5 shot clip the mag only extends 1/4-3/8th inches. But even with that you will still have to keep up with the mags.

Consider modern battle rifles , how many of them have you seen with tubular mags?
 
To get into a bolt rimfire with a truley internal mag , you will have to pay a lot more than $200.
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Pilot's "10/22" cost him at least $800, as I calculate it. That was my point.

Also, it's pretty easy to find a mag-fed bolt .22 for under 200 bucks.
 
ArmedBear... you ok? :)

Stalker: My recommendation is to go to a gun store. Don't be confused by stores that sell guns. That's not what you want. You want the mom & pop gun store off the side street. In the late 90s I picked up a 40+ year old JC Higgins tube fed .22 bolt action for $35 at a store like this. Even close to 10 years later, there are great deals to be found on the used rack. Many guns later, it's still the most accurate rifle I've owned, and like most bolt actions, 100% reliable. After a few shots we like to stand the empty .22 cases on the target stand and pick them off from left to right. Disregarding the likely low resale value, I don't think I'd ever sell this rifle. Don't be afraid to look at pawn shops, either. My BIL recently bought himself a beat up 10/22 at a pawn shop for $65. Looked like hell but he replaced the stock with a polymer one and Krylonned the exterior metal parts matte OD. Shoots as good as mine ever did and looks pretty darn nice now.

Point is... if you look around, you can find a very nice, reliable, functional, and deadly accurate rifle for not much cash. Keep the 10/22. You'll lose quite a bit in reselling it, and if the S really does HTF, two rifles are better than one.
 
various marlins, or older remmy's, or older brownings. the marlin that is bolt fed with a tube, I think is the 81 or 81dl, these will be used. if for semi auto, look for a 99,99c, 989, 99m1, glenfield 75, or 75c. remmy made a fieldmaster, which was bolt, a pumpmaster, which was pump, and a speedmaster, a semi auto, several years ago, and it is a stud. it also shoots short, long, and long rifle. they also made a 24 and a 241, and a 241 gs, the last being a shorts only model, and they are all semiauto.
 
oh yeah, you also have the marlin 39a, a great rifle, lever action, tube fed, takedown, but more cost. the remmy's will be take down models as well, as will be the browning.
The Marlin 81's were first made about 70 years ago, and are virtually unchanged. look for them used, for about 100 bucks, and new for 150, now called 981's. the old dl models, had rear peep sites, and I cannot stress how , fun, fast shooting , and accurate they are.
 
Keep the 10/22 and mod it. You've already given Ruger the money for it and they'll still have it even if you sell. For 200 buck you can make it incredibly accurate. Mine can put 10 shots in a sub 1/2" group at 50 yards. I currently have put $180 into it including a trigger job.
 
Keep the 10/22 you got and buy ammo with the money. I mean you've already got it, right? Can't get much cheaper than that.

It works? You didn't say you're having any particular problem with it that I noticed.

Ruger already has your money.

Now, if you just want another 22, I can certainly understand that.

If it doesn't have to be a bolt action, the Remington 597 is pretty good, and in your price range.
 
As far as my current situation:

The Ruger is not as reliable as I would have liked, especially with various .22lr loads. Some are hotter than others and cycle the bolt too fast (or so it seems) causing stovepipe-jams, while others seem to be underpowered and cant cycle the bolt enough to eject the spent cartridge properly. This happens often. I was just to the point that I started researching a little and figured I would get better performance, and more power too, from a bolt action. I just wanted to get a new bolt action, and figured that .22 would be the cheapest to shoot and also good for SHTF hunting. I suppose that I can keep the Ruger as a "backup" if needed.
I noted posts that said that the tub magazines are bad news - dents in them making the rifle into a single-shot fast. Is this really commonplace?

Thanks for the information it is ALL appreciated! Keep the comments coming, as I am learning as I go here.

Thanks!
 
I think we have six .22 rifles in the house. Including the Marlin 881, a couple of 10/22s and old Stevens and others. Can't complain much about any of them. They all seem to work just fine within the expectations I have for them.

Unless you get lucky or spend a bunch of money on a Shutzen you have to have realistic expectations about the gun.

10/22 Reliability - Varies greatly based upon the ammo and how clean the magazine is and how many times you shoot it. More is better it seems. Cleaner is better. A little lube on the magazine does wonders especially for the large magazines. But no matter how reliable it likely won't be as reliable as a bolt gun. Not that the Marlin never jams. Because it has. You can get a failure to extract from a bolt gun just like any other. It is just more likely from the semi-auto.

Accuracy- Longer barrels are normally better but, not always. The $8 Stevens will out shoot any of the Rugers even with it's re-welded site that has no adjustments. It just does.
 
+1 on the Marlin. Tube magazine allows use of .22 lr as well as shorts or longs. (17 lr or 25 shorts!) People who own them like them, and they are known to be accurate shooters. 22 inch barrel is heavier than the model 60. Receiver is grooved and tapped for rings or other scope mounts. Mine has a crisp trigger that I guess breaks at about 3 lbs. I wish they came with wood stocks but thats only for looks. I researched a lot before I bought and I don't think a tubular magazine is any more delicate than any other feed system. If you drop or step on a box mag you invite problems too. The tube fed Marlin 39 is a legendary gun that is famous for accuracy, ruggedness and reliability. I wish I could testify about its accuracy but I got mine on the 3rd for $194.00 and it has been so cold and snowy where I live (SW Michigan) I haven't been able to to a range.

Anyway, take a good look at the Marlin. Others in your price range would be Remington model 5 or Savage MK II or Mossberg plinkster.
 
I'm with BigBill on the 981T Marlin. I have one that is able to shoot less than an inch group at 50 yards from field positions. I have the synthetic stock on mine and I really like it. I don't normally go for plastic but this one is the exception.

The butt plate can be removed and there is a weight in the buttstock. The weight can be removed and the area filled with extra ammo and survival supplies like matches and a knife and small fishing kit. The buttplate is a tight fit so sanding around the edges a little will make removal easier the second time around.

This rifle will shoot shorts, longs and long rifle rounds. I have a Nikon Pro-staff 4x on mine and have the open sights adjusted in case the scope gets damaged. I paid $173 OTD for mine and I think they can be had cheaper.

Don't worry about damaging the tube. It could happen but its not likely. Besides you could order a spare inner and outer tube for around the same price as a couple of spare magazines. And magazine fed rifles wont normally feed anything but 22LR rounds.
 
Stalker,

No the dented magazine is not all that common place.

The dented magazine, thing I was refering to,has never happened to me with either of the Marlin semi auto pattern rifles I have owned , I still have one that was my fathers.This one is a Revelation (Western Auto), it has been 100% reliable.

But this perfectly good rifle in a hunting, plinking situation is not going to get the same treatment that it would ,if pressed into service for self defense especially in a SHTF secenario. Rough handling in any way could damage that thin brass tube feed magazine.

It is just not designed fot that type of use. Again as an example, how many lever action tube fed magazine rifles were intentionally used in service rifle applications.

I can think of one which was the Henry, during the War between the States. Shortly thereafter it was eclipsed by bolt actions, which some early models did have tubular design,but they were sent to their graves by the more reliable clip fed internal box magazine rifles.
 
Thanks to all ! After reading all posts, and re-reading for even more "sink-in" factor, I think that I have decided to go with the Marlin 981T. I like the idea of no mag to lose, while the odds of normal-usage-based damage to the tube mag should be low. I like the idea of a synthetic stock, so weather should not be an issue. It looks to have a free-floating barrel, which I like better than the ruger 10/22 as well.

Again, a Large Thank You to all posters for assisting me in deciding on my new purchase!

A Few months from now I may be contemplating another bolt-action.... in a larger caliber... wife permitting.... ;)
 
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