What .22 Rifle For Me?

[Dynasty]

I am having a hard time choosing a .22 rifle. I have read a lot of reviews and each seem to have their pro's and con's. I will be using it for plinking mostly and just having fun. I will take it the range at times and hunting small game. Here is a list of rifles I came up with through searching these forums.

- Marlin Model 60 ($150) http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=9935_13987_14246_14284&products_id=86078
- Marlin Model 795 ($130) http://www.impactguns.com/store/026495077501.html
- Mossberg 702 Plinkster ($120) http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=9935_13987_14246_14284&products_id=86134
- Savage 64F ($126) http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=9935_13987_14246_14284&products_id=86731
- Savage Mark III ($164) http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=9935_13987_14246_14284&products_id=86761
- Remington Model 597 ($146) http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=9935_13987_14246_14284&products_id=86280
- .22 "Whisper" ($100) http://www.centerfiresystems.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=1015
- TOZ 78-05 ($200) http://www.ssmedwi.com/Rifles page 3.htm
- Ruger 10/22 ($191) http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=9935_13987_14246_14284&products_id=86490

I am also having a hard time deciding on a semi-auto or bolt action. Which is more fun and reliable?

 

[Jackal]

I just purchased my girlfriend a Savage MKII, the one with the wood stock, iron sights and Accutrigger. She loves it! We are both able to hit shotgun shells out to 50 yards with open sights and with the little 4x scope I just installed, accuracy at fifty yards is about 3/4" with target ammo. Not too shabby for a $160 rifle. Great gun and I would buy another. Only thing I dont like, is that when she is using it, she can almost keep up with me and my Anschutz.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

If fun and games is what you want, along with burning a lot of ammo, a semi-auto is ideal. If you're a serious small game hunter, a bolt-action is probably best.

I think I'd go with the Savage MKII and a good scope made for .22s.

 

[cat_IT_guy]

Savage, Ruger, or Marlin should suit you well.

I have a model 60 (great little rifle, probably more bang for your buck than any other gun out there). I also have a savage mark II the bull barrel version with a 3-9x scope. It is one of my favorite rifles. Very accurate (about 1in at 75ish yards with good ammo). I am able to routinly hit clays at about 120 yards once I figure out the hold over. The savage also has the accutrigger which you can mod a little (very easy) to provide a very nice pull. I would go with a bolt, slightly more accurate out of the box but its really a matter of preference Im sure you would not be disappointed with a 10/22.

 

[ArmedBear]

Go to the Marlin 39 Club thread http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=261635

...and you can read all about a gun that people absolutely LOVE. Fun, accurate. Hunting pictures included in the thread.

Just another option. I loved my 39A so much, I bought a 39M to go with it. Lever gun is more reliable and less picky about ammo than most semiautos, but still fast enough to plink with. The 39A holds 19 rounds of LR. You can shoot Shorts in it, too. It also works perfectly with CB and Colibri low-power rounds.

That said, I think that the 60, if you can find it for a good price, is the best choice in an inexpensive .22 plinker out there, and accurate enough for paper with a scope, right out of the box. Stock design works well with a scope, too. Laminate stock is standard equipment on the cheapest one, even.

I have a 10/22, and frankly, I don't much care for it. They're not too accurate, too expensive these days, and they lack basic features that come with the 60. The stock geometry is wrong for a scope. As an iron sights gun, it's okay, but like I said, prices have risen too much. People who have one they really like generally have an aftermarket barrel, stock and trigger. For the total price of the rifle plus aftermarket parts, you have many other options.

EDIT: See the next post for an example. If a perpetual expensive project is what you want, a 10/22 will give you that.

I don't have a .22 boltie. I'll defer to others. The Savages, Marlins and CZ's offer a lot without breaking the bank. People LOVE their CZ bolties, but you can get great performance from the American guns, too, often for a bargain price. All worth a look.

 

[kbo518]

I have a Ruger 10/22 and love it. There are so many things you can do to it. One set-up I have is a Butler Creek folding stock, a flash hider/muzzle break, and a 30 round magazine. You can also get a bullpup stock, a target stock, a stock that makes it look like an MG42 machine gun, or a kit that'll make it look like an AK-47 that uses actual AK parts. Also, if precision is what your looking for, there are tons and tons of aftermarket parts. You can pretty much start replacing parts and eventually put all the old stuff back together and have 2 rifles. Check out:

www.midwayusa.com
http://www.paulzintgunsmith.com/index.html
http://www.crankyfarmer.com/Ruger_10_22.html
http://www.wpgbc.com/

As for any of the other .22's on the market, I don't have any experience with them. I do love my ruger though.

 

[woof]

I agree with Armed Bear, don't overlook a lever. I also love the Marlin 39, but I also have the Henry and it is tons of fun, shoots great and the action is silky smooth. All for half the price of the 39.

 

[Outlaws]

If you are not a serious accuracy buff who scrutinizes every group, you can forget about all the negatives that people say when talking about the 10/22. The 10/22 is a rifle for the casual shooter/plinker/hunter. It always has been and always will be, and it is priced accordingly. They are not the best selling 22 of all time for nothing. I am not saying its the best 22 on the market, but its no where near as bad as some make it out to be.

 

[Eyesac]

I vote for 10/22. It can shoot as crappy or as good as an autoloader can. Shoot it stock at cans, or spend a buck or two on it and drive tacks.

 

[KI.W.]

There is Thompson Center "all steel and wood" .22LR rifle. Is the price too high? I have Anschutz, but it is an other story, ofcourse. Kauko. Already " Member"! Thank yoy!

 

[rangerruck]

out of that list, the marlin will be the most accurate, followed closely by the savage, the toz, and the mossy, and the remmy. the mossy will be the cheapest. the mossy action is a copy of the marlin, so you know it is reliable. the mossy is the only one with a fully adjustable rear sight, which is good if you wanna hunt open sites; oh wait the remmy is too. the marlin is the only tube fed here, and will hold 14 rounds , plus one in the chamber. If you can find the remmy for under 150, it has a lot going for it, but is not tube fed.

 

[rangerruck]

the ruger, will be the most expensive, and least accurate, and least reliable, and yet , i still love them, but they do need a few minor upgrades, to shoot well, and be reliable.
The toz is the most interesting here, it will be a bolt action I believe, but it will be super accurate, I think they come with 4 mags, WHICH IS AWESOME!!! plus it has express sites, which is also toally sick.
I think, just to be diff, i would go with the toz.

 

[rangerruck]

the toz is also now sold as the winchester wildcat, get the toz model if you can find it though, it will be cheaper, and I am not sure the winny model will be sold with 4 mags.

 

[aka108]

Guess if I were in the market for having only 1 rifle in 22 cal it would be either the Marlin 39A or a Ruger 77/22 (Only Ruger I'd have). If semi-auto was on the list it would be a Marlin 60. Can't be beat for the price.

 

[Dynasty]

I edited my first post and included the prices of all the possible choices. Will I see a significant difference in reliability and accuracy from the $200 TOZ to the $126 Savage?

 

[CDignition]

I have a highly modded 10/22, a real nice Henry Lever 22(takes shorts, longs and LR), and looking to build a dedicated AR-15 22 LR . I don't think you can go wrong with any choice you make. Just stay away from the $69 guns and you'll be A-OK.

 

[jjohnson]

Ruger 10/22

Have a look at the most popular (by numbers sold) 22 ever made on this planet, then ask yourself why - or why not!

The Ruger 10/22 isn't the most accurate or least expensive. It might be the most dependable of all currently made autos, and yes, have a look online at the parts you can get if you like to accurize, sporterize, or otherwise.

I still own 5 of them, have bought several as gifts, and have had a dozen other rimfire rifles. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another Ruger.

 

[BamBam-31]

The Marlin 39a's a fantastic rifle, but it'll cost about twice what the other rifles on your list go for.

For a fun plinker under $200, I'd go with a 10/22 for sure. LOTS of aftermarket stuff, too.

For a little more, maybe $250, the CZ 452 is an outstanding value in a .22 bolt.

Either way, go here to read up on .22's in general: www.rimfirecentral.com. Let us know what you end up with, eh?

Oh, and welcome to THR.

 

[FLORIDA KEVIN]

I have Ruger 10/22 that that I got in about 1967 It still shoots great ! If you need more accuracy they make a 10/22 T for target ! A buddy of mine has one and it is a real tackdriver out to 100 yards !!

 

[Tony Gable]

.22 Rifle

I have a Marlin 781 I've had since the early 70's. Bought my son a 981T a year ago. Both rifles are deadly accurate and inexepensive. Both are bolt action. Can't get the 781 anymore. Damn fine rifles in my opinion. The microgroove barrel is the s&*t as far as I'm concered.

Tony

 

[chris in va]

Henry lever action.

 

[woof]

Who has this $200 Toz and what are your impressions?

 

["Reaper"]

If you get the Rugger 10/22 T get it form Wal-mart have them order it.It is only $315 from them.

 

[JTW Jr.]

I have :
Ruger 10/22
Savage GVXP
Marlin 700
Remington Nylon 66.

Of all of them , the Savage is my favorite , its an accurate little beast that I got for $250. The 10/22 I do like , just no where near the accuracy of the Savage.

 

[rangerruck]

you should be able to go to a gunshow, and get that toz for about 150, still. again, express sites on it are way cool. and getting 4 mags is priceless. I have shot it, and it has legendary accuracy among the rimfire geeks, it is allways good, they never come up dogs.
the savage is very reliable, i bought one, and as a favor , sold it to a range officer for the same price. He immediately picked it up , and was shooting offhand 1 inch shootnsees' at 25 yards. plus the mags are solid, you could throw them, as a weapon themselves.