Which semi-auto 22lr rifle?

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Demos

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Hi guys,
I've decided I "need" a nice semi-auto rifle in 22lr as a little graduation present for myself. I've been thinking about getting something nice in centerfire, but since I only have access to a 100 yard range I feel as if shooting centerfire would be a waste of money. So I decided to go for a nice 22lr that I can toss a nice piece of glass on to practice shooting from field positions with a sling and bipod. I know bolt guns tend to be more accurate, and I have a few bolt 22s, but I just find semi-autos more fun. However, I really don't know what to get. I've been looking at everything from building an AR lower and getting a 22lr upper, to a Kidd supergrade 10-22, to the semi-auto offerings from CZ, Savage, and Marlin.
So, if you wanted to get an accurate 22 rifle to shoot with a sling or bipod and had a budget of around $1200 for the rifle, what would you get?
 
Coromo, might I ask why you feel differently? I felt as if 22lr would be perfect because I can shoot it at a fraction of the cost of centerfire so i'll get a lot more trigger time and it will make me much better at factoring for wind and drop than .223 at 100 yards. Also, the reason I'm willing to spend so much on a 22 is because I'll be able to afford to shoot it. I just bought a few cases of 22lr at 2.3 cents per round and I can't even buy a decent .224 bullet (not loaded ammo) for 5x that cost. I figure the gun will end up being "free" after I factor in the ammo savings after a few thousand rounds.

RC, why do you suggest Volquartsen over Kidd? I had kind of thought Kidd's supergrade receiver would be better than the Volquartsen since it uses a threaded barrel instead of a V-block, and that it would be stiffer due to the integral scope rail. That, and I know Kidd's products have a few nice touches, like tapered cut outs in the bolt where the bolt handle goes for easier assembly, and the countersunk receiver pin holes.

Thanks,
Demos
 
Demos, I know that many will disagree, but I'm a big fan of 10/22 type actions. If you want an accurate 10/22, you should add Clark to the list of Kidd and Volquartsen. I shoot a 10/22 made up of Kidd parts, a buddy of mine shoots a Volquartsen and another friend of mine has a Clark built rifle. At the range in practical shooting conditions, the performance of the rifle is more dependent upon how well the shooter is doing that day and the ammunition.

I personally prefer the Kidd trigger. The two stage is second to none.

On another note, I hope that ammunition you bought is either sub sonic or standard velocity. Trying to shoot at 100 yards with high velocity ammunition is almost an exercise in futility. Hi vel ammo goes transonic at around 75 yards or so.
 
AR platform with a dedicated upper/barrel for each of a centerfire caliber and .22LR. You may be able to get in under $1200 depending on the features you want.
 
So many choices. An alternative is the Appleseed route with Model 60/795 or 10/22. Tech Sights. Slings. Lots of options and tweaking available, especially for the Ruger. If you're of a practical bent, this might be more appealing than the more expensive route, although the Volquartsen, etc., are heartstoppinly nice.
 
What about the Browning semi auto 22 rifles. they look nice and they shoot very good otherwise I would say a 10/22 and spend the money left over on a nice scope bipod and ammo
 
Coromo, Yeah, I'll give you that. I still love shooting my Garand at 100 yards and don't feel like its money wasted. Is "I feel that shooting 22lr at 100 yards is better value than centerfire because it is good way to focus on the fundamentals of shooting and allows for more practice because of the reduced cost" better?

Thanks for the advice Tony, especially on the trigger. Most of my shooting has been with mil surps and I've gotten used to two stage triggers. Between that and your experience with several 10/22 type rifles, I'm starting to lean towards that supergrade since all other things between them seem equal. Do you happen to have a ballpark weight on your Kidd 10/22 or the Volquartsen? I can't seem to find anything with that and I would rather not try to shoot a 10lb rifle standing offhand. And yes, its all subsonic 40gr lead round nose.

Pseudonymity, I do really like that idea, but I haven't really been able to find any 22lr uppers that get really good accuracy reviews. Do you know of one that I must have missed?

Thanks everyone,
Demos
 
It's a shame that S&W/Thompson Center don't make or carry spares for the Thompson Center R55 Benchmark anymore, otherwise that rifle would suit your needs perfectly.
I guess you could take a chance and buy a little-used or unused second hand one (somewhere around $700) and then spend the rest on mounts and glass.
That is a very accurate semi-auto, it is great off a bipod but heavy if you want to use it off-hand.
 
The Brownings are just great rifles, beautifully made and such. But, I could never get with the muzzle down loading of them. Put the muzzle on your toe, in the dirt, or dangle it (need three hands for that) when reloading. No good options there.
 
Buy a Ruger 10/22, customize it to your hearts content. Then take $70 of the remaining $500 you saved and go to an Appleseed to learn how to shot it.

Or just buy a 10/22, good sights or scope, lots of ammo and shoot the heck out of it.

I was at an Appleseed a couple weekends ago shooting a 30 year old $100 pawn shop 10/22 beater with Tech Sights and GI web sling. The guy next to me was shooting a custom 10/22 with expensive scope. While we were preparing our mags for the next stage he says, "jeez, I have about a grand in that rifle, not counting the scope and you're shooting that POS with iron sights, and out shooting me." "I practice a lot" is all I could say. He shot a 234, and yeah I beat him. ;)
 
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I agree with mac66, buy a ruger 10/22. See how it shoots stock and if you feel the need order some customized parts.
 
Mac 66 and GI Jared, I've used a few 10/22s and I must say I do kind of like how they shoot, except when I was at my appleseed and it had ftf every time I was trying to get my patch.
The main reason I am looking at a custom 10/22 or any other accurate semi auto 22 instead of a stock 10/22 is because I want to know for a fact that if I miss, it was all me. The few 22s I have now are nothing special and I never know if that flier that messes up an otherwise good group was me or the gun. This time though, I want to cry once, buy something nice that I know can shoot and be done with it instead of tinkering for months and always having a little bit of doubt in the back of my mind that the gun is letting me down when I get a flier that messes up a group, or I miss a piece of broken clay bird on the 100 yard berm. I want have complete confidence in this gun and have it for years to practice my technique in the hopes I'll have the chance to put those skills to use on a nice long range one day, and even if I don't get to do any long range shooting, I'll have loads of fun practicing.
 
What about the Browning semi auto 22 rifles.
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A truly great classic rifle for sure!

But they do not fit the OP's criteria for a sling and bi-pod by any means.

But, I could never get with the muzzle down loading of them. Put the muzzle on your toe, in the dirt, or dangle it
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Well, mine is easily loaded by holding it in my left hand just slightly muzzle down in a safe direction, pulling out the mag tube where it stays, and dropping 10 rounds nose down in the big oval cut-out in the side of the stock.

If you dangle, use your toe, or stick it in the dirt, you aren't doing it right.

rc
 
$1200 is a mighty large chunk of change to spend.

Since it sounds like you already have a respectable collection (several bolt .22's and a 10/22?) I'm going to suggest a .22LR upper for an AR15. I would build it as a CMP service rifle / NRA high power trainer. Get a match grade barrel, CMP float tube and a lower with an A2 stock and Giselle service rifle trigger. Build with an A3 upper so you can swap glass on when you feel like it, and there are bipod adapters for A2 handguards as well. Add a Turner Saddlery sling, then spend the rest of the money on a spotting scope, spare mags and match grade ammo (figure 10-20c per round, but it does shoot better)

As far as your luck on the AQT, sorry to hear that. What brand of ammo are you using?
 
Rugers are not hard to make reliable other than ammo, old fireing pins andextractors not much left to replace to cause problems. Ammo can be the biggest hold back to runnig 100%. If a match that supply's ammo if its cci your rifle should run fine. I don't think we have had a single fulure to fire or cycle in the last 2 years. But i don't shot bulk ammo ether.
 
I would have to second the TC, I bought one for my girl friend a few years ago. I use it almost exclusively, unless she is shooting with me. Extremely accurate and reliable.
 
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