[itgoesboom]

As i posted in another thread, my wife is going to get me a .22 in the next couple weeks for my birthday. I am not sure if i am going to get a rifle or a pistol as of yet, but i still wanted to get opinions as to which rifle to get, if i choose to get the rifle. I don't need to do this with the pistols, since i have already decided which one i would get, if i decide to go that route.

So the choices are

1. Marlin model 60, tube fed, semi auto

2. Marlin model 25, mag fed, bolt action

3. Savage MKII bolt action.


I have left off the Ruger 10/22, since i know that if i was to purchase it, i wouldn't be happy till i had added every cool little accesory made, and i want to avoid that. I also left of the CZ series because they are a little more than i want to spend for this, since i just want something that is fun to shoot at cans and clays and such.

So any help would be appreciated. I would love to know which will be more accurate, more reliable, and generally, just a better buy.

Thanks in advance.

I.G.B.

[Dionysusigma]

I'd go with the Marlin Model 60. My 60 was my first rifle, and I've had no problems as of yet. Accurate too, for a semi. Furniture is good, and recoil (though it's obviously a .22 and only a step above a pellet gun) from the bolt blowback is just enough to let you know you've fired a shot.
Just my opinion on the 60, though...never had any experience with the others.

[firestar]

Check out the CZ 452 "Standard" or "Special". They are only about $200 and are just as good as the $300 CZ-452 but with a beech stock instead of a walnut stock. If you buy one, you will never feel the need to upgrade.

[makdaddy03]

Buy both Marlins for the price of one CZ or Ruger. And have 2 much better guns.;)

[makarov]

If you can find one of the Beech stock CZ's for under $200 do it. I have a Marlin 60 too, but the CZ is much more gun. If you only have $100 to spend get the Marlin 60 on sale.

[PATH]

Marlin Model 60 is the way to go. Good value at a good price. Pretty darn reliable too.

[chaim]

Get the Marlin 60. Mine is somewhat ammo sensitive but with good ammo it is very reliable, it is quite accurate with just about any ammo and it is great fun to shoot. Mine is my first gun of any kind and still my favorite by far of my three .22lr rifles (I also have a bolt action Remington 581 that I'm thinking of replacing with the CZ, and I have a Ruger 10/22).

[BusMaster007]

Another one to look at.
The Marlin 81TS is a tube-fed all black .22LR bolt-action that holds 17LR rounds and up to 25 .22 shorts.

http://www.marlinfirearms.com/firearms/boltAction22/81TS.htm

No mag to lose.
No wood to scratch up.
More ammo on board the rifle.

I inherited an earlier version of this rifle with the wood stock, which I had refinished. It's a treasure to me.


My favorite of the newer Marlins is the bigger brother of the ones I mentioned:

http://www.marlinfirearms.com/firearms/boltAction22magWClip/882.htm

It's a mag-fed .22 Magnum with the wood stock and hooded front sight.
I like it and might get one some day.


I don't know if you've considered the Ruger 77/22.
I think it's probably more expensive, but, the detachable, flush-mounted 10-rd. magazine makes it a handy little rifle to have.

http://ruger.com/Firearms/FAProdView?model=7008&return=Y

[Hot brass]

If you decide to go with the Marlin get a bolt gun. My cousin bought a model 60 and the darned thing jams, has locked up twice, and has a horrible trigger. Go bolt gun. My sug to you would be CZ 1st($150-200), 2nd , Marlin bolt(Iown one) then, Savage bolt(the Savage is sup to have great accuracy)? I owned a Mod 60 30yrs ago, I liked it. This mod 60 my cousin owns SUCKS!

[Selfdfenz]

"Buy both Marlins for the price of one CZ or Ruger. And have 2 much better guns."

Uh???
Ruger I can see maybe, but better than a CZ...?

The 60 is a pretty good rifle all the same IMO.
S-

[Cosmoline]

You should be able to get a 452 Lux with tangent sights and the less expensive stock for $200 to $250. There's no comparison with any domestic .22 in that price range. Not even close. It's the best buy going right now.

[nextjoe]

Personally,

I get tired of semi auto .22s pretty quickly. They get really filthy in the action in no time flat. The only one I'm willing to put up with is my takedown Browning, because it's just so darn beautiful.

Best,
Joe

[Selfdfenz]

"The only one I'm willing to put up with is my takedown Browning, because it's just so darn beautiful."

Amen.

Artwork that shoots, and shoots well.

S-

[jrpeterman]

I owned a Marlin 60. It was a good inexpensive .22 that was more accurate than my brothers Ruger 10/22. Another brother has a Remington 597 with a blue barrel, synthetic stock, and nice rifle sights. The Rem. 597 is the one I would like to purchase in the near future.

[mummac]

I've got two Marlin 60s. One functions flawlessly and the other has feed problems once every couple of tubefulls. It could probably be fixed easily but i haven't put time into it. Other than that, I really like them. Like others have stated one was my first rifle.

[Sir Galahad]

As always, I say spend the extra money and get the CZ 452 Lux. Ok, I said it. But I have shot the Savage and it is a very good .22 rifle. I liked it. Accurate and handles nicely. It was firing my buddy's Savage that made me realize, "Hey! I need a .22!" Except I got the CZ. Oh, and the Remington 513-T Matchmaster, heh heh.:D

[larryw]

A buddy just bought a Marlin 25 for his daughter. He was wringing it out and zeroing the scope and he let me shoot it. I was extremely impressed. Thing's a tack driver (with the cheap bulkpack ammo ;) ). Excellent fit and finish, nice wood. Smooth action. Then he told me what it cost. That gun is a steal at 2X the cost!

Buy the Marlin 25!

[CB900F]

Itgoesboom;

I have several .22lr's, amongst which resides a Savage MKII. The primary reason I got it was because it was a very affordable Left Hand Bolt gun. Outside of the Savage, LHB's tend to be rare and expensive.

I've had a gas working on this thing. The work has been simple & mostly devoted to the stock. I cleaned up the interior 'leftovers', pillar mounted the retaining bolt & free floated the barrel. Also worked on the finish, just 'cause I wanted to. Doesn't look bad either.

In keeping with the economical nature of the gun, I put a new Tasco/bushnell 2.5X10 A/O mil-dot on it. Got that for under $60.00. Had to get a Weaver T-10 adapter base, but WOW, that was like $4.95.

I'm still wringing out the little bugger to see what it'll do. But one of the best little perks was that it likes Federal Am Eagle HP's the best, and they are pretty cheap fodder. Last, but not least, a spare mag was under $10.00.

I use it to shoot gophers here in Montana. I've got more expensive and accurate .22's. But I'm taking this one with me more & more.

900F