First Rifle 22lr help.

I want to buy my first rifle. I have fired my fathers Anschutz 22lr target models growing up but that is it.

So of coarse my heart wants something "cool" like an AR-15 but my mind tells me to that it is too expensive, I don't have many places close to me that I can shoot it outside, and how could I get a AR-15 without owning a 22 rifle.

So I think a 22 rifle is what I should start with.

I've read that the Marlins are accurate right out of the box and I could get one close to $100 new but I would rather have the Ruger 10/22 because of the customizing options.

So should I get a Ruger 10/22 or go for a tactical looking 22lr such as the Sig or the S&W M&P15-22?

I can get a 10/22 for $200. The S&W I can get for $420. The Sig I am not sure what the price is locally.

A tricked out 10/22 can cost you as much as an econo AR...

It depends on what you want. You can buy the 10/22, shoot it some, and tinker as you please. You can buy the Marlin with full intent of purchasing an AR to trick out in the near future, or you can skip the 22lr all together and start with an AR.

Decisions, decisions! :D

The smith m&p 22's are great and have similar functions to actual AR's. Heard great reviews about them. Ofcourse if you want to spend less, cant go wrong with the tried and true ruger 10/22. Whatever you choose, 22's are fun and cheap to shoot.

Whats is hard is that I don't like shooting indoors, especially rifles. If I had a outdoor rifle range say within 30 minutes, I would have owned many rifles by now. It is hard for me to drop a bunch of money say for an AR and only shoot it 4 times a year outdoors.

Needless to say I still want some sort of rifle to tinker with.

If I bought a 10/22 Ruger, I probably would keep it stock and maybe do some cheap tinkering but nothing serious.

I did see today a Panther AR15 and a Del Tron (ATI) AR 15. Both were in the low to mid $700s.
If I could get a new AR in the $500s that was good quality but maybe didn't have all the features of the $1000+ ones then I would buy it.

Marlin model 60SB is a GREAT gun, if not the best 22 out there. I fit 15 stingers in mine, and one in the chamber if I want too. Plus it can be had for like $279 NEW...

The SB is the one with the nice stock, and stainless barrel.

If you want "target" accuracy, a Ruger generally ain't it. Right out the box, they are great plinkers but are, for the most part, beer can accurate at 50 yards or so.....If you got the coin, check out a CZ 455 American.

Giving the OP some considerable though, I think that he is very wise to get a .22 before an AR type rifle. The ammo saving will allow a new shooter to shoot a lot which is the key to becoming a good shot. There will be plenty of time for center fires later on.

Around here I can usually find a good Marlin 60 in a pawn shop that can be had for $60-70 out the door. They are usually fine guns that just need a good cleaning.

Most 10/22s are more accurate than the people who shoot them so IMO accuracy isn't an issue. Since they are so versatile and there are so many options, accessories, stocks, barrels, gizmos and gadgets for them they are like the perfect platform to build on.

Savage(Stevens) are nice to. Buy a bolt and semi. 22s can be had cheap used, paid $40 each on mine.

Hmmm, I'm going to put in a vote for more information. Will this be a gun for range only, range/home defense, range/hunting, etc.? .22s are AWESOME! But if you just want a range toy for punching paper once in a while and don't mind fronting the cash for bullets, then an AR-15 might be the way to go. If you go to AR-15 that is going to be shot a lot, then you should consider how much $$ you are going to dump on ammo as well. Easy to spend 100 bucks in one session at the range, so don't be afraid to save up or dig a little deeper into your pocket when buying one. If you want something to shoot right now, there are some nice pellet guns out there that are supercheap and almost as much fun as a .22. Plus you can shoot them almost anywhere if you use a proper trap.

I'm going to assume that you just want to shoot and hone your skills. In other words, a fun gun. I disagree with Mac66 with regard to the 10/22 being more accurate that most people can shoot them. As was said above, 10/22s are beer can accurate at best. Maybe I'm not most people, but a 10/22 in stock form isn't nearly accurate enough for me.

If you just want to get started shooting with a .22 that is capable of very good accuracy with good ammunition, I'd go with either a Savage or Marlin bolt action. In you want to talk in terms of accuracy, I'd say that you'd have to put upward of $300 into a 10/22 to get it to shoot as well as either a Marlin or Savage bolt action.

Maybe I will also check out a Savage.

I know the 10/22 may not be as accurate as my fathers Anshutz but I do want it to shoot where I point it for the most part within a few mm.

Do some soul-searching first.

My local rifle range is a 40 minute drive. They charge by the day, not the hour, so it is well worth the drive. They also have handgun lanes for 7, 25, and 50 yards. Rifle lanes for 50, 100, and 200 yards.

Are you really not willing to drive a half hour to shoot a rifle?

If this is the case, just skip it. If you're not willing to drive 1/2 hour to a range to shoot it, you simply don't like rifles enough to warrant the purchase. If that's the case, get a .22 pistol instead, and stick with your local indoor range, which I assume is less than 30 minutes' drive.

Now, if I got you thinking and you're thinking you WILL make the drive, I'd recommend the 10/22. I've had a 10/22 myself and was not that impressed. But I was not thinking of something customizable and tactical-looking. I just wanted a reliable semi-auto. It was not reliable until it made two extra trips to Ruger. I bought it at Walmart, and I think that was part of the problem. I suspect Walmart bought lower grade or reject rifles from Ruger at a discount, so that they could discount them in turn.

Based on this, my next automatic 22 rifle is going to be a Marlin Model 60.

Maybe the best plan is to take your dad's Anschutz's to the range for a day and find out whether this is really something you want to get into. It would be a shame to waste money on it, if you could put that toward ammo, another handgun, getting started in reloading, etc.

My vote is for a basic Ruger 10/22.. no frills or whistles just the basic rifle with wood stock. Then after you get comfortable with it, you can start to improve it a little. Yes, before you know it, you might end up with a tacti-cool rifle with a good bit invested, but it will be fun.

these days the nice thing still about 22lr is it's still pretty cheap to shoot.

10/22's out of the box are not bad... more of a problem and a good thing is the cheap ammo.... what you shoot in one will and does make a difference, especially when you get out to 50 yards.... anything more than 75 and the rounds start really getting funky... but it is also where riflemanship comes in.

put tech sights on the 10/22, Volquarten hammer spring and sear... modify the stupid bolt release and you are good to go out to the 50 yard range. play with a scope and put on a new barrel if you must... but Iron sights rule in the end.

After having both the 10/22 and the marlin 60. I say get the 60. More accurate and you don't have to upgrade to get a decent rifle. The Ruger is good if you like to tinker and do some gunsmithing. Just decide if you want a tube feed or a magazine fed weapon.

A 10/22 is a good rifle, but I do have to laugh when someone recommends them they always follow up with what you need to do to improve them.

Ruger service/support has been great when I needed them.

I personally prefer my Marlin 60 over the Ruger, but my Mossberg M44s will outshoot both.

Get something that fits you. There are a lot of choices like Ruger, Marlin, Savage, etc. Go to the gun shop and get your hands on some rifles. Something will present itself.

I have 4 10/22s, ranging from a 1976 one up to the mid 2000s. All bought used, all are mostly stock and all are accurate enough.

I would define "accurate enough" to be within 2" at 50 yards or 4 MOA. That is accurate enough for anything but competition and better than most people can shoot them. 4 MOA is considered service rifle accurate. 1 MOA is sniper rifle accurate.

I define most people as the vast majority of people who own 10/22s. Most people do not modify them in any way, (other than putting a scope on them) and don't shoot them very often. Most people are not gun enthusiasts like the people here.

Perhaps Tony needs to qualify what "beer can accurate" is and a what distance.

So is the 10/22 a good choice for training, plinking, hunting, informal target shooting? Absolutely!

You clearly are leaning toward a semi-auto 22. I generally recommend a 22 rifle to learn the basics of marksmanship, and simply get comfortable with an in-expensive ammo burner rather than a higher priced centerfire rifle.

I also have not found the typical out of the box Ruger 10/22 to be more than beer can accurate on average at 50 yds. Beer can accurate is about 2" groups at 50 yds. If one shoots 1" groups at 50 yds, you got a good one. You seem to be intereted in modifying one which is why you are probably leaning toward the 10/22 versus the Marlin Model 60. That's okay. The Ruger makes a nice quick pointing small game rifle. So if you are planning on modifying the rifle (trigger group, barrel, stock, etc.) than the 10/22 works for me. I have a stock 10/22 Deluxe (walnut stock version) which shoots okay for me, but I don't have exceedingly high expectations with the stock accuracy potential as I have other more accurate 22 rifles.

If you truly have no place to shoot other than an indoor range and that is likely to not change, I would suggest you go with a medium good 22 semi-auto pistol such as the Ruger Mark III, Ruger 45/22, or Browning Buckmark. There are different models available, but I lean toward one with a 5-5.5" heavy barrel. They balance better in my opinion and as a result shoot better. They are also pretty good field guns for plinking, hunting, and target shooting.

I want to buy my first rifle. I have fired my fathers Anschutz 22lr target models growing up but that is it.

So of coarse my heart wants something "cool"...

I'm sure the 10/22 will suit your needs here. The neat thing about the 10/22 is if you don't like it you can rebuild it into whatever you do like. For some people such tinkering becomes a hobby in itself.

Since you learned on Anschutz, you will find the 10/22's factory trigger, sights and over-all accuracy potential a bit of a letdown from what you are used to. This is only a problem if you let it become one--spending more time working on the gun than shooting it, and ending up with something that costs more than an Anschutz. ;)

I give a +1 to the Marlin model 60SB I got one a few years back and my 8 year old has already claimed it for when she grows out of the cricket:D

My father also had a bolt action 22 rifle that looked like a standard rifle compared to the Anschutz. Both were fun to shoot. Unfortunately he lives over 800 miles away so I cannot shoot them.

I also have a Ruger Mark II that I have owned and shot for about 10 years.

If you want something tacti-cool go with a Sig 522. I've got one an it's very accurate with CCI ammo

If you want a target 22 skip getting a $1000 tricked out 10/22 and get a CZ452 or CZ453 that will shoot sub MOA out of the box.

Some really great replies here. I wanted to add my thoughts, since I recently went through this in looking for my first .22lr rifle.

I went with the Marlin 60, a true American classic, and could not be happier.

The posts I read on the Ruger 10/22 seemed to be focused on improving it. It is nearly $100 more than the Marlin 60 to begin with and commonly, new barrels are added. They can be $200. If you add a new barrel, you must replace the stock. Another $100. Adding a new trigger also seems to be a must. Another $100. SO...the 10/22 seems to be a great gun for $250, if you add another $350-400 to it.

SO....the Marlin 60. $160. All reports indicate it has superior accuracy right out of the box. And really....that was what I was looking for.

I thought about mods for it, but upon getting it...it seems so much a classic, that I do not want to change it (I still remember the Marlin ads in Boy's Life, when I was a kid).

Taking it to the range....WOW. No dissapointments whatsoever. The only range near me is an indoor range, so I am limited to 25 yards max. But, easily getting sub-1" groups.

And for fun.... I got a 22rimfire-to-weaver adapter from Optics Planet ($8). Fits perfectly and allows me to mount a variety of optics from a red dot to a neat compact 6x32 scope (NcStar, $23, also from Optics Planet). Of course, this is not needed....you could just add different scopes using rimfire mount rings (but the additional clearance would allow me to add some really BIG scopes....that would be way too much fun).

I do not mind the tube fed magazine at all. It means one less thing to carry around and I really do not mind taking the time to feed the magazine a let the barrel cool a bit. Makes sense.

Instead of spending money to mod a gun....put that money into some really interesting scopes. GO BIG...THAT is where the FUN is. I switch between a red dot and a 6x. Cannot believe you can have this much fun for $160 (plus the scopes).

Hope this helps

Best

J

ps - I just bought my Marlin 60 at Outdoor World, Bass Pro Shops for $150 new...since I had a $10 certificate from shooting there. Best deal I have ever made on a gun.

And...note... I shoot CCI mini mags (high vel) and CCI standard velocity rounds through it. Great results with both. Marlin manual states that high velocity rounds are to be used. I have found that standard velocity works fine too.

As Mac66 requested, my definition of beer can accurate is that I can consistently hit a beer can at 50 yards with a wide range of ammunition. Farther out than 50 yards and it becomes a crap shoot to an extent.

If going with a 10/22, I would at least suggest that you shop some pawn shops or gun shops for a used one. My 10/22 is something around 15 years old. It has an aluminum trigger housing and came with all metal parts. I don't know when the transition occurred, but the last 10/22 that I looked at in the store had a plastic barrel band, plastic trigger guard and I could have sworn, a plastic trigger.

I'm not saying that I don't like the 10/22. This is mine....
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s265/ajangelettejr/District4-20110329-00049.jpg

Aside from the scope, I have $100 in the barrel, $100 in the stock and about $60 in the trigger, plus a bit of elbow grease into opening the barrel channel and bedding the stock. Initial testing has shown that it will shoot MOA at 50 yards if I really take my time with the occassional inexplicable flier using Wolf Match ammo. It shoots pretty well with Federal bulk ammo too, but the "fliers" are much more frequent and pronounced (as in hitting the target next to the one I'm shooting at). This is a tinkering project. My goal is to tick the guys off (in a friendly competitive way) at the range that are shooting the Remington 40Xs and Anshutzs in the local rimfire match. I know it won't shoot as well as the others, but I believe that if I'm persistent I will, one day, have that one day that I'll be able to talk about for years.

So I plan on checking a few pawn shops.

Any suggestions on how I could tell if the rifle is in good condition besides looking at the outside?

If I could get one at a pawn shop that is in good condition and for a great price then I probably will jump on it. If I can get one new for $200, I am hoping for a good condition used one for less than $100.

Awesome choice. You can get a box of 550 rounds of Remmington High Velocity hollow points for like $14!

Two pawn shops and no Ruger 10/22 or Marlins. I did find a Bolt Action Savage Mk II for $75. He wouldn't come down in price though.

TonyAngel, what is the stock? I've been looking for a replacement and that looks decent.

benzy, it's a Boyd's Tacticool. It's the same stock that the Savage TR comes in. Although it looks like a synthetic, it's actually a painted laminate. The run about $100, when you can find one.

Both the Marlin 60 and the Ruger 1022 are great guns out of the box...

But, once you take nostalgia out of the equation, the Marlins 60's tube mag is nothing but a weakness - they ware out, are nearly impossible to replace if damaged, and they reload slowly.

Look into the Marlin 795 - It is essentially a Marlin 60 with a box magazine. The aftermarket is expanding for these things - you can get match triggers and machined aluminum trigger guards for them now, so there is some customizing options to be had.

You can't go wrong with a Ruger 10/22 either - I have 3 .

I have shot ruger 10/22s since i can remember its is easy to tinker with them and even if they are not the most relible they are fun to shoot also they hold their value pretty well even at 15 years old they still go for 150ish so if you dont like it you can sell it or trade is and they are good to learn on then you can move up but no matter how often we go to the range the famliy always brings at least one 10/22 so pay 200 if you have to cause if it is what you want then it is worth it and it sounds like you want one

just my 2 cents

You should buy an AR-15 and a .22 bolt conversion for it. That way you can shoot your cheap .22 ammo, and whenever you get to go to the outdoor range, put your big boy bolt in and shoot 5.56.

hen

that is another good option

I think the OP doesn't even want to spend the $ for a new 10/22 let alone the cost of an AR-15 with a conversion unit.

Grey Morel, I would venture to say I could reload a tube fed M60 quicker than you can the 795 from scratch with an equal amount of ammo without the potential finger damage. I have never had a tube wear out, but easily replaced from Marlin should it be necessary. You have to be careful not to bend them.

22-rimfire,

You are right about not wanting to spend money for an AR-15 and a conversion kit.

The 10/22 in terms of money isn't a big deal. Its just I don't know if the 10/22 is what I want to spend the money on.

benzy, it's a Boyd's Tacticool. It's the same stock that the Savage TR comes in. Although it looks like a synthetic, it's actually a painted laminate. The run about $100, when you can find one.

I knew it looked familiar. I have an order waiting to send in for one of their Savage and one of their CZ tacticool stocks, but I'm waiting to see if they come back in stock first.

All very good information here.

I wanted to add that the Marlin 60 tube is not a big deal. The best practice is to take the plunger tube all the way out, when loading. That minimizes the chance to bend it.

But even so, Marlin will fix it.

As someone posted above, you can get a very nifty speed loader for tube fed rifles. Loads them up in a couple seconds. Very simple.

Just wanted to add some info. Could not go wrong with an M60, 10/22 or Bolt Ruger, Marlin or Savage.

My best to all.

Ditto what the Cap'n said. The guns you are considering are all good ones and your choices are win-win.

Don't get too carried away with the perfect forum rifle. Shoot it first and then decide what you need or want to improve.

I have found for my general purpose of plinking and small game hunting with the 10/22 to be more then adequate. A decent barrel can be had for under 200$ easily and a hogue stock is only 60-70$ but as I said get one and shoot it first and see what YOU don't like about it.

Also, you say you don't have many places to shoot outdoors. This leads me to believe you will be shooting at indoor ranges. Maybe its different in your are but around me there are no ranges past 25 yards. Personally I wouldn't trick out a target rifle and never really get to stretch its legs. I'd get something fun to shoot for that.

Another vote for the Marlin model 60

I bought mine used from a gun show for $50 out the door. They can be very frequently had for $100 used. They are excellent shooters right out of the box, and mine loves almost all types of 22lr I feed it.

Its a great rifle to buy and spend some serious quality trigger time with.