Bolt Action .22's

[Texasred]

Well after sighting in my deer rifle this weekend, I got carried away and shot through two boxes of 25-06 in no time. I started shooting so good I couldn't stop.
Although I had a lot of fun for a short amount of time, I was left hanging and wanted to keep shooting but couldn't bring myself to buy another 50 dollars worth of ammunition.
So although I've put it off long enough I must bring myself to buy a bolt action .22. One that I can mount a scope on.
Another problem that I have when I shoot my centerfires, is that fear of wearing out my gun is always itching the back of my mind. Unfortunately, I get this nervousness even on brand new guns. I know that guns were meant to be shoot, but I need something that brings no fear. CAN you wear out a bolt .22? seems the pressures and velocities are WAAAY too low if the gun is decent build quality.

these are the qualifications:
1. .22LR

2. Bolt Action

3. Stainless Steel

4/5. Kinda like iron sights and magazine feeding style doesn't concern me.

I own a Ruger 10/22 but wanna keep it iron sighted, however the marlins seem nice to me. Are these things as "indestructable" as the rugers seem to be. Whats this "micro-groove" business? Does it wear out quickly?

Oh, thinking around the 450 dollar figure. Appreciate your replies fellas.

 

[kludge]

I love my Savage. They have a heavy barrel target model with iron sights. I looked at a Marlin, but did not like Marlin's synthetic stock, and I believe the barrel is longer than the Savage. Ended up with the Savage MarkII BV w/ laminate stock and AccuTrigger. Put a BSA Target Platinum dot scope on it. It shoots "one hole" groups at 40m. Don't think you can get SS + iron sights + heavy barrel though. The trigger is great, but a tad heavy for my taste, even at the lowest setting. It breaks at 3lb, but I would prefer it to be lower for silhouette shooting.

http://www.savagearms.com/markiifvt.htm
http://www.savagearms.com/markiifss.htm
http://www.savagearms.com/93fvssxp.htm
mine -- http://www.savagearms.com/markiibv.htm

I paid $235 + tax.

 

[atblis]

SS

Has to be SS.

I've got a 77/22, it's a nice rifle.

A CZ would be my first choice, but not offered in SS so... easily under $450

An Anschutz would be neat, but I doubt you could do the $450 thing

 

[Carl N. Brown]

Whats this "micro-groove" business? Does it wear out quickly?

I have owned and shot .22 Marlins with microgroove barrels for over
forty years. Lead bullets, smokeless powder, noncorrosive primers
may polish microgroove rifling, but will not wear it out, even after 20,000
rounds or so.

 

[Outlaws]

Well, my personal favorite 22 of all time is the Remington Model 34, but those haven't been made in 70+ years, so if I were to buy a bolt 22 now, it would be either a Cooper or an Anschutz if I wanted dead on accuracy. But for your price range, I would look for a good condition used rifle. I would imaging you could get quite a nice gun for that price use.

I should mention that the Marlin model with the tube fed magazine seemed nice when I held it. It was a 22Mag, but I don't know if they offer it in 22LR.

 

[22-rimfire]

My first thought is why do you want stainless steel?

My favorite 22LR bolt action rifle is a Remington 541-S which is about 15 years old for me. It is a tack driver. It is blue and is a full sized rifle. You can find them at gun shows and ocasionally at gun shops. Other great rifles are the Winchester Model 52 and any Anschutz. Sako and Walther made a great 22 rifles also. All will exceed the $450 budget unless you are lucky finding a Remington.

You won't wear out the barrel on a 22 rifle. You may wear other things out in an auto, like shearing pins, replacing firing pins, and so forth, but not likely in a bolt action rifle.

Micro Groove or what ever you want to call it is just a company name for their rifling that they feel results in better accuracy.

If you want a fine 22 rifle, other than the above, check out the CZ line as they are well known for good accuracy, nice stocks, and generally good fit and finish. Other ones on the upper price range are the Kimbers and Coopers. Middle range is the Remington 504.

Low price range with good quality are ones made by Savage and Marlin.

 

[highlander 5]

Ruger 77/22 takes the same mags as 10/22 SS and comes complete with rings. you'll never wear out a 22.
Micro grove rifling is or was used in Marlin rifles it consisted of twelve groves rather than the conventional 6

 

[ArmedBear]

I had the same experience ($40 of .30-06 in my case), and I started looking around at .22LR bolties for the same reason.

Bolt-action shooting is relaxing and fun, if I'm in the mood.

Even with a $450 cap, the variety out there is amazing, with several new offerings hitting the market in the last few years alone.

CZ's rimfire series is extensive and excellent. http://www.czusa.com/

The closest thing to stainless is a nickel finish, though.

They even have a single-set trigger available, but it's more expensive. If you want a training rifle for centerfire, the regular adjustable trigger is probably more suitable anyway, and a good deal cheaper. The bolt handle, unlike most .22 bolties, is in the same spot above the trigger as it is in a centerfire. This is also true of Ruger's somewhat expensive 77/22, designed to match the 77, and Remington's expensive 504, which is similar in size and shape to a Model 7.

Savage's acclaimed Accu-Trigger, now available on their rimfires, is also excellent, and while their guns are not the prettiest, they sure shoot pretty and they're cheap. http://www.savagearms.com/

Marlins are good rifles, too, and bargain-priced. http://www.marlinfirearms.com/

The newcomer, sort of, is the Remington Model 5, made by Zastava -- yes the same place that once made all those Yugo SKS's. The action has been around, but the laminate Remington-pattern stock is a new addition, and Remington just started selling it. Gun Tests rated it well this month, and it's around $340. Not stainless, but a good stand-in for a centerfire rifle, with nice heft and size. http://www.remington.com/

You wouldn't be unhappy with any of the above. I'd see if I could shoulder them all and see what feels good.

Browning has reintroduced the beautiful T-Bolt, but it's significantly more expensive, as are the Ruger 77/22 and the Remington 504.

 

[MD_Willington]

CDNN has a CD SUPERIOR II .22LR with scope for ~ $150.

Page 29 and on the second to last page in the latest CDNN catalog.

 

[ArmedBear]

I believe that the Charles Daly Superior II is the Remington Model 5 action, with a different stock, also made by Zastava. Sounds like a bargain.

 

[bulltaco]

Another Vote For The Ruger 77/22!

I got a 77/22 and another one in .22 Hornet. I like both and the Hornet is a hoot to shoot!

 

[cslinger]

I simply cannot say enough good things about the CZ452/453 series. I really think they are the best .22 you can buy for the money.

Chris

 

[Texasred]

Got it!

Thanks Kludge. You got a nice rifle and I will go shoulder one next paycheck.
Screw the stainless, Is your copy as nice as the one pictured.

 

[Rembrandt]

Model 52 Winchesters are the cream of the crop, followed by Cooper, Kimber, and Anschutz.....unfortunately $450 won't touch them. Better go with a CZ452, probably the best gun in that price range.

I picked up one of the CZ 452FS for squirrel hunting, very enjoyable rifle to plink with.

 

[ArmedBear]

Another option, if a bit different, is the Henry Acu Bolt single-shot bolt .22LR.

Stainless, includes mount, scope and Williams Fire Sights, for $300.

http://www.henryrepeating.com/acubolt.cfm

 

[kludge]

Texasred - yeah, it a good looking rifle, except for the plastic trigger guard that is kinda out of place.

Armedbear - I wanted to look at the AccuBolt too, but I couldn't find one around here. As it was I had to drive an hour and a half to find a Savage with heavy barrel and laminate stock.

 

[jshmata]

Go with a Marlin bolt action. I have a 2004 model 925 with a hardwood stock and over 5000 rounds through it. A Barska 4x scope and super accurate. The micro grove rifling is fine. 500 rounds has no impact on the accuracy whatsoever. In fact after cleaning it takes 10-20 rounds to get back to 25 yard groups under a quarter; at least that is the best this shooter can do.

 

[rangerruck]

well, this is easy. The marlin 80 or 81 series of rifles have been around for about 70 years. the 80's are mag fed, the 81's are tube fed. they will fire short , long, long rifle. unless you go cz, or t/c or b.b., this will be the most acc. rifle you will get. the 980 is stainless, the 981 is not, but it is tube fed. the tube will hold 25 shorts at one time! so sick! two loads empties a 50 rd box. the new ones are about 150 here in Houston. used at a gunshop or gunshow, should be under 100 bucks. My 81 is a dl with factory peep site from 1937, and I routinely outshoots tricked out rugers with scopes on them , at 50 yds, it is too easy. Here is my 70 yr old grandpa;



Academy sells the 981 everyday for 145, here in houston. Microgroove is , if you can imagine, having a bbl with 3 times the rifleing of a current bbl, but the rifleing is much shallower. what does this do? In theory, it puts less prssr on the bbl, puts less prssr on the bullet, spreads prssr more evenly and concentrically on the bullet, so there is less bullet deformation as it travels down the bbl. All this should make for a accuracy, consistency in accuracy, and longer bbl life. i agree.