First Rifle, Last Rifle.

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On a budget? CZ 452, 453, or the new 455. Not on a budget? Weatherby/Anschutz, Ruger 77/22 or maybe even a Cooper if it really is your only 22.(too spendy for me) Something like a 70's era Remington 541 T or Savage/Anschutz would be collectible and shoot well. The CZ is all anyone should ever need though.

Now that I've owned 2 Savage rifles(one centerfire one rimfire) with the Accu Trigger I can safely say that the trigger and barrel are the only parts of the gun that don't belong in the trash. Accurate guns, but I would never rely on it for anything but target shooting.
 
Understood and respected. But re-read the OP. It's a rifle for him, a beginner....not you a man with lots of shooting experience.

I liken a new, inexperienced shooter spending several hundred dollars....or more...on a .22 LR to a buying a newly licensed, 16 year old driver a Lamborghini or a Mercedes. Someday, the 16 year old may be able to get the most out of one of these automobiles, but certainly not as a new driver.

Am I up to 3¢ worth?

35W
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But would you want to drive a 1985 honda civic the rest of your life since you are only planning to buy a single vehicle. Ignoring the fact that a high performance rifle is no more dangerous than a beginner rifle while a high performance vehicle holds much greater risk than a beginner vehicle, I would much rather have a Lamborghini that I can grow into and respect at a later date than be stuck driving a Civic that I soon wish was anything else. I see where buying an inexpensive, simple rifle holds merit to a non-shooter, but the part about wood working caught my attention. This to me equates to wanting a walmart bought coffee table or something handmade of beautiful, though expensive, hardwood. You can go either route, and both will probably hold a beverage as well as the other. Something popped out that the top tier quality, even at a large expense, is the way the OP was looking to go for his one and only rifle.
 
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OKcarburetor said:
Now that I've owned 2 Savage rifles(one centerfire one rimfire) with the Accu Trigger I can safely say that the trigger and barrel are the only parts of the gun that don't belong in the trash. Accurate guns, but I would never rely on it for anything but target shooting.
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Wow, what happened? I own a centerfire and a rimfire Savage with Accu-trigger and they are both problem free. The only special care I've taken was to dry the 308 after hunting in the rain.
 
Which 22?

For a high quality bolt action 22 I like the Ruger 77/22, that is if they still make it. Not sure.

Also, I have a 10/22 and love it. If you buy one though be prepared to put a little more money in the deal, like about $60-$80 and buy a few after market parts that will upgrade it and make it more user friendly and more accurate. You won't buy a better 22 for that price even with the extra money.

One thing to do is at least put a target hammer in it. You can buy a whole trigger group for it for about $60-$90 or so. But I just bought the Target hammer and it did great for about $30.

Also, an aftermarket bolt release is almost mandatory and it cost about $13 if memory serves me right. The factory one sucks. It's hard to operate. With the aftermarket one I installed, all you have to do to release it is gently pull back on the bolt and let it go. With the original you had to push up on it and pull back on the bolt at the same time. It was tricky to say the least.

As for installing the target hammer, it's easy. Just remember to look carefully and see how the factory hammer is situated before you remove it so you know how to install the target hammer. You might want to take some digital pics first for reference. I took my Dremmel tool with a polishing wheel and some jewler's rouge and polished the sear and trigger surfaces where they mate up to a mirror finish. The factory trigger was about 6 or 7 pounds. When I got through polishing things and installing the target hammer my trigger breaks clean at about 2-2.5 pounds, quite an improvement and worth every bit of trouble and money.

I also, for about $5, put a buffer pin in the rear of the action replacing the factory bolt stop pin with this buffer pin, which lessens the noise of the bolt on retraction, but that's as easy as falling off a log.

I also installed a new extended magazine release, but I found after I did it that it wasn't necessary because the newer models have an extended one already. In fact I'm thinking of putting the factory one back in because it's even longer than the aftermarket one. This was a case of monkey see monkey do. People told me i needed it so I bought it and put it in without realizing the factory one was already extended. I understand the older models weren't and they were a pain to deal with.

Anyway, I paid right at $180 NIB for my 10/22 and invested about $80 more. So I now have about $260 in it not counting the scope. I had a Simmons 8 Point 3-9X40 laying around not doing anything and I bought Weaver style bases and rings and put that on for about $15. The scope is really clear for a cheapy and with a 22lr you don't have recoil to worry about wrecking your cheapo scope. I had that scope on a 22/250 and it did fine. It should outlast the rifle being it's on a 22.

Anyway, now I have a fine 22. It is fairly accurate, well as accurate as my 63 year old eyes can make it happen. And I didn't spend a ment on it.
 
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Wow! FC, I guess everyone has a right to an opinion, but my Stevens Model 200 is as good as it gets especially for the money. I don't know, but maybe he got a lemon or two. Mine is accurate and good quality. It's no Weatherby Mark V, but I'd venture to say it's probably more accurate than rifle's costing 3 times as much.
 
Wow ?......... I can't believe it took 14 post for someone to mention the Marlin model 60...:uhoh:

Mine ( Glenfield ) came to me as a Christmas gift in 1974. It survived my teenage years, and the teenage years of two sons and my daughter. I has went through tens of thousands of rounds maybe more.

I eats whatever you feed it, and actually seems to group well with Federal bulk which makes my wallet happy;)

For the price it gets my bang for the buck vote very time. The Wally world close to me has a wood and blued one for $ 157 + tax and back ground check.

Now all of that being said my Ruger 10/22 is also a great rifle for the money. It is not as accurate out of the box as the model 60, but a great reliable gun that also chew through every type of round I have tried with it as well.

You might also want to consider the Henry. It is a light weight very handy little rifle. While not a semi-auto the lever action is buttery smooth, and lever actions are soooo addictive. :D It has beautiful wood, and is also a very accurate 22lr.

All three of the above are modestly priced and function great. I have also heard great things about the Savage as well, but since I don't own one I cant personally speak for it.

For a bigger piece of your budget I dont think you can go wrong with a CZ 452. It is built solid, very accurate and has beautiful wood.

For a little bit bigger piece of your budget :cool: you might also consider the Marlin 39a. It is the most accurate out of the box 22lr I have ever owned. It comes with beautiful walnut furniture. The action is very strong so much so the it took a few years for it to break in and get really smooth ( still not as smooth as the Henry's out of the box ), but I'm certain that it will out last my grand kids ;) :)

As you can see I have a 22lr problem :eek:,... and I didn't even mention my Marlin 795 which I dont think my wife is gonna give back:( come to think of it she still has my Henry too:rolleyes:

Point is there are many good options out there in a 22lr. I would try to fire a few to find out what you like then pick one that fits your frame and enjoy it.

FWIW.... If you told me that I had to give up all of my 22lr's but one . the Keeper would probably be the Marlin 39a..........Tentwing
 
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Woke up this morning and saw all of these--great reads, all! Thanks again.

I must say that as a teacher, I *am* budget-conscious (especially with all these huge cuts being made to public education right now). Teachers who take their jobs seriously are having to spend more and more money out-of-pocket to help their students out, so saving for a $1k rifle is pretty difficult. I could do it, but it would take me no small amount of time (and I'd be tempted to spend it on stuff for the classroom along the way!)

That said, I also understand the quality argument--if I begin a family in the next few years, I intend to have an heirloom rifle or two that I eventually pass down.

From what I gather in your posts, CZ and Marlin seem to offer the best combination of budget, staying power, and quality. I'll be sure to shoot a wide variety of rifles, though--I recognize that feel is very important with something you're planning on holding on to for a long time.

EDIT: I also plan to look at the older single-shot Rems, Winchesters, etc. that 35W mentioned.

EDIT: Snake, you make a good case for some aftermarket work. As I plan to get into gunsmithing, I'll be sure to check out the 10/22 as well.
 
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FC said:
Wow, what happened? I own a centerfire and a rimfire Savage with Accu-trigger and they are both problem free. The only special care I've taken was to dry the 308 after hunting in the rain.
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In my model 12 fvss .223 the extractor works maybe 10% of the time if I'm careful(started around the 150 round mark). I can just buy a new extractor, but I shouldn't have to. Now when the bolt is closed the sear will disengage 1/2 the time. If it didn't have the accu trigger that would translate into the rifle firing. It just started doing this and it's at 500 rounds. I'm not sure why, as I haven't worked on the trigger at all.(it feels great right out of the box) The stock is also awful, but they have changed that in newer models. It's too bad, because it's jaw droppingly accurate. It will shoot anything from 40 grain onup to 72 grain bullets without any complaint with the largest groups being 1/4" at 100 yds.

The 93 17hmr I had was just junk. The bottom metal was laughable and the way the action bolted to the stock was just bad design. That rifle did not shoot well either with any ammo. For a little more money, the CZ is just a better rifle in every way.

The funny thing is that the problems with the .223 wouldn't even bother me if Savage would just answer the phone.
 
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.22's reproduce like the game they hunt. If I had to dump all mine but 1, I would keep the Ruger 77/22. Simple, accurate, easy to clean... I would think the CZ's would fit in this catagory too but don't have any personal experience with one.

10/22's are fine but I am not a fan of their disassebly for cleaning. Remington pumps are even worse.
 
I will second the Savage Mark 2 Rifles. Our Boy Scout camp uses 10 of them to teach kids every summer. I spent 4 years on the ranges, and had those for 3 of them, never had ONE issue with the accutriggers (other than I didn't like how they felt) and I can guarantee that those rifles have seen more ammo in one year than most people shoot out of theirs in a lifetime. Our average round count per summer was around 70,000 rounds between 10 rifles. That average is 21,000 rounds over the three years I was there, and that doesn't include the 7000 each would have had put through them last year either. Nor does it take into account that 6 of those rifles are a year older than the other 4 on the line.

Let me explain the cleaning procedures for these rifles. Boresnake the bore, hit the bolt up with brake clean and then rem oil, wipe down the entire gun with a rag with rem oil, put in the gun safe, stored in a humid outdoor shack with no descant to take out the humidity. At the end of every season we'd take the action out of the stock, hit it up with rem oil, give the trigger a few squirts, let the excess oil drip off and wipe it all down, then put it back together and store it for the fall, winter, and spring, occasionally taking them out for special shooting events, and then next summer they were brought out, boresnaked and oiled up the outside then run hard all summer again.

Not ONE issue with the Accu-Trigger being unreliable in that environment. We ran Winchester White Box .22LR, PMC .22LR (Worst .22 ever), Remington Gold Bullet .22LR, and about 4 other manufacturers of ammo, the bulk of which was the very dirty and barely reliable PMC .22LR, and zero issues with the accu-trigger.

I second the Savage Mark 2, because I know the ones we had saw less care and more rounds in some of the crappiest storage conditions than any sane person would ever put their rifles through because we had no choice, and never had an issue with them. Accurate too boot as well, and the William's front and rear sights where also very nice. Our qualification rate went from about 60% to 95% or higher by switching from our old CMP H&R .22LR's and a few very nice Savage/Anschutz Model 12's, to these Mark 2s. I would trust a Mark 2 any day for hunting small game.
 
Look also at the Henry Octagon Frontier and Golden Boy models. They are lever-action rifles built on a simple and reliable design, and the company has the best customer service in any industry. Send them an email and it will usually be answered within a few hours, by the company President.
 
You don't need pin-point target accuracy to hit squirrels in the head, or hit running cottontails--and sitting cottontails are easy.

If a person has the self-discipline to avoid "spray and pray", a semi-auto is just fine. Probably easier for an adult to have self-control on that than a youngun.

I tend to like a .22 that's closer to a full-size than are many of them; I thus like choices like the old Remington 550 or the later 552. Nothing wrong with a Ruger 10/22, but they seem to be quite picky about what sort of ammo works best for group size. Granted, they're not alone in that.
 
Remington Nylon 66 for ease of maintenance, reliability and accuracy. Just recently won a rifle league with my 1962 model.
 
Ain't nothing wrong with a Remington 550....They are my favorite old timer .22 semi's. They are made out of quality materials.
 

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Marlin Model 60. It was my first rifle and I still have it. It was given to me somewhere in the single digit age and I am now 34. I've never had to do anything more than field strip it. They can still be had for under $150 new. You can mount a scope, buy some tech sights or some williams fire sights fiber optic sights or several different manufacturers offer a rear peep.

It is tube fed...but that tube isn't any slower to reload than a rifle that only has one or two magazines. Sooner or later, you've got to put the rifle down and reload those magazines.

The trigger guard IS plastic and popular internet lore suggests they break often...though neither of mine have in 25+ years. If it does, an aftermarket aluminum replacement exists.

Who knows how many 10's of 1000's of bulk rounds and it still shoots good enough to take squirrel. I remember shooting mice and rats out of fields with it as a yougun'...can't imagine shooting anything smaller.

Will a 10/22 with a quality aftermarket barrel or a more expensive rifle be more accurate? Yes...but you aren't shooting for groups so the most you'll need is minute of squirrel.

Just my 2 cents. Of course...there isn't anything wrong with a 10/22, either.
 
Although it is a mag 22 (MORE EXPENSIVE TO SHOOT) I'd go with the Marlin 883SS. It will reach out a little beyond 100yds. with good accuracy barring windy days and can be lobbed to 200 yards with fair accuracy. I've owned one and I'm likely to own another. If you end up with one of these get into Federal Red box for it and stick with them. They are the most accurate/consistent/cost effective round I found for the gun. From one cartridge manufacturer to another you'll see a slight difference in Point of Impact so stick with one that is consistent like the Federal Red Box.
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I agree with a lot that Art Eatman and 35 Whelan said. But, I've been down the same road - you gotta start somewhere and that first one is the hardest. 35 Whelan talks about the old JC Higgen 22 single shot by the screened door - absolutely right on :) We had one in each cabin and every kid in my dads family got one at 10 years old (he's now 91 and still has it, and still shoots vermin). They were sold under Montgomery Wards Western Field brand, Sears had them, all big hardware stores had them and they are in every good sized pawn shop now. Remington, Winchester, Savage, the list is long - about as common at one time as claw hammers.

I definitely concur with starting with a single shot 22 (used) that feels good and comes to shoulder well. You'll get one in very nice shape for $150 and it will last until your children are dead and gone. Simple is the word of the day.

But they can be tweaked as in the barrel may have a pressure point or the firing pin might be worn a bit. You may add sling swivels and a sling? Take it to a competent gunsmith and have them look it over and tell you about it. What's good and what needs a bit of service - that's learning at the hands of a master.

Take it down to its basic parts and clean it well. Lube it up correctly and oil the steel. Go out and shoot every different kind of ammo that is available in your local stores. The rifle will tell you what it likes the best. Do some target practice at known ranges so you get a feel for bullet drop and then go hunting :)

Only caveat I'd make, is to look for one with 3/8 dove tail grooves in the top of the receiver. That way you can easily mount a scope if you want to. Most of these old ones will not have groove, so look around carefully. It will be a gun you will have for decades.

Once you get settled and find out you like small game hunting and eating pot meat, you can move up to another like maybe a 22WRM or a small shotgun, or whatever. You'll know if the bug bites you. But, if it doesn't - you'll still have old reliable and it will do it's job for ever :)

OBTW - hunting small game is the best research for the local ecosystem there is. You will learn more about the food chain faster than any other way. All that will translate into knowledge you can pass along in the classroom. Go teach - go :)
 
My first brand new rifle was a Mossberg Model 340K .22 that I got when I was about 14 years old, and had scraped up the $40 or so it cost by mowing lawns. I still have it, and it still shoots great. I finally replaced the old 4x Weaver tip-off scope with a larger, brighter 1" scope with a 40mm objective lens, which is easier for my older eyes to see. Its 24" barrel is still very accurate, and the magazine is adjustable to feed .22 Shorts or Long Rifle ammo. I like the full-size walnut stock, which gives it the feel of a center fire rifle. If I could only keep one rifle around, this would be the one I'd choose. It's accounted for a lot of small game and small targets over the last 40 years or so, and I'm confident that I can hit what I'm aiming at with it.
 
Savage/Stevens used to make combo guns, that'd be over/unders, with a .22 rimfire barrel on top, and a .410 barrel on bottom. Pretty much a quintessential small game rifle though a good marksman with a 22 long rifle can kill at further distances than can be done with a .410. Only problem with these rifles is they've become somewhat collectible so their prices are a bit high.
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The REAL problem with them is, they rarely have both bbls regulated to the same sight setting. I just can't stand any firearm that i have to aim over here, to hit over there!

The problem with the older Remingtons, like the 541-S is, what do you do when the nylon clip wears out? (and they DO) Have you tried to find a 5 shot replacement lately? The 10 shots are junk, and Rem. isn't making the 5 shot magazines any longer! Good rifle, but without a clip, it's just a single shot!

DM
 
My recommendation is for the classic Marlin Model 39. It's a well-made, sturdy, lever-action repeater that holds a lot of shells, is plenty accurate, sturdy and easy to maintain. It's a rifle that will hold its value and one that your heir would be proud to own.
Personally, I prefer a good receiver (peep) sight on this rifle but it can be scoped if you insist.
 
The Marlin 39 is the only rifle that fits as a lever action. It's a take down so cleaning and service are doable - good suggestion Swampwolf - that one slipped my mind. Ain't a single shot 22, but still a good investment and a good field gun :)
 
You said "one" .22 to last the rest of your life. That would be 1-Kimber 2-Anschutz 3-CZ in that order.
 
i would go ruger 10/22 plus if you like to tinker their are a lot of accessories & mods for it. if you want a bolt action their are several good options already mentioned here. you may end up with one of each and why not their fun and cheap to shoot.
 
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