Need help picking a new squirrel shooter

[stuffisgood]

This may be too broad of a question, but I'm gona go ahead and ask it anyway...

I'm looking to get a new .22 rifle, specifically for shooting squirrels and the occasional can or paper. I want it to be high quality, walnut stock, blued, bolt action, sporter weight barrel (possibly medium, but def not heavy/bull. I have plenty of those). Adjustable trigger. Hole puncher at 25 yards is pretty mandatory.
The only gun I have much experience with that fits the bill is a Sako Finnfire that a friends father had when I was a child. It was a paper punchin squirrel killin machine! I almost went ahead and got one of those, but I figured I would see what else the market had to offer before I went ahead with the order.

I guess I'm looking for suggestions, and personal feedback (good and bad) on what various people have. I know everyone has their preferences as I sure do. There are just so many options out there that I'm having trouble finding a good starting place. Thanks for your input and suggestions

 

[CZguy]

I'm looking to get a new .22 rifle, specifically for shooting squirrels and the occasional can or paper. I want it to be high quality, walnut stock, blued, bolt action, sporter weight barrel (possibly medium, but def not heavy/bull. I have plenty of those). Adjustable trigger. Hole puncher at 25 yards is pretty mandatory.

The first rifle that comes to mind that fits your set of guidelines is the CZ 453 American.

 

[LoonWulf]

On the cheaper side there are the Savage mark II series of rifles. I have one of the magnum series and its a great gun, If your interested in a .17 and dont mind the feal of thumbhole stocks, there is a 93r17 TClassic. I handled one of those at sportsauthority and its very likely what i replace my 93r17btvss with. Ive also seen, but never used marlins, very accurate, but like the savage not the best looking. On the pricer side, there are the sakos, and afformentioned CZs (also very nice rifles, that i can recomend), as well as the Coopers (ive only shot ONE, and it was awsome), and remingtons 547 from its custom shop.

 

[TAG2501]

Savage Mk II = various configurations and budgets. good price points. accurate

CZ = sporty, well made, pricier, more classic lines.

can't go wrong with either

 

[cottswald]

I'm with CZguy regarding the 453 American. For the money, I don't know that you can get a rifle that surpasses it in accuracy. If you're a lefty I would say definitely get the 452 model (right hand is no longer in production but I think you can still find some in circulation). There's also the 455 model, but it's a newer model and the verdict is still under review.

 

[Abel]

Ruger M77/22

 

[stuffisgood]

Thanks for the replies

I was actually looking at the CZ a little also. I purchased a CZ 452 Scout for our oldest boy for Christmas this year (he's 6). I of course had to check it's safety before Santa could leave it under the tree and I am pleasantly surprised at how well it's made, especially for a youth sized rifle. The accuracy was also impressive for such a short barreled unit, I feel pretty confident it can hold minute of squirrel head out to 50 yards pretty easy. Any of you have personal experience with the mentioned 453?

I have a few Savage rimfire's already. They are all very reliable and accurate, they however are not the most attractive pieces.

I hear the Ruger 77 Mk 2's have a junk trigger? I've got an older tang safety MK1 in 220 Swift that I use for smacking song dogs. The idea of a smaller companion for it is also interesting.

A friend of mine (the same one who's father owns the Sako .22) and his father both own center fire Coopers. One in 22-250 and the other in .308. Both are very nice looking and accurate as can be. I think they are a little too pretty to be used tho. They go from the safe, to a case, to the bags....

So many choices!


EDIT: I will probably be selling one of my Winchester 52's to make a spot for the new addition so I'll have a decent chunk to work with for a gun and optics.

 

[LoonWulf]

If you like the looks of the cooper, and can afford it, they make a version of there jackson game rifle in the model 57. That was the rifle i handled, its still a very nice rifle, but not spectacular like some of the others. Also, if you havent taken alook at the savage classic thumbhole 93r its worth it, the one i looked at had much nicer fit and finish then any of the other savage rifles ive seen.

 

[Smith357]

Don't forget to take a look at the Anschutz line of .22 caliber sporting rifles. They are very accurate rifles with amazing adjustable triggers. But then what do you expect from a manufacturer who's rifle have won more Gold Medals than all the others combined. The only rub is they really don't have the pretty wood of a Cooper or Kimber Super America.

 

[chad1043]

You can spend hundreds of dollars on expensive rigs. I know I bought a Savage 22 Mag Thumbhole. Or you can spend a couple hundred on a Marlin 981T. It takes 22 shorts, Long, and long rifle. It is tube feed and is dead accurate out of the box. I know you will be hearing from a lot of people. It will all come down to what you want and how it feels in your hands when you shoulder it. Take your time and read a lot of reviews. I did, lots. I also read lots and asked questions at rimfirecentral.com

Good Luck!

 

[CZguy]

Originally posted by stuffisgood,

I will probably be selling one of my Winchester 52's to make a spot for the new addition so I'll have a decent chunk to work with for a gun and optics.

Wow, you sure will.......are you sure you're not going to regret this later on?

I think perhaps you might look at a Cooper or an Annie.

 

[stuffisgood]

So far I'm liking the Kimber the best. The Coopers that are priced where I would feel comfortable taking it into the woods are synthetic with satin barrels. I'm looking for pretty blue and walnut, but not 3K pretty! The CZ seems like a nice rifle, but the one's I'm seeing online don't seem to have that pretty of wood. Is that not the case?

I've got a Savage 93 in 17 HMR already. Me and a buddy drove to Kansas City and bought the first two (or so we were told) the Cabelas there got in stock when the cartridge was first introduced years ago. I love that little rifle, and have used it a LOT! It shows too, the blueing is thinning in multiple places and the stock shows character too, but that thing still shoots lights out every single time I'm not saying Savage isn't a good rifle, it's just not what I'm looking for this time around.

CZGuy - I've got 3 Win 52's. A pre A repeater, B repeater, and D single shot. The D series is the one I'm considering letting go. What's an Annie ?

 

[CZguy]

Sorry, Annie is just the nickname for Anschütz.

As to the wood on CZ rifles, they are not all equal. If the wood is important to you, only buy from a stocking dealer that you can see the rifle first.

My favorite squirrel rifle is my CZ 452 Lux. They have excellent factory iron sights, but I put a Lyman receiver sight on mine. For the range I use a 452 American that's scope sighted. The stocks are shaped differently (hog's back) for iron sights, or a scope. I just love making a really long shot with an iron sights rifle.

 

[Smith357]

10 years ago I was in roughly the same boat you were in, although my budget was about half of yours but if you factor in inflation it probably about the same. I wanted a very nice high quality squirrel rifle, I had plenty of heavy target .22s.

This new rifle needed to have
full sized profile
checkered walnut stock
blued steel
milled trigger guard
fully adjustable trigger
flush magazine

I looked and studied the market for a year before I headed out the door with cash.
The rifles that made my short list were
Anschutz 54
Cooper
Kimber of Oregon 82
Kimber of NY .22
Winchester 52B reissue
Walther Sportwaffen

I ended up finding a Kimber of NY .22 Hunter at a very good price and have never looked back. The thing other than the low price that made me really want it was the mini Mauser action, and the Winchester M70 style 3 position safety.



When I do my part the rifle is capable of amazing groups at 50 yards.
I have used it quite a few time to take money from guys with heavy target rifles.


Dialing it in at 100 yards.


Since you already have Winchester 52s you know your way around a .22, just take your time and have fun and don't settle, wait for that one that speaks to you.

 

[chad1043]

What range are those? When it isn't posted is it assumed 50yards?

 

[Picher]

Kimbers are very nice-looking rifles, but the recent .22s I've seen, including the heavy target model, haven't shot as well as the older ones.

You might also look at the Weatherby which has an Anschutz 64 action. It's a bit pricey, but nice. Anschutz 64 and less expensive models are very good shooters, even better after pillar bedding.

 

[Smith357]

What range are those? When it isn't posted is it assumed 50yards?

50 yard on the first picture, 100 yards on the second, the factory trigger is set to 12 oz.

Kimbers are very nice-looking rifles, but the recent .22s I've seen, including the heavy target model, haven't shot as well as the older ones

Actually the heavy target models aka the 82g are old models. Many years ago I had KoO 82c sporter that was an absolutely gorgeous, but it did not shoot near as I had hoped, it sat neglected in my safe for a few years. I figured it was just a lemon that slipped through QC, all manufactures have them from time to time. I eventually sold it off for some other shiny thing. My KoA .22 Hunter though not as pretty as the 82c could out shoot it without much effort. It has also beat quite a few of the 82g Kimbers that show up to my local clubs .22 BR fun shoots. You should see what it can do when I pony up for the good ammo. Eley Tenex and RWS R50 is what I use when I want to take it to someone using a heavy Anschutz 54, or Remington 40X.

 

[VancMike]

Since you already have Mdl 52s, consider looking for a Mdl 75 with a sporting barrel. I had one and it was as accurate as the one I still own with a target barrel. Uses the same magazines as the 52s, and you won't feel so bad about putting a scope on it.

 

[KodiakBeer]

Consider a rifle with a threaded barrel so you can mount a can on it. Less noise means more dead squirrels.

 

[stuffisgood]

I think I've got some good ideas which will allow me some more research
The gun show will be in town in about 2 weeks so I'll get the opportunity to hopefully handle a few and see how they feel.

I like the look of the Winchester 75. Not so much for the given purchase, but it would make a good addition. I've probably got about 30 rimfires and that's not counting the pistols. My wife says I have a sickness

The following are a few of them... The first pic is the two 52 repeaters, a pre-A with Lyman peep, and B model with Junertl scope, next is the boys new CZ (such a perfect sized rifle) and my well used savage 17 hmr, and last is the single shot D series 52 that I'm contemplating letting go.

 

[Jurist]

New gun

Just picked this up from Cabela's,would love to shoot some squirrels with it!It is a Winchester 9422 LR,once had one in 22 magnum,wanted one in 22lr,Merry Christmas to me.

 

[stuffisgood]

Looks like a Winchester 9400 series to me. Guessing it's the 17/22 mag version. I've got one in 22lr and one in 17 hmr. Both shoot very well for what they are. I haven't scoped either, but I bet that makes a great tree rat popper!

 

[jerkface11]

The Savage and CZ are comparable in accuracy.

 

[Matt018]

I have a marlin 925 .22 rifle. It was the wood stock and blued finish and hold 7 in a magazine. Its of a good enough weight that it dosnt feel like a toy and I have carried it many days in the woods this year and it has taken prolly 20 squirrels this season. I scoped it with a cheapo centerpoint 4x32 from dicks and trew a camo strap on it. I drop squirrels out of trees at 50 yards standing. The new model is the xt22 Its the same gun except for a 2 stage trigger. Also the marlin has twice the amount of rifling as normal that apparently makes the gun more accurate. All I know is that I group the size of a quarter consistintly with federal bulk pack ammo.

 

[wasr10634unme]

savage 93r17 .17hmr was my christmas present to myself. didnt finish sighting it in because of cold weather and lack of warm clothes but it is very accurate. came with a 3-9x40 for 239.99 will post pics if you like