The “Perfect” .22 Rifle

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JCooperfan1911

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Anybody else been looking for it?

Over the past several years I’ve tried several different .22 rifles for the role of general/all purpose plinking, hunting, and field gun.

I’ve tried the Nylon 66, the Marlin 60, CZ-452 bolt action, Remington 552 Speedmaster, and a couple others and each has assets I enjoy but none has been “the one” and got sold save the Nylon 66, which is tough to successfully mount a scope to (one of my requirements) and is becoming a collectible so isn’t really suited for rough field use these days due to parts sourcing issues.

The closest yet is my Henry’s Frontier model lever gun. I really, really like it for a variety of reasons. Cycles smooth, feeds anything beautifully, has a solid trigger, just a hoot. Yet that particular model has a 14” length of pull and does not fit my small man frame too well. I feel like I’ve got to really push my hand way forward to cock the gun and it’s rather awkward. And the 20” octagonal barrel is fairly long and a bit heavy for a field .22 in my opinion. Still, it’s the closest yet.

I decided to order a different model Henry a few days ago, the Youths Carbine. This model features a 13” length of pull, much more ideal for me. It also has a lighter round profile barrel of 16” in length. This should make an excellent field packing choice and still holds a respectful dozen shots of Long Rifles or 16 Shorts.

FF38-F4-B1-4350-4-CEB-9-BA2-3-FDF692-F11-C0.jpg

I think this might be the one guys. I plan on outfitting it the same as my Frontier, that being a 4x Gru-Bee 3/4” Baby Redfield copy with rings, hammer extension, leather lever wrap, and a sling. I have found Henry’s to be outstanding and it won’t be an expensive collectible that I won’t be afraid to get out on the trail for squirrel busting and can blasting. Add the excellent customer service, widespread availability of parts, and Made in USA (or not at all, as the company slogan goes) and it should be a winner.

Expect a detailed range report to follow. I’m real hopeful that this one will get me as close yet.

-JCF
 
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Ive been looking for the perfect everything (including .22s) since i got into this sport/hobby lol. I think mine will probably be a bolt gun.

Your little lever with one of gru-bees on it sounds about as close to a perfect .22 leverfun as i can imagine tho.
Friend of mine has a henry lever 22 and ive been very impressed with that gun.
 
LoonWulf said:
Ive been looking for the perfect everything (including .22s) since i got into this sport/hobby lol. I think mine will probably be a bolt gun.

Your little lever with one of gru-bees on it sounds about as close to a perfect .22 leverfun as i can imagine tho.
Friend of mine has a henry lever 22 and ive been very impressed with that gun.
Click to expand...

Thanks, Loon Wulf!

Here is the Gru-Bee on my Frontier. It’s a nice scope:

9-F33-FBE5-CB83-429-F-AF49-951082-CCCB7-D.jpg

A dandy gun to be sure, but it’s big for me and heftier than what I’m going for.
 
Man...I dunno if its possible to have a "perfect" .22 rifle for all purposes......
But if I had to grab just one and jump out a window with it, it would probably be my (well, my daughter's) Marlin M70-
D10.jpg
Lightweight, accurate enough, as reliable as any semi-auto rimfire. Wont beat an Anshutz at 300yds, but itll bring home a whole bag of squirrels for dinner if you need it to.
 
Not saying I won't find something better later, but for now it would be the Tikka on the bottom. I paid right at $400 +/- a few dollars, I can't remember for sure. But it is the most accurate 22 so far. Other than mounting a 3-9X40 Leupold with CDS dials nothing has been modified.

IMG_1571.JPG

Does this at 250 yards. My scope runs out of adjustment at about 220 yards. I'm holding on the 4th link of the chain to account for extra drop and wind.

IMG_1575.JPG

Of course the top rifle ain't bad. I put an aftermarket barrel on a 10/22 years ago along with a Hogue stock. Had a gunsmith work over the trigger. That's a fixed power 6X scope on it. Five shots at 50 yards. Didn't measure the group.

IMG_1680.JPG
 
There is no way I could pick a perfect 22 rifle. I like all of the ones I have and they all have a purpose. My Marlin Model 70 is my most accurate NON AR semi-auto 22 rifle that I own and is fun to shoot. Now the last AR22 I built using a CMMG 16" heavy barrel is more accurate and even gives my Savage MkII a run for its money at 50 yards. And the MkII is no slouch when it comes to accuracy. I get nice small 5 shot groups at 50 yards with it. I need to push both the MkII and AR22 out to 100 yards to see how well they do.

That Henry would look good next to my old H&R Model 949 revolver. Plus what is there not to like about a good lever action.
 
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I like my 77/22 just fine.

I have also liked every 10/22 I've had in the past, and aftermarket support for them is much better.
However, I can't seem to stop myself from blasting through ammo too quickly with a 10/22 because the damn things are just so much fun.
The 77/22 is a rifle that slows me down, and makes me a better shot.

Like a lever gun, manually cycling each round in a bolt gun just gives you a certain feel that connects you with the gun.
 
First of all , ……… the perfect 22 would have to be a Lever Action, soooo let’s just get that out of the way…… . Now I have heard good things about the Henry “Evil Roy” edition, but I don’t know anything first hand.
My 1952 Marlin 39a has a round tapered barrel at only 22 inches long which makes it noticeably lighter than all of my other 39a’s . It has Ballard rifling which makes it waaaay more accurate than it’s owner. I love my 94-22 , and my Browning , and to a slightly lesser extent my Golden boy, but that 1952 Marlin is the “measuring stick” It is the one rifle that my grandchildren probably want get until after they start throwing dirt on me ……… 4A77FF66-9334-4FC0-B7AD-1306F7A90644.jpeg …. oh well just my opinion…
 
I wish you luck on the new rifle which appears to be better suited to your needs. I too always appreciate a lightweight rifle when hitting the squirrel woods and I’m now considering scoping my soon to be purchased Mark IV pistol for an even lighter option.

My own pride and joy among my rimfires is a Marlin 25N that shoots undeniably well for its sub-$90 new price somewhere in the early ‘90s.


88E02021-95CC-4BB6-BD55-60BFA7FBBC79.jpeg
 
I have an Anshutz 1710 deluxe rifle with Nikon Monarch Gold 5.5x16.5x44 Target type scope that is not too heavy under 8 pounds and has been capable of winning all the bets over the years with my stash of RWS Target ammo it loves. That's a fun gun to work with up to 200 yards. The John Marlin produced pre 80 s guns are pretty impressive for a lever gun
 
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Skylerbone said:
I wish you luck on the new rifle which appears to be better suited to your needs. I too always appreciate a lightweight rifle when hitting the squirrel woods and I’m now considering scoping my soon to be purchased Mark IV pistol for an even lighter option.

My own pride and joy among my rimfires is a Marlin 25N that shoots undeniably well for its sub-$90 new price somewhere in the early ‘90s.


View attachment 1034975
Click to expand...

Skylerbone, we are on the same page here! I have a Marlin 25N also, and it is by far my most accurate.22 rf. Really, really like my '57 39A, but, that 25N, well........
 
I own an Anschutz 1710 Meister Grade with a heavy SS barrel that will drive tacks at 50 yards - does the same thing every time - boring to shoot, but fun to own. I also own a Kimber 82 Custom Classic that is on the lighter side of the Anschutz that I use for general purpose hunting - it is boringly accurate also. I would not call either perfect but they suit me for my use. Again, it is very difficult to select other’s likes in firearms but anyway, that is what I shoot.
 
I bought a 39A brand new about 15 years ago for my general/all-purpose field .22, and that worked fine for me. It's always been a little (front) heavy, but I can't say I have been disappointed.

Of course with the current 39A situation being what it is, I decided to semi-retire the gun. I picked up a Henry Small Game Carbine, and it has been a great little plinker. The short barrel doesn't do as well at long range, so I would recommend a Small Game Rifle with a 24" barrel if I wanted long range accuracy.


Really any decent tube-fed bolt .22 can do anything I would want to do on a woods stroll or fishing trip. They are all fun in their own way - maybe I am just easy to please. I actually tend to stay away from semi-autos in general; just how things have worked out over the years.
 
Wouldn't say "perfect" but it's my favorite;

I think this is the second run for Remington? Found this 541S next to an equally mint fat barreled T model on a "used" rack a waaay long time ago. Having been down the, "must be fat brrl road for too long".... road,I didn't even pick the heavier one up. Snagged this sporter for a little more than what a used Marlin 60 goes for?

It was love at first sight. Then fell up on the perfect little scope for it. Was at a well attended gun store whilst visiting in laws just S of D.C. Clark Bros in Warrenton Va. Perusing their used scope display case,hiding in the corner,behind/under all these giant scopes that were coming into vogue.....

Was this small,cute as a button Burris 4X,1" with 32? mm objective. Standing there yackin with the nice salesman,asked if I could bring the 541 in and see what it looked like. He was very nice and basically gave me the scope for free when paying retail for the Redfield base and rings that mated it to the gun. He said I was the 1st person who ever looked at it? German post reticle.

Had that scope on there and was just a peachy rig for 15 or so years. My #2 son surprised me with a NOS,Redfield 5star straight 6X, a few years ago. It too is/was a scope that no one was interested in and he got it for what Chinese doodoo scopes go for these days. Very crummy pic,will get it out and snap some "glamor" shots in the field. This was when first mounting the Redfield.

Would be called a liar telling of groups it'll produce. Completely unmolested,has factory adj trigger that's never been touched.... factory bedding(there ain't none),and appeared to be never shot when I got it. Very plain,straight grained walnut stock. Absolute death ray on small game.

Screenshot_20211030-055020_Gallery.jpg
 
The perfect 22 rifle is the one you like.
It would be easier (for me) to pick the worst 22 rifle.
It was a Marlin model 60 with microgroove rifling.
It couldn't shoot groups, it was more of a shotgun pattern. It didn't matter what you fed it, they were all bad, and this was at only 25 yards.
Never did find the cause of the problem.
 
I am always looking for, yet never finding, the perfect 22 rifle, because it is always the Next One…

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This is a fun rimfire!
A3E41FE6-19CE-42BE-B8EA-FEC08C344237.jpeg

These two lower rifles were perfect rimfires when I got them. Many would say they still are!
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(The centerfires are nearly perfect too.;))
<>Upon further examination my 572 FieldMaster is not in here. Time for a new rimfire family photo. My apologies.<>
Though lately I’ve been seeing perfection in a Mannlicher stocked CZ, or an International 10/22 in walnut. The trouble is having them threaded.

But then, I don’t know if a lever action rimfre would be a perfect rifle, @JCooperfan1911.
I don’t have a lever gun… Yet.;)
 
JCooperfan1911 said:
Anybody else been looking for it?

Over the past several years I’ve tried several different .22 rifles for the role of general/all purpose plinking, hunting, and field gun.

I’ve tried the Nylon 66, the Marlin 60, CZ-452 bolt action, Remington 552 Speedmaster, and a couple others and each has assets I enjoy but none has been “the one” and got sold save the Nylon 66, which is tough to successfully mount a scope to (one of my requirements) and is becoming a collectible so isn’t really suited for rough field use these days due to parts sourcing issues.

The closest yet is my Henry’s Frontier model lever gun. I really, really like it for a variety of reasons. Cycles smooth, feeds anything beautifully, has a solid trigger, just a hoot. Yet that particular model has a 14” length of pull and does not fit my small man frame too well. I feel like I’ve got to really push my hand way forward to cock the gun and it’s rather awkward. And the 20” octagonal barrel is fairly long and a bit heavy for a field .22 in my opinion. Still, it’s the closest yet.

I decided to order a different model Henry a few days ago, the Youths Carbine. This model features a 13” length of pull, much more ideal for me. It also has a lighter round profile barrel of 16” in length. This should make an excellent field packing choice and still holds a respectful dozen shots of Long Rifles or 16 Shorts.

View attachment 1034938
Click to expand...

My Henry H001 has been the "perfect 22 rifle" for a long time.
 
I have a nylon 66, a 10-22, a Savage MKX suppressed, and a S&W AR type thing. For me, the 10-22 (unmodified except for a 4x scope) is perfect.
 
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