New .22 Suggestions?

I paid just over $400, but think they are closer to $500 now. But the Tikka T1x is about as accurate as you'll get at any price. No that isn't cheap, but I've not found anything else that comes close out of the box. I have a 10/22 with an aftermarket barrel and some other modifications that comes close. But by the time you buy the rifle and modify it the Tikka is less expensive.

I tried one of the Ruger American 22 bolt rifles. I had good luck with their centerfire rifles, but the 22 wasn't any more accurate than a typical factory 10/22

You won't get the accuracy you seek with cheap bulk ammo. But I've found CCI Mini-Mags to be a good compromise. Price is still reasonable, and I can get the accuracy I want. The more expensive match ammo is a little more accurate at 50 yards, but the faster Mini-Mags work better for me at long range. I get less bullet drop and wind drift with the faster bullets.

I can usually keep 5 shots inside 1" at 100 yards with the Tikka and Mini-Mags. But often push it much farther. This target is at 250 yards. I hit 6 of 8 shots. The bigger hit on the target was fired earlier with a 223.

Savage Mk2

CZ-457, but it's going to stretch your budget a bit.

Perhaps a used one of these.

https://www.budsgunshop.com/product...+457+lux+.22+lr+24.8+turkish+walnut+5+1+02301

I have a couple of the variants and they're very accurate.

As to new I have a sweet CZ but that is over your price point. Savage actually makes a good rifle. What I really like is my older Remington 500 series which can be had used in the $200 to $300 range. Also in your price range many of the older Winchester and Savage guns. I prefer blued steel and walnut but your choice.

Ron

badkarmamib said:

@NIGHTLORD40K I remember Walmart having those Savages for $99, thinking they couldn't be that good at that price. Am I wrong?

Heard Tikka centerfires are highly recommended, interested in the rimfire.

Have shot a few CZs, have been impressed, but again, rimfires are something that I haven't considered since I actually started caring about accuracy.

Just happened to look around, and saw a Howa M1100 for $300. Anyone have any experience?

Click to expand...

I dont think you can beat the Savage on a budget if we are only talking brand new guns.

If you're patient, a used CZ would be better- but even then we are probably talking $500ish.
I wasnt impressed with the Ruger American rimfire I played with, YMMV of course.
The only old Winchester's you're likely to find in that price range are pre-WW2 single shots, and even then they are likely to be clapped out. Any decent repeating Winny around here is getting up around a grand....
You can still find old Mossbergs and Marlins for under 4 bills, but they are likely high-mileage as those guns were not babied in their youth and they may need TLC.
I have a whole mob of old .22 rifles stuffed into my aresenal and the cheap ones all needed work to run right....and after chasing down sights and parts, they weren't exactly cheap anymore!


Still, if you are handy and dont mind a project, it is extremely rewarding bringing a vintage rimfire plinker back to life.

I'd be looking for a used CZ455. A new 457 is over your budget. The out of production 452's have almost a cult like following and are selling used for 50% more than they cost new. The 455 is kinda overlooked right now. I had a nice 455 American. I kinda wish I had kept it.

NIGHTLORD40K said:

The only old Winchester's you're likely to find in that price range are pre-WW2 single shots, and even then they are likely to be clapped out. Any decent repeating Winny around here is getting up around a grand....

Click to expand...

My local gun shop has a few Winchester Model 52 rifles going at a grand or a little more. There are much lower priced ones, especially single shots.

Ron

ColtPythonElite said:

I'd be looking for a used CZ455. A new 457 is over your budget. The out of production 452's have almost a cult like following and are selling used for 50% more than they cost new. The 455 is kinda overlooked right now. I had a nice 455 American. I kinda wish I had kept it.

Click to expand...

Nice to know. I have a CZ452 LH and as I recall several years ago new it was about $500. They are a great shooting little rifle. Original steel 5 and 10 round magazines are running $50 plus. Wish I had bought more when I bought the rifle.

Ron

Reloadron said:

My local gun shop has a few Winchester Model 52 rifles going at a grand or a little more. There are much lower priced ones, especially single shots.

Ron

Click to expand...

Wow, Id be all over another M52 for under $1500. You just dont see them down here.

NIGHTLORD40K said:

Wow, Id be all over another M52 for under $1500. You just dont see them down here.

Click to expand...

More than once I have been so tempted. The few in there have been in there for awhile. My sister has an Anschutz Savage which I can use anytime so I just haven't really seriously grabbed one of those 52s. Thye one is scoped with a setup I was told cost about a grand.

I don't want to derail the thread so back to reasonable suggestions. I have a Remington 511 and 512 which are pretty enjoyable and likely can be had in the $200 to $250 range. These are old rifles which 30 years ago you would see for $30 to $50 for. Wow.

Ron

jmr40 said:

But the Tikka T1x is about as accurate as you'll get at any price.

Click to expand...

Yup -- that's what I was going to say. They're edging closer to $600 now, but worth it, IMO.

If you want to stay in-budget, I second the Savages. The MK II is good, but the new B22 ups the game a little, with a more ergonomic stock and a Ruger-style rotary magazine.

America seems to have lost interest making high quality bolt actions 22's at a reasonable price. Montana makes them as does Cooper but they are pricey. I have a Kimber Model 82 bought decades a go. One of my favorite rifles. If I were to purchase a high quality 22 bolt action these days I would pony up the money for a CZ.

My recommendations in order if increasing price:
1. 10/22
2. Bergara BMR. It gives the Tikka a run for the money.

jmr40 said:

the Tikka T1x is about as accurate as you'll get at any price

Click to expand...

3. CZ45x

badkarmamib said:

What would be some suggestions for rifles, preferably bolt or lever (not 10/22) for reasonable accuracy at 100 yards?

Click to expand...

My wife sure likes her Ruger "American Rimfire" .22LR. That's her shooting ground squirrels over on our friend's ranch last spring. I'm pretty sure that's one of the 15 round magazines for my 10-22 she has in it.
At any rate, last spring my wife probably killed 150+ ground squirrels between 10 and 100 yards out with her then-new "American Rimfire" .22. If the ground squirrels were closer than 10 yards, she (and I too) just used our .22 handguns on them. All total, we estimate the two of us exterminated close to 500 ground squirrels on our friend's ranch this year.
One of the things my wife likes best about her Ruger "American Rimfire" is its modular stock. She's only 5'2", and every other rifle or shotgun she's ever owned (except for "youth models") she's had to have the stock shortened. With her "American Rimfire" all she did was order a component package from Ruger and install the right ones to make the rifle fit her herself.
I think that's a fixed 4X Leopold she has on it.

1. CZ I have posted one hole groups at 50 yards with a near stock 452. Similar performance with 2 different CZ 457s.
2.Tikka T 1 rimfire some guys do great with them.
3. Ruger American Rimfire. I have one in 22.mag that shoots great at 100 yards.
4. Lots of guys are happy with Savage rimfires for accuracy.
You may want to look at the prove it threads we had on here.

For great accuracy fairly cheap you might want to look at a used Remington 540XR or other actual target rifle such as a Kimber .

Bergara BMR Carbon
Tikka T1x
CZ 457

stretching your budget but if your going to only have one I think any of the above are worth it.

I am going to suggest going with a Savage MkII, especially if on a budget. While they aren't as nicely made as a CZ or Tikka, Savage rifles are accurate right out of the box. I will suggest going with Savage's heavy Varmint barrel if you want the most accuracy.

I have a Savage MkII BTVLSS 22lr that came with the Boyds laminate thumbhole stock that was very accurate as is. I have since put the rifle into a Rigid Alloy chassis.



And I also have a Savage MkII GVL in 17m2.

I don’t know how it would stand up in accuracy but I LOVE my Henry .22lr lever guns! They are just fun to shoot

You may want to look at a Savage 93. I have one in 17HMR but of course they make the same thing in 22LR. Mine is very accurate. Below are admittedly cherry picked targets but it normally shoots 3/4 MOA or less. Both the target are 5 rounds at a 100 yards off a bench.



Below is actually 5 rounds; the bottom hole is two hits.

burrhead said:

You may want to look at a Savage 93. I have one in 17HMR but of course they make the same thing in 22LR.

Click to expand...

While the Savage Model 93 and the newer MkII rifles with the "E Receiver" do use the exact same receiver, they are two separate models. And magazines are also not interchangeable.

If the OP wants a 22lr, or 17m2, then go with the Savage MkII. If he wants a 22WMR or 17HRM, then go with the Model 93