Rimfire Recommendations

Ruger 10-22 is a great squirrel rifle. Decent aftermarket barrels can be had for a little over $100 and almost anyone can change one out. Add a Bushnell scope and you are killing squirrels.

If you can find a CZ bolt-action for under $400, get one. I'm not sure what the prices on those are like, but they're accurate and quite pretty.

Semi-auto - 10-22 or Marlin 60

Bolt gun - CZ

I have a savage bolt action 22lr. Shoots real well. Nice accutrigger. I think I got mine for around $300 but can't remember exactly.

I would say something like a Ruger 10/22 or a CZ model 652 or 655 would be quite effective as a squirrel gun.

A friend recently asked me what kind of .22 rimfire he should buy to hunt squirrels.

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If he wants a semi-auto, the Ruger 10/22 is certainly a fine option. The Marlin Model 60 is another popular choice.

If he wants a bolt action, Savage sells a number of their Mark II models for less than $400. Marlin likewise make several different models of their XT-22 which are in your friend's price range. As others have said, their is also the CZ 455 which has a couple models with street prices below $400.

If he wants a lever action, the only one I can think of off hand in that price range is the Henry H001.

Adding another vote for a CZ 455

Up here CZ's are way more than $400. Sounds from the votes that they are less in the US.

If this'll be a rough treated "truck gun" then I'd suggest a Savage Mk II gun with a synthetic stock and stainless action and barrel. It'll withstand the weather and rougher treatement and it won't leave the owner feeling too guilty about each new scuff. The ONLY catch is that for some reason the Savage stocks seem to have a really low comb which doesn't fit well with using a scope. But if he were to mount a folded plastic adjustable comb this could be fixed. Or if he were to buy something like a Boyd's thumbhole stock for the gun again that would be a nice fix. Or just pony up a little more cash and get the Savage laminated BTVSS model. High comb thumbhole laminated stock, stainless metal and the delightful Accutrigger all right from the box.

If it'll be treated to a transport sleeve, reasonably careful use and occasional pampering then the CZ's sure are nice looking rifles and there's no doubt that they shoot nicely.

I believe if you search long enough the CZ 452 Trainer is still available for under $400. Otherwise, I'd look for a used CZ or Sako Quad.

A Marlin 795 is $150 or less. i stuck a $30 Simmons scope on top. Results are below. It doesn't take an expensive rifle to get the job done on squirrels. With that said, I have since switched to a CZ 455 American with a Leupold 3-9x33 AO rimfire scope. Definitely a nicer rifle than the Marlin, but the squirrels can't tell the difference.

CZ model 652 or 655 would be quite effective as a squirrel gun

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CZ 452 or 455 22lr...

my personal choice and favorite is a Ruger MKII or MKIII with scope mount, and red dot sight. Of course, not as easy to shoot as a rifle....but still very accurate.

I like to handicap myself a little when squirrel hunting by using my handgun or .32 muzzle loader. I love to hunt them, but mrs kb doesn't care to cook 'em. (At least not 8-10/wk.)

Any bolt action in my opinion is the most fun. Squirrels like to pose for the shot. My favorite way to hunt them lately is my Gamo Varmint Stalker Deluxe .177 pellet gun.

If I'm going squirrel hunting I'm taking my Marlin 795. It's very light for carrying around all day and it's accurate. If I was going to do a "sit under a tree and wait for the squirrels to come to me" type of hunt I'd take any one of a half dozen different rimfires I own. Some of my other rimfires aren't really suited for hunting.

Decide on a budget. You can get a whole bunch of rimfires for "under $400."

Decide on semi-auto or bolt action. I like semi-auto for squirrel myself. Sometimes I see several in the same tree and I can nail almost all of them with a semi-auto. But I have great bolt action rifles for the job too.

Decide if you want a scope or not and whether that is included in the price of the rifle. Yes you can get a fine setup for under $400 including a scope. A Marlin 60 with a Nikon ProStaff 3-9X40 scope will set you back about $325. I killed a squirrel with that setup not too long ago. I shot it from 50 yards and put a bullet right behind it's ear which is exactly where I aimed.

The biggest problem you'll find right now is finding ammo. Start looking now and hope you get lucky. Some of us stocked up before the election because we remembered the last election.

My choices would be:

Marlin 795
Marlin 60
Marlin XT-22TR - I like tube mags - this one shoots shorts which work great on squirrels - it holds 25 shorts in the tube - if you shoot more than that you aren't hunting, you're plinking
Ruger 10/22
Savage MkII
Savage MkII w/ bull barrel
CZ - any you can find under $400 - when I bought my 453 the 452's were just under $400 - that was a couple of years ago - the 453 is a great rifle though and worth the extra cash
Mossberg
Remington 597
Henry Golden Boy
and a whole bunch of others I can't think of right now.

This list should do well for you. All of them will make a fine squirrel rifle.

I use a CZ 455 and shoot Winchester HP's. The gun is so accurate I usually shoot just in front of his nose. With the hollow points, this sucks all the air out of his lungs and he suffocates. No meat harmed.








Just kidding about everything but the CZ 455

My CZ 455 cost a few dollars over $400, just because I decided to order through the LGS down the street instead of looking for a deal. If the weather here ever breaks, I may actually get a chance to shoot it and see if it's as accurate as my Marlin 60. I can tell you for certain that the Marlin is sub minute-of-squirrel head out to 60 yards and beyond.

Strutstopper, after you get the 455 sighted in, you will probably forget you own the Marlin 60

I didn't bamajoey. I have 2 60's in fact. I bought a 453 and while it's a great rifle there is a place in the world for an accurate semi-auto even in rimfire rifles. No way any of my Marlins approach the accuracy of my CZ but I find reasons to carry my Marlins often. A big reason is that I really don't like the idea of messing up that beautiful walnut stock on my CZ.

I think the world of my 453 but I'm not about to give up my Marlins just because I have one. I've seen lots of situations that called for a semi-auto. For example shooting at a running, rabid dog is plenty good enough reason to have a semi-auto. If I miss on the first shot I can get off 3 more in the time it takes to shoot just one more with a bolt action.

I've got a Henry lever gun and a synthetic-stock Remington 597. I've always wanted a Ruger 10-22, but after buying and shooting the Henry and Remington I just never felt the need for anything else. Both will easily get the job done at 50 yards, but the Remington is a bit more accurate - and cheaper - than the Henry.

Savage MKII with accu-trigger.

bamajoey said:

Strutstopper, after you get the 455 sighted in, you will probably forget you own the Marlin 60

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Doubtful. Who says you can't modify a Marlin 60? Lighter springs, heavier stock, decent scope, and it can certainly shoot.

Marlins and Rugers are good guns....With that said, I wouldn't trade my most shot CZ for 2 new Marlins or Rugers. CZ bolt rimfires are great guns.

My marlin 60 with a cheap centerpoint 3x9 scope will pick them off at 50 yards all day long as will my 62 year old Remington 510 Targetmaster. Both under $150.

StrutStopper said:

Doubtful. Who says you can't modify a Marlin 60? Lighter springs, heavier stock, decent scope, and it can certainly shoot.

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Love the stock can you give me some info on what it is and where you got it I would appreciate it very much