Best Bolt Action 22 under $500

CZ

theres alot of guys more knowledgeable than i am, but when i buy my next .22 it will probably be a CZ455 American Combo. I like the easy caliber change, Ive also liked every CZ ive handled.
Another good option are the ubiquitous savages, they offer a really good value especially if your not looking for the added refinement of something like the CZ
Then there are the ruger american rimfires. Ive only used the .22 mag version, but if i didnt want the caliber interchangeability, id probably go with one of these.

Right now my .22s a Mossberg 802 heavy barrel. Its an exceptionally accurate rifle for the cost (right around 200 bucks). With the correct ammo it holds .5-.75" groups at 50yds, and 1.25-1.5" at 100. Its rough, kinda ugly, and has NO upgrade path, but as a simple shooter Its everything i could want.

CZ for me. I have a CZ Rimfire but it's a semi-automatic.22 WMR. By far the favorite Rimfire I've owned.

Hands-down it will be CZ.

Back 10ish years, I wasn't impressed by my former CZ. The trigger-pull literally felt like sandpaper.

About 15 years ago, I wasn't impressed by my former Ruger 77/22, and the price back 15 years exceeded your listed limit of 500$.

I have an inexpensive (159ish$) Savage Mark II. It isn't pretty, but it is 100% reliable and very accurate.

Were my CZ and Ruger 77/22 just oddball, bad examples? I have no idea. If not, have these companies made improvements? I do think that the new Ruger American is interesting.

Geno

um was CZ suggested get the 455

I believe it will come down to personal taste. There are many, many options under the five hundred dollar limit. What are you looking for in a rim fire? Wood stock? Damage resistant polymer composite? Classic lines or something more modern? Blue, stainless or phosphate black?
What is your main purpose for this rifle? Strictly targets? Varmints or hunting? Fun?

CZ and Savage are at the top of the list of guns the average man will find of good value. CZ will be the one for those that prefer a nice wood stock. Savage BVSSs will come with a laminate stock and a very interesting barrel. Between these two companies a rifleman, literally, cannot go wrong.

All but two of my rim fires are savages. I put a Boyd's stock on a mark II FV-SR to make my own FV target with a shorter and threaded barrel. This rifle will hold Minute of Angle with any round. With it's preferred Aguila Pistol Match, it will hold three quarters of an inch at one hundred yards. I really didn't think it was possible, until I did it. Then I did it again, and again....

So really, tell us, what are you looking for?

I would look at http://cz-usa.com/product/cz-455-varmint-22-lr-5-rd-mag/

I have a CZ 452, it used to be my most accurate rifle, but now this is. It is a 10/22 with a midweight target barrel, chamber and with a target trigger.

http://ruger.com/products/1022Sporter/specSheets/1237.html

I haven't actually shot one of these. But if it is anymore accurate than the 10/22 LVT it has to be a contender.

http://ruger.com/products/americanRimfireTarget/models.html

Don't know about the CZ 455, but I have had four of the 452's. All shot very well. My only gripe is the feeding problems that I had with all of them. I blame it on the magazines. Never had a problem with Marlin or my 52 Winchester, but with the CZ's I always had problems. One or two rounds out of ten would stovepipe.

Geno said:

Back 10ish years, I wasn't impressed by my former CZ. The trigger-pull literally felt like sandpaper.

About 15 years ago, I wasn't impressed by my former Ruger 77/22, and the price back 15 years exceeded your listed limit of 500$.

I have an inexpensive (159ish$) Savage Mark II. It isn't pretty, but it is 100% reliable and very accurate.

Were my CZ and Ruger 77/22 just oddball, bad examples? I have no idea. If not, have these companies made improvements? I do think that the new Ruger American is interesting.

Geno

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Most CZ models have good triggers but a few don't, such as my 512. The 512 has a well earned reputation for bad triggers. I knew that going in and had a trigger job done locally by a smith who is known for his trigger work.

Has anybody mentioned CZ yet?

No regrets on my 452. Great value, on a great shooter.

Late last year I gave up trying to talk a friend into selling me his CZ 452 and this past January purchased a new CZ 455. I love it and haven't had any complaints as of yet. It's in 22LR and is extremely accurate with whatever its been fed so far. Also has an excellent trigger; this one breaks cleanly at 3 lbs., 4 oz. on a Lyman digital trigger gauge. Also fits the OP's under $500. criteria although I'm probably into this one for about 600 bucks with the scope, the rings and the base, and a decent sling. Overall though, I feel it was worth every penny.

bluetopper said:

What I'm looking for is the best example and performance of a benchrest rifle, period.

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This may be hard to accomplish at the under five hundred price point. But there a lot of after market modifications for a Savage or Ruger. This will also bring the total investment up.
For the money a Savage B22 has a nice but modern hardwood stock. Any of the BVT model names will be exceptionally accurate. Meaning Bench Varmint Target. They also have some with thumbhole stocks and few target versions with peep sights. In fact there are one hundred rim fire models on Savage's site. Look to those with wood stocks, they will behave themselves better on the bags.

I found myself actually considering another rifle for a moment. As if I had time to shoot those that I have now.

Edited for punctuation.

CZ. Mine is a 452 Full Stock. No, I am not trying to sell it.

LUCKYDAWG13 said:

I would look at http://cz-usa.com/product/cz-455-varmint-22-lr-5-rd-mag/

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That's what I have. Mine has the single set trigger. 4-14x40 VX-3. But I do know that I wouldn't sell mine for 2x what I have in it. I'd be afraid another would not be as accurate.

You're most likely gonna see CZ and Savage names over and over for a reason

CZ or Savage.

I've had a CZ 452 Lux for 14 years. It is very accurate with CCI Standard Velocity ammunition and has never had a problem feeding rounds from the 5 or 10 round magazines. Any issues with the trigger can be easily solved with the Yo-Dave Spring Kit.

http://www.yodaveproducts.com/store/p32/CZ_452,_455, BRNO_2,4,_and_5_trigger_kit.html

Same here, CZ or Savage. Preferably CZ.

452, 455, 512, 513, dont really matter. All have proven extremely accurate! So has Savage but CZ is just a nicer rifle imho.

My most accurate is probably the 452 ultra lux super exclusive with a 28.5" bbl. It was under $500 when i bought it.

bluetopper wrote:
Who currently is manufacturing the best bolt action 22 rifle under say $500?

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What are you planning to do with it?

What are your criteria for determining "best"?

Accuracy? Durability? Reliability? Price?

When you ask what is "best" you will inevitably receive a response in which the writer subjectively weights a number of criteria and determines one product exceeded the others. Only if their subjective analysis was the same as yours would you reach the same conclusion. So, when you ask someone for the "best", what you're really asking them is what would they buy if they could spend your money.

For my part, I don't shoot 22 competitively, so price becomes a primary determinant of value for me and and so would suggest looking at a Savage B22.

hdwhit said:

What are you planning to do with it?

What are your criteria for determining "best"?

Accuracy? Durability? Reliability? Price?

When you ask what is "best" you will inevitably receive a response in which the writer subjectively weights a number of criteria and determines one product exceeded the others. Only if their subjective analysis was the same as yours would you reach the same conclusion. So, when you ask someone for the "best", what you're really asking them is what would they buy if they could spend your money.

For my part, I don't shoot 22 competitively, so price becomes a primary determinant of value for me and and so would suggest looking at a Savage B22.

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Bluetopper said a few posts later, looking for the best benchrest style rifle possible for $500. Wood was preferred but not a deal breaker.

Sounds as if accuracy is the key criteria imho.

My CZ 455 American, which outshoots my Anschutz 141 sporter with everything I've tried.

I will follow the group and agree on the CZ. I would also recommend the spring and shim kit for the trigger found here http://www.yodaveproducts.com/