.22 LR Bolt Rifle

[ColinthePilot]

So I'm going out this weekend to find a .22LR bolt action rifle. I don't have anything in the quintessential caliber and I like bolt guns. Only criteria are 5+ round capacity, iron sights (scopes are ok as add-ons but not as the only sights) and peeps are ok. again, its gotta be bolt, and i'm not going to spend more than about $150.
Most of my guns are milsurps so .22's are an area I'm not very familiar with. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.

 

[ThomasT]

I just bought a Marlin 981t bolt action with a synthetic stock. Groups have been under and inch at 50 yards and that with only one quick session.

Lots of folks will recommend a CZ brand rifle. I haven't shot one but have read tons of good about them. They are quite a bit over your dollar range though.

Marlin and Savage are two makes that come to mind for the price range you mentioned. You might want to check out www.rimfirecentral.com these folks are just itching to help you find a gun. Let us know what you get.

 

[Bearhands]

Since you are already into milsurps...... look for a Romanian Trainer Model 1969..... I picked one up recently and it's a dynamite rifle, it amazes me every trip to the range. 3 leaf sights (25,50 and 100 meters), 5 round mag, great balance. All for 89 bucks! There are great threads all over on it.
http://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/index.php
http://www.surplusrifleforum.com/viewforum.php?f=17
http://parallaxscurioandrelicfirear...tary-22-Caliber-Target-Training-Firearms.html

Happy Hunting!

 

[Rembrandt]

Unfortunately your $150 limitation will prevent you from experiencing the joys of a quality .22 bolt action.

 

[kludge]

For under $200 you can get a Savage. I like mine a lot, but I got the >$200 version.

 

[ColinthePilot]

honestly, i'm just looking for a cheap rifle that i can shoot all day for $10. I'm not trying to shoot competition with it. Thanks for the advice.

 

[ColinthePilot]

I looked on Savage's website and I like their Mark II-F, even for $180. I shot an old savage a few weeks ago(model unknown) that hadn't been fired in 20 years and I was making 1.5" groups at about 25 yards. I'll definitely check out the Romanian Trainer. Thanks for the advice, guys. Keep it coming. I'll post whatever i end up with.

 

[ThomasT]

I just won a Marlin model 25 off of Gunbroker for $115.00. With shipping and transfer at my dealer i will have $151.00 total. The gun looked like new in the photos. This is a highly thought of gun for its price range.

Your $150.00 dollar limit will not prevent you from getting a decent rifle. I found a like new Marlin 883 stainless steel 22 mag bolt action at a pawnshop last week for $140.00 out the door.

The price on rimfires seem to be climbing because everyone has found out to be able to shoot a lot of ammo right now a 22 makes a lot of sense. Raising your price limit might open you up to more options. Besides the better guns will just go up in value or at least not go down.

 

[Slugless]

Will you have a chance to look at used rifles? When I had the exact same "itch" as you I picked up an old beater Remington 512 w/a dodgy scope for $75. Not a looker but it was stout & shot well. Stolen by a meth-head though. Something in the Remington 512 -514 range?

The Romanian trainers are cool. The rifle range I belong to has a bunch that were bought as, well, trainers. They want $50 for them. I really like the leaf sight.

Cruise over to www.rimfirecentral.com & look/post there.

 

[ThomasT]

I just noticed your in San Antonio. I was down there (Georgetown) summer before last working the hail storm you guys had. I am an insurance adjuster and when i go out of town i try to hit every gun shop and pawn shop i can find. I've found some nice guns doing this.

You have a lot of places to shop. That area is covered with shooters and finding a suitible gun should be no problem.

 

[357fan]

Savage Mark II, without a doubt.

It has irons, a 10 round mag and it is plenty accurate for plinking, small game and target shooting.

It's a great gun for the money.

 

[rangerruck]

any of the marlin 25 series, or 80 or 81 series, will fit the bill
so will any old savage as well. the marlins you can find in tube feed however, and the best part is, they will shoot short, long, and long rifle, and the tube fed models hold about 25 shorts at one time!!! so cool...

 

[ArmedBear]

Marlin 925, 981T, or similar.

Feels like a "real gun", doesn't cost too much, and shoots a LOT better than the CZ guys will admit.

Nothing against CZ's, but the Marlin will do what you want quite well for a better price.

 

[Mojo-jo-jo]

Since you are already into milsurps...... look for a Romanian Trainer Model 1969

+1 for a low-budget good .22 rifle. It's no tack driver, but does well--especially for less than $100.

 

[stubbicatt]

I have shot through my dad's Marlin probably 100,000 rounds over my lifetime. It is one of the two rifles I learned with as a 'youth'. There is nothing wrong with these rifles.

I would just leave this thought with you though: the quality of an item is remembered long after the price is forgotten. In this respect, the CZ 452 is all steel, except the magazine. The wood on these rifles is usually very nice. You may pay more for it today than a Marlin, but 5 years from now, as the dollar continues its steady decline, which would you rather shoot do you suppose, the Marlin or the CZ?

I'm not suggesting that the CZ is the rifle you should get, only suggesting that perhaps you look at your analysis a little differently.

Good luck.

 

[jerkface11]

I've never shot a marlin bolt that would do better than a couple inches at 5 yards. Savages shoot just as well as a CZ though. They just aren't as nice.

 

[Red Tornado]

I'm another one whose first thought was Romanian M69. Well worth the money. If you can find a TOZ 78, (now imported as the Winchester Wildcat) that may be available < $150.

My other thought mirrors slugless, look for a Remington 5-teen model. The 511 has a mag, the 512 has a tube, and the 510's a single shot, otherwise they're the same rifle. If you can find one under $150, grab it. They'll normally shoot an inch at 50 yards.
RT

 

[CZguy]

First this,

Marlin 925, 981T, or similar.

Feels like a "real gun", doesn't cost too much, and shoots a LOT better than the CZ guys will admit.

Nothing against CZ's, but the Marlin will do what you want quite well for a better price.

and then this,

I've never shot a marlin bolt that would do better than a couple inches at 5 yards. Savages shoot just as well as a CZ though. They just aren't as nice.

, Sacrilege! :banghead:

My gosh, how much can I take in one thread. (In case you missed the grin, I'm kidding.)(Marlin's are fine little rifles, and can be quite accurate.)

 

[ArmedBear]

He asked for a good gun near $150 with iron sights.

That would not be a Kimber, an Anschutz, or a CZ. It's also not one of my favorites, a Marlin 39A, or a Henry Golden Boy, a 77/22, or any other nice .22 that's way over $150.

And as the current owner of three Marlin .22's, I can say with confidence that the statement about a Marlin not hitting anything is complete BS. The bolt guns can surprise people, like my friend who inherited one, went and tried it for kicks, and came back saying, "Man, that thing is really accurate!"

Now I don't know which production guns are the most accurate, other than to say that none of them are shipped ready for serious accuracy competition, regardless. The most accurate .22 bolt guns I've seen had custom barrels, custom triggers, and custom stocks, on blueprinted high-end actions. They'll put every round through the same hole at 50 yards. But they run a few thousand bucks and don't have iron sights.

So, when someone asks about a gun for under $200, I'm sure he's perfectly aware that, with $400, $600, $800 or $1000, he can buy a fancier gun. That ain't what he was asking.

 

[jerkface11]

You're better off with the savage than the marlin. Unless you want an auto loader then it's marlin all the way.

 

[ArmedBear]

In the most recent test of similar guns to the gun in question, Gun Tests just gave the Mark II F in .17M2 an F rating, vs. an A- for the Marlin 917M2. The Marlin outshot the Savage significantly, with every type of ammo they tried.

Don't get me wrong, I'd buy a Savage if I liked it and thought the particular model was a good one at a good price. However, the statements about the little Marlins, as good, inexpensive practice guns, are just BS.

jerkface11 must work for Savage or something.

Gun Tests' favorite by a hair was an NEF Sportster, interestingly enough. They said the break-action single shot was a lot of fun. But that's not what the OP is looking for.

 

[deputy tom]

I've had great results with Marlins and their cheaper line Glenfield rifles.You can still find nice used ones for under $100.00 which is within your limit.Go look them all over and pick one that suits you best.tom.

 

[casio02478]

+1 on the savage, their accu-trigger is excellent.

 

[jerkface11]

I know maybe savage snuck into my house and sabotaged my marlin .22! Or maybe i just pulled every shot so the rifle would look bad. That must be it.

 

[Smitty in CT]

The best NEW "cheap" .22LR bolt out there is the mossberg 802 Bolt-action.

Dick's sporting Goods had them for around $120...

They're fairly accurate and have a decent trigger for a lower priced rifle... either that or look on the used racks...