22lr bolt action - what to get?

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Paradiddle

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I've decided I want a .22LR bolt gun so I can pretend I'm Bob Lee Swagger on a budget.

I want a good rifle that shoots well, but I don't want to spend more then $350ish.

Here is what I see out there:

Remington Model 5
CZ 452 (everyone seems to love this one)
Marlin 981T (like the tube mag)
Marlin 925
Savage Mark II FVT - love the peep sights

Did Winchester make a Model 70 type in 22lr that I could find used?

What else is out there?

Thanks,

Jeff
 
Try a Marlin 980V used, its a good little gun, or most Savage heavy barrel .22 bolt guns. Also have a Remington 597 I dropped a stainless Jarvis target barrel and channeled the factory furniture. The Marlin and Rem will both shoot dime sized at 50 yards, and thats for a guy who only shoots long guns once or twice a year. Clamp a Harris on their and steady that sucker up when you get a good rifle.

Depending on the optics the Marlin is do-able with the bipod. If you're going to re-barrel a Remington Semi it will cost you a bit more. The barrel was worth it though.
 
Used Ruger 77/22. The new ones go for $690. Rediculous, if you ask me
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Where do you see that price?? If your Wally world still has guns (not sure if all of em have stoped selling them) they were like $350 or $400. AZhunter
 
Used Ruger 77/22. The new ones go for $690. Rediculous, if you ask me...

Not really interested in supporting Ruger - plus I have a 10/22 so I want something a little different.
 
Paradiddle said:
.....I love the peep sights......Did Winchester make a Model 70 type in 22lr that I could find used?
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The closest thing Winchester made to 22 caliber model 70 was the Model 52 Sporter. Finding one for $350 would be like buying an original Shelby Cobra for $1K. Original 52 Sporters (if you can find one) are around $3000-$4500. Limited reproduction Winchester and Browning 52's go for about $700 and up.

Img_3375.gif l
 
That is a beautiful rifle - my god...

I'd like a Cobra as well for 1K ;)

How is the Win Model 75? See some of those on Gunbroker for $500+
 
I've decided I want a .22LR bolt gun so I can pretend I'm Bob Lee Swagger on a budget.

I want a good rifle that shoots well, but I don't want to spend more then $350ish.

Here is what I see out there:

Remington Model 5
CZ 452 (everyone seems to love this one)
Marlin 981T (like the tube mag)
Marlin 925
Savage Mark II FVT - love the peep sights
Click to expand...

Of those you have listed I own a 452 Special and a Marlin 925. The 452 Special (later called Trainer) was $189 at the time and is easily the best gun bargain I have ever come across! Check out the boards on rimfirecentral.com

Anyway the accuracy of this 452 greatly exceeded my expectations shooting some ammo better than a $675 Sako I once owned. The only downside is a somewhat creepy trigger , but that is something that can be vastly improved without great expense.

The 925 for the money , $149 at the time , is a nice shooting rifle. I installed the barreled action in a laminated stock and it made a dramatic improvement in the looks of the rifle. It's trigger , while not very creepy is quite stiff. I am going to replace the trigger or work on it myself later.

The CZs magazine fits into the rifle much nicer than the Marlin's. The Marlin's mag hangs out too much and is an aesthetic eyesore. The quality of CZ's mag is much better than the Marlin.

And the bottom line thus far is the CZ just flat out shoots better for me. Not that the Marlin is bad but the CZ is so exceptional.

The closest thing Winchester made to 22 caliber model 70 was the Model 52 Sporter.
Click to expand...

The 52 , at least to me , is one of the all-time great classic rifles! And that is a beautiful example pictured above!
 
AZhunter, I used the MSRP off of Ruger's website... but I don't think that the retail would be $300 dollars less than the suggested price. More like $150 off.
 
TOZ

I picked up a TOZ about a month ago at a local gun show -- it's really good. I paid $179 for it which might be a bit high, but I'll make up for it by what I save using .22s. It really impressed me right out of the box. SOG also carries a semi-automatic version for about $189, so that might be something I'll look at a bit later. Highly recommended.

Mick
 
Anyone know of California shops that might carry the Toz? Their list of distributors appear to all be on-line.
 
Scuttle butt is that Winchester bought the TOZ rights and is just going to put a nicer stock on it, clean it up some and raise the price. Good little rifles though. If you are looking in the $350-ish range, there are lots of options. If you want a target rifle the CMP has H&R M12's listed at $225, less sights and swivels. For the remainder of your monies you could put pretty good sights on it. If you want new, look at CZ, the TOZ line, and definatley look at Savage, they have the best bang for the buck and are quite accurate. If you can squeeze a little more money, try and dig up an Izhmash Biathlon Basic and give them a look. I'm saving for one now, though it may turn into a CM-2 instead.

Your best bet though, like mine, may be to watch the pawn shops. I've bought 6 .22 rifles in the last 2 months and the most I paid for any of them was $125 for a 1935 vintage Remington 24. Last week I got a Marlin 81 DL with the original factory peep sight for $35. Before that I got a very minty Mossberg 346KA for $75. There's a Remington 581 local for like $260 I'm hankering for. Watch the shops, watch the classifieds.
 
What is SOG? I was looking for a ToZ, then Classic arms ran out.

Thanks in advance.

BTW, the marlin 980S is a nice little shooter. My daughters is a blast, and with the 22" barrel, it's pretty darn accurate. Slightly cheesy front site would be my only gripe.
 
the cz will be the most pretty , and the most accurate. a real lifetime rifle. The most fun, and the second most accurate, will be the 981t, or any 80 or 81 model you find used. they have been made continuously for 70 years now. the tube will fire short, long,and long rifle, and will hold 25 shorts at one time!!!
did you hear that??? you can empty a box of ammo, in two loadings!!!! So awesome! I have 4 cz's and three marlins, and couldn't part with any of them.
 
Get a used Winchester model 69A. You could probably find one for $350 or so if you look around. They are sweet little rifles and in their day had a reputation for accuracy well beyond their price tag.

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.22 bolt gun.

+1 for the CZ. Go with the 452 if you're left handed, it's the only choice from CZ. But if you're a righty then the 453 is hands down the best rifle. The set trigger is really that good.
 
CZ453 is best rifle comparable to Anschutz, for a lot less money. Get it and don't look back.
 
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