.22LR Rifle or Carbine Recommendations

[TheFrontRange]

One of my next firearm purchases really needs to be a .22LR of some shape, sort, or variety. I may be one of the few shooters in the Free World who does not currently own one!

I've long been interested in a Ruger 10/22, having fond memories of various 10/22s owned by friends. I would most likely opt for a very basic walnut / blue model. I'm also willing to consider a tube-magazine long gun on the order of Marlin Model 60. Additionally, I'm pondering a Ciener .22LR conversion kit for my AR.

This gun would be an all-around plinker, trainer for my family, stress-reliever, and would just fill an important gap in the battery. I'd welcome any input or recommendations...thank you!

 

[dracphelan]

I love my Marlin 60. It is a recent purchase and shows Marlin is still making quality firearms.

 

[TNT]

The 10/22 is one of the best all around fun guns there are. Leave it stock and you'll have a good plinking/hunting rifle that will serve you well. I highly recommend the blued DSP wich has the better WALNUT stock.

 

[ugaarguy]

I love my Marlin Model 60 - first gun my parents got me and it's still runnin strong. On the other hand 10/22s are lots of fun, as are lever action 22s like the old Marlin 37A and the new Henrys.

 

[rangerruck]

you can get a great mod 60 in a pawn shop, almost anywhere for about 70 dollars, mine was 75 with tax. it will be more reliable than a ruger dreams of being, and more accurate, than a 100 dollar rifle has a right to be.
here is mine and a couple of 100 yds groups.

 

[Dave Markowitz]

I like the 10/22 better than the Marlin, having owned both. I've found the Ruger to be more reliable and doesn't require detailed cleaning as often.

10/22s tend to come with lawyer-proof triggers, so I do recommend installing a Power Custom hammer to get a better pull. It made a huge difference on my otherwise stock rifle.

 

[skeeter1]

.22 rifle, everyone needs one

I have a Marlin 39 that I've had for many years, and I like it alot, but they're getting rather pricey.

Last week I went out to my friend's farm and shot his Ruger 10/22, and it seemed well-made and great fun to shoot.

I've never tried a Marlin 60, but I've heard good things about them.

 

[DWARREN123]

Marlin 60, or 39, Ruger 10/22 and my personnal favorite is the CZ American or Lux. Can not go wrong with an accurate .22lr.
Check out WWW.RIMFIRECENTRAL.COM

 

[AStone]

I'll side with Dwarren re the CZ 452. Mine is a "style" instead of Lux or American, but that's about minor details. In my case, I wanted a synth stock & stainless barrel, but those are irrelevant to the way it shoots, which is excellent. It handles very well, and puts up very nice groups if I do my part.

If you search Rifle Country for CZ 452, you'll find much praise for it, and very few who have anything bad to say about them.

IMO, anyone looking for a fine 22LR should at least take a close look at them.

Nem

 

[Coronach]

Got EBR?

.22 upper for an AR is a fun, fun, fun toy ... and a valuable training aid to boot.

Mike

 

[kahr404life]

Get a Ruger 10/22 you will not be sorry. There are all types of attachments for them (if you want them) and you can get highcap mags. I also owned a Marlin 60 and it was a good gun but I sold it (I would never sell my 10/22).

 

[_N4Z_]

*

I would recommend either the Marlin 60 if you want a semi, or the 925 in bolt.

Both are top notch in my book, accurate and very reliable. I've never used a 10/22 so no opinion.

I would avoid the Remington 597 (even the new "fixed" model) as it can be a jamming, pain in the arse. Had one and sold it within a month, which wasn't soon enuff.

 

[Tom C.]

Recommendations for your consideration in your hunt for a .22:
Bolt: CZ452. Accurate and inexpensive.
Lever: Marlin 39, either A with 24" barrel or M with 20" barrel. Available for around $300 used. I have both. I am currently favoring the straight stock 39M.
Auto: Ruger 10/22. If you want a really accurate 10/22, just get the cheapest one you can find from Walley World and put in a heavy aftermarket barrel, trigger and Hogue stock. Then scope of your choice. Mine is an inexpensive Weaver 2x7 rimfire scope.

 

[Radjxf]

Having had numerous 22's, I still have my Marlin 60. I've found the 10/22's just a base gun for an expensive build up IMO. Out of the box the Marlins are almost always more accurate. Another oldie but goodie is the Remington Nylon 66 if you can find a good example.

 

[foghornl]

I have both an OLD Marlin 99 (OLD one that holds 17 {GASP! An Eeeeevil assault weapon} .22LR rounds in the tube mag) and a 40th Year 10/22.

I am very hard pressed to pick a favorite of those 2.

Both are good shooter/plinker/stress reliever/trainer rifles.

 

[Onmilo]

I shoot a Winchester Model 63 semi auto.
They aren't cheap but if you only want, or need, one good .22 rifle, and if you can come up with, and are willing to spend, $400-$600 for a .22, you won't really see a need for any other .22 rifle.

 

[DMK]

Additionally, I'm pondering a Ciener .22LR conversion kit for my AR.

I have a lot of twenty twos. I've got a Marlin 60, a Marlin 39A, a CZ, and a host of surplus trainers. I l love them all. However, I shoot my AR with the Ciener conversion more than any of them. I love the Ciener kit. I use an old style 1/12 twist non-chrome lined M16 barrel with mine (got it on the AR-15.com Equipment Exchange). The light weight balances nice and the slow twist allows it to shoot very accurately.

If you have a C&R, you can get the Ciener conversion and mags from www.brownells.com for a discounted price.

 

[22-rimfire]

I think you can't go wrong with the walnut stocked Ruger 10/22 if you do not intend to customize it. They are great plinkers and good for small game hunting. Put a good scope on it.

The Marlin 39A or Browning BL22 are hard to beat for lever action 22.

For a bolt action, I like the CZ's for out of the box accuracy, but don't care much for their stiff action. My favorite is a Remington 541S or 541T which are excellent 22 rifles. Remington makes the Model 504 now. If price is not a huge concern, look at Coopers and Kimbers. I still have not found the $$ for one of those, but keep looking at them.

For used guns, Mossberg made a lot of different 22 models that had a reputation of being very accurate. My first 22RF was a Mossberg semi-auto carbine. Loved that rifle. It is a tack driver. Still have it, but it doesn't get shot much any more.

 

[Lonestar.45]

My vote is for the Marlin 60. I bought mine new in 1983 and it's stil going strong, and still shoots quarter sized groups at 25 yds easily.

 

[kymarkh]

Ruger 10/22 T

I like magazine fed rifles better than tube fed ones - easier to switch ammo, etc. Bought a Ruger 10/22T - their target model with heavy barrel and laminated stock - and am extremely happy with it. Trigger is pretty good from the factory. Mount a decent 3X9 or better scope on it and you're set for just about anything you would want or need to do with a .22 rifle.

The other 10/22 that I really like is the Deluxe Sporter model. Nice rifle.

My 2 cents.

 

[TheFrontRange]

Thanks to all for the input...lots to think about here!!!!

 

[eastwa]

Pawn shop 10/22, bolt on parts (ie after market heavy barrel and stock) and a good scope...

Try this link , http://rimfirecentral.com/forums/

 

[MrTwigg]

I gave my boy a Marlin 60 for his birthday this year but I find myself borrowing it often. I put a Bushnell 3x-9X 40mm scope on it and it's deadly out to 100yds.

I also have a TOZ-78-01 bolt action .22 verrrry accurate with a trigger adjustable for creep and pull weight with the same scope. They make a semiauto, the TOZ-99 and if it has the same trigger I'd buy one in a heartbeat. The only downside to the TOZ's would be the plastic mag's.

 

[Nhsport]

No worrys, you can't hardly go wrong.Any one .22 will not do everything so you are going to need several eventually. The ones I shoot most are my Anshutz target gun and my Ceiner with my Ruger 10/22T comeing in third. But thats me,you could go a different way. Lately I have set up a AR with the Ceiner with similar trigger,weight and sights as my Rock River NM Service Rifle. I need the practise and even XM193 ball ammo is kind of expensive these days and my ceiner with wolf match target shoots almost as good as ball ammo. The wolf is $2.50 a box of 50 and the xm193 is $5+ for 20
The true answer to all these "what should I buy" questions is that you need to identify what type of shooting you intend to do and then try to fill that need. A guy who wants to blast a line of tin cans at 50 feet is going to get bored with a CZ bolt gun even though it is a fine gun. The gent wishing to pop crows at 100 yards isn't going to be happy with the basic 10/22.