.22LR target rifle

[scdavis0]

Alright, I'm making my first rifle purchase. Based on my research, I've decided that a rifle chambered for .22LR would be the best choice. I'd like to be an excellent marksman with a rifle, and I could cheaply shoot a lot of .22LR to achieve this.

That being said, the .22LR will not be used for hunting much at all. I'm a university student in an urban downtown environment, and the opportunity to go squirreling does not often present itself. I'm looking for something in the $400-600 range without scope (of course less is better). I'd also like the rifle to be bolt action for increased accuracy and because the larger caliber sniper rifles that I would like to one day purchase are also bolt action. I'm strongly considering the CZ 452 Varmint, which is basically the CZ 452 American with a heavy barrel (which seems to be a benefical target rifle feature) and no open sites (I will be using a scope). What other rifles would you recommend? Any general advice that you could provide?

 

[firestar]

Those CZs are going to tough to beat! They are 1st class all the way and have accuracy to spare. I got a good deal on a CZ 452 Lux Standard, paid $197 OTD and it has been great.

For something different try to find a BSA International MKII. I hear they are super accurate.

 

[cratz2]

I think if you're wanting a nice bolt rifle, and you want something new, not like the Government trainers through the CMP a while back:

The CZ is the value leader, either American or Varmint.
The Remington 541T is nice at right around $550-$600.
You might be able to get a slightly used Kimber for $600.

 

[WalkerTexasRanger]

I absolutly love my Remington 541T-HB. One can be had in your $$ range. Mine will shoot 1/2 inch 10 shot groups at 50 yards when I am feeling well. It is easy to get trigger and stock work done on these also. Really is the cats ***.....

Good shooting!!!

 

[diyj98]

I have a CZ 452 Varmint that's a tack driver. It will shoot with my Anschutz. For the money you can't beat the CZ's. If I didn't mind going up in price, I'd take a look at an Anschutz or Sako.

 

[rick_reno]

quote "I'd like to be an excellent marksman with a rifle, and I could cheaply shoot a lot of .22LR to achieve this."

Good 22 ammo can be quite expensive. Eley target ammo runs $8 to $10 a box. You can get the fundamentals of shooting down without spending large sums of money on good ammo - but to squeeze the best out of rifles like an Anschutz you'll need good ammo.

 

[cratz2]

True... the best you can usually manage with $2/box ammo once you find the best load is maybe .3" or .4" at 50 yards. To get down to the .1" or .2" at 50 yards, you usually have to pop for the big bucks!

Just kiddin' with ya rick. But sometimes it does surpise me how good cheap ammo can be. Friend of mine used to use the $4/50 Federal Target ammo, forget the exact name but it was around $4 a box, tried a bunch of different standard velocity stuff and found the $5/100 CCI Target and the $4/100 CCI Standard Velocity round nose worked very well in his 541T.

Also, my local shop owner swears up and down that some rifles prefer the Eley Practice and Club as much as or even better than the Tenex.

Also, Lapua makes a few semi-budget loads that are worth checking out once you make a decision on the rifle.

 

[rick_reno]

22 target rifle

I've tested Eley, Wolf, Lapua, Federal, RWS and Aguila in my Pardini pistol, which I shoot in competition. I couldn't detect any difference in Eley or Aguila from a rest - other than the $5 a box price tag so I shoot Aguila. It costs about $1.10 a box in case lots. We tried some on the rifle team (Anschutz and Win M52's) and it didn't pan out in the rifles but in European (Italian, Swiss and Russian) pistols it's great. In High Standard Victors I found it'd generate failure to feed unless the top round in the magazine had a couple of drops of 3-in-1 oil on it. The rifle team decided to stick with their Eley. Aguila uses the Eley priming system - Eley licensed it to them a few years ago - and supposedly the secret in consistent 22 ammo is the priming. I won't even begin to describe the crap we've seen in Federal 22 ammo in the last couple of years. Wolf wouldn't cycle some of the semi-auto pistols being used; at 1033 fps it's just too light. It shoots very nice too with a very gentle recoil.
Best thing SCDavis0 can do is buy a few boxes of each and see what his rifle likes - and then stick with what he can afford. There are a couple of places on the net that will sell small lots of 22 ammo.
A rifle I don't think anyone mentioned is the Ruger M77/22. I've seen a couple of these that shot incredibly good groups - but my advice is don't buy one without trying it out. I've seen others that couldn't shoot worth a damn. The CZ's/Anschutz are the way to go these days.

 

[Soap]

I'm partial to the Kimber .22 series. The Hunter model can be had at Galyans for around $650 or so. Mine came with a test target that measured .3333", five shots, 50 yards. Good 'nuff for me!

 

[P95Carry]

Shot compo in 80's and cos of that am gonna suggest looking for the rifle type i used.

BSA MKII (Martini action) ...... Oh how I regret chopping it in for another gun!! It had Parker Hale target sights ... masses of inserts for foresight ... butt hook ... hand stop .. the whole enchelada. Heavy barrel too BTW.

If you can find one of these ... it'd serve well IMO - in fact ... if i can I intend to find another even tho my compo days are over.