.22's

[801sureshot]

I currently own both a 10/22 and a Marlin 60. The 60 is by far the more accurate of the two. ATI makes a nice stock for the Marlin that will give ya a more modern feel if thats what yer after. Mine lives under the back seat and regularly slays whistle pigs and assorted vermin.

 

[CraigC]

Somehow I get the feeling that if you're wanting a $500 rifle, a $100 Marlin ain't gonna cut it.

There are some that will say that even a modified Ruger has a hard time matching what a Marlin will do.

Mostly wishful thinking by Marlin shooters who have no idea how accurately a Ruger with a good barrel will shoot.

 

[Onmilo]

While I am not a fanboy and don't own one now, I agree that for $500 you can build a 10/22 into a VERY accurate semi auto shooting rifle.

 

[Usagi]

If you already have a 10/22, and wish to spend $500, you might just be able to put together a rifle that can out-shoot a Marlin 60.


For semi-autos, in the price range given, the Marlin 60 gets my vote.

 

[Holo]

if you want to keep it stock, go with marlin. If you want to tinker with it, go with a 10/22. The aftermarket availability of the 10/22 is endless. The marlin isn't so hot in comparison.

 

[CraigC]

...you might just be able to put together a rifle that can out-shoot a Marlin 60.

I'd love to see proof that any Marlin auto will outshoot a 10/22, with any grade of ammo, with an aftermarket barrel that costs twice what the complete Marlin rifle did. It ain't gonna happen. No matter how much some folks wanna believe it. There is a reason why a premium 10/22 barrel costs $200 and a Marlin costs half that. There's nothing magic about Marlin's barrels. I'm actually very positive on them in general and their .22 autos in particular. My first rifle was a model 60 that I got for Christmas at an early age. They're very good guns for the money but they are of lesser quality than a 10/22 even though they do tend to shoot a little more accurately out of the box.

 

[Novax]

Don't count out the Remington 597. They're better than a 10-22 out of the box as well.

I was wondering when or if someone was gonna mention this one ;-)

 

[pelzer24]

I picked up my 597 for $140 and it out shoots my dads 10-22 by quite a bit. Its cheaper than the 10-22 new. The money you save can go towards ammo. And while it doesn't have nearly as much aftermarket support of the 10-22, it does have most everything you could want. Be it barrels, stocks, trigger components, you name it. Awesome rifle.

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk

 

[wanderinwalker]

Somehow I get the feeling that if you're wanting a $500 rifle, a $100 Marlin ain't gonna cut it.



Mostly wishful thinking by Marlin shooters who have no idea how accurately a Ruger with a good barrel will shoot.

Exactly my thoughts! A $200 Marlin or $220 10/22 (local prices), while good quality, isn't a $500 TC. A 10/22 Target might be on the right track out-of-the-box and could be one for the OP to consider.

If the OP hadn't said he wanted a semi-auto with a $500 limit, but just wanted an accurate .22, I would have gone straight to suggesting something with the name "Anschutz" on the side. But that isn't an option...

 

[Marlin 45 carbine]

I'll ditto Jeff56. I've had 3 10/22's and while they are fine .22's I'll have to give the nod to a Marlin 60 I got in trade for some welding (actualy burning off off a house trailer tongue) I did years back. it had been carryed much, shot little and cleaned none. my current .22LR's were a Winny 74 and an AMT heavy bbl 'small game hunter' (dern good shooting .22lr). so I sold the Marlin to a nephew who is a 'detail freak' and he took it down, cleaned spotless reassembled and tightened all up tight. I polished the trigger parts on my buffing wheel, polished the muzzle crown and back together for him. he added a 4X Burris and sighted it in on a rest. now practices on walnuts at 50 yds standing offhand and very rarely a miss. any man-sized target at 100yds is in deep kim-shueey with the MiniMags he shoots.
I can hold my own with my AMT (3x9 glass) but I have to have a good day to do so. of course 60 yr old eyes account for some of this against 23 yr old.
he had mentioned he was contemplating a SHTF gun and I says 'ain't you already got one?' he bought an S&W 915 as concealable weapon. good choice IMO

 

[QUICK_DRAW_McGRAW]

my Marlin 60 i got a few years back from a friend, it does .25inch groups at 50 yards with cci mini-mags. that was with just a cheap wal-mart tasco 3-9X40 scope and rings. so with the rifle, scope, and rings im into the rifle for under $150.

 

[CraigC]

my Marlin 60 i got a few years back from a friend does .25inch groups at 50 yards with cci mini-mags. that was with just a cheap wal-mart tasco 3-9X40 scope and rings. so with the rifle, scope, and rings im into the rifle for under $150.

Post pics. No once in a lifetime flukes. Let's see five consectuve five-shot groups. It's the only way anybody will believe that a $100 tube-fed rifle that cannot be free-floated, with an el cheapo scope that is set parallax free at 100-150yds, shoots half MOA.

 

[cyber-top]

I would go with the Savage Mark II, I got one at Dick's Sports with the thumbhole stock for $319.00. It will shoot one ragged hole at 50 yards off a bench and sand bag. It did not feed very well at first and the included mags are junk. I had to polish the bolt, replace the factory magazine, and trim the magazine frame on the rifle to let the magazine release put more pressure on the new 10 round mag. After an hour of tinkering the rifle is unbelievable. I put a Leupold VX-II 3x9 on it and the squires won't come within 150 yard of the house.

 

[cyber-top]

I picked up my 597 for $140 and it out shoots my dads 10-22 by quite a bit. Its cheaper than the 10-22 new. The money you save can go towards ammo. And while it doesn't have nearly as much aftermarket support of the 10-22, it does have most everything you could want. Be it barrels, stocks, trigger components, you name it. Awesome rifle.

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Totally agree. I picked one up 10+ years ago and have put at least 10,000 round through it. When I got mine all they had were the junk plastic mags and I actually put it in the closet for a few years until they came out the cast aluminum ones. The new ones brought new life to and old friend. A few years ago I got the Volquartsen Target Hammer and Extractor. Now it shoots almost as good as my Savage Mark II with the Accu-Trigger.

 

[carbine85]

If you just want an accurate semi out of the box its gonna be a Marlin mod 60. If you want an accurate tack driver get the CZ 452 or the Ruger 77/22 MK II V-Bolt, not the screw in barrel.

+1. I have $110.00 into the Model 60 and a $20.00 scope. This thing shoot nats ass and I don't have to worry about it.

 

[mr.trooper]

What's the most accurate .22lr semi-automatic rifle that can be had for under $500? I'm leaning to ar-15 types but maybe a customized ruger 10/22?

Will a savage mkII compete with a cz 452?

Yes.

 

[gdcpony]

If you can find the target model Browning Buckmark, I would jump on it. I loved it for both speed and accuracy. I don't know what they go for now, but I got mine for <$500. It shot 3/8@ 75yds (my range for benching .22's) for me so definitely a plenty accurate little rifle.

It is a much faster gun to use than a 10/22, and I think just as accurate as any target model too.

 

[22-rimfire]

Yeah, a tricked out Ruger 10/22 will out shoot a standard factory Marlin 60 out of the box. Is there any doubt? Frankly, I don't think this is saying a whole lot about a Ruger 10/22 as the customized rifle isn't really a 10/22 any more. Yeah, the receiver still is, so technically it is still a 10/22.

My vote for an accurate out of the box middle grade 22 rifle is the Thompson Center R-55. However, TC has discontinued them this year. Happens with most of the great 22 rifles even though TC had problems with it. I suspect this is the reason they were discontinued. To many returns.... first it was jamming issues (pre R-55 models), then it was chipped chambers...

If you want a 22 tack driver that is close to out of the box, I suggest the CZ 452/453/455 or Savage Mark II's (bolt actions). Savage discontinued the classic version this year with the walnut stock. Shame.... But I have been informed that Cabala's purchased all of the remaining stock of the Classic models. Check there if you want one.

My understanding is that none of the AR styled 22 rifles are highly accurate, but most buy them as fun guns. What's accurate? 0.5" groups at 50 yds.... Sometimes you're lucky to get 1" groups with a stock Ruger 10/22 with medium good ammo.

For the price, the Marlin M60 is the best bang for the buck unless you want to customize it.

 

[QUICK_DRAW_McGRAW]

craig, i don't take pictures of every group i shoot but here is some from the last time i was at the range.

this one was .28 but you get the idea

 

[GLShooter]

That is super. It also shows you are darn good behind that trigger. Kudos!!

Greg

 

[QUICK_DRAW_McGRAW]

thanks, but its all the gun, it makes me look like a sniper when i really only get to the range a few times a year

 

[GLShooter]

I've taught beginning snipers. The rifle is 60% the rest is all on you!!

Greg

 

[sladenotdead]

10/22

It's funny all of the differing opinions on what is 'best'. It's such a subjective term, its hard to take anyone seriously when they say so matter of factly such and such gun is the best. I have a 10/22, and I won't say it's the best but I will say I love it and can get sub 1'' groups at 50 yards with most ammo. I would wager that most of the people who responded on here saying that their gun of choice is the best only have that gun, and haven't really done comparisons other than reading. That's just my .02, get whatever works for your budget, whichever the choice I'm sure you'll love it as long as you take care of it and take the time to practice with it and get good.

 

[CowboyTim]

I own both a 10/22 and a cz 452. The 10/22 isn't even close to the cz. Grew up shooting a Marlin model 80 with a Lyman peep made somewhere between '36-'38, that IS in the same class as the cz, extremely accurate rifle. Don't know much about the new Marlins though.

 

[chrome_austex]

Yeah, its not like we're chatting up guns on a sports car forum here

I just picked up a CZ 452 FS in 22lr. Its cost as much as the .308 Remington 700 I just sold, but it will be nice to have a gun I don't have to reload for anymore.

I just hope its at least as accurate as the Walther G22 bullpup 22 semi-auto I had. That one nearly got me an appleseed rifleman patch my first solid day shooting in 10 years. Granted, I was a competition smallbore shooter before that... (appleseeds are good practice!). That gun would shoot waaayyy left when the bore was cold, but shot pretty well once it was warmed up (with it's pet favorite ammo, Remington Target). I might not recommend that one for a hunting gun if the 1st cold shot thing is common for the breed.

The factory test group that came in the box isn't very impressive, probably 2moa or 1" at 50m. The salesman at the gun store told me that factory test groups don't mean anything... I can believe him, right? ;P