A quality sportster style .22LR semi-auto that is not Ruger/Marlin/Winchester/Savage?

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The only semiauto 22 that I have that is nicer than my Brownings is the Weatherby XXII.
 
Mossberg 715? Not Ruger, Remington, Marlin or Savage.

Or, if you like something a little older and a bit more esoteric (heck, I own one and don't know all that much about it - others on this forum are more informed I'm sure), maybe a Mossberg 151 K or MB)? The MB's I've seen (including mine) have Mannlicher stocks. As far as I know, the 151's are rear tube feed (the tube runs from the receiver out the back of the stock). One with peep sights would be pretty cool.
 
My old Rem 597 was ok, had an out of battery once, the mag came apart but it all still worked, until I dropped it and broke the receiver. But that was my fault lol
 
The Ruger 10/22 is such a great platform because, like an AR, you can replace almost every part of it to built a weapon to your specifications.

Great platform I suppose. But why on earth would a person buy a rifle then replace every part of it? Send me the parts you won't be using instead of throwing them in a drawer OK? :) Why not buy a Volquartsen right off the bat and avoid throwing away perfectly good parts?

Oh I know it's a Remington but the 40X was as good as they get. And there are Suhl .22's that are mighty good. Wow this could be a long list with no more to go on than the OP mentioned. How about Cooper? Kimber? Heck this list could go on all night. You'll have to be more specific. Henry? Bolt? Semi-auto? Pump? Break down? Old? New?

You eliminated a whole bunch of good rifles with your exceptions but you don't say why you don't want those. Give us a hint? Want something better? Anschutz 54 series.
 
He wants a quality semi auto .22 sporter.

I guess I missed him saying that Odd Job. IMO he should get a Volquartsen. The only other choice I would suggest for a true quality rimfire semi-auto would be a Thompson Center but of course they are out of production unless you count the S&W imitation of one. It won't be cheap but for a semi-auto rimfire rifle already built to high specs they are hard to beat. Or he could build his own 10/22 based rifle. There just aren't that many choices out there. Yes I know these are Rugers and Ruger based rifles. He might still find a T/C out there somewhere but there's the problem of finding parts if you need them. Personally I have zero problems with Marlin semi-auto rimfires. I have one that is very accurate, very nice looking and reliable as they come. It's a 60SS. But if you want the best semi-auto rimfire around this is probably it.

https://www.volquartsen.com/tags/8-volquartsen-rimfire-rifles,15-complete-firearms,16-22-lr

684-deluxe-with-od-green-hogue.jpg
 
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You took out a lot of contenders so what is left is a custom made everything by Tony Kidd.
ttp://www.coolguyguns.com/
 
Browning SA-22. A classic. Maybe the prettiest .22 rifle ever made.
Thanks again, JMB.

Pete
 
Check out the Browning Buckmark rifle. It uses the same magazines and the buckmark pistol. Some local shooters like them for steel challenge games.

THIS!!!! I used to shoot my friend's buckmark rifle a lot. They are fantastic rimfire rifles, very accurate, and you would get interchangeable mags with your pistol. Major win.
 
Browning vote. Spousal unit has always wanted one and I would not mind one (though I would be just as happy with a Norinco Clone)

Have you looked at some of the old Savage model 6 series based guns? I know the main feature folks liked was the ability to shoot .22short ( but most places no longer carry shorts), Long ( most folks don't even know Long existed) and Long rifle and that is not as useful these days as it was pre 1970 but they are neat rifles.

I have to agree with the poor triggers and accuracy out of the box on 10/22s BUT they are not that hard to work on your self. I am quite happy with my trigger of a hair under 3 pounds now, though folks estimate it lower because it is smooth. It cost me some time (waiting on kids at karate lessons and riding sessions) and the use of some files and stones. Finding the sweet spot to put a pressure pad betwixt barrel and stock can do a good bit to help accuracy and either or bedding or pedestal mounting can do wonders for accuracy.

Lots of 10/22 mechanics out there, both shade tree and professional and parts out the wazoo.

Yes owning a 10/22 can cause one to be like a red neck with a Camero and a can of bondo ..... in fact some of what folks do to 10/22s involves bondo..... but it can be fun to tinker with.

Check out the price of a 10/22 and then look at the cost of some of the fancier stuff out there. You can get drop in trigger parts that you can install without the risks of my DIY trigger job for around $70s that will make your 10/22 trigger as good as any out there or send off a barrel to be set back and rechambered for about $100 to give you a near match quality barrel.

If you just want to buy a rifle and have it be super duper from the git go then the 10/22 is not for you......but if you like to tinker......

-kBob
 
On the older Savage semi-autos; I own a Model 7 and reliable vs modern rifles it is not. There are a number of configurations that do not interchange parts, its bolt must be bone dry to function and the list goes on. While they were a quality, affordable, stylish rifle back when, most have had 60+ years of mileage since new.
 
I have a bunch of 22 rifles of a all kinds including Rugers, Marlins, older Remingtons, Mossbergs, etc etc.

I love them all but one of the best bangs for the buck for an accurate out of the box semi auto is the Remington Heavy Barrel 597 going for around $200. Throw a Nikon Pro-Staff rimfire scope on it, some Burris low Zee rings and you have a tack driving, fun to shoot, adult sized rimfire for around $350-400. It puts all my 10/22 builds to shame.
 
So you're looking for a semi-auto that's a little more exotic than the standard fare? OK, let's have some fun ...

Franchi Centennial:

72b723ef99e7b716f982b2762f149cb0.jpg


Nice rifle -- only made for one year: 1968. It's a takedown that feeds through the stock like a Browning SA.

Seriously, for your desired purpose I'd get a Marlin 795, replace the plastic stock with a Boyd's laminate and the plastic trigger guard with an aluminum one from Rimfire Technologies and be happy as a clam for under $300. This is the stock I'd get (in fact, I already did!):

http://www.boydsgunstocks.com/product.htm?pid=103249&cat=1215

Or if you want more of a sporter contour, this one:

http://www.boydsgunstocks.com/product.htm?pid=12700&cat=1216

If your taste runs to something classier, CZ or Browning. Just my $.02.
 
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Brownings SA 22 is one of the most beautifull rifles ever imho, and i love mine, but I wouldn't use it for novice shooters because of the magazine layout and the loading proces.

For novice shooters i want a removable magazine and an easy way to start with 1 round in the magazine, then 2 rounds, just for safety,
I also want to be able to quickly unload if necesary.

In our parts, the Erma Werke 22 lr copy of the m1 carbine is very popular, fits the bil and has good open sights and it looks like a classic to.

have a great day

Peter
 
Howzabout this one, it fits the exotic part for certain.

Beretta NEOS Carbine,,,

140102-NEOS_CasedSet-LR.jpg

For years I thought I had wasted a lot of money,,,
I couldn't hit squat with that carbine.

Then I found it was a bad red dot optic.

I bought an El-Cheapo scope from Cabela's,,,
Now it's a lean & sexy tin can killer.

Aarond

.
 
There are also the BRNO 580 / CZ 511 semi-autos. IME, like the CZ bolt actions, they are high quality and fun to shoot. You'd probably need to keep your eye on the auction sites for a month or two for a good one. Spare magazines aren't cheap, so if you insist on having a spare, keep that in mind.
 
If you're looking for something different, try a Magnum Research Picuda (if you can find one) or Ruger Charger (with obligatory Kidd barrel, of course), and the PFI Rapid Reticle at www.rapidreticle.com
 
I'd go Browning SA-22

The CZ doesn't always have the greatest trigger.

Krico and Anschutz make great .22lrs but you do pay for the quality.
 
Fella's;

I had the Beretta NEOS at one time. There were consistent issues with the last round in the magazine. Bought other O.E.M. mags to see if there had just been a glitch with the one's issued with the pistol, but to no avail. Pity, it was a nice gun and the easiest to clean .22 semi-auto .22lr pistol I've ever run across, but it's gone now. Got a SIG 1911-22 to replace it & I'm now a happy camper.

The CZ's can have a trigger that's less than optimum, but the fixes are so well-known and easy, it's no reason to shy away from the brand. The issue is more one of perception by the new owner than anything else. The guns can be spectacularly accurate, and a great many shooters purchase them for that reason. The trigger then gets modified to match quality in order to take advantage of the accuracy potential. I haven't, of course, tested all CZ triggers against all Ruger 10/22 triggers, but the feedback I have from personal use and internet discussion leads me to believe that the CZ stock trigger, even at it's worst, out-performs the Ruger 10/22 stock trigger by a fairly wide margin. Mountains out of molehills, a non-issue in the real world.

900F
 
Fella's;

I had the Beretta NEOS at one time. There were consistent issues with the last round in the magazine. Bought other O.E.M. mags to see if there had just been a glitch with the one's issued with the pistol, but to no avail.

Bummer. Even though I don't like all the things about my Neos, the one thing it has always done is feed very well from all 4 mags I have for it.
 
I think the only thing harder to find than a Franchi (in this thread) is that Neos Carbine mentioned by toivo.

Fixed it for you, chicharrones. :D

My personal CZ and the one other example I've fired both had far superior trigger feel compared to any Ruger 10/22 factory offering. The CZ was more than tolerable though a few minutes of work (and zero money spent) made it one of the best I own. Count me a fan? CZech!

My Neos stumbled out of the box on feeding as well but in my case was correctable with ramp work. The stock trigger; that was a beast possessed by a demon who was haunted by a specter. Luckily mine was a first Gen. making it easier to correct. Still hunting down that elusive Carbine Kit.
 
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