American-made rifles in .22 long rifle?

[brontodon]

I'm looking for a .22 caliber rifle for casual target shooting. I like the classic look of walnut and blued steel. I'll consider bolt or lever action and semiautomatic, although I'm leaning towards bolt right now. I'd like it to be precise and accurate, of course, but as I said, it's for casual and fun use, not competition, so I don't want something on which I have to do lots of aftermarket modifications. I want it to look a lot like this:

And finally, I'd like it to be American-made. (I'm not crazy about the looks of the Henry models, although I'll consider them if I go lever action.) The photo is of a Browning, and I don't think it's made in the U.S. Can anyone give me some recommendations? Thanks!

 

[rabid wombat]

Look for older Winchester 52’s or Remington 40’s….

 

[Jim Watson]

Current production Ruger, Marlin, and Savage seem OK. Not real refined vs the CZ and Tikka, but serviceable.

As said, you could track down a used true target rifle. Bullseye shooters are aging out, dying off, or losing interest and their high quality rifles are available.

 

[BobABQ]

You would have to source your own stock but how about a Vudoo barreled action? It fits in a Remington 700 stock. I know this to be a fact since I actually placed my Vudoo single shot barreled action into a synthetic Remington 700 BDL stock. You can always source a BDL or ADL wood stock on some of the big auction websites.

 

[Picher]

I have a Winchester 69A, bolt action with detachable magazines that shoots well. It has a receiver sight and higher front sight than factory. It shoots very nice and I paid under $200 for it at a gun show, about 15 years ago or more. The stock may have been refinished, but done very well, if so.

 

[Mercy Me]

I was going to suggest the savage Mk. II also even though it is canadian.

 

[Mercy Me]

Can't believe nobody advised Ruger 77/22

 

[mgmorden]

Can't believe nobody advised Ruger 77/22

Pretty sure that's only in .22 Hornet, not .22 LR.

 

[rabid wombat]

or look at some old Mossbergs….

 

[MrBorland]

Can't believe nobody advised Ruger 77/22

And maybe the Marlin XT...

A budget wasn't mentioned, but if you want "pretty" and "classic", look into Cooper's Jackson Squirrel Rifle. And does Kimber still make a rimfire bolt rifle? I recall they were nice looking too. I also recall something about Dakota making a rimfire rifle, but even if you could find one, you could likely buy a couple Vudoos instead

 

[tubeshooter]

It truly saddens me to see how hard this simple question is to answer nowadays for a current production rifle.

And I haven't even been shooting all that long, compared to some.

 

[.45Coltguy]

Pretty sure that's only in .22 Hornet, not .22 LR.

You're correct. Had to look that one up. I'll be....

 

[Jim Watson]

Looks like the Ruger .22 LR bolt action is now the American.

 

[chicharrones]

It truly saddens me to see how hard this simple question is to answer nowadays for a current production rifle.

And I haven't even been shooting all that long, compared to some.

Indeed. All the current production .22 bolt guns I covet are made overseas.

Although, if stainless steel is up for consideration, I think the currently available Ruger American Rimfire TALO Edition could be a solid choice.

 

[jmr40]

The Ruger 10-22 Sporter is the only thing USA made currently in production that I can think of with walnut. Accuracy is hit or miss. Some will be 1/2" guns at 50 yards, others 1 1/2" guns.

Ruger® 10/22® Sporter Autoloading Rifle Model 1102

ruger.com

Not USA made but it sounds like the CZ 457 American meets every other requirement. These tend to be tack drivers. I had an older 452 American that shot very well. I'm not married to walnut though. My Tikka T1 was more accurate and I just liked it better so I sold the CZ.

CZ 457 American - CZ-USA

Styled for the American shooter, this model has a high, flat comb and is meant to be scoped.

cz-usa.com

Another option is to buy used. The Ruger 77-22 is no longer made. Nice looking rifles, but no more accurate than a 10-22. If you can find a Winchester 94-22 lever action those tend to be very accurate. But they haven't been made since the 1980's and most are in the 4 figure price range.

 

[Hookeye]

Not been impressed w 9422 stuff.

 

[.45Coltguy]

Not been impressed w 9422 stuff.

Wow. You must have shot a lemon 9422. Everyone makes an oinker once and a while.

 

[DMW1116]

If you want a treasure hunt, you can dig around and find an older Marlin bolt action or Model 60, or any number of older guns. If you want new, the Ruger American Rimfire, 10/22, Precision Rimfire, and the Henrys are the only option I know of off hand. I am currently very enamored my Henry H001, but they have several other upgraded models. Mine is quite accurate, as is my 10/22, though the Henry is far less picky.

 

[3Crows]

The Ruger 1022 can be made into anything you want it to be from a superbly accurate taget rifle to a squirrel buster and plinker and in between. The Savage rifles are all accurate, some annoyingly so to some people and Canada is sort of American is it not? The Marlin 39A is out there and it is a superb rifle as is the 9422. The Henry is a Zamak zinc alloy low temperature pressure cast rifle, I would not own one until they find a way to make it from actual brass or at least an aluminum billet forging. The only endearing quality of Zamak is that it is ever so cheap and nothing else in it's favor.

 

[d2wing]

If you want to look at Vintage rifles, there are many options in wood stocked rimfire target rifles. I own a Remington 540XR. Also look at a Winchester 52, Remington model 40X, Mossberg 44 and 144, Kimber 82, and several other models. Savage has a few decent wood stocked rifles as well. The EZ button is to buy a CZ in new but that is outside your criteria. You might want to look at for sale ads on rimfire forums.

 

[Bwana John]

Pretty sure that's only in .22 Hornet, not .22 LR.

You're correct. Had to look that one up. I'll be....

Can't believe nobody advised Ruger 77/22

That is not correct.

They are no longer produced but the Ruger 77/22 was offered in 22 Long Rifle, 22 WMR, 17HMR, 17WSM, 22 Hornet, 17 Hornet and possibly others. Earlier rimfires were available in slip fit barrels that could be change calibers easily,
The Ruger 77/357 and 77/44 are also basically the same thing.

They are all handsome rifles that esthetically would satisfy the OP.

They are getting expensive.

They usually take a little to a lot extra to make them a precision rifle, but as a hunting plinking rifle most are more than accurate enough for most casual users.

 

[earlthegoat2]

The easy answer is to go older out of production.

Find an old Kimber 82, or either a Winchester Model 52 or 75 in Sporter configuration.

 

[Ohen Cepel]

There is also Cooper if you are wanting something more refined and $$.

 

[nettlle]

The days of the high quality American made bolt action 22LR rifles have passed. In the early/mid 80's Kimber of Klackamas Oregon offered them, also Cooper Firearms, and Ruger came out with the Model 77/22 back then. The first year Ruger introduced the Model 77/22 I went to gun show to buy one. When I found a 77/22 there was a Kimber Model 82 on the table next to it. The Kimber was $75.00 more than the 77/22, had nicer bluing, better wood, a checkered metal butt plate, and a metal grip cap. Coopers were running about $400.00 more than the Kimber. Not a hard decision on the Kimber. People simply would not pony up the money for high quality 22 LR bolt action rifles back then and they quit making them. I still have the Kimber. One of the nicest rifles that I own. If I were to look for a high quality 22 LR bolt action replacement comparable to the Kimber it would be a CZ. I have some CZ pistols and CZ makes some very high quality guns.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

New? Canadian, but Savage Mk2.