Best .22 for $250 & Under

[bmars]

My dad wants my boys to each get their first firearms from him for Christmas this year. Our family has a tradition of handing down firearms. Dad's pretty sick, so it means a lot to him this year.

What is the "nicest" or "best" .22 or rifle for $250 or under? No preference on bolt action or semi-auto. He'd just like them to each have something as good as his budget will permit.

For that matter, he'd be fine gettin them a .410 or 28 gauge in that same price range.

Any suggestions would sure be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

[CmpsdNoMore]

I'm not the know it all when it comes to .22 and I'm sure there will be many who can list various other good rifles.

If I could get any .22 rifle for up to $250 I would get a Ruger 10/22. I think you can get them new for $180 -$200 pretty easy.
They're popular, so there's lots of different accessories you can add, if your sons want to have unique rifles between them.

I have a Mossberg 702 which, while not being as good as the 10/22, cost about $120 or so (it was a gift) and works fine for the little bit of plinking I do.

 

[davera]

Alternate to the Ruger 10/22 is the Marlin 60. Inexpensive enough to almost buy two for $250. Said to be more accurate out of the box.

 

[Dan360]

Marlin and Savage make very affordable rimfire rifles. I know CZ makes a nice one, but they might be a bit pricey compared the Marlin and Savage. The Ruger 10/22 can be had in its standard form for around $175 if you look hard. Wal-Mart has the full grown 10/22 in stainless steel for $209.

 

[RevolverMan567]

thats awesome

hope you dad turns out ok. mossberg 702 plinkster is a blast and can be had for 100 bucks or so generally. the marlin model 60 is also awesome little shooter. I have one that was handed down to me from my great grandpa and if i had to turn them all in tomorrow that is the one that would get me in jail, id never let it go. make sure your boys treasure the gesture and the gun. best of luck.

 

[Slugless]

Marlin 60.

 

[Bartkowski]

The Marlin 60 is said to be a good shooter. I have had good luck with Marlin bolt action .22's too.

 

[fal 4 me]

CZ-452 Trainer. I picked one up for $230 out the door.

 

[cwmcgu2]

Ruger 10/22 or one of Henry's .22 Lever-Actions.

 

[dracphelan]

Marlin 60 if you don't plan doing the work to make the 10/22 accurate. Out-of-the-box Marlin 60s are more accurate than 10/22s. However, with some work (and after market parts) the 10/22 can be more accurate.

 

[MRIman]

In the last 2 weeks I've picked up a Mossy 702,Marlin 60,and
a Stevens 887. Mossy is clip feed,other two are tube.
Marlin is the best of the bunch so far with bulk Federal ammo.
Ruger's are nice shooters as well,the big plus for them is all
the after market stuff you can get(25-50 rd. mags help )
With ammo price so high,i'm stocking up on 22 rifles now.
I can buy a rifle and 550 rds. for the same price of shooting
500 rds in any other caliber.
That all said,look for a Marlin or a CZ if you want the best
"bang for the buck".
Hope your dad gets better soon!!
Sounds like your boys will have a great Christmas.
I still remember opening up my first 22 rifle
for my 12 birthday, 27 years ago!!!
Good luck
Keep us post on the choice.

MRI

 

[akolleth]

Another vote for the classic Marlin 60

I paid $50 OTD at a gun show for mine. Amazing accuracy, great reliability (until I bent my operating spring , but that was my fault). I am a somewhat new shooter, and off a benchrest even I can get about .75" groups at 50 yards! And I am sure that the rifle can do a lot better, if I had some glass on it, and if I was a better shot myself.

Seriously, you can easily find these for under $100 at pawn shops and gun shows, often well below the 1 bill mark. An amazing rifle for the price.

 

[FLORIDA KEVIN]

I still have the ruger 10/22 I got when i was 12! I am 54 next week and it is still shooting just fine !i like the little Marlin but I love my ruger !!

 

[jakeswensonmt]

I assume that since these rifles will be their first, that these boys are not experienced shooters?

If so, I would not go for a semi-auto like the 10/22. No offense, I have a 10/22, like it and plink it up plenty, but I don't use it to teach new shooters. Would go for something in a bolt, pump, or lever action. Easier to teach, more reliable, and more accurate unmodified.

That lever-Henry might be a good choice for a meaningful gift like this, good historical backstory to go along with the rifle, and it would be cool when they're older to say "and this is the Henry rifle Grandpa gave me." Dang, now I want one too.

 

[Pud]

My pick...

I have had 2 Marlin 60's in my lifetime(I'm 48)
One was given to me by my dad for Christmas when I was 12 years old...it is still a great shooting rifle(I have even "loaned" it back to my dad to shoot at his pleasure).
The other I picked up about 16-17 years ago, it has a scope.
Had it out just a couple of weeks ago, was making one ragged hole at about 50 yards or so!

In my opinion, you cannot go wrong with a Marlin 60!!
Pud

 

[Blue Brick]

Marlin 795

 

[doc2rn]

For that price my vote +1 on Marlin model 60 in stainless. They can be had for $169 at walmart.

 

[Danny Creasy]

Get them a couple of Remington Model Fives.





25 yards using the little rifle's fine open sights. The flyers are due to 50 year old eyes behind trifocals.

She is all steel and wood. No aluminum on her and the only plastic is the buttplate. Crude checkering - but funtional. The rifle also sports a truly adjustable trigger. Mine is now at a crisp two and a half pounds with nothing more than a couple of screwdrivers needed.

 

[scrat]

Another vote for the marlin. they will last for decades and then some. Never wear out. and are very very accurate.

Then taking them apart is very easy and very easy to clean and maintain.

 

[JonB]

+1 Marlin 60 if a semi is what you are after

 

[offthepaper]

Joining in here.

Marlin 60.
People may sell them, but nobody regrets buying one.

 

[bmars]

Thanks for all the input. Based on the majority of advice, I've been comparing the Marlin 60 and the Ruger 10/22. I've found a lot of neat web sites showing all the customizaton options for the Ruger, but many of you seem to think the Marlin is superior. Right now I'm leaning toward the new Marlin 60S-CF.

 

[rangerruck]

the prob with the ruger, is you have a 50.50 chance of it not being accurate, or reliable , right out of the box. The marlin will be both of these, especially accurate. now marlins are not pretty, and you can proly get both for the 250, but if you are looking for something more Heirloom, beautiful, super accurate, something that will look just as fine , if not more, 50 years from now, then the cz is the way to go. it is a bolt action, it will be very accurate, it will have a set trigger, and their quality is far above both the ruger and the marlin.

 

[DonP]

Another 3 votes (1 vote for each one in the safe) for the Marlin Model 60 semi auto.

I bought a new one in stainless with an all weather composite stock last fall fro $135 NIB. Added a scope for another $40 and go through a brick a month on average. It has a 15 round tube magazine that, with a "Speed D Loder", you can refill in seconds.

The two older ones have larger (18 round) magazines.

Fun, cheap, easy to shoot, accurate well beyond what you pay for them and pretty easy to clean. It will outlast you by a long sight.

Downside, fewer toys to buy for it than the 10/22. (Fire suit on: But IMHO at some point you need to stop adding collapsible stocks, bi-pods and $300 custom stocks to your 10/22 and just buy an AR anyway)

 

[El Tejon]

CZ 452 Scout, http://www.cz-usa.com/product_detail.php?id=5

They are $209 at Sportman's Warehouse here. Wonderful weapons.