Best 22 LR Bolt Action

[viking499]

Who makes the best 22 bolt action rifle for the money.(under 4-500). I have heard good things about the CZ 452. Others out there?

 

[wooderson]

For $500 street (maybe a bit less), there's the CZ 453 with a slightly fancier 'set' trigger than the 452 (more adjustable, click it forward for a lighter/shorter trigger if you want).

My father got a 452 Varmint in .17 Mach 2 that he hasn't had a chance to shoot yet, but everything seems well done so far.

Savage rifles also have their fans, and Browning just re-introduced the T-Bolt (though I don't like the stocks on the other Brownings I've seen - too glossy, they look cheap).

 

[Odd Job]

If somebody told me I could only have a 452, I wouldn't cry, that's for sure.
Used a friend's 452 at the club and it was accurate. It felt like a solid, quality rifle.

 

[Geno]

My experience, and those which, prices set aside, worked well:

$99.00 for a Marlin 925
$249.00 for CZ 452
$500.00 for a Ruger 77/22 stainless (Target grey)
$999.00 for a Kimber Classic

All things considered, the Marlin would be my choice. Not all things that cost massive sums of money are worth the extra. I sold the Kimber and the Ruger because the Marlin walked, trampled and stomped all over them for accuracy. What is worse, it did so for a fraction of the funds. The CZ I sold because I simply did not need a second .22LR. It was accurate, but it was no Marlin.

I do not intend to slam the others. Perhaps I had the exceptional Marlin...I do not know. I loved that rifle. I sold it when my neurosurgeon told me that I would never hunt/work again. I later fired that doctor, got a new one, had a surgery and now have a new firearms collection and am a full-time graduate professor.

Sorry if I went too far off track. I vote Marlin.

Edit to add: I believe that the new Savage .22LR merits a very serious consideration...what a trigger! Re: the CZ, yes, it is true about what you have heard about CZs. One fact that I would add about the CZs is that they are .22LR rimfires, that have centerfire-rifle-feel. Tough call. Please tell us what and why you select.

Doc2005

 

[zedheadmc]

I have a Savage MARK II-BV with AccuTrigger. I can't say it's the best because I've not shot a lot of others. But, without sounding like a wise guy, I don't really need to shoot others. My rifle will shoot dime sized groups at 25 yards and slightly bigger groups at 50 yards. And I have a deep freeze filled with small game thanks to that Savage. 400 to 500 dollars would get you the MARK II-BV and a decent to good scope.
By the way, when I was a kid I had an old Glennfield or I think thats what it was called. That was a fun .22 also.

 

[El Tejon]

The CZs are amazing. I have been completely taken with them.

The CZ 452/452 Scouts are lasers.

 

[Davo]

I have and love my 25n, its my favorite .22, and still the most accurate. It does its job well, and is made for an adult-my 10-22 is too small for me and much less accurate.

 

[mustanger98]

Is this question restricted to new production? Because my vote, based on my experience, goes to Remington's old 521-T made between 1947 and 1969. I bought mine over Gunbroker. Sights on mine are Lyman 57RS rear and 17A front. Prices vary. My best group across the bench at 25yds was shooting Winchester Xpert into a 1" circle. Eight rounds went into the top half of the circle while the other two went a little high. This rifle with the same ammo will do the job on the clay birds and ram sillouettes on the 100yd line from standing if I do my part in the standing sillouette form.

 

[cslinger]

CZ452 all the way.

Varmint

Varmint 100 Yard Groups, 40 Grain Mini Mags, No wind.

Full Stock

First 3 rounds fired from the FS, 50 yards, a bit of wind. 40 grain mini mags.

Shoot and See "dot" numerous rounds 50 yards, 40 grain mini mags.

I am a CZ 452/453 believer and I have come to testify.

 

[Shooter973]

Best 22 LR Bolt Action.

I really like my Ruger M77/22's. They are full size rifles, and are super accurate. I have 3 different ones and all are scary accurate. It's almost no fun to shoot them, as you hit everything you shoot at. I break pieces of clay pigeons at the 100 yard line. Whats left over after other shooters break new clay birds. I've shot pop cans at 200+ yards with them also. Easy once you get the hold over right!

 

[GreyMauser]

+1 for the CZ 452/453, though my 453 topped the $500 limit by $15.

 

[CZguy]

CZ-452 or BRNO #1

 

[kentucky_smith]

Hard to go wrong with the CZ. Just like a miniMauser.

Mine's a tackdriver.

 

[theCZ]

After shooting a 452, most other rimfires feel like kid's guns. The 452 has a strong, centerfire like feel. I have no reason to switch. I'm able to get 5 shot 1.25" groups at 100 yds with cheap ammo, and I shot with a guy that got consistent ten shot groups of .25-.4" at 50 yds, he had the targets to prove it! I even saw a .1" group he shot at 50, it was amazing!

 

[Danny Creasy]

Well, my CZ 452 FS will do and it is real pretty:




And that is with low priced Blazer!

But, the CZ American is even more accurate:




USBR targets are better tests of a rifles accuracy than group shooting because more variables change for each shot.

And, the Ruger 77/22 I bought in January is no slouch either:





50 yards and the first time out. Box stock.

 

[rugerdude]

I vote Marlin 925! The trigger is actually very nice once you clean all the factory goo out of it (took me a year to figure out it was there) and it is accurate!!!!! I've gotten easy 5 shot .25" groups at 25 yards.

I don't ever intend to own another .22 bolt action, because the Marlin is all I can see myself needing.

Fantastic gun.

 

[Davo]

sheffieield, as borat would say (about the 452) "thats nice"...

 

[rugerdude]

"......NAAAAHHHHT!"

"Marlin 925 is great success! High five!"

 

[Geno]

Rugerdude is right. I too cleaned out my marlin's trigger. I decided to do that after one shooting session. After that cleaning and lubing, I was putting all shots touching (clusters) at 25 yards. It is an excellent rifle. We have many options for excellent rifles. It seems to me that what varies is price.

 

[Essex County]

CZ 452. Don't waste time or money on anything else. Essex

 

[terry264]

The Savage MkII just amazes me. I think it's the GY model, just a little one, light, lucked out and came with a very nice trigger. I originally bought it for my wife, but after the first outing with it I find I use it most of the time. She can use the speedmaster or one of the others. With several types of ammo it will keep all inside a nickel at 50 yds. Love that little thing.

 

[Danny Creasy]

Yes, the Savage Mk II is alot of bang for the buck. I picked up one of the plastic stocked little black rifles about three years ago and cannot believe how well it will shoot. It came without sights, a set of weaver bases, and a Simmons 8-Point 3-9 scope. The scope is really a cheap centerfire scope but it is quite user friendly for Rimfire ranges when you dial it down to 3 or 4 power. I run a .22 rifle familiarization set up at a 4-H outdoor sports exposure event every year. The Savage pulls yeoman duty at this event with about 60 or 70 youngsters firing 10 rounds each in a single afternoon.

 

[byf43]

Remington 541-T. Incredibly accurate. I don't have any photos, but, this rifle will never even be considered for sale.



Winchester mdl 52-C. Target rifle. Period.

 

[____hoot____]

Got an old Ithaca X15 semi-automatic that I have shot 10 shot 1 1/2" groups with at 100 yards with Winchester copper plated hi-speeds.

 

[mustanger98]

Remington 541-T. Incredibly accurate. I don't have any photos, but, this rifle will never even be considered for sale.

I've shot sillouette and benchrest with some guys who shoot 541-T's.. and me shooting my 521-T. We dont' throw off on either model.