Best Affordable 22 Long Rifle?
- Thread starter Praxidike
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The Ruger 10/22 is an excellent rifle. You did well, even if over-budget.Better to pay once, than repair over and over, right? Post a picture or three when you have the aftermarket stock installed.
Congrats!
Geno
Might give this one to my son and get the Breakdown with regular stock for myself though...
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Yea, I brought two 25 round Ruger manufactured magazines, so hopefully they'll work ok.
Speedo66
Member
.22 semi automatics were popular because .22 ammo was plentiful and cheap.
Nowadays, I'd caution a new buyer to get a single shot, and savor every round.
Nowadays, I'd caution a new buyer to get a single shot, and savor every round.
You did good Praxi...! The Ruger or Marlin are probably first to own rifles. You can really customize and spend $ on a Ruger. That's what make them fun.!
These .22 rifles and handguns are HABIT FORMING. Collect several thru the years. I've handed down several to my (mostly grown) kids and even today they love to shoot them. (being that ammo is so expensive these days)
I have one (out of 5) kid left at home; she's going to be 16 early next month and I just bought her a used Marlin 7000T several days ago. (really a M60 that has a bull barrel and evolved with a radical looking stock; out of production now).....she has no clue about this and knowing her she will love this .22 rifle...
Gonna be fun taking her to the range...
(PS this rifle is about 11 years old, low round count and bought her complete for $300)
Be well, Bob
These .22 rifles and handguns are HABIT FORMING. Collect several thru the years. I've handed down several to my (mostly grown) kids and even today they love to shoot them. (being that ammo is so expensive these days)
I have one (out of 5) kid left at home; she's going to be 16 early next month and I just bought her a used Marlin 7000T several days ago. (really a M60 that has a bull barrel and evolved with a radical looking stock; out of production now).....she has no clue about this and knowing her she will love this .22 rifle...
Gonna be fun taking her to the range...
(PS this rifle is about 11 years old, low round count and bought her complete for $300)
Be well, Bob
Speedo66 said:
I can get ammo easy, but at .10 a round. I hear it used to be half that price though. Either way it's a lot less than shooting my other firearms. Still sucks though. We still have 3 years, 6 months, 6 days of Obama left (the initiator of the shortage), so hopefully things will get back to normal around then.
You did good Praxi...! The Ruger or Marlin are probably first to own rifles. You can really customize and spend $ on a Ruger. That's what make them fun.!
These .22 rifles and handguns are HABIT FORMING. Collect several thru the years. I've handed down several to my (mostly grown) kids and even today they love to shoot them. (being that ammo is so expensive these days)
I have one (out of 5) kid left at home; she's going to be 16 early next month and I just bought her a used Marlin 7000T several days ago. (really a M60 that has a bull barrel and evolved with a radical looking stock; out of production now).....she has no clue about this and knowing her she will love this .22 rifle...
Gonna be fun taking her to the range...
(PS this rifle is about 11 years old, low round count and bought her complete for $300)
Be well, Bob
Yea I know my daughter's going to want one too after she sees my sons lol. I'm going to get her a pinkish Marlin. I can't wait to take them too lol.
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Ignition Override
Member
A Romanian M-69 Trainer (bolt-action) is a fun .22. About $150 if seen at a gun show.
Sometimes a given M-69's magazine won't feed. Guys who want to mount scopes often search for the right rings to grip the slots.
You can tell that I never had a scope, as my milsurps must be in the original config.
Sometimes a given M-69's magazine won't feed. Guys who want to mount scopes often search for the right rings to grip the slots.
You can tell that I never had a scope, as my milsurps must be in the original config.
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dubbleA
Member
For a entry level .22 target rifle, the Kimber 82G is a pretty good bargin these days. Here is one that was found it's way into my collection.
For a plinker, the 10/22 can be a lot of fun. It can be made up anyway you desire. I just finished this one up by cutting the barrel back to 10 inches and adding a shroud and suppressor.
For a plinker, the 10/22 can be a lot of fun. It can be made up anyway you desire. I just finished this one up by cutting the barrel back to 10 inches and adding a shroud and suppressor.
Remington 597
You can get a Remington 597 for around $160. I bought one about 10 years ago and I was so impressed with it that I bought another one last year. They are highly accurate and they are semi-automatic. The only problem I've had with it was with one after market magazine I bought for my first rifle, that cause a feed issue with the last round. I've not had any feed problems with the "Remington" manufactured magazines. It's so accurate and such a joy to shoot, that you may want to buy your .22 rounds in the bulk pack! My kids love shooting it also!
You can get a Remington 597 for around $160. I bought one about 10 years ago and I was so impressed with it that I bought another one last year. They are highly accurate and they are semi-automatic. The only problem I've had with it was with one after market magazine I bought for my first rifle, that cause a feed issue with the last round. I've not had any feed problems with the "Remington" manufactured magazines. It's so accurate and such a joy to shoot, that you may want to buy your .22 rounds in the bulk pack!
My kids love shooting it also!
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
A "good" barrel will do wonders for accuracy. What I would caution against is a cheap barrel. Avoid the budget $75-$100 barrels and save for a good one if that's what you want. Such as those from Clark, KID, Shilen, Volquartsen or Lilja. That said, you can get a marked improvement by having the original barrel setback and rechambered along with recutting the crown.
I like the Clark mid-weight barrels.
Praxi;
CraigC quoted me just above. He's quite correct, a Lilja, Clark, Voquartsen, etc. barrel will give you better results in the accuracy drawer. But the cost might very well equal or surpass the price of a new 10/22 these days. My point was to get you what might be perfectly acceptable accuracy for you at much lower cost. Do the ammo testing first. Then trigger/hammer,mag drop,bolt release, buffer pin, shims, etc., and if that doesn't work, then a new barrel. With the action work done first, the barrel will be sure to fix the accuracy issue if nothing else does.
900F
CraigC quoted me just above. He's quite correct, a Lilja, Clark, Voquartsen, etc. barrel will give you better results in the accuracy drawer. But the cost might very well equal or surpass the price of a new 10/22 these days. My point was to get you what might be perfectly acceptable accuracy for you at much lower cost. Do the ammo testing first. Then trigger/hammer,mag drop,bolt release, buffer pin, shims, etc., and if that doesn't work, then a new barrel. With the action work done first, the barrel will be sure to fix the accuracy issue if nothing else does.
900F
Captcurt
Member
I am a bolt man but the model 60 or the 10/22 are hard to beat for less than $300.
Sheepdog1968
Member
Either of these is an excellent choice and serves well. If you really enjoy 22s, you can always get a different 22 down the road to add to the collection.
Sheepdog1968
Member
Just to add, you can probably get the generic 10-22 with generic bulk ammo to shoot 2 or 3 MOA without any issue. For plinking and most folks capability, this is more than good enough. Whatever you get, with exception for optics or irons, I'd keep it stock and shoot it a lot before spending money on upgrades that may not matter.
Just got a Ruger 10/22. With Butler Creek folding metal stock, stainless barrel and Tru-Glo red-dot sight. Came with the standard 10-rd magazine and 2 25-round Ruger extended mags.
After testing, I elected to add the following:
1. Firing block buffer pin
2. Extended magazine release
3. Auto-release bolt lock lever
4. Additional 25-round Ruger mag
5. Kidd charging handle and slide w/spring
6. Brimstone trigger job to 2.25 lbs.
With these modifications, the gun now fits my needs for an urban long-gun solution. Of the above, no.s 1, 3, and 6 are highly recommended.
After testing, I elected to add the following:
1. Firing block buffer pin
2. Extended magazine release
3. Auto-release bolt lock lever
4. Additional 25-round Ruger mag
5. Kidd charging handle and slide w/spring
6. Brimstone trigger job to 2.25 lbs.
With these modifications, the gun now fits my needs for an urban long-gun solution. Of the above, no.s 1, 3, and 6 are highly recommended.
Pictures?
I got to check again, but I think my local range is about 25 yards maxed. I was able to punch out a nice simi-circular hole in the bulls-eye area of a paper target. Would you say this is pretty accurate easy at such a close distance compared to 50-100 yards out?
What's the point in changing the trigger, buffer pin, etc. on a simiauto? Would it really make that much of a difference?
Esoxchaser
Member
My two favorite .22 rifles are the Browning BL22 for plinking and the Savage Mark II FSS for longer range target and hunting. While the Ruger 10/22 makes a decent plinker, it wont cycle subsonic rounds or shorts like the Browning will.
Deltaboy1984
Member
Good Rifle but my Remington 512 shoots great out to 100 yards and the only mode I got was I got a Smith to hone and polish the trigger and sear down to 4 pounds and I got a nice crisp break and no creep.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
How difference is there between a creepy, gritty 7lb trigger and a crisp 2lb trigger???
The difference between average and excellent in triggers boils down to practical accuracy. The rest being equal, it is easier to punch bullseye consistently with a minimal trigger finger effort. That said, you can get accustomed to the factory trigger and manipulate it very well. It just won't be EZ straight outta box.
Enjoy your rifle, then maybe one day a trigger upgrade. That's what I did.
Enjoy your rifle, then maybe one day a trigger upgrade. That's what I did.
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Praxidike,
Now take that new 10/22 to a an Appleseed shoot and wring it out. That's where the rubber meets the road in terms of .22 rifle performance. Then buy your 9 year old a Marlin 795, slap a scope and sling on it and take them to an Appleseed. It is a lot of fun. www.appleseedinfo.org
Now take that new 10/22 to a an Appleseed shoot and wring it out. That's where the rubber meets the road in terms of .22 rifle performance. Then buy your 9 year old a Marlin 795, slap a scope and sling on it and take them to an Appleseed. It is a lot of fun. www.appleseedinfo.org
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