Best reasonably priced .22LR rifle?

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wacki

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I've been told that Thompson Center is the best of reasonably priced .22 rifles:

http://www.tcarms.com/firearms/rimfireRifles.php

Well at least among the semi's. In fact they even claim that they have "the finest semi-auto rimfire in the world". What are your thoughts? I have no clue what the best .22 bolt actions are. Lets try to keep the discussion of rifles to a price range where most people wouldn't mind spending the extra cash. I'm sure there are $1,000 .22 rifles from kimber or something that are just top of the line but the average firearm owner is not going to even think about buying one of those.
 
Savage Mark II

Dont overlook the Savage bolt action. It is a nice gun that is very accurate (esp for the price) and has a pretty good trigger. If the accutrigger isnt light enough for you, there is an easy mod to make it lighter still.

I have the heavy barrel version and I love it! I dont think I have shot a single round out of my marlin model 60 since I bought it. At 80 yards, it will still hold groups to about 1.5" with decent ammo (remington target).

I think I paid about $280 for the rifle and included scope.
 
Ruger, Savage, Marlin all make cheap reliable accurate .22lr bolt action rifles. If an autoloader is your speed then I give 2 thumbs up for the Ruger 10/22. I bought my Ruger 10/22 stainless steel model for $230. I've since spent more tricking it out but it shot well right out of the box.

The trigger was a bit heavy but there are tricks for it or just a target hammer will drop it down to a nice weight. It's my favorite rifle to shoot.
 
I own a T/C Classic, and it is a nice rifle. The one thing I would change about it is the sights, as the fiber optics are distracting. An overall excellent gun, with good customer service. When the locking tab broke off one of my mags they told me to just send it in, and I got a new mag in about two weeks.
 
Get a Ruger. You'll end up wanting one anyway.
Click to expand...

Stock 10/22's are good for plinking, and can be tinkered with easily. You would end up putting more money into the Ruger customizing to get the same quality of gun as a T/C.
 
Stock 10/22's are good for plinking, and can be tinkered with easily. You would end up putting more money into the Ruger customizing to get the same quality of gun as a T/C.
Click to expand...

Thats not always the case. I have a stock 10/22 that is accurate enough for anything I will ever use it for. However, I did spend about $400.00 or so (so far) building up a custom 10/22 that will group inside of a dime all day. That said, it was really a lot of fun to plan and build. Many, many happy hours were spent looking online at all the neat stuff that you can do to a 10/22.
 
The only .22LRs I have are the Savage Mark II and CZ-452 Lux. Even considering that the CZ cost twice as much as the Savage, the CZ is by far the better rifle. The Savage, while shooting fine, seems cheap and a little ugly--it is not a rifle that I would be proud to show off. The CZ is gorgeous, heavily built, great iron sights, shoots great, and there is a pride of ownership.
 
I have both the Ruger 10/22 and the Marlin model 60. I have several 30-round magazines for the Ruger and neither the gun nor any of my magazines have ever malfunctioned. However, of the two guns I like the Marlin better. The gun is sleek, light, and comes to my shoulder better than the Ruger and I shoot better with it. It also has never malfunctioned in any way and I like the tube magazine. Plus it's cheaper ($134 at Walmart).
 
I have a 10/22 Carbine, and my conclusion so far is that it is a fun plinker and not bad on accuracy. Mine is ammo-picky on reliability, but luckily not picky if it is clean or dirty.

Now, on my very short list of nice rimfires to buy are both the T/C .22 Classic (now R-55) and the CZ-452. Not sure which one to buy first. Both are quality firearms, from the few I've handled, and I doubt an owner would be disappointed with either.

Of course, it won't hang with a nice Anschutz or similar rifle, but that's a story for another day! ;)

FWIW, I am an average gunowner and intend to get a nice .22 target rifle sometime in the future for winter Smallbore shooting. Or maybe I've crossed the line from "average" to "fanatic"... :scrutiny:
 
Fella's;

Cheap Ruger bolt .22lr? Where? Name me the model! It sure isn't the 77/22, I know that.

On the other hand, Ruger 10/22's can be outstandingly accurate in stock form. People who don't think so are usually those too lazy to do the ammo testing necessary. However, there are 10/22's that simply won't go to the party. If you have the ill fortune to own one, before you spend umpty-nine dollars on all the heavy barrel mods, put another stock barrel on it. The barrels are very easy to change out & finding another stocker dirt cheap is also not hard to do.

But for absolute cost effectiveness, it's hard to beat either the Savage MKII's or one of the iterations of CZ. Regarless of what you get though, do the ammo testing.

900F
 
If you are talking about semi-autos I think you want a Ruger 10/22 or a Marlin m60. Both are excellent. Both are cheap.

I own a 10/22 and intend to buy a Marlin M60 in the not too distant future.
 
If we are talking stictly about a semi auto, that won't break the bank, then yes , the answer is t/c all the way. they are the finest, also the best in fit and finish. But one you must not overlook is the Remmington speedmaster, it has been made for about 50 years now, and you can get them used for 150 bucks, all the way up to top grade new ones for about 450 dollars.
 
for semi's I have a remmy, a ruger 10.22, a marlin mod 60. and as much as i like the ruger, it is not going to be reliable or accurate, without some modification on your part.
 
If you're looking for a bolt action .22 then look at the Savage Mark II. I bought a Savage Mark II w/AccuTrigger and never looked back. I'm sure there are equals out there in the same price range but I'll stick with what I know to be good. http://www.savagearms.com/markiig.htm

If you're looking for a lever action .22 then look at the Marlin 39A. It is extremely accurate and has a great trigger. The Henry has a smoother lever but the Marlin will last almost forever.

Of course these are only my choices. You will have to choose for yourself because every rifle feels different and what I like you may not like at all. Remember, most rifles from well known companies will preform well but it has to be comfortable in your hand just like any other firearm.
 
Marlin Model 60

*$50-75 used
* Reliable
* Good accuracy
* 14-18 round capacity

Seriously, how can you go wrong with it? Worst thing about them is a lack of aftermarket accessories. But then again, you don't need to jazz it up any to make it run reliably or accurately, unlike the 10/22.
 
I bought a 10/22 for one reason; the rotary mags. Every other .22 rifle has a mag sticking out; and I find the .22 mags to be fragile..

The 10/22 lets me lie as low as I can get, without hitting the mag on the dirt or table..

I replaced it with good sights (I found the stock sights to be horrible), a bolt buffer, and a 2.5 lb trigger group. The thing shoots like a bb gun, is quiet, and no recoil, women love it. the perfect newbie rifle.
 
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