Best Small Caliber Rifle

[jefnvk]

Love my CZ452.

I can't seem to figure out what 'that much money' is that Issac is talkiung about, but mine was $250. Add $150-200 for a decent scope, and I'll put it up against any $700 .22 AR.

 

[rgs1975]

Those 39A's aren't exactly cheap.

 

[R.H. Lee]

10/22's are good, but need a better trigger than they come with to be accurate and the better trigger costs as much as the gun did.

Nope. The Volquartsen hammer is a drop in part and improves the trigger considerably. I pop golfballs @ 100yds with mine.

 

[MachIVshooter]

I like the Marlin 39a and the CZ 452.
For me, the ideal set-up is a 39a with a tang sight. Shoots everything form colibris and shorts up to hyper-velocity long rifles, and has after-market accessories galore.
There's a reason they've been made for > 100 years.

+1 for the 39A. The ammunition flexibility is wonderful, and they are tack drivers to boot. A little pricy as .22's go, but well worth it. I have over a dozen .22 rimfires, and my Marlin 81G is my favorite .22 rifle. (the 81 is a bolt action but has the same ammo flexibility; it was discontinued). Other rifles that wil shoot short, long and LR are the Marlin 1897T and 81TS, Browning BL-22, Remington 572 and any single shot.

As for the .17's, I have an M2 in a Marlin and it is too destructive for small game at ranges shorter than 70 or 80 yards. At 100 yards or more, the bullets have slowed down enough that they do not fragment. For this reason, I would not recommend the .17's for hunting until they are loaded with soft point or FMJ bullets.

 

[rgs1975]

What do you guys think of the Remington Model 597? Would love to hear your opinion of it..also does it come ready for a scope from the factory?

 

[f4t9r]

17HMR Marlin or henry is a good choice for the money

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Those 39A's aren't exactly cheap.

From www.gunsamerica.com

Marlin 39A
GA# 976639779
$250.00
Marlin golden 39A lever action, 22 rimfire-- S, L, LR, 24 inch micro groove barrel, blueing 99%, wood 95%, original finish, adjustable rear sight, bead front sight, weaver base, Bushnell 3X7 scope. $250 plus shipping.
Seller: HGS
FFL Dealer: No Area Code: 814

If I was looking for a 39A, I'd jump on this one.

 

[rbernie]

My FLD has a 39A on the wall - a cool $395. Ouch....

rgs1975 - the three folks that I know that have bought a Rem597 have all uniformly considered it one of the worst purchases of their life. Each had their own tale of woe, but it all added it up a big pile of 'just say no'....

 

[rbernie]

Just out of curiosity - what does that have to do with hunting rabbit and squirrel (stated to be the intended use of the rifle)?

 

[mustanger98]

Would you perhaps like to try betting on a lever

vs an autoloading rifle in any sort of a timed shooting event? The Atchission .22 unit for the AR (now imported-made?) by Ciener has sold many,many thousands of copies in the 30 years of its existence. That would not be true if it were not a good performing piece of gear. Ditto the millions of AR-15's, ditto the 223 cartridge. These guns are high dollar, and they are not given away to any 3rd worlder who asks for one (as the AK's have always been).

You sure seem to like to ride this "timed shooting event" thing. Not all of us are into that any more than some of us who aren't into AR's. But the other side of your question is "would you like to try betting against a guy who knows, likes, and uses leverguns frequently in any other scenario? Fire and manuever tactics are fine if you're working as a unit with infinite ammo. Otherwise, the individual is better off to use whatever suits him/her best and that could include any and all types including levers and bolts. Get over yourself.

If a small game rifle is all you want, why pay more than $70 for a used, scoped Marlin Glenfield autoloader, hmm?

Goes back to personal preference. Again, not all of us like AR's and not all of us are going to go with the cheapest autoloader just because it's an autoloader.

rbernie:

Just out of curiosity - what does that have to do with hunting rabbit and squirrel (stated to be the intended use of the rifle)?

That's what I've been wondering. Personally, I don't consider an AR any more useful than anything else and less useful than many.

 

[rgs1975]

Yeah an AR is totally out of the question and solely for the reason that I don't like/want one. The fact that I can't legally buy one here doesn't even matter...I wouldn't if I could. Basically I'm down to the 10/22 or the 597.

 

[mustanger98]

Basically I'm down to the 10/22 or the 597.

Take the 10/22 and don't look back. I know what I've said about the stock trigger in mine being heavy and it effected my hits on the small bore sillouette course, but it's still plenty accurate for the average hunter/plinker. If you want to scope it, I'd suggest a fixed 4X Simmons as it works fine for me.

I wouldn't pay too much attention to the nuts that'll tell you how to turn it into a "1000yd fully automatic sniper assault rifle" either.

 

[rgs1975]

Yeah I've decided that's what I'm going to do Mustang. I'm going to put a fluted barrel on it and a Hogue stock but that's about it for mods. I've got a 3x9x32 Simmons scope that I'll be using which I think should work out just fine.

 

[mustanger98]

I've got a 3x9x32 Simmons scope that I'll be using which I think should work out just fine.

Those 3-9x32's are good scopes.