bolt action 22

[captain awesome]

I have been somewhat interested in a bolt action 22lr rifle for quite a while now and finally decided its time. I saw and read about the Weatherby Mark XXII bolt action, and want one. the trouble is I can't find one anywhere, at least not for sale on line and that generally means I won't find one in the local shops either. I can find plenty of the old semi autos, but I want a bolt action. So, first, if you have a line on one, I would greatly appreciate it, but, I need a second option. I want it to be extremely accurate; 1moa territory, I want it to be nice deep blue steel, and a handsome wooden stock (that's why I was after the Weatherby) so far the runners up are the CZ455 22 and the Ruger 77/22. I don't need iron sights, but I do want to mount a scope. If you have experience or info on either one, that would be awesome. any other suggestions are welcome, just don't steer me away from the bolt action. I already have semi autos.

 

[Doc7]

[deleted post - didn't realize all the Weatherbys I found were semi. Why the heck do they have the same name as the bolt action? This is like S&W with the M&P 15-22 being a rifle and a pistol, very annoying]

 

[Coal Dragger]

You want nice wood and nice metal work on a bolt action .22LR then finding a Weather by Mk XXII is a good plan. Since Weather by no longer makes them it might be tough though.

I personally went with a Cooper M57 although mine has a laminated stock instead of walnut and the bluing is a nice satin bead blasted instead of high polish. Cooper does offer high polish bluing and walnut of grades from quite nice to too nice to contemplate using. Accuracy on mine has been stellar with just about any quality ammo, it is the rare rimfire that I have owned that shoots nearly anything well. Excluding bulk pack crap ammo.

On another note I noticed my local dealer had CCI Mini-Mags so I bought a few boxes, leaving plenty for others.

 

[mooner]

The CZ is on my list as a "when I get a 22 bolt gun, gun". By all accounts they are very accurate. Might not be quite as shiny as a Weatherby though. The Ruger seems too pricy for what it is. Don't get me wrong, I like my Rugers, but that one is not one I would consider.

 

[frank c]

I have been somewhat interested in a bolt action 22lr rifle for quite a while now and finally decided its time. I saw and read about the Weatherby Mark XXII bolt action, and want one. the trouble is I can't find one anywhere, at least not for sale on line and that generally means I won't find one in the local shops either. I can find plenty of the old semi autos, but I want a bolt action. So, first, if you have a line on one, I would greatly appreciate it, but, I need a second option. I want it to be extremely accurate; 1moa territory, I want it to be nice deep blue steel, and a handsome wooden stock (that's why I was after the Weatherby) so far the runners up are the CZ455 22 and the Ruger 77/22. I don't need iron sights, but I do want to mount a scope. If you have experience or info on either one, that would be awesome. any other suggestions are welcome, just don't steer me away from the bolt action. I already have semi autos.

Have you looked at the Anschutz 22 lr.rifles.They are just as nice as the weatherbys.

 

[DM~]

The bolt action Wby., was nothing more than an Anschutz bbled action in a Wby. stock...

Many folks are of the opinion that Anschutz did a "better" job of fitting their stocks, so the SAME model from Anschutz, was the better shooter of the two.

DM

 

[I6turbo]

I have been somewhat interested in a bolt action 22lr rifle for quite a while now and finally decided its time. I saw and read about the Weatherby Mark XXII bolt action, and want one. the trouble is I can't find one anywhere, at least not for sale on line and that generally means I won't find one in the local shops either. I can find plenty of the old semi autos, but I want a bolt action. So, first, if you have a line on one, I would greatly appreciate it, but, I need a second option. I want it to be extremely accurate; 1moa territory, I want it to be nice deep blue steel, and a handsome wooden stock (that's why I was after the Weatherby) so far the runners up are the CZ455 22 and the Ruger 77/22. I don't need iron sights, but I do want to mount a scope. If you have experience or info on either one, that would be awesome. any other suggestions are welcome, just don't steer me away from the bolt action. I already have semi autos.

I think you have some good choices there, but they are kind of three points of a triangle in terms of the style, feel and character of the guns, IMO. They are all quite different so it's unfortunate that you can't find any to actually handle to help you decide which appeals to you most. I have handled the Ruger and Weatherby but among the three I only have ownership experience with the CZ (452s for me, not the very similar 455). I'm one of those (many) guys who really liked the CZs from the first time I had one in my hands. I currently have 14 CZs and BRNOs combined, and would probably buy at least one or two more before I bought any other brand, so needless to say, they appeal to me. If you get a 452 or 455 American (among CZs, the American best suits your stated desires) I think you'll like it a lot, and odds are that it'll be a very accurate gun. But, that's not to say you wouldn't like the other two.

You've probably already done so, but if not, I suggest you check out http://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=18 for more info on CZs and BRNOs. There are lots of "seasoned" gun guys there who have extensive rimfire collections and many years of experience. Aside from the CZ forum, there are RFC forums for pretty much every rimfire including the other two you're considering.

 

[DM~]

The biggest reason i bought an Anschutz over the CZ is, i just can't live with the BACKWARDS safety of the CZ 22's. It's completely backwards to every other firearm i own!

Also, the average anschutz will outshoot the average CZ and that's a big plus too...

DM

 

[I6turbo]

That does seem to bother some people, but I've never given it a thought when shooting any of my guns. My (modest my some people's standards) gun collection consists of at least 14 different safties, left, right, center, up, down, forward, back, hammer, hammer with safety button, twist knob, flip lever, etc., so I guess I've always been one to focus a momentary thought on the safety when I'm activating or deactivating it. Whatever the reason, safties have never given me an issue whether I have a CZ in my hands or one of the many others types. Lucky for me, I guess.

 

[Charger442]

The CZ is on my list as a "when I get a 22 bolt gun, gun". By all accounts they are very accurate. Might not be quite as shiny as a Weatherby though. The Ruger seems too pricy for what it is. Don't get me wrong, I like my Rugers, but that one is not one I would consider.

a used 77/22 is hard to beat. uses 10/22 magazines, can be had for under $500. good quality gun and wood stock. whats not to like?

A CZ 455 is a great investment too. can be swapped to a 22WMR for the price of a new barrel at about 139 bucks.

 

[Skylerbone]

As a former 77/22 owner who has handled and fired a CZ (don't recall the model but beautiful sights) I'd easily recommend the CZ over the Ruger. Mine would have required nothing short of a new barrel as well as bedding to make things right, neither of which were in the cards for a (then) poor college student.

 

[SwampWolf]

If you can find one, the discontinued Reminton Model 504 is a fine, bolt-action, .22 sporter. New, or as new ones, can be had for a little more than $400.00 or so.

 

[fpgt72]

Bolt action...I have an Anschutz as well as a CZ 452.....now my Anschutz is in 22mag, but I can tell you that my cz will just shoot the pants of the other rifle....could be I have just not found something that it likes, but inside at 25yards....I know very short, but as far as I can go indoors it will make 1 ragged hole.

I also have a 9422m and that seems to shoot real well also but with my setup you have to take the gun out of position to work the lever....I can't say it is as good, but I sure think it is.

If you have a chance give the CZ a try, I think you might be real happy with it.

 

[PJSprog]

If you're not hell-bent on spending a lot of money, you might consider the Savage MkII. They come in many variations, and have a decent trigger (AccuTrigger). No idea what your planning on doing with it, but I've been taking rabbits and squirrels with my older (pre-AccuTrigger) MkII(G) since the mid-1990s.

 

[texashunter]

+1 for 77/22
mine has very good metal to wood fit and a piece of good looking wood and shoots very good

 

[22-rimfire]

I would look for a Remington 547 or Savage Mark II American in walnut. Savage discontinued them in walnut, but they are real nice rifles and shoot well too.

I would not buy a Remington 504 in 22LR as they are very spotty in accuracy. Many have replaced the barrel. Nice looking rifle however.

Another good one is a Remington 541-S or 541-T. They are probably easier to find than the Weatherby's. They are nice rifles with great re-sale and most shoot well.

I really like the Weatherby Mark XXII bolt action. I am a fan of the "Weatherby" look. Since they were discontinued, they're a little hard to find. That is of the reasons I suggest the Remington 547. I would not be the least bit surprised if it were discontinued like the Weatherby. I suspect it already would have been except it is built in the Remington Custom Shop where sales volume may not be as important.

CZ's are good if you like the look. Yes... the safety. The CZ 452 with a trigger job is a fine shooting 22 rifle on average. You have to mount the scopes high because of the way the bolt is made.

I always avoided the Ruger 77/22 because the stock looked like a 10/22 deluxe stock. For the price, I felt they should have a different and fancier look. I read that they shoot well however. I have considered one in 22 WMR however.

 

[Furncliff]

My CZ's are in the never sell section of my rifles. The selection of barrels and stock types is excellent. The best wood is often found on the full stock. But one up on the CZ's would be a 1940's -60's Brno. There are some very nice examples out there.

 

[SwampWolf]

a used 77/22 is hard to beat. uses 10/22 magazines, can be had for under $500. good quality gun and wood stock. whats not to like?

Hard to argue with this. The couple that I've shot were accurate and reliable and those 10-22 rotary mags are hard to beat for toughness and dependable function. And if looks count in a subjective sense (they do for me), I much prefer the "classic" appearance of rifles like the 77/22 (the Winchester Model 52, the Remington Models 504 and 547, and most Coopers, Kimbers and CZs are other examples). Turn-offs for me in terms of appearance include super-shiny finishes, white-line spacers, skip-line/impressed and/or basket-weave "checkering", awkward designed Monte Carlo combs and radical grip and fore-end angles; in other words, the "Weatherby look" or what Jack O'Connor dubbed "California-style" stocks. But, as they say, "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" and "one man's meat is another man's poison" or, as Mr. O'Connor opined, "Preferences in stocks as in gals is a personal matter."

 

[22-rimfire]

The Remington 547 and Savage Mark II American (walnut stock) are about as "classic" as you can get. Really nice rifles. I have to say that the Remington 541-S with its glossy stock remains my favorite 22 rifle. You pay for the Remington 547 however (dearly from some people's point of view). Mine sports a 3-9x Weaver rimfire scope. Never really got sucked into the really high magnification scopes for 22 rifles. But I don't shoot matches either.

 

[greyling22]

The cz is fabulous. I wanted to get a 77/22, but they didn't come in left hand and that was a deal killer. That said, cz is fabulous and I have no regrets. Super accurate, easy easy to to do a trigger job. Ruger is nice, and the mags are a huge plus, but the cz is cheaper and every bit as nice.

 

[ECVMatt]

I have a few Ruger 77/22' and really enjoy them. They all shoot very well, are rugged, well balanced, and the magazine is simply wonderful. I also own a CZ and am favorable impressed. I really like the 452, but I believe this model is more or less be replaced by one that is easier to manufacture. I have not handled one of the newer models, but have seen some complaints.

I would buy more Rugers without hesitation, however I really want the 1416:

http://jga.anschuetz-sport.com/index.php5?produktID=74&menu=106&sprache=1&produktShow=detail

It just looks so beautiful and balanced.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I have four CZs and had a fifth up till last week. I can say nothing bad. They are well built and accurate as far as sporters go. A great trigger can be had with no money spent.

 

[Meeteetse]

I've had a 77/22 since they first came out. At the time, the gun shop owner said I was crazy to spend $325 for a .22. That was then, today I have been offered twice as much, but I will never sell it. My version has factory iron sights and is very accurate. Great rifle.

 

[doc2rn]

Another plus one for the 77/22 MK II in all weather coating, just make sure it has a V-bolt configuration and not the screwed in barrel version.

 

[fromtheplaines]

It's a 22mag but I picked up a Mossberg chuckster. I love that gun the accuracy on it was great. Best 50 bucks I spent on a gun