Can someone recommend a high quality .22 LR rifle?
- Thread starter catargetshooter
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RugerOldArmy
Member
In that budget, I'd look at CZ 452/453 or Marlin 39.
If you go up in budget, look at Annies or older Win 52(s).
I still remember Rembrandt's picture of his old Win 52 (Post a pic of that sucker again Rembrandt!)
If you go up in budget, look at Annies or older Win 52(s).
I still remember Rembrandt's picture of his old Win 52 (Post a pic of that sucker again Rembrandt!)
rangerruck
Member
anything old will be good, pre 80's , made by savage, springfield, mossberg, marlin , henry, even bolt action rugers. Why anyone here would suggest to a rimfire newbie to get as his first gun a semiauto Ruger 10.22 is beyond comprehension. Unless your goal is to possibly turn them off to rimfire shooting for all times. The ruger 10.22 , which I have , and think is great, is not a beginner's rifle, now or ever. This rifle should be had by people with rifle experience, semi auto experience, not afraid to use tools on it, understanding of basic rifle parts, and how they function, you know, things like this.
Any bolty or semi auto, old or new, remington , winchester, mossberg, marlin, or savage/springfield, will be better, more beautiful, more accurate, and more reliable, than any 10.22
With that, the cz will be the best rifle under 500 bucks, and the Annie's will be the best for 500 and up.
Any bolty or semi auto, old or new, remington , winchester, mossberg, marlin, or savage/springfield, will be better, more beautiful, more accurate, and more reliable, than any 10.22
With that, the cz will be the best rifle under 500 bucks, and the Annie's will be the best for 500 and up.
BryanP
Member
Out of the box the CZ 452 will be significantly more accurate than the 10/22. The 10/22 can be modified / upgraded to be much more accurate. It's inexpensive and can be easily modified by end users without the services of a gunsmith, which has made the 10/22 into something of an industry. It's quite the hobbiest gun.
wadeXD-40
Member
Ruger 10/22
22-rimfire
Member
I resisted buying a CZ452 for some time. Just picked one up with the heavy varmint barrel and have not shot it yet. However, the CZ452 is probably the best mid-priced 22 rifle for the buck and they are consistantly accurate out of the box to shoot 1/2" groups at 50 yds with good ammunition.
The Thompson Center (TC) R-55 is also typically very accurate out of the box. They are a semi-auto and will outshoot most Ruger 10/22's out of the box. The good thing about the 10/22 is that there are many aftermarket things available for it from target barrels, trigger kits, new stocks, large capacity magazines that work and so forth. If you want a 22 to plink with go with the 10/22 or plan on customizing it to make it shoot as good as the CZ's without any modifications.
If you want to step up in price consider the Weatherby Mark XXII which will run you around $750-$800 new. They are essentially a Anshutz Model 64 rifle with a fancy Weatherby stock. Got one.
On the used market, the Remington Model 541-S or -T are excellent. I believe they are better than the current Model 504's or Model 5. Remington is coming out with a Model 547 this year that will probably be consistant with the older 541's in terms of shooting and accuracy.
Other 22's. Marlins and Savage (bolt actions and semi-auto) are consistantly good rifles for the dollar. They are generally not up to a CZ452 in accuracy but some will hold their own. The Marlin 39A is excellent! I have no experience with the Henry lever actions although I hear good things about them. The Remington 597 is a semi-auto 22 that some have very good luck with. Cooper and Kimbers are some of the best as are Anshutz's. You can never go wrong with an Anshutz.
I still recommend the CZ452 for value for a mid-range 22 bolt action rifle for overall accuracy out of the box, stock, reliability, and fit and finish. That is where I would start and you can go up from that point if your interest continues to grow with 22 rifles.
The Thompson Center (TC) R-55 is also typically very accurate out of the box. They are a semi-auto and will outshoot most Ruger 10/22's out of the box. The good thing about the 10/22 is that there are many aftermarket things available for it from target barrels, trigger kits, new stocks, large capacity magazines that work and so forth. If you want a 22 to plink with go with the 10/22 or plan on customizing it to make it shoot as good as the CZ's without any modifications.
If you want to step up in price consider the Weatherby Mark XXII which will run you around $750-$800 new. They are essentially a Anshutz Model 64 rifle with a fancy Weatherby stock. Got one.
On the used market, the Remington Model 541-S or -T are excellent. I believe they are better than the current Model 504's or Model 5. Remington is coming out with a Model 547 this year that will probably be consistant with the older 541's in terms of shooting and accuracy.
Other 22's. Marlins and Savage (bolt actions and semi-auto) are consistantly good rifles for the dollar. They are generally not up to a CZ452 in accuracy but some will hold their own. The Marlin 39A is excellent! I have no experience with the Henry lever actions although I hear good things about them. The Remington 597 is a semi-auto 22 that some have very good luck with. Cooper and Kimbers are some of the best as are Anshutz's. You can never go wrong with an Anshutz.
I still recommend the CZ452 for value for a mid-range 22 bolt action rifle for overall accuracy out of the box, stock, reliability, and fit and finish. That is where I would start and you can go up from that point if your interest continues to grow with 22 rifles.
Regolith
Member
Find a nice used bolt action. That will be the best bang for you buck. I've got a 60 or so year old bolt action Stevens Model 66B my father picked up for $75 10 years ago that shoots extremely well. Just make sure to inspect them and make sure there isn't any bad rust or pitting, especially in the barrel, and make sure that the firing pin hasn't caused any damage to the chamber due to dry firing (NEVER dry fire a .22LR unless the manufacturer specifically says you can, as it can cause damage to the chamber).
sarduy
Member
i would recommend the Savage Mark II
Seafarer12
Member
I love my Remington 572 fieldmaster. I like it a lot better than my 10/22. The only thing 10/22's have going for them is a very strong aftermarket and they are easy to modify. There are a lot nicer 22's out there than the 10/22.
BLACKHAWKNJ
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High price does not guarantee accuracy. One friend has an H&R 800 "Super Lynx" or something like that, 1950s vintage .22 semi automatic, he bought it
three years ago. Stock is rather clunky, the trigger ergonomics are not that great, but it is ACCURATE! He said he paid $100 for it.
three years ago. Stock is rather clunky, the trigger ergonomics are not that great, but it is ACCURATE! He said he paid $100 for it.
BryanP's post is pretty much what I would suggest.
Out of the box, the CZ will outshoot the 10/22s without breathing hard. The 10/22s, however can be heavily modded to shoot as accurately if not better. This will incur additional costs, though.
Being relatively to to rifling, I took it from the first post that the OP was probably not willing to spend $1200+ on a rimfire for the first time. The CZs are it for new guns, IMO.
If you can stretch it a little bit over $600, a new Anschütz 1416 is within reach.
Out of the box, the CZ will outshoot the 10/22s without breathing hard. The 10/22s, however can be heavily modded to shoot as accurately if not better. This will incur additional costs, though.
Being relatively to to rifling, I took it from the first post that the OP was probably not willing to spend $1200+ on a rimfire for the first time. The CZs are it for new guns, IMO.
If you can stretch it a little bit over $600, a new Anschütz 1416 is within reach.
Here's a Model 52
going in the $650 range. A fine specimen.
http://gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=92602637
going in the $650 range. A fine specimen.
http://gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=92602637
Magnuumpwr
Member
Not to burst anyones bubbles, but have you looked at the Browning Buckmark rifles? I own a buckmark with an 18" bull barrel and also own 2 buckmark camper pistols. Both the rifles and pistols have all of their controls in the same places (slide release, bolt hold open, mag release). Another plus is that they use the same 10 shot mags. Accuracy is stunning in both the rifle and pistols. Both the rifles and pistols have a better finish than the 10/22's, they have a real finish as opposed to a flakable coating. And for those about to get mad about the 10/22 reference, I own an older 10/22 and think ruger cut corners using the painted coatings on their rifles.
SwampWolf
Member
I would recommend a Ruger 77/22. A nice looking and handling little bolt-action that is accurate and relatively affordable ($350.00, or so "street" price).
I own a T/C R-55 and my recommendation would be any of the CZ bolt rifles. Rembrandt is right in stating that they are not "high end" rifles but they sure shoot like high end rifles. I compete in a rimfire bench rest league and am getting tired of getting my butt kicked by guys with CZ bolties!
Proof that it is not my shooting came when one of the guys let me borrow his rifle to shoot in the unlimited class and I was one of the top shooters in that match.
Proof that it is not my shooting came when one of the guys let me borrow his rifle to shoot in the unlimited class and I was one of the top shooters in that match.
CajunBass
Member
I don't remember the last time I actually saw a pure "junk" 22 rifle. There are some I like more than others, but I pretty much like all of them. Some are more accurate than others, some are more fun.
Think about what YOU like in a rifle and get something that fills that bill. If you're new to rifles, they'll all shoot better than you (or I) can. They'll all feed ammo most of the time, and they'll all malfunction once in a while. It's usually the ammos fault, not the guns.
There's no need to spend a ton of money at first. Get a Ruger 10/22, Remington 597, Henry Lever, Marlin 60, or any of the Marlin bolt action guns, for a couple hundred bucks. "I like the way it looks" is probably just as good a reason to buy one as the other. Spend another couple hundred on ammo and go have fun.
Think about what YOU like in a rifle and get something that fills that bill. If you're new to rifles, they'll all shoot better than you (or I) can. They'll all feed ammo most of the time, and they'll all malfunction once in a while. It's usually the ammos fault, not the guns.
There's no need to spend a ton of money at first. Get a Ruger 10/22, Remington 597, Henry Lever, Marlin 60, or any of the Marlin bolt action guns, for a couple hundred bucks. "I like the way it looks" is probably just as good a reason to buy one as the other. Spend another couple hundred on ammo and go have fun.
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