decent .22LR rifle for wife/practice

[judaspriest]

I am thinking of getting an inexpensive used .22 for cheaper practice as well as to introduce my wife's to the wonderful world of rifle shooting.

I am not looking for match-quality, obviously, rather something that is reasonably easy to use/maintain/find parts for if need be that can be used for decent practice as well (good iron sights and an inexpensive scope in the future).

What brands/models/features would you recommend? Are there any gotchas?

I will most likely be buying at a gun show - is there anything to watch out for?

As always, will much appreciate any tips

Thanks

JP

 

[ArmedBear]

I like my Marlin 60. I bought it new recently, for $120. It wears an inexpensive scope, and it's accurate, cheap and easy to shoot and clean.

 

[judaspriest]

Oh, forgot to mention, I think I'd rather go with a bolt - simpler and better as an intro rifle (disciplines the shooter).

Marlin 60 is nice indeed, but it's a semi, something I can do without at this point, thanks though

 

[NavyLCDR]

If you really want your wife to get into shooting and enjoy it, then I would let her pick out her own gun.

That being said, my wife picked out a Stag Arms AR-15 for Christmas, a S&W .460 for her birthday and a Taurus 44Ten for Valentine's Day.

 

[okiewita40]

I just got my son his first .22 I got him a marlin 60 at a pawn shop. Paid a whopping $60 for it. It shoots great is big enough that either of us can carry/shoot it comfortably. I would also recommend a ruger 10/22.

It was said before but take the wife along and let her handle them and see what she likes.

 

[trueg50]

I would recommend a 10/22. Easy to use, accurate enough for what ever you want it for.

 

[pax]

CZ 452 Scout.

pax

 

[Navy87Guy]

I think any of the standard Savage offerings in .22LR would suit your needs.

Jim

 

[YardVarmint]

Get her one of the basic CZ-USA brand trainers.

 

[Selfdfenz]

CZ
Toz 78 [1 or 4]
Savage with the Accutrigger
Marlin

In that order.

Best

S-

 

[KBintheSLC]

I would get her a Ruger 10/22. I started on my fathers 10/22 at the age of five, shot it for 15 years, then bought my own... had it for over a decade now & still love it like day one... I have recently beefed it up into a $500 super build.

It is a great starter gun that she will not get sick of after a few months/years/decades. They are cheap too... brand new it's under $200 OTD.

 

[Gustav]

Semi Auto entry level either Ruger 10/22 or Marlin 60/Papoose

Semi auto higher grade Browning .22 Takedown grade I or II

Bolt Action entry level any Marlin or a used Savage bolt action .22

Bolt action higher end Ruger 77/22 CZ 452 or Kimber 82

Lever action either a Marlin 39 or used Winchester 9422

Any of these would serve a lifetime of shooting and plinking.

Best of luck

 

[TexasRifleman]

Semi auto higher grade Browning .22 Takedown grade I or II

ALWAYS my favorite choice for gift guns.

My dad gave me one, I gave my kid one. Just a beautiful little rifle with a classic look. More than a plinker price but it turns a gift into a lifetime heirloom.

 

[jmorris]

For the ladies and small kids, I tend to shy away from magazine feeds as they tend to be more difficult to load (give your wife a mark II to try and you’ll see what I mean). I also don’t really like most all tube fed rifles for new shooters as hands tend to be in front of the muzzle (against rule #1). Those two eliminate quite a few but good choices still exist, the browning 22 semi is one that fills the bill. It feeds from the stock and as an added bonus ejects from the bottom so your not chunking brass on the shooter next to you, just watch loose fitting long sleeve shirts (that brass is still hot). Another rifle I really like to teach with is the Savage model 24. As an over under 22lr/20ga you get two guns at once, it’s a single shot break open (one of each) about the safest you can get and heavy enough to keep recoil down to an acceptable level for new shot gunners. Of course there are many single shot bolt actions that are very well suited to teaching new shooter skills. I will agree with the above, let her pick it out, she needs to know your not getting a new toy, she is.

 

[DnPRK]

Today is 10/22, so I recommend a 10/22. Seriously, 10/22s have a wide following and have a lot of aftermarket parts available (stocks, triggers, barrels, magazines, sights, Etc). You just don't get that type of support unless the basic platform is something special.

 

[strickj]

If you really want your wife to get into shooting and enjoy it, then I would let her pick out her own gun.

That being said, my wife picked out a Stag Arms AR-15 for Christmas, a S&W .460 for her birthday and a Taurus 44Ten for Valentine's Day

where can i find a wife like that

 

[hksw]

IMO, without question, a CZ 452/453.

I'm not understanding why folks are suggesting semis, in particular 10/22s, when the poster specifies bolt. Nothing against the 10/22, I have 10 of them.

 

[BridgeWalker]

For the ladies and small kids, I tend to shy away from magazine feeds as they tend to be more difficult to load (give your wife a mark II to try and you’ll see what I mean).

Thanks so much. My child-like inability to understand and manipulate magazines makes me so grateful for men like you! /sarcasm

 

[jmorris]

Well delta9, if you look in midway, brownells, etc. you will find many different devices to help “the manly man” load his glock mag, AR mag, AK, MP5 so I wasn’t knocking women (you can ask my shooting partner Mrs. Morris if you don’t believe me). KISS is the method I prefer to teach new shooters with. Single shots, revolvers and the like, less is more for the new shooter, they have plenty to remember already. If the shooter is right at home with a 21# recoil spring in a full size 1911, then loading a relatively small mag is likely not difficult for them. Most, not all, new shooters of small stature (modified so not to be sexist or biased against children) do in fact have a problem with the above. The main goal should be to keep the new shooter as comfortable as possible. Remember, you want them to enjoy shooting and keep coming back. Take a new shooter out and teach them with a 50BMG or a scandium 44mag if you want, I enjoy shooting with my wife and it’s through her ability (and comfort) my advice comes. Look at the OP’s original post for the words “introduce, easy to use, are there any gotchas”, then reread my first post.

 

[Average Joe]

Ruger 10/22 or Marlin Model 60

 

[eliphalet]

CZ 452, older Remington or Winchester bolt's. I kinda like the Marlin 881 when it had a wood stock, nice still but synthetic, and of course Savage bolt guns are good too. Have her look at some she and see what she likes. My wife likes "Pretty guns" so we have a Golden boy and some wood stocks with stainless which look nice together.

 

[BridgeWalker]

Well delta9, if you look in midway, brownells, etc. you will find many different devices to help “the manly man” load his glock mag, AR mag, AK, MP5 so I wasn’t knocking women (you can ask my shooting partner Mrs. Morris if you don’t believe me). KISS is the method I prefer to teach new shooters with.

I fully appreciate the KISS approach. But you did not say "new shooters". You said "the ladies and small kids."

This implied that new shooters who are men and older kids and teens don't have to shy away from mags.

Maybe if you mean new shooters you oughta' say new shooters. And if you don't mean that "the ladies," like "small kids" needs things kept nice and easy, you maybe shouldn't say so.

Most, not all, new shooters of small stature (modified so not to be sexist or biased against children)

I'm 5'8"/180. My female cousin who went shooting with me this past weekend is 5'11"/240. It might behoove you to remember that not all women are small-statured, just like not all men are large.[/quote]

 

[Adolphus]

My first rifle was a Ruger 10/22 Carbine with the composite stock and stainless steel hardware instead of the traditional wood grain and blueing. Granted it is a semi automatic, but I'm assuming there has to be a bolt action alternative. I think the untraditional looks of the gun is it's selling point, that and I always found it to be reliable.

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

Don't buy a used gun at a gun show. You might be suprised at what you get. There are a lot of problematic guns offered for sale at gun shows.

If you are really interested in getting your wife hooked on shooting, get her a decent rifle. Normally I'd recommend a cz452 (you won't be needing any parts). If she is on the smallish side I'd consider the cz scout. Savage/Stevens make excellent .22's for the money too.

 

[kingpin008]

I'm not understanding why folks are suggesting semis, in particular 10/22s, when the poster specifies bolt.

He does? Where?

Like the others, I'll throw in my vote for a 10/22. Easy to use, light, infinitely customizable, and readily found virtually anywhere they sell guns for very little $$$.