Experiences with inexpensive .22LR bolt-actions

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rbuck82

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Hey, folks. So, I'm in the market for an inexpensive .22 bolt-action. Anyone have any suggestions? I would define inexpensive as under $200. Hey, I'd love a Sako, Remington, Winchester or Browning, but I don't need to blow that much cash to plink at pop cans, ya know? I'm considering the usual suspects like Marlin, Savage, etc. Some people will say CZ, and believe me, that's really got me interested. I do eventually want the 527 in 7.62x39, but for little old .22 rimfire, I'd say $100-$150 ought to do just fine.

Anyone want to tell me about your experiences with rifles in this category? I need suggestions and opinions, so fire away!
 
I bought the cheapest--a surplus Romanian Model 1969 trainer. $60. Got it for my son. Shoots very well. It had trouble feeding from the magazine when I first got it. But my friendly firearms forum had me fixed up in no time.

Liked it so much I got another for myself. This one has no troubles out of the box.

My wife bought me a Marlin Model 60 20 years ago. I still like that a lot. Not nearly as easy to clean as the bolt gun. But significantly more accurate than a 10/22. (Got one of those, too. ) 10/22 is a great gun for customizing, but I'm not impressed with out-of-the-box performance.

People with those CZ-452's seem to really like them....
 
I have two CZ 452 models. A Special for me and a Scout for my son.

The quality, accuracy and dependability of both are far in excess of what I paid for them.

If you can find a Special/Trainer locally go look it over then go out to WalMart and the local sporting goods places and look at the competition at whatever $ they are. I think that will answer a lot of your questions.

CZ has recently introduced an new adult sized rifle called the 512 (or was it 513) Farmer. I've handled one and for about 170-180$ they seem to be a fair value. You get better sights and a better trigger on the Special and it is worth the difference to go with the higher $ gun IMO but the 51? might be just what you are looking for.

If you are inclined to order one, Whittakers Guns in KY has about the best $ on them if you can deal with a local FFL for the transfer cheaper than buying off the shelf.

You will get a lot of good information here but also go over to Rimfire Central and do some searches. Tons of info and like here great people.

When you consider an automatic don't neglect to look at the Marlin 7000.
It has a heavy trigger when new and can't be customized like the 10/22 or 597 Rem but for 169-189$ it's a great rifle and comes with a medium weight bull barrel. You will need a scope as it has no iron sights.

Gotta love those 22s.
Best
S-
 
Do you absolutely need it to be a bolt? Otherwise, a Ruger 10/22 or a Marlin 60..
CAN'T GO WRONG..

If you own a Ruger M77, then logistically I'd suggest a 77/22.. Otherwise, they are too pricey.
 
When I finally got around to getting my .22lr bolt action, I went with the CZ452 Lux. As you may know, the Special/Trainer is the exact same rifle, but with a beech stock instead of walnut. While I admit I didn't really give the other alternatives a real chance, I also wholeheartedly recommend that rifle to anyone. The fully adjustable sights mean once you sight it in, you can be very precise. I set mine up to hit 1 inch high with the Wolf ammo so when I shoot, I just have to use a 6 o'clock hold on anything I want to shoot. It's great for bullseyes and steel targets. The bolt is smooth and fast, which just makes it nicer. Everybody who's shot it has been impressed.

As for the expense, I went ahead and did it figuring that I would save so much money shooting .22lr (even the Match Target Wolf!) instead of the centerfire rounds, it would pay for itself in a few months anyways. Also, the rifle should last decades, so a little bit higher price-tag wasn't too big a deal.

Regardless of what you finally decide on, I'm sure you'll enjoy it. An iron-sights lightweight .22lr bolt-action rifle is one of my smartest purchases ever. . .
 
How about a pump-action instead of a bolt-action? I have a Taurus M62 carbine that is a remake of the Winchester M62. It's a sweeet little pump 22 that is more accurate than I am. It breaks down for easy transport/storage. Cost me $125 new. Faster than a bolt too.
 
Years ago I bought the oldest Incubus a Ruger 77/22; the blued with synthetic stock. Nice rifle, accurate enough for him. Had a 4 power scope of unrecalled provenance on it and it did just fine.

If I were in the market for an additional .22 I'd maybe buy another, but maybe a CZ would be just fine, too. As for my personal .22's, I have an old Walther Sportmodell V and a Remmy Targetmaster that rode in the trunk of my grandmother's cars for about 50 years. I've got a Browning auto, but that's a different story.

Regards,
Rabbit.
 
Used Rem 514 Single shot.
Seems to me I paid ~ $35 at the pawn shop.
Accurate, fun, and my excuse for buyng it - was teaching new folks with iron sights.
I could even shoot shorts, longs and Long rifle through it.

Something about old single shot rim fires and shot guns... draw me toward them...
 
As nice as it feels to have a new gun unused out of the box etc, some of the best buys around are old used .22RFs IMO. I would have a really good look around the newspaper and local paper classifieds, gunshows, dealers and pawn shops before buying new. Unless neglected or abused, it is very hard to wear out a .22RF.

Having said that, if I were shopping for a new one now in the value for money catagory I would seriously look at the CZ offerings, as well as Marlin and Savage.
 
I second the Romanian bolt action.
Also, using a safety-award card for $100 that my employer gave me a few months ago, I bought a Savage bolt action 22 from Walmart. I forget the model. Black synthetic stock, ten round mag, even came with a Simmons scope...$99. Not bad at all. As a matter of fact pretty good. I keep it in the truck as a plinker to pop by the range on the way home from work. In about 1000 rounds, it has held zero on the scope, never jams and is about as accurate [for a plinker] a 22 I have shot.
 
I've got a Glenfeild mod 15 that I've had now for over 20 years. The squirrels in my old stomping grounds still shudder at the thought of it. Used to go down to the sewer lagoon and shoot turtles so fast and furious that I would have to let it cool down when it got so hot it wouldn't extract the shells.Still would do 1/2inch groups at 50yrds with anything I fed it until last year.

Last year I got a wild hair, painted the stock black, inletted the stock to float the barrel, lightened the tirgger. Now it will do 1/3" groups at 50 yrds, unfortunately, it will also go off if you bump it on the bench. Apparently there is such a thing as too light a trigger. Saw one just yesterday at a pawn shop for $35. Awful tempting...
 
bolt action

people are offering you semis, all very good plinkers. But if you really want a bolt action do youself a favor and find a CZ452 lux. I paid $219 for mine and I can shoot with my friends and the IZH biathalons.

It is a real rifle, great size and finish. I love mine. Only problem, scope rings were hard to find.

Axe
 
Thanks for all the replies. I've been so tempted by the CZ, and now I'm being pushed further....further....further! :)
 
I bought a Remington 582 new in 1977 for around $80. It has been exceptionally accurate with most brands of ammo, and has been 100% reliable for thousands of rounds.
 
I have a Marlin 81TS. They were going for $140 a while back at Gander Mountain. Tube fed bolt action, nice, STURDY (moreso than several centerfires I've handled) synthetic stock.
Standing at 35 yards, shooting Remington High Velocity Solids (golden bullets) and using a cheap BSA .22 special 4X scope and a fence post to rest the front of the gun on, I could easily get half inch (5 shot) groups with it. Best was about 1/3" inches edge to edge.
The scope sucked and severely pissed me off so I've been shooting it with the factory iron sights lately. Haven't done anything too serious for grouping but I can hit a 1 quart oil bottle out to 100 yards, off hand standing.
This gun is stone cold reliable, cheap, and its more accurate than anyone but the most serious target shooter will ever need.

I should note that I had to put a little lighter return spring in the trigger (15 minute job).
I also had to mess around and find ammo that it likes. Remington Golden bullet solids were best, followed closely by Winchest Power Points, and CCI Mini Mags. It shoots Federal Lightnings all over the place and and dedicated target ammo like Eley or PMC was about like power points or mini mags. This is something you will find with all .22's they are ammo sensitive. Its fun to go to the store and buy a box of everything on the shelf and go shoot em up though :D
 
I bought my CZ Special in 2002 for $189. The accuracy has exceeded all my expectations! It shoots as well (or better!) than rifles costing hundreds of dollars more.
 
marlin glenfield model 20. over 30 years old. countless thousands of rounds. still two shots one hole at 50 feet. federal bulk LR.

marlin 25... english sparrows at the bird feeder open sights....never miss.

If you just want a inexpensive accurate .22 bolt for anything and everything without worry get a 925 marlin or a used 25.
 
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