Help me choose a rifle...

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LevelHead

LevelHead

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I've had sniper rifles, hunting rifles, 45 Colt lever rifles etc. etc.

I've never had a .22 rifle. I'm thinking I want one, though I'm not sure it's the right choice.

We live in the woods and I'd like something for varmints. Varmints include up to a racoon.

Is a .22LR enough? Would a 357 lever be better? Well I know it would be better... would it be a wiser choice?

I want the rifle for:

Teaching my wife and daughters to shoot
Varmints
Fun plinking

When put in the .38/.357 range, it could be used for home defense. I would not use a .22 for home defense ('nother thread. :) )

I held a Henry Goldenboy and fell in love with the action, but it was pricey, and I just plain didn;t like the stock - no cheek weld for me. Am I using it wrong?

Marlin lever .22 was nice - $100+ cheaper too.

I'm not a huge fan of the 10/22, but I could be convinced - can get one of those DIRT cheep too!

So. Recommendations all?

Thanks,
 
Every man needs a good .22 in the closet. I really like the Marlin .22's either in LR or Mag but for plinking I'd go with an LR just for economies sake I also have a 77/22 that I like. Just needs that teague sear kit to make the trigger nice.
 
Everyone needs to own at the very least, a Marlin model 60 and a Ruger 10/22... Grandsons love em... :D

On the other hand, you need a few slabsides as well... :D
 
Everyman needs a 10/22 I love mine. I got the Walmart only version of it for dirt cheep price marked wrong and prefer it over a std 10/22.. the Std stock is way to short for me
 
rside1.jpg


Everyone needs one ;) :D .

Where've you been hiding man? Drop by the dog house more often.

Gre ... aw heck, you know who I am :D .
 
.22LR Rifle?

The Ruger 10/22 is a neat gun to shoot varmints with and just plink with too. I have two of them and enjoy them, but if you are teaching kids and wife to shoot, get a bolt action .22LR.

I have a CZ 452 with the beechwood stock and schnabel forend that I picked up from my FFL for $200. Great deal...well made...and shoots great. I mounted a scope on it (Bushnell Sportsman w/ AO) and use it for Sporter Rifle competition at my local club. And have used it to teach my 11 yr old son about the finer points of shooting/safety, etc....

Have looked at other bolt actions but have yet to see anything that strikes me as a better value than the CZ 452.

My $ .02

Sensei
 
Maybe look at the Marlin bolt-actions or the Remington 597 autoloaders.
Two nice regular size .22LR rifles.
Could be a good thing to get one of each!
Have fun and buy a few bricks to burn through your new .22 rifle(s).:)
 
.22's just don't come any better than the Marlin 39A...

Find someone who has one and try it.:)

Everybody needs a .22 rifle.

A .357 lever action is just about perfect for the sort of 'woods duty' you describe.

Get one of each.:D

You know you want to!
 
Never had a .22? Seems hard to believe :).

The Marlin 39 is a fine choice. Excellent worksmanship, made in America, and a nice rifle for people to learn on. It looks good to my eyes, as well.

High or hyper velocity hollowpoints should be able to take care of raccoons. Of course, if you're going coon hunting, it might be hard to work the lever when you're low to the ground (most coon hunters I know are pretty stealthy guys :) ).
 
I held a Henry Goldenboy and fell in love with the action, but it was pricey, and I just plain didn;t like the stock - no cheek weld for me. Am I using it wrong?
Click to expand...
Try their regular lever model, or the pump. They also make a Youth model lever with a shorter barrel and length of pull for the Mrs. and child, while not being uncomfortable for your use.


Marlin lever .22 was nice - $100+ cheaper too.
Click to expand...
If you're speaking of a Model 39 series Marlin, and it's tagged cheaper than the Golden Boy, BUY IT!:D However, Marlin made an econo-lever years ago (that looks like a Ruger 96/22), and it's NOT the same gun.
 
If you want a rifle capable of match grade accuracy for around $200 then I would suggest a CZ 452. I have one and I have to say that it is definitely the best .22 I have ever shot.
I owned a Winchester 94/22 before that. It was an accurate rifle and it only jammed a few times in the thousands of rounds I put through it (all were easily cleared and probably due to inconsistent ammo) but it still didn't stack up to the CZ so I sold it.
I also have a 10/22 that belonged to my dad since sometime in the '70's and that was passed to me about 10 years ago. It has been very reliable. I can only remember a handful of jams in all the years that I have been shooting it, and that is still saying alot. The action wasn't cleaned from the time it was bought until it became mine. It is a good plinker and great for teaching new shooters, but it is still nothing like the CZ 452. An accurized one might come close though.
 
22

I think walmart still has a stainless/laminate 10/22 for just under 200 bucks. Its a nice looking gun and its got a slightly longer barrel if you wanna teach shooting open sights, it would have an accuracy advantage over the normal carbine models.
 
Ill third that 39A.i've got 1,walnut furniture..all steel.I picked up the "jm"hammer shoe and the weaver base.(lost the original marlin steel base)the 39M is a shorter version,just as accurate and well made.my marlin has gone on coon hunts,rabbits,squirrel and just about any rodent hunt.it was my pigeon buster for many many years on the farm.you can shoot shorts as well as long rifle ammo in it ..interchangably.
 
Update:

Local shop, much to my surprise had a youth model Henry .22 lever. $219 out the door and it's mine - I pick it up tomorow.

It's absolutely perfect. My wife is small and always jokes that she needs a kid's gun. Well now she's got one. :) It will be awesome for teaching both her and my girls when they're old enough.

The action is like butter, I can still shoot it, and it's everything I want in a .22.

Thanks all!

And Greg - I'm around. the dog house has taken on a life of it's own... It's hard to keep up. In fact I barely have time for ANY place online anymore. I only come here when I need something specific... Like something nice form the classifieds. :)

Oh and that dual-10/22-gatling thing? Too cool for my wife. :evil:

Thanks all!
 
So Greg L, can you elaborate any on how you manufactured that beauty. Specs, accuracy, etc. would be interesting too. I want one.
Ross
 
Good choice on the Henry. I got the same (youth model) for my oldest a couple of years ago. It's worked great so far & best of all you can load the tube up with Colibris & they will feed with no problems. Nice quiet backyard plinking.

Greg
 
A 22 lr is the most versitile choice. I really like the little CZ 452 American. A great buy. However, most any quallity bolt or self loading rifle will do. Try to handle several and pick what works for you.
 
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