Help Me Pick a .22LR

[Jayhawker]

Hello:

I'm playing with the idea of a good .22LR rifle. I'm in the market for something that is accurate and reliable. It will be scoped. I don't hunt and would use it for about everthing from plinking to trying to make as small as possible a hole in targets from 25 to 100 yds.. I can't afford a real high-dollar bench rester but don't want a peice of junk either.

What do group members suggest?

Pete

 

[Bullet Bob]

Go to rimfirecentral.com, and check out the CZ section.

 

[redbone]

I second the CZ idea. I put less than $450 into a rifle and scope, and it is a tack driver. Much more interesting than spraying lead from my 10-22 (although that has its moments also).

RBH

 

[MarineTech]

The CZ rifles are excellent for the price. You also might want to look at the Savage MKII series. Good rifles and they won't break the bank.

The Ruger 10/22s are a viable option too. They're decent out of the box, and with the wide array of aftermarket parts, they can be turned into real tack drivers.

 

[spacemanspiff]

i've tried a CZ, and i loved it.

a semi auto 22lr is fun, but i havent been able to get much accuracy with it. sure its one inch groups at 50 yards, but the CZ452 was laying shots one over the other.

and it took quite a few attempts to get the scope on my Marlin papoose to be worthwhile (thanks to Jim West at WWG it now stays put).

if i had the money though, i'd buy the cz452, a 10/22 with bull barrel, a lever, a pump, just for fun.

 

[Legionnaire]

Another vote for the CZ if you are buying new ... otherwise see if you can find a Remington 541-T. One at auctionarms right now: http://www.auctionarms.com/search/displayitem.cfm?itemnum=5754889

 

[Beetle Bailey]

I hear good things about the .22 Romanian Trainers (Century Arms has them IINM) but haven't tried one.

I recently got myself a CZ 452 Lux (I wanted an iron-sights rifle) and I think it's great and worth the money. While it is possible to mount a scope on the Lux model, it would make more sense to just get the Varmint or American models since they were designed to be used with scopes only.

For a semi-auto, I hate to simply follow the crowd but the Ruger 10/22 is probably the way to go. Just get a Green Mountain heavy barrel and your glass and you are good. You can add other aftermarket stuff as you go, too.

 

[Dave Markowitz]

I recently picked up a Savage Mark-IIGL (left-handed), with which I am very pleased. It's accurate although the trigger needs some work. It's a good value for the money, IMO.

 

[Selfdfenz]

Yep CZ.

Plenty of quality for the $. Which is going up.

Prehaps someone here that has purchased a 513 Farmer can tell us how they run. If they are like the Scouts, they are good rifles.

I have 2 CZs in 22 lr. Both great products.

S-

 

[cratz2]

Well, I owned a Savage Mk II LV which had a lot of good qualities and I owned a Marlin 882 SSV (22 Mag, but a similar 22LR is available) and both cost in the nieghborhood of $200. My 452 Varmint is just a better rifle in every possible category for about 50% more. The Varmint has a heavier barrel than the American which I also owned one of and was similarly excellent as well.

While CZ still wins in categories like 'fit and finish' and 'general feel', the trigger alone is worth the additional cost if you are really wanting an accurate rifle. I sincerely doubt that you could reaslistically make a Marlin or Savage rimfire have as good of a trigger as the CZ does out of the box, even before adjustment.

Basically, I can't say enough positive about the CZs. Of course the Kimbers and Coopers are nicer and I'm sure more accurate, but at 3x to 6x the price of the CZs.

 

[BozemanMT]

Another vote for a CZ 452.
beautiful, fun, affordable, accurate.
There seems to be a pretty good consensous on this.

 

[Jayhawker]

I'm sold. The replies are almost unamimous. Thank you everyone for your input.

Pete

 

[Sactown]

One more plug for the CZ. I have a 452 Lux and the iron sights are great and you have the option to scope when you want to shoot further.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Asking which lever gun to buy, .44 or .30-30 is like asking which woman you should marry. Go with the one that makes your heart sing.

 

[Tropical Z]

Its apparently to late,but for an inexpensive,reliable semi,its real hard to beat a Remington 597.They're superior to 10/22's in the accuracy department.

 

[mainmech48]

Just my opinion, but it seems to me that it's pretty hard to find any modern .22 that isn't capable of shooting better than 90% of us can hold for (from any position but bench rested) with the ammo it prefers.

Go out and try some on. When you find the one that "speaks" to you, get a pile of different types of ammo and have some fun finding out which works best.

With all of the choices out there of action type, size, price, "style", etc. I know that it can get pretty overwhelming. But like any other personal choice, the "best" is pretty subjective. When you run across the "right" one, you'll know it.

 

[Carlos Cabeza]

I recently bought a new .22 and I couldn't decide between the CZ or a TC classic. I eventually decided on the TC because I wanted semi auto and the price was a tad lower. I am pleased with it so far. It has a decent trigger and shoots really well. I probably go with a CZ when the new .17 HM2 comes out if they'll offer it.

 

[The Rabbi]

Another vote for the CZ. I bought an "ultra Luxe" and love it. Everything about the gun is first rate, except the price.

 

[Litefoot]

DO NOT buy a .22lr until you try a Marlin 39A or a Winchester 9422. I bought the Marlin from a fellow THR'er. He and I both agree that the Marlin has nearly equal accuracy as the CZ and being a Marlin, it's American designed and built. Even if the CZ was a tad more accurate, it's not even on the same scale in terms of history, beauty or fun as the Marlin 39A. Please accept this advice as my opinion. But I'm sure there are others who would agree. The CZ is a nice rifle, but do take a peek at that Marlin. You won't regret it.

 

[The Rabbi]

I had a Marlin lever-action like what you describe. I dont have it anymore. I do have the CZ and I expect to have it for a very long time. I will mention the CZ is also less money, afaik. But you pays your money and you takes your chances.

 

[Litefoot]

Rabbi,
Congratulations on your CZ! It's nice to have a rifle that really tickles your fancy. I feel the same way about the Marlin. I hope it will become a family heirloom. I'm a lever gun guy. Detachable-mag bolt-action .22lr rifles certainly have their place for target shooters. But they just don't float my boat. We have no idea what kind of rifle will "ring Jayhawks bell". I just think we ought to let him know of other equally good options before we ride herd into the CZ corral. My voice would seem to be in the minority here, but I can also say that your implied "negative" experience with the Marlin is very uncommon.

 

[Jayhawker]

Litefoot:

FWIW, I've got two Marlins in the safe right now. An 1894ss and 1894c. Wouldn't trade them for anything. A pair of the most accurate and "funnest to shoot" guns I've got.

Pete
(Jayhawker)

 

[Litefoot]

Jayhawker,
Then that 39A would round out an enviable collection. Whatever you decide, you're gonna have a blast shooting ALOT with the .22 LR.

 

[rauchman]

Greetings,

I have to concur with the CZ as a great choice. However, there are others out there. While I have the CZ 452 American topped with a Weaver Grand Slam 6-20 ( great combo), I also have a Ruger 10/22 with an Addams and Bennet bull barrel and Hoque rubber stock. This combo is also a tack driver ( although I need to find a different stock that I can bed). One friend of mine has the 10/22 Target and with the right ammo is producing 1/2" groups at 50 yards. Also have a Ruger 77/22, again with the right ammo is holding 1/2" groups at 50 yards. Have a Mossberg 144LB ( I think that is the right model #) with peep sights that is one heavy SOB but is very accurate as well with an exceptional trigger. Any of the Rugers can have their triggers either replaced or worked with excellent results. I have never tried a Marlin or Savage bolt gun.

On the whole, I'd still have to go with a CZ for best out of the box bolt rimfire rifle, for the price.

 

[AStone]

Reviving a silent thread w/ a question about Rem 597

I got to this party a bit late. I realize this thread has been silent since May, 2004, but I'm going to try to revive it rather than starting a new thread. Who knows, maybe things have changed in a year and a half.

{{{PS: just after posting this, I found several other threads offering opinions about the Remington 597, mostly negative. Most like the 10/22 or the Marlin 795. Still, I'll leave this one up. Ya never know.}}}

I've been looking for a good, all-round SHTF/small game/survival rifle to compliment a Remington 870 12 ga & a 9mm semi-auto pistol (Kahr K9) and perhaps a .357 revolver (yet to be decided).

I actually have another thread going on about comparing .357 v .30-30 v 30-06 v .308, thinking I was most interested in those calibers. In the last week or so, I've even began looking at other calibers like .223 & .243, but keeping in mind I want something that is reasonably available, even for a while in a TEOTW scenario.

But in discussing those calibers with THR members, the more I thought about it, and what - exactly - I would want a rifle for, the more I began to realize that perhaps it's not deer & elk that I want to take but smaller game, especially in a survival type situation where preservation of a large animal is less practical.

I've also been aware that my 870 12 ga will take deer at reasonable (< 100 yds) distances, so a .30 cal may be just redundant.

So tonight, I started reading threads on .22LR. I found about 6 or 7 dealing with its relevance for SHTF/TEOTWAWKI/survival type situations. Here's a particularly relevant thread that really got my interest.

Many, many members in those threads recommended the .22LR as a very worthy caliber. In fact, many said if they could have only one in a SHTF/TEOTW situation, it'd be the .22LR. (Perhaps augmented by a .30, but see my comment about my 12 ga.)

So, the .22LR has my attention. Seems like a worthy addition to the arsenal. It's easily conceivable that I could wind up with both .22LR AND something in the .30 caliber realm, but the .22LR seems very worthy of consideration.

I've read this thread carefully, and looked at web sites for all the rifles mentioned: CZ, Ruger 10/22, Savage MKII, Marlin 39A, Remington 597.

I'll confess that: 1) I'm leaning towards semi-auto, and 2) I've got a fondness for Remington guns. My 870 is going to be a Remington, and I owned a .22 Remington semi-auto as a kid; loved it.

Yet, I found it interesting that only one person - Tropical Z - recommended the Remington 597.

I'd appreciate hearing any opinions on that gun, especially how it compares to the Savage 64's and the Ruger 10/22's.

And, of course, I'm open to any arguments or suggestions about why I should consider a bolt action like the CZ instead of a semi-auto. Price is not so much an issue here. I'm after quality, and in any case, I'm going to be spending less for a .22LR than I would for a .30-30, .30-06 or .308.

Thanks in advance for any recommendations.

Nem