hunting vs target .22

[Oldschooljeep48]

hey guys, im new here and i was wondering what makes the diffrence between a good target rifle and a good hunting rifle?

im looking at the ruger 77/22 and the cz 513 primarly but am open to thoughts. i plant to do a good mix of traget shooting, small game hunting, and just fun plinking.

thanks!

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

Hunting .22 is usually shorter/smaller/lighter weight with iron sights or low-powered optics.

Target .22 is usually longer/bigger/heavier, with higher powered optic.

But of course, you could build a mixed/hybrid, that is good, but not great, for both purposes. It's a fine line between the two.

Either one of those two would work well for your purposes. But buying a CZ will give more pride of ownership, IMO, and likely be more accurate, too. But instead of the 513 Basic, get the 452 Scout - they are the exact same price, last time I checked, but the 452 Scout is a better rifle in 3 ways: better sights, single shot adapter, and "better" barrel length - at least I like the 16" shorter barrel espec. for your purpose (and I think it may have nicer wood to boot).

But the drawback is it does have a very short LOP, so if you're gonna shoot it with irons, no problem, but you'll probably need to add a 1" recoil pad to make it long enough to shoot comfortably with optics.

 

[PurdueRifleman2008]

i plant to do a good mix of traget shooting, small game hunting, and just fun plinking.

For those same reasons, I bought a CZ-452 LUX. It's a bit long, but I don't mind. No real complaints with it except for the tiny amount of creep in the stock trigger. This will change soon.

I've never shot a 513 but I'm sure it has at least similar accuracy in a smaller package.

 

[Rembrandt]

You'll get responses that this gun or that is a target rifle....but a traditional .22 target rifle will have:
- heavier barrel
- rear peep sights, hooded front sight with interchangeable inserts
- rail or provision to attach a handstop & sling
- wider stock forearm

Marlin 2000L, Savage 990tr, Win 75 & 52, etc.....

 

[ArmedBear]

i plant to do a good mix of traget shooting, small game hunting, and just fun plinking.

A Marlin 60 will do that as well as anything out there, and better than most. With the extra money, put a really nice scope on it.

For serious target shooting, a bolt gun is, of course, great. I'd get a CZ 452. The trigger is worth the extra money. SO worth.

For serious fun plinking and more casual target shooting, a lever gun is my favorite BY FAR. Anyone who tries one of mine so far has agreed. (Second choice is a .22LR AR build I did...) Bolt gun doesn't even make the list.

Small game, especially rabbit, moves fast. The 60 can keep up with it, and it's also quite accurate and just an easy, fun shooter for plinking. Trigger isn't like a CZ boltie, but it can be improved for free.

 

[Eb1]

My Model 60 will shoot as good as any .22 LR I have seen or shot. I have no need for a $3000 .22 LR. Especially when at 50 yards I can put 5 shots in one .25" hole with a $125.00 rifle.

 

[JohnBT]

You have a very rare rifle.

John

 

[ArmedBear]

You have a very rare rifle.

John

No, he has the most common .22 in existence.

You must be a 10/22 guy.

 

[desidog]

I have a Marlin 99 and 3 10/22s with different setups.

Any accurate gun can be a target rifle, but for hunting you want something with weildablity; fast handling, and easy to point in the right direction.

A target rifle is generally heavy, a hunting rifle light - what would you rather carry all day vs. set on a bench? A target gun can have a super-powered scope, since it doesn't matter if you have to search for the paper for a second or two - it ain't running off! If you're hunting, and you cannot find the rabbit in the scope before it makes tracks...well, you get the idea.

I like the 10/22 because it's semi auto, and has a bunch of aftermarket options - the 77/22 is nice (i've shot a buddy's all-weather a fair bit off his back porch); however, CZ makes very nice looking, accurate guns, with good iron sights, trigger etc. - and I would definitely get the CZ over the 77/22. No question.

 

[gunsandreligion]

The henry lever action 22 or the marlin 39a are hard to beat and as armedbear said levers are the absolute funest 22 out there. I love my stock 10/22 and the marlin 60's I'v shot but if you try for a rem 597 just hope you dont have my experience:banghead:

 

[rangerruck]

target 22, has smaller groups, no fliers, and highly predictable when shooting.
the hunting 22 can be good, can shoot small groups, but most assuredly will piss you off, when least expected. that is how you tell the diff.

 

[Hostile Amish]

If you could afford an Anschutz it will serve you both ways.

 

[woof]

I vote for CZ 452. If your target shooting is more serious go to 453 for single set trigger. If you want to spend less drop back to Savage Mark II. If this is to be your only .22 I would make it a bolt, much as I respect the Marlin 60.

 

[mcdonl]

I have both the 10/22 and Model 60 and they are both awesome guns.

I will say this though.... my 70's vintage 10/22 is far better then my latest purchase. The Model 60 does not seem to have changed over the years.

Leroy

 

[Red Tornado]

Biathlon Basic. Light, handy, easy to carry for hunting. Semi-heavy barrel that's .720 diameter instead of the normal HB that's about .920, lends itself to excellent bench accuracy. No iron sights, so a scope is necessary. The Fortner action is much quicker than a normal bolt for follow up shots. (Not implying that's you'd ever need that, of course.) They shoot most ammo well, but tend to like higher velocity stuff. That could be another plus for hunting.

Check out some of the squirrel snipers on RFC under the Russian forum.
RT

 

[Pearl's Dad]

i have a henry lever action, squirrel gun.
and i just bought a savage mark II - target gun, hopefully.

 

[JohnBT]

You have a very rare rifle.

John

No, he has the most common .22 in existence.

You must be a 10/22 guy.
__________________



I was talking about the quarter inch groups at 50 yards.

I hate 10/22s. I hated them when they were introduced and I still think they're clunky, chunky and inaccurate. Imagine me, standing there with my Marlin Mountie in hand, and somebody hands me a first-year 10/22 and says, "Look at this!!!" Yawn.

 

[popeyespappy]

But of course, you could build a mixed/hybrid, that is good, but not great, for both purposes. It's a fine line between the two.

I don’t know, I’m pretty happy with my mixed hybrid 10/22.

This is my light weight squirrel gun.


It shoots ragged holes at 25 meters.

 

[gunsandreligion]

You have a very rare rifle.

Wrong I'vnever shot a marlin 60 that didn't group under a inch.

You must be a 10/22 guy.

Wrong again I'v probably shot 12-13 10/22's and all of them got under a inch to but I'v only had one jam with a promag mag and I'v had a 60 jam alot.

 

[JohnBT]

Yes, but how many would regularly do 1/4" groups at 50 yards? Any of them?

John

 

[Smith357]

I pretty much agree with most everything posted so far. I think one major differnce has been left out though and that is the trigger. Most off the shelf hunting 22s have 2.5-5lb triggers while good target triggers are measured in ounces or even grams. Some high end hunters like Kimber, Cooper, and Anchutz can be safely adjusted with just a turn of a screw to just under one pound (my Kimber Hunter is 12oz) but without gunsmithing or after market parts they just can't get down to the 1-4 ounces of a good target trigger. My Walther UIT Supermatch can safely go as low as 20 grams, at one point I had down to 10 grams but you had baby the bolt when you closed it or I got a negligent discharge. I raised to to as low as it would go while roughly slaming the bolt home.

 

[Oldschooljeep48]

well i curently have a winchester model 67 that is a single shot bolt with a 27" barrel. i like it alot, but it is old and has not so great open sights and no way to mount a scop without drilling and i think that would reduce the value too much.

Cabelas is haveing a sale this memorial day on the savage MK II-F for only $120 so do you guys thing i should go for that or save it for a CZ?

 

[JohnBT]

I've only looked at them in the store, but I like them. They have a good reputation - button rifled barrel and Accutrigger it appears. And the price is right compared to three times as much for a CZ American.

John

P.S. - re: target rifles - My Finnfire is a joy to shoot with the 1.5-ounce Jewell trigger.

 

[gunsandreligion]

Yes, but how many would regularly do 1/4" groups at 50 yards? Any of them?

My 10/22 does and two of the others I'v shot did.

 

[PT1911]

yup..so now the mythical model 60s shoot better than kimber 82's, 40X's, and anchutz .22s.

I call BS..