I Really Need a .22 Rifle...

[MCgunner]

Never pass up a good bolt action Remington in a pawn shop. Mine is a 50 years old ninth birthday present and with the right ammo, can fire a 1 hole 50 yard group. It really likes RWS target, but it does pretty danged well, sub one inch at 50, with bulk pack Federal. The trigger is a little rough, but I'm used to it.

 

[Ignition Override]

Why were few, if any .22s built with aperture sights?

The British did this with the Enfield #4 before WW2, and it is easy to insert or remove the bolts.
Maybe the improvement for .22s would be similar to what I found recently, after installing a Tech Sight on my SKS.

 

[Ghost Tracker]

Why were few, if any .22s built with aperture sights?

Because, with obvious exceptions, most .22s are build for a lower (affordable) price-point. Aperture sights are (generally) more expensive to manufacture than open sights. American hunters were/are also (generally) more accustomed to open sights, so when Dad or Gramps buys a .22 rifle for Junior, it usually has open sights.

 

[MCgunner]

I didn't like the aperture on my Mossberg 152 my step dad gave me in 1966. It's an old gun, still a good shooter, but the rear aperture broke off and I just stuck a scope on it. I gave it to my daughter/SIL. It's a decent little auto, but is only super accurate with Eley Match.

I had another, an old Winchester single shot bolt gun, the kind you had to cock the striker before firing. It had an aperture dove tailed into the barrel. I took the sight off and put it on my Rossi 92 and that's where it's been ever since. I also pulled the aperture out so it'd be a ghost ring. I like it a lot on that gun as it's got repeatable numbered wheel slick elevation adjustment and I can switch from shooting light .38 to full power magnums really easily.

One can always put a Williams on the gun and I've seen apertures designed to fit in the tip off grooves on many .22s.