Most rugged, durable .22lr

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I hate to say it, but the Nylon 66 is reliable and durable. I hate the damn things, but I've seen many that have had who knows how many rounds through them. No one ever wants to sell one.

The 10/22 is a nice rifle, but I broke one in half at the receiver after a bad fall. The aluminum receiver is a weak point. If I wanted to pick a semi, the AMT or the Volquartsen would be my choice over the Ruger.

I like the CZ-452, but to rank as 'rugged and reliable', I want stainless with a composite stock, Like the Ruger 77/22 already mentioned.
 
I have a Marlin 880SQ. Heavy barell tack driver, flat black parkerized finish, Bushenell 4-12x40AO scope & padded sling. Bought mine from the pawn shop ( less scope & sling) for $100.00. Absolute best, most reliable gun I have ever owned. And it gets floped around on the tractor & behind the truck seat year after year & it never fails. I only clean it good about once a year, and only the bolt handle and clip are starting to show any sighns of rust. (Well, I do wipe it down if I had it out in the rain & mud.) The main reason I am posting this is because they can be bought for CHEAP, but are stove-bolt tough!
 
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I have never seen a worn out .22 rifle so they all seem to be good and durable. I am impressed with the quality, accuracy and durability of ht e Marlin 60 semi-auto for under $100 new. This has got to be the best value out there.

The Ruger 10/22 has had thousands of rounds through it with no problems. I have always been impressed by the accuracy of Ruger 77/22 I have seen at the ranges.

If you just want a good sturdy knock around gun the Marlin 60 would be, and is, my choice. If money is not an issue and you want to accessorize then the stainless 10/22 or 77/22 would be good.
 
I had a 10/22, and the screw that holds the stock to the reciever kept backing out. I had to put locktite on the screw to fix that. Also, I lost a mag from my pocket one day while stalking squirrels. I know that the lost Mag was my own fault, and that the screw was not a big deal, but I inhereted a marlin model 60 from my Dad. That thing is a tank! It is as accurate or better than the 10/22, and has a tube mag that allows for 17 rounds! Make mine a marlin model 60 from now on, and I promise you that it's not a safe queen. I put 500-600 rounds through it per year.
 
I agree with Armed Bear: stainless and synthetic bolt gun will last the longest with the least maintenance. Marlin, Ruger, Savage. I believe the Ruger might have the edge in durability if not in accuracy.

Also, CZ makes a nickel-plated synthetic 452. It's called the "Style." No iron sights, but the Ruger doesn't come with iron sights either.

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If you take most 22's and just pick them up, and really look at them, you can tell which ones are well made and which one's aren't. (Goes for most guns really.) Those that have a good solid feel and look to them usually are. The one's that look like gimmicks or toys, usually are.

If you stick to major brands that you've heard of you can't go wrong. You will not find one that everyone agrees is best. You probably won't find one that everyone agrees is junk.

For what it's worth I've got a two Ruger 10/22's, a Marlin 39-A, a Remington 597 and and old Stevens bolt action. I've got my eye on a Ruger 77/22 for my next one. I'd say they all fit the criteria you layed out in the beginning.
 
Are you talking a .22LR rifle or pistol? If you're talking about a rifle I have no idea. I'm wondering that myself. However, if you're after a pistol, in my opinion a Ruger New BearCat fits your criteria. It's a .22, it's really durable, it feels much more natural in the hand than any other .22 revolver and I do believe I could take it to hell and back without screwing it up. Hope you weren't talking about a rifle because then I've been of no help.
 
Savage MARK II-FSS
-stainless
-synthetic stock
-bolt action
-open sights
-Accutrigger
-$199 new including shipping on GB

http://www.savagearms.com/markiifss.htm

mark11fss.jpg
 
Best most reliable .22

I agree with all these .22's. I do think a bolt action would be good for most people but I also think everyone should own a 10-22 no matter what else they have. The Rugers do however need to be kept clean. I always clean one of mine every 5 to 10 thousand rounds. The other I'm conducting and experimant. It's never been cleaned but it hasn't been shot as much. Probably only 5 or 6 K rounds in the last 20 years. Among semi-autos, it's got to be the least maintenance intensive gun ever built.
The Ruger .22 pistols are about as good too.
In fact if you don't have one, you oughta rush down and get a 10-22 and a MKII or III pistol. They'll outlive you.
 
Are you talking a .22LR rifle or pistol? If you're talking about a rifle I have no idea. I'm wondering that myself. However, if you're after a pistol, in my opinion a Ruger New BearCat fits your criteria. It's a .22, it's really durable, it feels much more natural in the hand than any other .22 revolver and I do believe I could take it to hell and back without screwing it up. Hope you weren't talking about a rifle because then I've been of no help.
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THR > Tools and Technologies > Rifle Country
 
I believe the Ruger might have the edge in durability if not in accuracy
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Unfortunately, the price Ruger charges these days will buy you two of the Marlins or Savages mentioned. I don't believe that it's worth that, even if the receiver is a tad heavier. The tube receivers of the other guns are solid and won't break or wear out except in conditions that would trash the remainder of the gun, also.
 
Go with a Ruger 10-22 carbine. You can get all sorts of magazines for them and you can configure it in so many different ways that other can't be configured at all. You can make it into a bullpup design. You can mount scopes on it with no major problem. You can change the stocks on it. There are just way more options with a 10-22 carbine that the others don't have.
 
IMHO
The most over rated .22 in the world is the 10-22. The most under rated is the Marlin Model 60.
The best made and most accurate rifle with one of the best, fully adjustable factory triggers is the CZ 452.
 
armscor make s reliable ak and an ar, also jager Italy makes some wonderful 22's of the milsurp animal. if you want rugged, go with any marlin 80 or 81 series. They are bolt action, and they have been made continuously for about 70 years now.
For semiauto, i would go with a marlin mod 60 or the little savage 64's, both have been around for a long time now, are accurate, mags are every where, and are cheap. i would look for them used in a pawn shop or gunshop before buying new , though. Just make sure you take someone with you that knows about them, or go to a gunshop that has them checked by a gunsmith.
The ruger 10.22 , is not a newbie rifle, it is too much money, and requires too much tweaking to get it to run right, and get it accurate.
Even though i have one, and have done some minor mods, I guarantee you with my minor mods, and few accessories, i still have over 300 bucks in it, besides it's purchase cost, and like I said, mine looks all origional, from the outside, the only things you would see diff would be a flash surpressor, and an extension mag release.
Also any old remmy, winny, or mossy , semi auto , will be classic , unusual, beautiful, and quite accurate.
 
H&R handi-rifle in 22 lr are over built. I picked one new for $99 and for another
$55 i got a 22Win Mag barrel from the factory. My go to 22 however is 1971 Ruger 10/22 with ton of ammo thru it. Get what you like and shoot the crap out of it. Almost all rimfire rifles will outlast their owners.
 
The Marlin 980S is an excellent recommendation. I am thinking of getting one of those also. I have a new 981t tube fed Marlin and its a fine rifle. I paid $173.00 OTD new for it.

I might shorten the barrel and remount the front sight. The plus side to the longer barrel is with the right rounds they are very quiet. The plastic stock is hollow with a weight slid into it. With the weight and packing removed ammo a knife and spare mag can be stored in the butt. A small survival kit could be put in there also and the gun kept in your truck for emergencys.

You know, like a crow sitting on a limb just daring you to take a shot at him.
 
SAVAGE mark II

I bought my savage about 7 years and 3000 rounds ago. never had a problem
i am not a fan of the accutrigger so i would recommend looking for an older model or putting in an aftermarket trigger(but this is just my personal preference)
 
Any decent bolt action should outlast you. .22's are really the ultimate in low maintenance rifles. You hardly even need to clean them.

I have been really pleased with my CZ452. 1/2" groups at 50 yards are routine with it.
 
I'm surprised no one has mentioned the Romanian trainer or Russian Toz 78 even though the Winchester Wildcat was brought up. These two rifles recieve high praise at Rimfire Central.

There is a gunshow in Ft Worth this weekend and i'm planning on going with money in hand for a new 22 of some sort. Hopefully the Marlin 980S if one is there.

If it wasn't for the old mercury and glass priming mix used around the turn of the century (The last one) i bet there would be a whole lot more serviceable 22s from that time period still around.
 
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