Need some advice on a new .22LR.

[MurdockTheCrazy]

Well, frankly, I'm normally just not a .22LR person. Hardly powerful enough to have any use to me. I only own one, and it's solely as a collectors item.

But lately I've been seeing it's draw more... For one thing, ammo prices on my Real Rifles™ are currently going through the roof... What little ammo I do manage to find is usually stacked up for SHTF now. As a result I find my plinking budget seriously reduced, not to mention sources of ammo being a problem to start with.

Secondly, I've got a few first time shooters I've slowly started to win over to let me take them to the range.

I don't want to have them show up, then shove an evvvvvviiiiiillll looking, heavy, high-kick a-salt rifle in their face. Not a good first impression. Baby steps.

So I need a .22LR, and I don't want to spend a lot of money on it. I don't really care if it's semi-auto, lever action, bolt action, or single shot. I just want the following:

#1 Low Cost.
#2 Decent quality.
#3 Decent eurgonomics, needs to be properly sized for light adults [5'8"-5'10" range, 100-140lbs, males and females], a trigger that doesn't suck would be a plus.
#4 Decent looks, bonus points for a wood stock.
#5 Avaliable in the centeral Texas area off-the-shelf. I want to buy it over the next few days, I'm not ordering anything.

Maximum budget: Cannot be more than $200. $150 or less would be better.

I don't see accuracy as being a huge deal... I'd like it to shoot no more than 1" groups at 50 yards with good ammo, I don't think that's much to ask.

Must be factory new, not used.

I've considered a 10/22 or a Savage. The lowest cost 10/22 is $180, the lowest cost Savage is around $150. Both are at the higher end of my budget limits.

There's a tiny little single shot rifle called the Cricket... Too small, looks like something for a five year old.

Ideas?

 

[carterbeauford]

Training new shooters? I'd look into a bolt... Marlin 925R IMO. Nothing fancy, good accuracy, can be found at most Walmarts for around $150. Has a synthetic stock but is not a bad looking rifle.

 

[ramis]

marlin 60

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?item=59563356

ramis

 

[dispatch55126]

My father just picked up a semiauto from Wal-Mart for about $150. I think it was a Marlin. It has a tube magazine so its even easy to load for a "new" shooter.

 

[rkh]

I'm new to the 22LR world myself, but you could do what I did and snag a Ruger 10/22.

I liked the fact that it's a reliable and inexpensive out-of-box semiauto, and if one ever get serious about competitive rimfire shooting, it can be accurized as far as the wallet will flex.

If you do go the 10/22 route, I would suggest buying a replacement hammer to lighten up the trigger a bit. The factory trigger isn't terribly creepy, but it breaks at about 8 pounds. I'd also suggest limiting your .22 ammo stockpile to jacketed rounds (the Federal 525 round value packs are great). I had a few bad experiences with Remington cast lead bullets.

Have fun, man I think you'll find that it's nice going home after a long afternoon of shooting without a bruised shoulder, ringing ears, or empty billfold.

 

[Ndenway]

look in the pawn shops for a 22lr, you can find the glenfield/marlin bolts and semi all day long for $50 and less around here,

last bolt I bought was a springfield/savage "clip" fed bolt, for $30, it was dirty as hell, but it cleaned up nice and is a great shooter,

10/22s are nice, but you can almost buy a new one for what pawn shops charge and they won't deal on them for some reason, but if you find one, the 10rnd mags can be had for $12 bucks at walmart.

 

[CB900F]

Murdock;

I'll vote for the Savage MKII .22 bolt gun. It's available in either the youth configuration or adult size. I'd buy the adult gun & get the youth stock if needed later at a gun show. As somebody's kid grows, that stock for the smaller statured person is going to be available at a low price. That stock is indeed wood. Extra mags are cheap. I paid under $10.00 for mine, but that was a coupla years ago. They are decently accurate out of the box. And, with a little work if you're so inclined, can be made to be quite nicely accurate for an inexpensive gun.

900F

 

[ugaarguy]

Marlin Model 60 or Ruger 10/22. Those are probably the best two semi auto rimfires out there. They're a heck of alot of fun and the practice will carry over to the bigger rifles - it's all fundamentals.

 

[Legionnaire]

Another vote for the Savage. They're what we used in our hunter safety courses in NY State. Very good bang for the buck.

 

[MurdockTheCrazy]

Any suggestions other than the Savage, Ruger or Marlin's?

 

[rangerruck]

marlin mod 60 , used, at any pawn shop, will be about 50 to 75 dollars, and the older ones, you can get some decent wood on them. New, I would go with a marlin mod981, has a t900 trigger, has bolt action, tube fed, will fire short, long, and long rifle, it will hold 25 shorts in the tube at one time! As for accuracy, unless you go high end, marlin is the king of accuracy for the budget and mid priced 22's. plus if you get both , you will have one semi auto, and one boltie. If you have Academy anywhere near you , they allways have the 981's. you can also find them and other 81 series, and the 25 series at pawn shops as well. you don't have to get new, they will work and be fine used, as well. so if you find an 81 or 25 series in a pawn shop, feel free to get them.

 

[MachIVshooter]

The Marlin model 60 is a classic autoloader and, AFAIK, still the most popular autoloading rimfire in the US due to price and quality.

Any suggestions other than the Savage, Ruger or Marlin's?

Henry has a little levergun that goes for under $200, and there is the Remington 597 for ~$150. You might be able to find a used Remington 522 "Viper"-a neat little critter, though very reminiscent of the EBR's you're trying to keep away from newbi's. A used Viper would be ~$80-$100.

Edit
It seems that Vipers have jumped a little the last couple years.

One of the nicest .22 rifles IMO is the Marlin 39AS, but that is well outside your $200 budget. Still worth consideration, though.

 

[Gaucho Gringo]

If you are near a Big 5 they have a Marlin 795 this week for around $110-120. It has a 10 round detachable magazine and a black fiberglass stock. Also it is grooved for scope mount. For a well made, new utiltarian 22 rifle you can't beat the price. Here is the info from Marlin http://www.marlinfirearms.com/Firearms/SelfLoading/795.aspx

 

[Critter183]

Any suggestions other than the Savage, Ruger or Marlin's?

yeah, one of these:

http://www.new-enterprises.net/shootingsports/jager1.html

Don't let this guy's groups scare you. I've fired my daughter's in cast bullet matches and done very well.

A bit out of the price range and hard to find, but oh so worth it. hehehe

 

[Ifishsum]

The Remington 597 is in your price range, is accurate and has a quality, heavy feel to it. I have a standard model with the grey synthetic stock I paid about $125 for new, and a laminated stock/heavy barrel version that was about $230. Both are very accurate and reliable guns.

 

[sm]

I like the Marlin 60

I will replace a old Rem 514 single shot I used to have, these are just accurate, simple, reliable guns that always work, great for teaching new shooters, also a lot of fun to own, and shoot.