Suggest a 22 Mag (22WMR) for me...

[ActionJax]

I have a Marlin 981TS, Tube-fed 22LR (all 22s incl. shorts). Pretty much hits what I aim at, within a 2-3 in circle at 50-75 yds. Close enough for me.

I'm now looking for a 22 Mag for small game hunting on my property. I need a little more range and POP than my .22 LR will deliver. Probably need to take down things in the muskrat/goose/small coyote size -- not necessarily those animals, though. I'm convinced a 22Mag is better than a .17 for bigger small game. (right?)

I have a cheap-ish 4-9x scope on my 22LR, and I suspect I'd do the same on the 22Mag. I'm not into proving anything with iron sights, and really one eye dominant. I just want to make hits. I will be crawling through the brush with it at times -- no safe queens, please.

I'd love to have an autoloader for quick follow-up shots and to practice with, but like the ?increased? capacity of the bolt-action models. I do have a budget, but a crazy $1500 Volquartsen would NOT pass with the budget committee. Here are some choices :

Bolt-Action

1. Marlin XT series -- I hear the triggers are very nice...

XT-22MVSR --- #70831 -- 7 shot clip mag

XT-22MTW (70851) – 12shot tube load

http://www.marlinfirearms.com/Firearms/xt/XT22.asp


Autoloader

2. Remington Model 597597 (26560) - 8 shot mag
I thought I heard these were hard to find?

http://www.remington.com/products/firearms/rimfire/model-597/model-597.aspx

3. CZ-USA 512 -- 5 round magazine. CZ says it is a new design ... Hmmm... Also uses mags from their other models.

http://www.cz-usa.com/products/view/cz-512/


All right, guys and gals .... Lemme hear what YOU think of tghese or others.

Thanks.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Get a CZ bolt gun and you won't have to worry so much about follow up shots for misses.

 

[NeuseRvrRat]

Savage 93 FV for about $250. i plink shotgun hulls at 100 yds off the bench with mine with boring consistency. i got it at Dick's on sale. it came with a worthless scope. i put on a low cost Simmons 22 mag 3-9x32AO in a DNZ mount and swapped the plastic stock for a Boyd's Rimfire Target Hunter. i absolutely love that rifle.

 

[Jlr2267]

I have an XT22 mag for sale in the classified section. Like new, 7 & 5 shot clips, Simmons Mag Scope, black synthetic, adjustable trigger. Nice gun if you need one. I realized I don't need 22 mag.

All that aside, if I had a $500 budget and needed one, I'd get a CZ. My budget was under $300 and the Marlin was, IMO, best in that price range.