Sweet spot for .22LR rifle value?
- Thread starter Buck13
- Start date
Hmmm, that is ugly. I could be happy with the 5 round magazine. Give and take. The thing that has kept me from getting a CZ is that I do not like the magazine at all. I am okay with single stack 5 round designs in a relatively inexpensive or middle platform like the Mark II but not above that price range. At that point I want to be able to load 10 rounds and have the magazine flush.
If one is on a tighter budget then it is hard to beat a Savage MkII with the heavier Varmint barrels. If you can increase the budget then go with a CZ.
I have several Savage rimfire and center fire rifles with the varmint barrels and they all shoot very well. But I also do not compete in competitions either.
I have several Savage rimfire and center fire rifles with the varmint barrels and they all shoot very well. But I also do not compete in competitions either.
d2wing
Member
- Joined
- Nov 10, 2008
- Messages
- 6,421
Yes they do. But they always work and load easy.
If you are already on a tight budget. I would recommend the Savage because it will shoot decent groups with just about any ammo you feed it. If you are leaning towards a more expensive rifle, that expensive rifle may not shoot as accurate as you think and may be on par with the Savage because of the type of ammo you feed it. Are you willing to pay $15 to $20 dollar for a box of target ammo used in competitions or are you sticking with bulk or cci. Even expensive target ammo may not shoot accurately with the high dollar rifle, because 22's are finicky and you have to find out what the rifle likes.
chicharrones
needs more ammo
The 10 round CZ mags look just fine when shouldering and shooting the gun. They are probably the best .22 LR stick mags I've ever used.
Jeff olson
Member
- Joined
- Oct 23, 2019
- Messages
- 935
If you want a budget 22 that I have found to be an excellent shooter and reliable as all get out, consider a Winchester 490. It's semi auto, but it is a tack driver. But then there's the whole magazine thing. If you are dead set on bolt action, the CZ 452, 455, or 457 are excellent choices.
I was shopping for a new .22 last year, just because. I have owned numerous .22s and didn't want to spend a lot of money, but didn't need to buy the cheapest gun out there either. I settled on a CZ 457 Varnint, the only CZ I've ever owned. Best decision I've made in awhile. It is attractive, runs smoothly and is wicked accurate. I paid $600 + tax. You can spend less or a lot more. It is a fine squirrel rifle and is one of the best out-of-the-box shooters I've ever owned.
I am sure they are but that is a full stop for me. I would settle for the five rounder but not the ten. I had a Marlin semi that used a 10 round magazine when I was a child. I hated that thing because it was always hanging up and sticking out and rattling around. And it sticks out where I like to wrap my hand during carry. No go for me, CZ or not. Their next CZ 4XX needs to have a rotary magazine or even, heck, a tube magazine. I just do not buy rifles that do not have flush or nearly flsuh magazines. For the high end price of a CZ, that needs some improvement. The five rounder is okay, just not what I would expect for an otherwise really nice and fairly expensive rifle.
dieselchief
Member
i have been reluctant to post on this thread, dont want to seem arrogant. if you truly shoot matches with 22 rifles, the following accuracy is what is needed....50 feet, same hole. 25 yards? need to examine the back side of the target to tell if it is more than one shot. 50yards, dime size absolutely max group. 100 yards, quarter absolutely max qroup.
....unless you are extremely lucky this requires a good gun, good ammo and a high end scope, a sightron III, would be a starting point.
...rifle? anschutz gets it done along with match ammo.
...my czs out shoot my rem 541x, my mossberg match rifles, and my savage sporters. my kimber can be occasionally up to the task...if i can get lucky now and then....fwiw.
....unless you are extremely lucky this requires a good gun, good ammo and a high end scope, a sightron III, would be a starting point.
...rifle? anschutz gets it done along with match ammo.
...my czs out shoot my rem 541x, my mossberg match rifles, and my savage sporters. my kimber can be occasionally up to the task...if i can get lucky now and then....fwiw.
giggitygiggity
Member
- Joined
- Mar 18, 2009
- Messages
- 2,251
The CZ 452/3/5/7 is my recommendation. There are various models from which one can choose. While not the cheapest, the CZ rim fires are definitely not the most expensive and provide great quality, phenomenal accuracy, gorgeous cosmetics, and reliability. In my opinion, they are heirloom rifles, but with most models costing in the $450-$600 range, one needs not feel terrible for using the rifles and incurring minor wear and tear. You can certainly go with something else and save a few bucks, but I doubt you’ll match the quality of a CZ if you go cheaper. You can also go into the $2000+ range and get something like an Anschutz, which will likely be more slightly accurate, but at 4x+ the cost of the CZ.
d2wing
Member
- Joined
- Nov 10, 2008
- Messages
- 6,421
Yes. But I think that is more money and effort than the OP wants. Fortunately, the stock sporter matches I shoot are not up to that high standard. Some are offhand, Seniors are allowed a front rest only. But the rifles have to be pretty accurate to win. All shots touching at 25 or better.
The Mossberg 144 is still my pick for used, but darn accurate with anything you put through it and reasonably priced. The CZ 457 at $600 is the best bang for the buck new. You have to remember our money isn’t very valuable now vs 25 years ago, so $600 ain’t that much.
Savages and Rugers have crappy triggers out of the box, the CZ isn’t a benchrest trigger by any means, but it’s mucho better than the gritty garbage the other two come with.
Savages and Rugers have crappy triggers out of the box, the CZ isn’t a benchrest trigger by any means, but it’s mucho better than the gritty garbage the other two come with.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
Utter nonsense. I just tested my three Ruger American Rimfires, two Savage MKII/93 guns and my CZ 457 American. They're all within a few ounces of each other with an average of about 3.5lbs. All crisp and smooth.
d2wing
Member
- Joined
- Nov 10, 2008
- Messages
- 6,421
And it is easy to adjust or upgrade the CZ trigger.
I keep hearing that and am rather perplexed. The two best triggers I have encountered of late on production rifles, one is my CVA .44 Magnum and the other is a Benjamin Marauder air rifle
. Neither of my Mark 2 rifles have bad triggers nor does my Marlin .17 HMR. But it has a target trigger and some other stuff installed.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
Believe it or not, my best factory trigger is a Winchester 94 1971 NRA commemorative. It's perfectly safe but light and crisp at about 1.5lbs.I keep hearing that and am rather perplexed. The two best triggers I have encountered of late on production rifles, one is my CVA .44 Magnum and the other is a Benjamin Marauder air rifle
I didn't like the idea of the Glock style trigger blade at first but once I got over it, it does allow for a very good factory trigger on an entry level rifle. There would be no point to the blade if they were "gritty garbage".
Try out a jewel or shilen trigger then tell me if yours are “crisp and smooth.”
Ive had a mkii fv and step one was a rifle basix trigger before I ever shot it. The accutrigger was gritty, and had some slop. The rifle basix trigger was way better in form and function, not benchrest better, but mint for a $275 gun. It would shoot, popped golf balls at 100yds with mini mags repeatedly, the gun wasn’t the problem if a miss happened.
Never shot a Ruger precision, the few I’ve handled in shops had gritty sandpaper feeling triggers, may have been Friday afternoon assemblies and I just unlucked into handling them, bolt movement and lockup on them were rock solid though, savage was the same on the bolt, rock solid.
LV Gun
Member
Springfield 2020 Rimfire Target would be a good choice don’t have one but would like one.
bihj
Member
CZ 457. Has anyone ever heard anything bad about them? Just pick the flavor you like.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
Are you seriously comparing a Jewel or Shilen trigger to one that comes on a $200 rifle??? Context, it kinda matters.
weisse52
Member
CZ 457. Lots of option.
I think I fall into the "poor but not cheap" category. I shoot .22 LR NRA prone rifle matches. I actually wanted to shoot 2700 bullseye pistol but my brother called me one day to inform me I had purchased a CMP Remington 40X for $700. So that was that.
A few years later a guy at my gun club had decided to quit the game and was selling his old Anschutz 54 super match. I got it for $500 IIRC. It had been professionally glass bedded and had a later model trigger (we are talking in the ounces). It was ugly, and well used, but it did it's job.
These guns might be from the 1960's but they are amazingly accurate. They can go for a reasonable price because they are such a niche item. Single shot .22's that weigh a ton don't appeal to the masses. But if you want a "real" target .22 the Winchester 52D is the only other thing that I have seen/shot that holds a candle (a Remington 37 is certainly in the conversation).
Point being, join a serious target club, make friends, and good things can happen if you prove yourself. Not everyone is looking to make a killing when their time is up. Some would gladly pass the mantle to a younger guy looking for a way to get started.
A few years later a guy at my gun club had decided to quit the game and was selling his old Anschutz 54 super match. I got it for $500 IIRC. It had been professionally glass bedded and had a later model trigger (we are talking in the ounces). It was ugly, and well used, but it did it's job.
These guns might be from the 1960's but they are amazingly accurate. They can go for a reasonable price because they are such a niche item. Single shot .22's that weigh a ton don't appeal to the masses. But if you want a "real" target .22 the Winchester 52D is the only other thing that I have seen/shot that holds a candle (a Remington 37 is certainly in the conversation).
Point being, join a serious target club, make friends, and good things can happen if you prove yourself. Not everyone is looking to make a killing when their time is up. Some would gladly pass the mantle to a younger guy looking for a way to get started.
