The best "value" in a .22 rifle?

[Armchair Bronco]

+1 for the CZ 452's

Another one to consider is the CZ 452 Scout. This is a kid's sized .22LR with a 16" barrel and a 12" LOP. I shoot it w/ my boys. They use the stock as-is. When I shoot, I just strap on a Pachmeyer leather recoil pad filled out with some rigid foam to take the LOP out to 14" for me.

It's a VERY accurate little gun and if you're looking for something that can double as a compact Ranger or Camp type gun, it's perfect even if you don't have kids. (It comes with a magazine rack that turns the gun into a single shot rifle. You can buy a separate iron 5-round magazine online (I think they also sell 10-rounders for the 452 series).

EDIT: I just re-read the original post, and I see that you want to do plinking w/ your 7-year-old son. In that case, the CZ 452 Scout would be the PERFECT gun for you and him.

Just get a brown leather Pachmeyer recoil pad & track down some rigid foam cut just a bit bigger than the butt stock. Then both of you can share the same gun. My boys and I have competitions using the same gun all the time (I still win all of 'em!). It's not the same if Dad is using a different gun.

 

[Bill B.]

The Winchester Xpert high-velocity hollow points were the surprise performers on the day:

The Xpert's I have been able to buy had similar results from a CZ, a Annie & a old Mossy. The Winchester 333's which look the same with copper wash don't shoot as well as the Xpert's from my .22's. Naturally with .22's the next lot# may be different .............good shooting by the way!

 

[JTH]

Probably not the answer you're looking for but my vintage bolt action Winchester model 72 is dead on accurate. It has a tube fed magazine and shoots shorts, longs and LRs. I imagine this rifle is approaching 75 years old because I recieved it as a XMAS present from parents when I was 13 and I'm now 56 and it was used when I received it. It's probably the most valuable rifle out of my SKS, AK47 and Remington 870 police issue. I'd like a good .22 pistol though.

 

[GunTech]

While I am a CZ-bolt fan, I'd have to say the Ruger 10/22 is the best choice simply because it is ubiquitous, reliable, relatively inexpensive and has more aftermarket accessories than all other rimfire rifles put together. It's one of the few rifles where you can swap out a barrel at home (with nothing more than an Allen wrench). It's easy to build exactly the rifle you want, not what someone at the factory decided you should have.

It's the lego of rimfires.

 

[Water-Man]

Marlin 60

 

[Motodeficient]

I wish I could find a .22lr used for $50 at a local gun shop. Haven't seen one yet. Would like a bolt action .22lr to go with my 10/22. Maybe I will look around a bit this weekend.

 

[glazer1972]

The best deal in a .22 is the Walmart Special 10/22 w/ the 22" bbl. The one on the far left in CajunBass pic.

 

[Hardwoodjdc]

I have had 3 Ruger 10/22s and now have none and it is going to stay that way. Anything that I buy that has that many aftermarket parts available should tell you something! I am a slow learner I guess. The Cz 452 is a great rifle for a bolt and I also think quite highly of the Henry for a lever. I have 4 cz 452s and 2 Winchester 9422s as well as a Marlin 39a. All are good guns, it just boils down to your price range and intended useage. No sense spending the money for a benchrest gun if you just want to shoot tin cans. My .02 worth. Enjoy the rimfire madness!

 

[don]

Motodeficient, if you want to go cheap, I can recommend the Mossburg 802 Plinkster. It is a bolt action with a 10 round magazine. It is accurate and ~$100. The only gripe I have with it is that the sights really suck. Since I scoped it, that is not important to me.

 

[FloridaConfederate]

Got a couple Marlin Model 60 I like a lot. Also a Remington Scoremaster 511 bolt action and it is good also. Found mine by word of mouth.

 

[jpwilly]

Pray for Obama!

Psalm 109:8 Let his days be few; And let another take his office.

Ha ha

 

[stevegc]

I like my Marlin 60

 

[Ignition Override]

enderwig:

I've never noticed such low prices at pawn shops.
Just by chance, have you ever seen the old Romanian .22 training rifles in pawn shops?

A buddy bought one here at the gun show in January from a 'walk-in'. The buddy had trained with them in the East German Army.

 

[Kentucky_Rifleman]

+1 for the Thompson Center .22 Classic auto. It's a little pricier than most, but after shooting mine, I traded the other 4 .22 rifles I owned. My only other .22 long arm is a Remington 511 Scoremaster, also a great rifle.

KR

 

[22-rimfire]

Best bang for the buck is the Marlin Model 60. Since you don't want a tubular magazine, go with the detachable box mag version, the M795.

I think the Ruger 10/22 is not a bad value. They aren't highly accurate, but are adequate for hunting in most cases and they are a blast to plink with. I'm not totally fond of the rotary magazine, but they function reliably and the larger capacity after market magazines are available for plinking fun.

 

[chad1043]

My vote after a lot of reading was the 981T. Takes all the .22 except 22 mag. Great shooter out of the box.