Thoughts on 22LR semi-auto options

[Loki7154]

All,

Looking to add a semi-auto .22LR rifle to my stable. I have a bolt-action .22LR rifle (Savage MKII-BTVS) that is incredibly accurate, but I have a SiCo Sparrow waiting in NFA jail and want a fun plinking semi-auto.

I'm willing to spend up to $900 or so. Yes, I know that's WAY more than I need to spend for a plinker, but that's my budget.

My priorities (in order):

(i) reliability
(ii) accuracy; and
(iii) availability of parts in the event of breakage.

I also want it to be a decent host for the Sparrow. Right now, I'm taking a hard look at the following options:

A. Tactical Solutions X-Ring 10/22 (http://www.tacticalsol.com/x-ring-series-rifles/x-ring-rifle-with-hogue-stock) with a 12" barrel and a shroud (to get it out of NFA-land)

B. Tactical Solutions AR-22 Upper (http://www.tacticalsol.com/ar-22-series-uppers/ar-22-sb-x)

Would appreciate the hive mind's input with respect to the attributes of those two options (reliability, accuracy, magazine quality, etc). I do like that with the AR-22 I'd be able to use standard AR lower parts (so I could keep my SSA-E trigger, for example, that I dearly love). I already have a spare stripped lower sitting in my safe along with enough AR parts to occupy Cairo, so that's not really a huge worry.

Would also welcome recommendations keeping in mind the goals.

Thanks much.

-L

 

[Cee Zee]

Conventional wisdom says if you want a super accurate semi-auto .22 get a 10/22 and either build it yourself or buy it already built for accuracy. A T/C rimfire would be good if you could find one. But with your budget you should be able to get a very nice Ruger build. You might want to go to the Volquartsen site and see how far that $900 will take you.

 

[tuj]

Anschutz MSR RX-22

 

[txblackout]

I have a 10/22 takedown, upgraded the barrel to the SBX with the shroud and a kidd trigger job. With the sparrow it is only a little longer than the stock barrel.

about $600.

 

[Averageman]

I think going the 10/22 route may get you a lot closer to what you are looking for.
The availability of parts and options on setting up your rifle make it a pretty good choice.
I have one that I've been messing with for 30 years and I think the only original part left on it is the receiver.
Lot of fun to be had with a 10/22 and a $900.00 budget.

 

[BCRider]

I got suckered into an X-Ring with the Vantage pistol grip stock. It's a trifle more than what you give for your budget but I found that the stock really works superbly as a good plinking rifle that can also double duty occasionally for some bench rest shooting.

As a possible rapid fire plinker the TS trigger group is superb. Although I was disappointed that the adjustment screw in mine was not secured. So that began a few sessions worth of back and forth to find the sweet spot and a good dollop of blue thread locker along the way.

The other downside is that you'll likely need to fine tune any higher capacity mags to work with the X-Ring. When I emailed them about this issue they came back with "use stock Ruger 10 round mags" and no other help at all. So plan on some trials and custom work with the anything but the 10 round Ruger mags.

.... and after all that it does sort of suggest that it's worth starting with a stock 10/22 and working it over to something YOU want. If you can find a version that has a stock you like and then swap the trigger group and barrel you'll likely have a seriously nice and accurate plinker for that much money. Just don't get too carried away or you'll find yourself up to $1500 or more in a hurry.

In fact it would be worth some web time to add up the cost of all the parts to build a 10/22 clone. If done with care you might just build what you want up from all non Ruger items for around $1000. But I suspect it'll take some special deals to make it happen. The one time I tried that I was over $1500 before I had all the items.

And by the time you're looking at that much I think you'll find that you can build up an AR based .22 for the same or maybe less. Just budget for the mags though. I gather .22 mags that fit into AR wells are not cheap.

 

[ClemY]

As a guy with a TACSOL AR-22 LT and several Ruger 10/22s, I am of mixed mind here. I like both. I find I enjoy building guns, so I built an accuracy 10/22. I also got a dedicated lower for my AR-22. My accuracy 10/22 has a 20" heavy fluted GM barrel and a Kidd trigger in a Hogue stock. It is very accurate. My fairly stock 10/22 has the original barrel but a Kidd trigger and Hogue stock. It is reasonably accurate, about the same level of accuracy as the AR-22, about .6 to .7" at 50 yds. with ammo it likes. I have Kidd double action triggers and the SSA and SSA-E in the ARs. The SSA-E is very good, but not as good as the Kidd, if you are a trigger fanatic like me.

 

[zerobarrier]

What about a 10/22 volquartsen https://www.volquartsen.com/tags/8-volquartsen-rimfire-rifles,15-complete-firearms

 

[robmints]

If you got a full kidd with trigger you will forget about all other triggers. And the ruger mag is about as good as a 22lr mag gets. They are on the expensive side, but to get more accurate with a production gun, you will usually end up spending more. Based on the 10/22, with Tony's trigger, and made with a LW blank. Nice guns, service is great too.

 

[Cee Zee]

OP said nothing about wanting "super accuracy"

He did mention accuracy. Sorry but ARAIK AR .22's don't really compare to the accuracy of a well built 10/22 unless you spend a lot of money. And "sounds like an AR man" is hardly something he said. He said he had AR parts. How do you get that makes him "an AR man"? Most people seem to want a .22 AR because they want to practice with the same style rifle as their centerfire rifle. I haven't seen many that were all that accurate but of course any rifle can be made accurate with the right improvements. I just think you're going to go past that $900 budget trying to match accuracy with a good 10/22 build. And trust me, I'm not a big 10/22 fan. I own one Ruger and it isn't a rifle or a .22. A dedicated .22 upper will be more accurate but then you really will need a lower that's tuned to work well just with that upper from what I see people reporting. And conversion kits are just not there when it comes to accuracy. Not compared to a dedicated 10/22 build, which can rival some very nice bolt action shooters. And those high quality, dedicated .22 uppers can often run over $1000. And even then they still don't equal a good 10/22 built. The plain fact is that there has been years of development of the 10/22 style rifle and only a few years for the AR .22's. Maybe in a few years the prices will equal out if people continue to want to shoot .22 ammo from an AR platform.

He may be an "AR man" but if he wants real accuracy for the money he wants to spend he should get something else besides an AR.

 

[Loki7154]

Thanks for all the input, folks--really appreciate the reasoned responses. I just mentioned having AR parts since it could be a factor in making someone say it was more expensive/annoying to build up an AR-platform than the 10/22.

Sounds like the path forward is 10/22. Question--I've handled 10/22s in the past but never done a deep inspection, but I've had folks discuss the "flimsy" 10/22 Ruger-brand receivers. Is this a realistic issue? It does sound like a decent option is a stainless 10/22 with an upgrade barrel and trigger. Does that get me to under an inch at 50 yards? Or better?

Thanks!

-L

 

[CraigC]

It should shoot an inch or less with the factory barrel. I've don't believe I've ever seen an accuracy report on one of the lightweight barrels that shot to my liking. Plus they end up being too light. I much prefer a steel barrel in a lighter profile. I built my last one with a Nodak receiver but there's nothing flimsy about Ruger's receiver. With its Clark midweight barrel, it shoots well under a half inch at 50yds but is only slightly heavier than a factory carbine.

 

[mac66]

'Stainless" 10/22s use an aluminum receiver just like the regular 10/22, it just has a natural finish as opposed to a anodized one. The barrel however is stainless steel. In any case it is not really a problem, 10/22s are really an ideal base to build on. In the OPs case, he could just buy a 10/22 and replace the barrel with a threaded one and be good to go. Or he could buy one of the tactical target or distributor special versions with a threaded barrel already and then tweak it as he goes along.

 

[CaliCoastie]

browning buckmark rifle and pistol combo should come in right at your 900 range. share mags between both and have a blast!

 

[ClickClickD'oh]

My priorities (in order):

(i) reliability

This gun has never failed to feed or fire:



The 10/22 is a freaking tank. If reliability is a concern, 10/22 wins all day long and into the weekend.

 

[Normandy]

My shooting buddy has a 10/22 with bull barrel, a drop-in sweet trigger, and a 10-30x scope. From the bench, we shoot pingpong balls at 100 yards, reliably. Feed a 10/22 bull barrel good quality ammo, and you have all the accuracy you can imagine. Ruger magazines are recommended.

 

[Cee Zee]

Feed a 10/22 bull barrel good quality ammo, and you have all the accuracy you can imagine.

That's my opinion too and a really good build is right in the ball park of your budget. I'd go ahead and buy one already built myself but some people prefer to do it themselves. I just don't like buying parts then replacing them and sticking the old stuff in a box to be forgotten for decades. But again that's my POV. YMMV.

 

[skt239]

I'm going to be original and say either a 10/22 or marlin 60 and all the ammo you can find

 

[76shuvlinoff]

I love my little Marlin 60 but there aren't many toys out there for it.
On the other hand it doesn't need much.

 

[CB900F]

Loki;

I'm with the majority here, build a 10/22 if that's what you want to do. However, I'll also offer an option. Take a look at the new CZ 512 semi-auto. Folks are reporting pretty decent (not match) accuracy in a well-built gun that meets my expectations for a good-looking gun too. The cost should be a bit less than $450.00, and that leaves room for some nice glass or other options.

900F

 

[Sheepdog1968]

Browning makes a nice semi auto 22 that J.M. himself designed. Ejects from bottom and is quite classy. Likely in your price range.

 

[Johnny_B_Goode]

The 10/22 is reasonably priced. If you search www.gunwatcher.com you can find a 10/22 under $200. Before you modify the 10/22 other than a scope just shoot it. The trigger smoothed out after a few session and some dry firing. Yes, you can dry fire the 10/22. In fact, Ruger encourages new owners to dry fire their 10/22 to get used to it.

My 10/22 is rare anymore. I have a stainless 10/22 with a stainless trigger group and mag release, but the parts are regular steel Ruger parts.

This 10/22 is $200 IMO it is a good looking rifle.

 

[Cee Zee]

This 10/22 is $200 IMO it is a good looking rifle.

If you want a stock semi-auto the Marlin 60 is still cheaper, better looking and more accurate right out of the box according to most people. I've compared many of them and the Marlins come out on top pretty much every time. I don't think I've ever seen a Ruger that wasn't modified that could shoot more accurate than my 60SS. But when you change triggers and barrels and stocks you start to have something, a semi-auto that will give some decent bolt action guns a run for their money. Marlins have some aftermarket parts now but nothing like Ruger. It's mainly the upgraded barrels that make them more accurate but the triggers can be a big improvement too. But if I wanted to go buy an every day semi-auto for plinking and squirrel hunting I would (and did) buy a Marlin 60. I might buy a Marlin 795 for hunting (I did actually) because they are so light and they are still accurate rifles.

It's only when you intend to build a Ruger into a better rifle that they really start to shine IMO. They're OK rifles out of the box really but Marlins are just better. And I saw a new 60 right before Christmas that was the best looking model I've ever seen that didn't have a stock upgrade or a stainless barrel. They replaced the birch stock with a laminated model. Here's a photo of the new laminated stock on the 60. And the price for it is $162 shipped. I think it looks good in the photo and it looked even better in person.



And here's a group I shot with my 60SS about 3 days after I bought it. It's a 3 shot group at 90 yards. It measured .284" CTC. I shot another very good group but I didn't want to risk messing up this first set. You'll see why. The first group is the group in the bullseye. The second group is circled just low and to the left. It measured .926" and it's a 5 shot group also from 90 yards. I shot a third group also circled. It was 7 shots and measured just slightly over 1" but I don't have it written down with the other info here so I don't have the size handy. I can look it up. If you count the holes in my groups you'll see they add up to 15, which is what the 60 holds. The other holes were made by my friend with his brand new 10/22. He got it the same day we went shooting I believe. It may have been the day before. It was right out of the box though.

But my friend has made just minor adjustments to that Ruger and it now shoots much better. Again right out of the box the Marlin is better but with some tinkering and some money you can make the Ruger really shine.

 

[clang]

Not really a gun I would think of putting a silecer on, but the Remington 552 Speedmaster is a darn nice 22 plinker.

 

[Loki7154]

Many thanks for all the input, folks. Based on that input, I've narrowed it down to two options:

Option A: Ruger Target 1262. http://www.ruger.com/products/1022Target/specSheets/1262.html Get it, see how the trigger is, go from there. I like the stock and, though there are mixed reports, it seems as though folks like the recent production barrels. If the trigger isn't great, would consider the new drop-in BX trigger, a KIDD trigger, etc. Could get one for $475, all in.

Option B: Something that's a "custom built" number, like this one http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=464428413. Figure I could probably get it (or one like it) for around $825, all in.

Thoughts? Do you have experience with the Ruger Target models that suggests I'm just going to go down the rabbit hole of replacing everything anyway?