Thoughts on Spending Big $ On a .22

[tubeshooter]

"Is it worth the extra (insert amount here)?" is so relative to the individual as to be virtually impossible to answer.


I have had people tell me that my 39A ought to fix me breakfast for over $400... but I don't mind the money and I'm darn glad to have it. Conversely, there are people (serious competitors) that put 4 figures into a .22 rifle, which I don't think I would do personally.

But then again, someone looking for that first rifle might not really appreciate what I get for my $400, and the .2" groups you'll be buying for even bigger money do not make or break things for me.

It is truly subjective; depends on what you're trying to do and how well you're trying to do it. Pride of ownership is a factor also. I generally tell people to start at the low end of the scale so that they have something to work towards and look forward to later.

 

[CB900F]

Dynasty;

I seem to remember from the original "Dope Bag" article in "American Rifleman", the NRA's official publication, that the review of the Henry's stated that the action housing sure looked good, but the internals were pot metal. They too found it to be a smooth action and a very decent shooter, but questioned it's long term reliability. Again, if I remember correctly, their definition of long-term was in the Marlin 39 tradition, ie, it's just getting broken in after the first 100 years.

900F

 

[Red Tornado]

When I first started the .22 addiction, I had a friend who said,

I'd buy a $100 used .22, but I wouldn't buy a $100 new .22

Truer words were never spoken. The Mossbergs a few posters have referred to....the remington 5-teens....classic Winchesters, etc. The quality you can get for $150 is found there, not in cheap (not inexpensive, cheap) new mass-production rifles.

Russians are often an exception, but shoulder a TOZ, then go shoulder a Romanian M69. Feel the difference? Shoulder a plinkster, then go handle a Mossberg/Remington/Winchester that's older than you are. Feel the difference? The difference should scream out at you...if it doesn't, get your plinkster and be happy.

All the internet advice in the world can't make a decision for you like picking up different rifles and asking yourself, it this worth $100 more.
RT

P.S. Check the classifieds at RFC, you'll find some excellent start guns there.

 

[zinj]

As someone else said, if you are going to be shooting the .22 the most, it is kind of silly to go cheap on it. I think there is a more of a difference between cheap .22's and quality .22s than there is between the price points of other types of firearms.

Of course, don't confuse price with quality. There are some nice inexpensive guns out there, and conversely high priced garbage too.

 

[MachIVshooter]

Spending the money for quality is no different with .22 rifles that with any other product. Just like getting a China-made home stereo at Wal-Mart versus a Bose system. Or buying a Kia Amanti instead of a Chrysler 300C or Cadillac CTS.

A .22 Like the Kimber Super America or Marlin 39 are much more pleasant to shoot and will be passed down generation after generation. That $90 Savage will likely end up rusting away in some corner closet after 20 years. Not that the cheaper .22 won't last, just that folks don't seem to take pride in them and so they're abused/neglected.

 

[Alton]

Hey Dynasty.

I got a CZ 452 Amercan .22Lr 2 mouths ago and I love it.Its the most fun gun I have to shoot.http://www.cz-usa.com/product_detail.php?id=1

I read every thing I could find about .22Lr rifles,I talk to gun shop owners and found out CZ are super accurate and the best Bang for the Buck.I put a good scope on it and it all cost about $450.00. For me to get a better gun I would have to spend alot more.
I have put 3000 rounds thru it with out a problem all I do is clean it and lube it.
Dynasty take a good look at he CZ rifles I bet you will like them.
Rob

 

[Jeff.]

Spend what you want on the gun. Shoot it and take time to learn shooting in general, and you may understand why one might want to "spend the extra money."

I own four .22's. One is a hand-me-down Model 77 from the 50's, it's a beautiful rifle. It was free to me. I also have a 10/22 that I've spent nearly $1000 building. That Model 77 can shoot really good groups at about 50 yards, but my $1000 .22 can shoot way better groups at 200 yards.

To me, it's worth the extra $$$...

 

[Rembrandt]

Thoughts on Spending Big $ On a .22..........Why spend big $ on a .22? I see it like this..........One can either get a Mossberg Plinkster for $100 or a CZ 452 for $400. Is there a justifiable answer to why spend the extra $300?...........what are your thoughts on spending big money on a .22 rifle?

In re-reading the post I see no mention of quality, only price. Sounds like you're a price shopper first and quality is not really an issue.....go for the cheapie. After awhile you'll discover why it's priced so low. We've all gone down that road at least once. Suppose it's all relevant to the individual, but "Big money .22's" requires the decimal point to be moved at least four places.

 

[MrBorland]

If you're interested in simply plinking, i.e. shooting at charcoal brickettes or something, I'd go cheap. Or a Marlin 39A, which you could hand down to your kids. Either way, with its preferred ammo, it'll likely to be respectably accurate.

If you were primarily interested in developing your basic marksmanship, however, I'd go with the CZ. It's a terrific gun, and a great value for the money. I'm surprised no one mentioned it yet, but if you buy the CZ 452, for another measly $14, you can install a Brooks trigger kit (www.cz452.com), which makes a so-so trigger a very, very sweet trigger.

As others suggested, if you find you enjoy shooting, it's unlikely this'll be your last purchase. I wouldn't see the harm in getting a cheapie so long as you enjoy it and it doesn't discourage you. When you get the itch for more accuracy, you'll know it and probably find yourself wanting something else.

 

[Brian Williams]

I have my first 22 Rifle an old Sears Bolt gun with a 7 shot mag. I drooled over a Marlin 39 Mountie for a few years before I bought the Sears and have kicked myself for years for not buying one first. I now have one and it is an almost always gun for the range.
Spend the money for the best you can afford if it is the one you really want..

 

[woof]

I agree with those who say the investment should not be determined by the size of the cartridge. I have several of the guns you speak of. The henry is lots of fun for example, but no way is it the precision heirloom quality piece the cz is. My advice is this: it's ok to not know what you want. You will need to own some guns all over the spectrum before you find your niche. If you have 400 to spend I would seriously go out and find 4 decent used .22s, or maybe one Henry lever and 2 used bolts, and just live with them awhile. if you take care of them you will always be able to get that 400 back. And use it to buy the 452. You can't really make a wrong decision and that fact should free you! Buy what you can, experience as many as you can, and you will end up having what is right for you.