Want a .22 plinker but, 10/22's don't do it for me.

[flip180]

I know, they are super modifiable guns but I'm not looking for a super modified target gun. I have looked at the 10/22's and I feel like I'm holding a toy. Even Ruger's new race gun didn't impress me much. I felt like I would break it if I let it bang into something. Now, I do like the looks of CZ's 452's. Especially the american and the varmit versions. How do these stack up against the 10/22's out of the box. I'm not looking for a rifle to modify the hell out of but want something accurate and something that doesn't feel like a toy either. I know those two don't have iron sights so, I'll be looking at scopes also. I have a Remmy 700 VLS in a .223 topped off with a Leupold VX-II 4-12X40mm and was looking at their VX-I's for the CZ if I get it. Gunbroker has some pretty good deals on the rifles and scopes so, I'm looking at a touch over 500 dollars total. September would be a good month to get it because, I'll be getting three paychecks. By that time, I'll also have my credit card down to manageable levels. Any input would be nice.

Thanks, Flip.

 

[mattw]

You asked for any input, so...

10/22s are far from cheap and they are very accurate. Get one with a nice wood stock and I don't understand how you could not like it.

 

[flip180]

I'm not really implying that they're cheap. I know they are a good quality gun and 174.00 at wally world for a wood stocked blued carbine is a good price but, I'd like other options also. I guess I'm looking for a cheap dual purpose gun for when I don't have the money to buy ammo or time to reload ammo for my VLS. I want some thing that I can sit down and slow fire for groups and something that I can use for shooting clay pigeons at 100-200 yards. I just don't want to spend an arm and a leg for it. Here's another one; how about the 10/22 laminated stocked bull barrel. I'm not talking aboubt the thumbhole stock but the more traditional shaped stock.

Flip

 

[JohnBT]

flip180, I'm with you on this.

IMNSHO, a CZ, any CZ, will shoot circles around a 10/22. Well, most anything will shoot circles around a stock 10/22. Why do you think they make so many upgrades for them? (Indignant rebuttals are welcome and expected: If you post them at RFC I won't read them there either. )

Feels like a toy? Well, yes. I agree. We're not making any friends here with these heretical statements, but the truth is the truth. Look, I haven't changed my mind about the 10/22 in the past 41 years and I doubt that I ever will. The word clunky comes to mind every time I think about them.

I prefer the CZ American, but the less expensive models I've shot are just as accurate. I haven't had any experience at all with the Varmint model, but they're well thought of too.

I would caution you not to order a CZ sight unseen. The wood and checkering quality varies a great deal and it's better to see what you're getting.

Complaints you'll hear... Yes, you might need to open the barrel channel on the right side, all CZs seem to rub on the right side. All it takes is sandpaper. Yes, at some point you might want a $15 trigger improvement kit from Eric Brooks (worry about that later) to reduce the trigger pull a little and clean it up.

Lastly, BKL Tech rings are very good and right at $20. I use the model 257 on my American. I also use them to mount a Weaver T-36 on my Finnfire and on a couple of other guns. I had them on my old Mountie, but went to something that sits a little lower. Yes, after 40 years I had to put a scope on my Mountie.

John

 

[Pietro Beretta]

I love my 10/22 ! I don’t know how you get clunky out of a 10/22, However yes it feels more like a bb gun, than a rifle. Its as accurate as I need a .22lr to be. The 10/22 is Cheap/Fun/Reliable

However some of you guys over at rimfirecentral.com are crazy.
I see this "type" of 10/22 build most often.

A boyd type silhouette stock,. $250
Green Mountain Barrel, Fluted. $120 (and Floated) OR the Carbon Fiber Volq. Barrel (250)
The TG2000 OR KIDD Trigger $250 - 280

"god like scope for a .22lr" - $200+


I don’t know how some of you guys over there can spend all that money on a .22lr.

Im not saying you do, but you mentioned RFC

 

[ACP230]

My 10/22 has a Fajen stock, stainless bull barrel, and a 4-10 power scope.
It looks and feels quite different than it used to.

If I didn't have it I'd probably have bought a Thompson Center semiauto.
I like their looks and have heard good things about them.

You might look at old Winchester 52s, Remington 40Xs, or 541-Ts.
All are a bit pricy now but are still available with some looking.

 

[ROAshooter]

Ceeeeeeeezeeeeeeeeee

UP front will admit to owning several 10/22s....and have one now.
It gets a lot of rest since I tried the CZ452. Now I have three CZs...a Varmit...a trainer..and a FS. And all three will out shoot the 10/22.
And to add..have had a 77/22 for many years.....tried all the tricks..floating the barrel...pressure points on the barrel.....trigger tune ups..and it still will not shoot as well as the CZ varmite straight from the box.
Will probably keep the 10/22..just wont get shot much.

 

[Longbow]

Marlin 880SQ.

 

[HSMITH]

Try a Marlin. Good guns for the money and hands down WAAYYYY more accurate than a standard 10-22.

I've had 4 different 10-22's, bought 2 and got 2 more in trade deals. I don't have ANYTHING good to say about them other than there will be a sucker at the gunshow that will give you most of your money back when you figure out there are much better guns on the market. It sucks, but it is the truth. The last one had an unbelievable piece of wood on it too, beautiful wood but the gun just wouldn't shoot. My Buckmark is more accurate at 50 yards than ANY of the 10-22's I have had, and that is sad.

I've not had a chance to shoot the CZ's but I sure like the way they look and feel. I have also not head a bad report about them. I sure would like to have one.

 

[m0ntels]

Dont have anything against the 10/22 personally. The CZ looks and feels great. But for a cheap plinker, I got a Marlin 99 (same as a 60) for $60 at a show and with a decent scope resting on it now it is one of my fav guns! It isnt much to brag about, but it's a nice gun that shoots way better than my bro's 10/22 and MUCH MUCH easier to load!

Randy

 

[esldude]

Yeah the CZ is a good choice. Feels 'real'. And I too find the 10/22 clunky, boxy. 10/22 Okay for what it is, just not what you are looking for I think.

CZ 452's are the best deal going in a very accurate well made rifle. Leaves enough money for a decent scope.

The Marlin 880SQ will often shoot about as well. Out of the box trigger is less good, and it feels less like a real rifle. The heavy barrel Savage bolt gun is competitive too. Also not so great trigger.

The CZ is pretty much where you should look. Only negative to me is rather higher than usual bolt angle when working the bolt.

 

[rockstar.esq]

Lone voice for the Ruskie's

I recently bought a Tula T03 .22Lr rifle. I cost me $170 and when I was shopping, it and the CZ were about the only non tiny rifles in that caliber. I thought the CZ was a beautiful gun however I thought that the bolt was way too rough for something that costs over $400.00. The bolt on my cheap Ruskie was much smoother and if you can get past uneven checkering, it shoots like a champ. Just a thought, you might check them out.

 

[Euclidean]

Marlin Model 60.

Had one since I was 10. Every time I contemplate a 10/22 I immediately stop and realize I already have a perfectly good .22 caliber rifle.

 

[english kanigit]

Romanian M69

Cheap, durable and handy. Availible now at pawnshops all across America.

 

[yorec]

My favorite .22 lr plinker is an old Rossi Gallery gun... Just color me different - I've got two 10-22s and they fall far down my list of favorite 22s.

 

[Mr. Loud Guns]

I will up front admit I own only one 22 and it is is a 10/22 however here are a few other to consider:

look at the henry golden boy rifle and accubolt they are both very accurate rifles I am planning to get a henry survival rifle (like the takedown capability)
marlin rifles like the model 60 are also considered to be vert accurate rimfire rifles
CZ are good but they are not very smooth not that I have something against them
if you want something with a little more expense how about those browning 22 takedown rifles they are considered to be some of the best 22's out on the market today.
you can consider the remington 597's but they are prone to magazine problems (so I have heard)
.........................also ruger 10/22 are a little dangerous to be considered toys don't you think.

 

[Ifishsum]

My Remington 597 LS-HB looks, feels and shoots great. Magazine troubles were mostly associated with the earlier all plastic mags - I've only a problems with one of the metal ones and it was easily fixed. Even the basic model has a much better feel to me than a stock 10/22.

 

[RoyG]

Hit the used gun racks for a Marlin/Glenfield Model 60. Buy several. They are usually well under a c-note with a scope most of the time. Clean them up. Lube VERY little. All of mine like Win Dynapoints. Less them 10 bucks for 500 rounds

Want a bull barrel? Get the Marlin 7000. Barrel is free floated already. No iron sights so pick out a good scope and your in business. Still less money then you will be paying for a 10/22. Yes the trigger needs work on all marlins. But after a couple thousand Dynapoints it smooths out. And your still out less then 50 bucks for the ammo. And you have all that range time.

BTW a Model 60 is one of the best long guns to introduce a new shooter to shooting. Almost no recoil. No scary magazine to reload. For some reason the tube doesn't scare them (even though it holds more then 10 rounds never seen anyone say anything about that). And if you find one of the older Glenfields it has the nice friendly squirrel on the stock.

 

[Hawk]

Reading about Ruger 10/22's reminds me of grits.

On a trip to North Carolina for a 6 month consulting job, I had mentioned that I didn't particularly care for grits. One of the guys at the firm advised me that I simply had never had his grits.

The next day, he shows up with a pot of grits: it had diced ham, crumbled bacon, some kind of bean, other veggies, spices, butter and a lot of other stuff I couldn't identify. I had to admit it was very, very good.

However, when I observed that the concoction would not have suffered by the omission of the grits, the expression on his face told me I had said something offensive...

I know very few people extolling the virtues of the 10/22 that are actually shooting a plain 10/22, which beast seems about as uncommon as plain grits. Now that Brownell's is selling aftermarket 10/22 receivers, a 10/22 doesn't seem to suffer by omission of the 10/22. I admit those Volquartson(sp?), Power, STI, Boyd, Carbon Fiber, Moon scope things are very, very nice but they're not really 10/22's. I don't know what they are - maybe "stew" (?)

The Kimber looks pretty nice - anybody try one of those? It's a little spendy but I expect it's way less than a lot of those 10/22 "builds" over at RFC.

 

[flip180]

I found a really good deal on a Lux model. I'm thinking real hard about it :banghead: . Like I said, september will be the ideal time to do it due to getting that third paycheck but, I could always reemburse myself . We'll see. I've looked a other .22 from other companies but those CZ's sure look nice.

Flip.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

I know it has not been suggested, but what about the classic Winchester 9422? You know the lever action winchester? Classic american styling, wood stocks, and quite accurate. I have one and like it a lot. Very fun to plink with and easy to carry.

Just a thought.

 

[GunGoBoom]

One of my favorite subjects - .22s

More fun cannot be had with pants on. Some random points to consider, in my opinion, from my moderate (not extensive) experience, as I love rimfires:

1. You should probably decide first whether you want a semi-auto, turnbolt, pump, levergun, or single shot. In making this decision, you must first decide whether you plan to shoot shorts and longs, in addition to lrs - most leverguns will cycle shorts, and *few* pumps will also (like the Henry pump). Some (most?) turnbolts will cycle shorts also. Remember, the action types will *generally* have accuracy levels in this order, from most to least: Single shot, turnbolt, pump, semi-auto, lever. I don't know why, but that's what I heard from a gunsmith.

2. Everything you ever wanted to know can be found at www.rimfirecentral.com

3. You have a larger plethora of choices than in choosing any other gun type, period, when choosing a .22 rifle, both new and used, and few of them are bad. So be prepared to have your head spin.

4. As for semi-autos, my view is that the Marlin model 60, or Marlin model 7000/795/70 are cheaper, AND more accurate out of the box than a ruger 10/22, but not as customizable. But 10/22s are certainly not bad - I had one and liked it (not enough to not sell it however). Lotta other semi-autos out there as well of course.

5. The Romanian trainers are good, and have a cool express leaf rear system, but I don't *think* they have a scope rail, so if you want to scope it, check on that before buying one.

6. The CZ 452 line is generally regarded as the *most* accurate and one of the best, *sporting* line of rimfires. If you don't get one of the occasional lemons that CZ (and everyone else) produces, then a 452 is probably the best value out there in a rimfire - you get *almost* the accuracy of a much more expensive target gun (anschutz, etc), but not quite, for a lot less money. The 452 is undoubtedly a good buy. Get the american or varmint if you're gonna scope it; get the Luxe if you're not.

7. In addition to Marlin, Savages are also a good bet on an economy choice for accuracy (not so much for looks) in a repeater - Savage has turnbolts, semis, etc.

8. The Izhmash Biathlon Basic is also one of the best values going - you get true target rifle accuracy for not much more than a CZ.

9. If like leverguns, the Browning BL-22 is a great little gun, and would be my first choice in a levergun. But there's also Henry, Marlin, Winchester.

http://www.marlinfirearms.com/firearms/index.php

http://www.savagearms.com/rimfire_home.htm

http://www.cz-usa.com/01.04.php

http://www.browning.com/products/catalog/firearms/category.asp?value=005B
http://www.browning.com/products/catalog/firearms/category.asp?value=004B

http://www.winchesterguns.com/prodinfo/catalog/category.asp?cat=004C

http://www.ruger.com/Firearms/P-CategoryRiflesRBA.html
http://www.ruger.com/Firearms/P-CategoryRiflesRA.html

http://www.gunsamerica.com/guns/976382163.htm

http://www.kimberamerica.com/kimber22.php

http://www.henryrepeating.com/ourrifles.cfm

Presently I own in rimfire rifles: Marlin 60 semi-auto, CZ 452 Luxe turnbolt, Henry H003 pump, (old) Winchester 69A turnbolt, Rossi single-shot, (old) Mossberg 100 semi-auto, Izhmash Biathlon Basic, Marlin 917 turnbolt (.17 HMR), CZ 452 Varmint (.22 mag).

 

[Dave R]

10/22s are far from cheap and they are very accurate.

My 10/22 is only middlin' accurate. Both mu ol' Marlin Model 60 and my Romanian 1969 are more accurate.

Romanian Model 1969 --Cheap, durable and handy. Availible now at pawnshops all across America.

I got one for my son, and liked it so much I got another for me. Feels like a 'real' gun, and shootes very accurately. Last time I checked, the going rate was $60.

 

[Mike Hull]

I owned two 10/22's back in the late 60's when they first came out, and put thousands of rounds through them, but didn't really care for them.

I sold those, and never owned another one till about about 15 years ago, when I bought one from an estate sale my mother was running.

I only got it because it was an older sporter model with the walnut stock, the price was right, it was still in the box unfired, and was made before they put the warnings on the barrel or receiver.

I haven't fired it to this day, though I installed a better(lighter) trigger, a scope, and slimmed and shortened the forearm down a bit, to bring it into proportion.

My favorites are bolt actions of one type or another.

I have two bolt actions, a Winchester model 69 target, and an Anchutz Woodchucker youth model that I installed a spacer on the stock.

An old Belgian Browning "T" bolt can be classified as a bolt action I guess, and would round out my .22RF collection.

All of them shoot better than any stock 10/22.

I like the CZ models too, and would prefer the Lux model, if a scope can be mounted, but there are other bolt action .22's out there also, so check them out too.

Good luck to you, whatever you choose.

 

[0007]

If you live in a state where you can have Form IV stuff you might want to check out a .22 from American-Manufacture. They make the "Stalker", an integrally- suppressed .22 based on the Savage .22 rifle. Very accurate, very quiet, and very reasonable - about $400 + the transfer tax.