What are my options in a non-bolt single shot .22?

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stevekl

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Basically, what are my options for a non-bolt-action single shot .22LR rifle?

Off the top of my head, I can think of:

H&R Topper or Trapper or something (break-open)
I see these everywhere, but H&R is...on the low end of quality. I don't really care that much about finish, but I like guns to last long, even cheap ones. So what's the deal with H&R single shots? Are they basically alright?

Rossi single shot .22 (break-open)
I know nothing about these. I've seen it maybe twice in a gun shop in my entire life. Can anyone educate me?

(Savage) Stevens (falling block)
This is the one I really like. I've never even seen one in a gun store or show before, except for very old examples.

There's also the Encore I guess, but that's a little out of my league. Does anyone have any thoughts? I think if I don't find any more examples, i'll track down/order a Steven's Favorite.
 
There's nothing wrong with H&R/NEF. They make good guns. The quality isn't bad but the fit and finish aren't that great. At the price you pay for them they're definately worth the money. I'd rate them as the same quality as the Rossi Matched Pairs.

Any decent gun will last longer than you will and HR/NEF aren't going to fall apart. I have friends with well used NEF shotguns and have one myself and they've never had malfunctions.

If you can wait a lil longer and get the money for a T/C Contender or Encore then it will be money well spent because you'll get great fit and finish, accuracy, and a big selection of other calibers. The Contender is a less beefy version of the Encore and costs a little bit less.

If you cant wait then you wouldn't be making a bad choice on any of the other ones.
 
I have an H&R Ultra Varmint in 22WMR and for the price paid it is tough to beat ($130 out the door). If I were in the market for a single shot 22lr, I don't see a reason why not to consider the NEF.
 
Get an NEF 22 and then get the .17 HMR, HM2 and 22 Mag barrels. Low cost a lot of fun. The .17 HMR is very accurate.
 
I would think the Browning falling block single shot would suit your needs to a T. That is if they are available in 22 RF. HTH
 
I love the looks of those Stevens falling blocks. As for H&R, I don't think that quality is bad at all. We ahve a couple break action shotguns in the family from them that have been beaten to death, with no problems.
 
Easiest way to convert any semi auto to a single shot .22 lr rifle is to use Winchester Xpert ammo.
Click to expand...

I still got a brick and a half that has been sitting for at least three years. It won't feed in my Marlin 60, Nylon 66, or my Ruger MkII. :barf: complete waste of money.

As for real .22 singles, I gotta recommend the H&R/NEF rifles as well. Their "Barrel/Accessory Program" is a nice offering and from what I've heard, if you ask them to cleanup the trigger while its there they can take care of it free of charge.
 
One neat animal that found its way into my collection is the Winchester Model 55. It's an automatic single shot (yes that is what I said). She fires from an open bolt, loads from the top and on firing, it ejects from the bottom and recocks the rifle. Way cool, just because they aren't seen too often.

I've got a couple H&R shotguns, they hold up well, despite being used as trunk guns and backup hunting guns for bad weather / nasty areas.
 
that lever action had me curious so googled a bit and found this:

http://www.agawamrevolver.org/sub/agawamarms.htm

AGAWAM ARMS and the "Model of '68"

Several people have contacted this web site's webperson, asking about information on firearms made by a company called "Agawam Arms". I did a bit of digging, and here is what I found out...

Agawam Arms was located in Agawam, Massachusetts. It was open for business from 1968 to 1971, producing a single firearm - the "Model 68".

Approximately 15,000 of these rifles were produced. The rifle was described to me by a former employee as "similar in appearance to a cross between Model 94 Winchester and a Daisy Red Rider."

The action was similar to a Martini Falling Block. It was a single-shot .22 caliber, with a dummy tubular magazine under the barrel. It was similar in concept to the Ithica Model 49.

The target market for this rifle was department store sales. Retail price was a wopping $19.95.

The Gun Control Act of 1968 took it's toll on this rifle. Department stores stopped carrying guns for a while back in the early 1970's in an effort to be what they thought was politically correct. Sudden loss of contracts for this gun lead to it's demise.

The design was eventually purchased by Savage Arms.

Bobby
 
I have one of the Rossi .22 break opens. It's about on par with the NEF/H&R these days. Shoots good and is easy to take down. Just remember not to dry fire with them, Rossi offsets the .22 barrel so you can have centerfire barrels added on later. Dry firing will put the firing pin right in to the top of the chamber. My father-in-law has one of the Ithaca falling blocks. Neat little gun but I think the break opens are a bit more handier.
 
That Agawam 63, or the Ithaca 49 are good choices. I can verify from personal experience learning to shoot with an Ithaca 49, that they are simple, rugged and acurate. The hammer must be manually cocked for each shot, so there is a little extra safety there for kids and other novice shooters. Mt brother has the Ithach 49 I learned on, and I bought another one for my Dad. My brother also found a junked 49, and bought it for the butt stock, which he used to customize the rifle for my niece without ruining the original wood.
 
One neat animal that found its way into my collection is the Winchester Model 55

I have the same gun Tuna, my first real gun, for Christmas way back when it ws new. I still have it too.
 
I have an old german falling block that's a very fine gun. On the high end there is a company that makes miniature Sharps rifles in 22.
 
Stevens made hordes of rolling block rifles with and without finger levers.
Get yourself a Crack Shot, Scout, Junior or Favorite and you will have an elegant piece that can be taken down and carried in a brief case, and will give you years of satisfaction.
 
0066220521281_150X150.jpg
I got this a little while back. Mine is a 22WMR. They have them in 22lr also Braztech Combo 22LR/12/28 .

It's actually a Rossi. And it comes with the carrying case also. Guy at a gun shop told me the cases were extra and he was going to charge me an extra 20 bucks for the one he had for sale. BTW he wanted $159 plus tax for the combo in his case. That would of made it $179 plus tax with the carrying case. WM has it for $120 plus tax. Took mine less then a week to come in. Think I ordered it on a Monday and was in the store by Friday.

Found out the weaver scope base for it is the same as the TC Contender (92A). Mounted that this morning and now I'm tyring to figure out what would be a good budget scope to put on it. Looking to punch paper at 100 yards. Any suggestions?
 
The Savage/Stevens Favorite is a very nice gun. They now offer them in .22LR, .22 Mag, .17 HMR, and probably .17HM2.

Interestingly, they have resurrected the take down feature. Like the old Stevens Favorites, a single set screw holds the barrel in place. Given the precision of modern manufacturing, you can probably switch barrels in this gun.
 
If you can find a used Thompson Center Contender, G2, or Encore, you can order additional barrels in many calibers and length. The Contender & G2 use the same stocks and barrels, the Encore uses its own parts and is essentially a beefed up version.

You can switch handgun barrels or rifle barrels. You can convert from handgun to rifle, but you must change the barrel and stock at the same time. You could then switch it back to a handgun in the future. You can't convert a long gun (that began its life as a long gun) to a handgun without BATF approval and certification, so I prefer to buy a handgun or handgun frame if I have any inkling to use it for both.
Richard
Schennberg.com
 
My first .22 was a single shot lever action. My brother still has it. We got it for 40 bucks at a yard sale circa 1985. It was not an awagam, but I don't recall the brand name (it was some off name, that I think was sold through sears stores in the 50's and 60's). It has a pretty blonde stock with checkering, and although small is quite heavy for a single shot .22. The next time I get by my brother's I'll dig it out and look up the name.
 
Biased for the Ithaca 49

The Ithaca 49 was last made in 1979 if you don't count the other brands of this gun out there. However, so many were made for 17 years they can still be found relatively easily. I just bought a very, very nice used one for $150 at a gun show in Iowa 15 minutes after I found a well-used one, but good shooter, for $80. The 49 is not only a good gun but a fun gun with the lever and martini action. It doesn't matter if you are left or right-handed and it is good for a young person and as safe as a single-shot rifle can be made. Parts seem to be easily available if you need to replace anything. I bought my first one when I was a 39 year old kid and now I am a 63 year old kid and just bought the two mentioned above. Stevens made them for about 6 years and I assume they are servicable guns also. I am biased toward carrying something to the woods that is not brand new and this fills the bill. It may not technically be a collectable but if you get a 49 it is going to be at least 27 years old. I do not know about putting a scope on it but I am a traditionalist and don't want a scope. However, one old ad for the 49 targeting the Boy Scout trade shows a scout aiming one and it has a receiver sight mounted on it. Buy a 49, I do not think you will regret it. By the way, since many people do not seem to know this....the receiver and the lever on the 49 are anodized aluminum so they look different from the barrel which is blued steel.
 
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