What is the best .22LR autoloader...

[nemoaz]

Admittedly, I hate Rugers of all types. The only accurate Ruger I've ever shot was a Model 1. It was impressive.

10/22's are crap. And unless you just want a mall ninja commando play toy that looks like a real assault rifle, stay away.

Model are good for the money. I still have a Glenfield copy of one somewhere. The Remingtons are nice. I too like the Nylon 66 better than the current stuff. CZ- on my wish list.

 

[Doug in Alaska]

 

[Doug in Alaska]

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r269/DouginAlaska/target.jpg
I love my 10/22!! I haven't bedded the receiver yet but expect accuracy to improve after bedding and break-in.

 

[tdubya]

I have a Marlin 60 with a scope on it that i picked up at my local shooting range for $90 after taxes. Very good condition (its an older model)

If any one in San Antonio,TX wants one they have one more just like it at THE BULLET HOLE.

 

[GLOCK19XDSC]

I just picked up a NIB Marlin 60 with a 4x15 scope on clearance for $120. Took it to the range for the first time today and...I'm more than pleased. Great little rifle!

 

[Odd Job]

@ all

Just an update.
I managed to get a Firearms Certificate and I have ordered a Thompson Center R55 Benchmark. I will pick that up within the next few days.

Do you guys have any tips for me about the early use of this rifle? I am assuming I have to clean it before I shoot it. But what about first fire?
Should I shoot 100 rounds, clean, then shoot another 100?
What would you do to 'break in' this beauty?
I tried a search, but came up empty.

 

[Odd Job]

Okay gents, seeing as you helped me make my choice, I might as well show you a pic of my best group with the rifle. Today was only the second time I have fired the rifle, and I tried various types of ammo in it.
Here is a list (from best to worst) of ammo that I have tried in the R55:

1) Eley Tenex Ultimate
2) Lapua Master M
3) Lapua Midas M
4) Winchester Wildcat LRN
5) Lapua Super Club
6) CCI Standard Velocity
7) CCI Mini Mag High Velocity

Here is the Eley Tenex group:



Coin on the left is a US 1c and the one on the right is a UK 5p.

 

[DReicht]

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r269/DouginAlaska/1022build2.jpg

Whaaaat is that beauty?

 

[Stan_TheGunNut]

Now , I saw a mention for Browning, and if you can find a Belgium made browning , about 30 or so years old, it will be an extemely valuable piece of history, and man, they are beautiful!!! Personally , I do not know of their accuracy.

It's the most accurate 22 I own. I learned shooting one that my dad had. His was a Belgian, and a tackdriver. Unfortunately, his was stolen. I ended up buying one, and they're now made in Japan. For what it's worth, it still looks great and shoots great.

I like the fact that it ejects downwards, so I can shoot it either left or right handed.

 

[22-rimfire]

If you want a semi-auto, my first choice would be to find a Weatherby Mark XXII. I prefer the tube fed version; no magazines to loose. Mine is very accurate. You can find them at gun shows and will run you in the $500-$700 range these days in good condition.

 

[SaMx]

I have a marlin 60, and it shoots better than I do. I also don't like the 10/22 very much. The marlin is very slim and looks pretty good I think, although it has a tube magazine so it can't be free-floated. The Ruger can be accessorized and made very accurate, but in it's stock form it has a reputation of being less accurate than the marlin. The browning and T/C both have a reputation of being very accurate.

 

[kcmarine]

What about those browning Buckmark rifles? Any opinions on those?

 

[trbon8r]

The .22 has a variety of uses from plinking to serious target shooting.

For me, I like the .22 for plinking and will save the centerfires for the serious stuff. In other words accuracy is important, but not the top requirement for me in a .22. FUN is the number one requirement.

I'd recommend either an older Remington 552 BDL, because I believe the older Remingtons to be better, or a clean used Winchester 63. If you want something cheaper than the Winchester, Taurus makes a pretty decent copy of the Winchester 63. Marlins, while not too pretty work great also.

However, if accuracy is your most important requirement I'd venture to guess a Marlin bolt action would serve you well. I've got a Marlin bolt that is a real nice shooter.

 

[Dr.Rob]

A wasp-waisted FN Browning take down model, even in standard form, is one very accurate little plinker. And perhaps one of the 'prettiest' rifles ever. Loading it is odd, but the pusher tube magazine has only jammed on me if the ammunition was faulty. Hot brass down the sleeve is something you get used to.

 

[ec-10]

Walther G22.

Didn't run out of the box.

I should have returned it. :banghead:

I polished the feed ramp and chamfered the bottom edge of the chamber.

It ran flawlessly and was pretty accurate for roughly 3000 rounds.

The action is now completely worn out and the connector will no longer release the sear.

I should have bought a 10/22.

 

[Jeep22oz]

I just bought a 597 two months ago and after about 1,000 rounds I'm putting nine rounds through a 50 cent sized dot at fifty yards with one flyer about an inch off. Some guys have problems with this gun, but I never have. And you can't beat the price.

 

[Charshooter]

Voere, the best auto 22 I have owned, but an expensive bolt action will beat it, but not by much

 

[Charshooter]

My best 10/22 will come close to the Voere, but it has a GM barrel and a aftermarket trigger and custom stock

Please note: the Voere does not handle the high velocity ammo, you have to use standard 40 grain ammo

 

[rangerruck]

remember, eley Tenex, is the finest made 22 ammo in all the world, If you do a internet search of how Eley goes about making ANY of their 22 ammo, much less the tenex, it is quite amazing. but don't be afraid to try Aguila, or american eagle, in the black and blue or brown and blue boxes. Aguila comes in all types of colors. These are both eley as well, assembled im mexico, and America, respectively. Also Remmy makes a orange box , and a yellow box, both eley as well, but just below eley's normal standards, so remmy picks it up and boxes it.
These listed above will all be much cheaper than Regular eley, especially the Tenex.
Couple of other 22 tricks to try; put a little piece of padding under the front of the bbl, just above the tip of the stock, see if this cuts the harmonics and mkaes your groups even smaller. Make sure stock is free floated, in front of the receiver, both cold check, when you first get out to the range, and then after about 20 fast rounds, when it is heated up.
Last but not least, after about 500 or so rounds, do a molyfusion on the inside of the receiver, bolt assy/carrier, and bbl. NOT THE CHAMBER OR BOLT CARRIER FACE!!! you need that good tight friction lockup in those places.

 

[No_Brakes23]

I like the Remington 597. I have no real complaints with my dad's lightly smithed 10/22, but when it came time for me to buy, I could not bring myslef to give Ruger money. Remington's recent actions during Zumbo-gate, just made me that much happier that I had given them my money. (I paid $140 for my 597.)

But as others have stated, the 10/22 has tons of aftermarket support. If cost was no object you could get a Volquartsen receiver and parts and give no money to Ruger at all. It would be pricey, but you would have one sweet rifle.

 

[Odd Job]

@ rangerruck

I haven't tried any Aguila yet, but I have had good groups with the Lapua Master M. The groups have been good enough that I am probably going to be able to justify not paying for the Tenex. Also, I need more range time with the R55. I reckon I can improve.
I have a thread on Rimfirecentral with other targets, showing the Lapua groups. I will see if I can post a link (I am in the US at the moment, on my sister's PC)
As always, thanks for your advice, I appreciate it!

Here is the link:
http://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1367137&posted=1#post1367137

 

[n10sivern]

remington 552 hands down. grew up shooting one. the cool thing is that you can shoot 22, 22 short, and 22 LR. the tube feed can be awkward but it also holds more rounds than a magazine if i'm not mistaken. it is at my dad's and i haven't shot it in a while but IIRC it holds something like 15 rounds.

 

[P-32]

Well, now that the thread is a moot point with Odd Job getting his rifle, I just wanted to add another vote for the Remmy 552.

My son in law was not real happy with me one night when he was trying to show off with his souped up 10/22 with it's factory bull barrel. Scope was bigger than what I put on my hunting rifles.

My 552 with it's 30 year old Weaver v-22 scope shot a couple of groups not much larger than his. I was using plain old CCI standard. He had some of that fancy stuff. Sometimes I think people over look just how good the CCI standard will shoot.

 

[mr.trooper]

I had a Remington 597 with mossy oak breakup synthetic stock that I got at Wally world for $180 (first and ONLY time I will ever take the "walk of shame") got a few spare Remington factory magazines as well.

IT was very accurate, even without a scope. I did about as good with the 597s irons as i do with a 4x scope mounted on my 10/22. With a scope mounted, i got one hole groups at 25 yards. It wasn't very reliable though. I tried all 3 major bulk pack brands (Winchester, Remington, and Federal) and it jammed frequently with all of them. At first i though it just needed a break in. 300 rounds later, it was still acting up. Then i thought, maybe it just likes different ammo; I tried fiocchi and CCI to no avail. I took it home and cleaned it immaculately; same problems.

I broke it in properly, I cleaned it well, I tried all 5 brands of ammo locally available, and it still jammed on nearly every magazine. I read online that the factory magazines have weak springs. When I downloaded the magazines to 7 rounds, my jams dropped from once every 10 rounds or so, to once every 30 rounds or so....but only if i shot the expensive CCI or Fiocchi stuff. It still jammed every magazine with all brands of bulk ammo.

I sold it at a loss and replaced it with a Savage MKII with Accutriger. I'm getting 1" groups at 100 yards using Remington bulk ammo and a 4x scope. I'm looking to put an entry level Nikon 3-9x40 scope on it sometime soon. The increased clarity and magnification should help a lot.

If I ever sell my Savage MKII, it will only be to trade up for a nicer MKII.

 

[sam sam 22lr man]

i have a remington 597, it can shoot about a 1" group at 100m (110 yard), it out shot my mates 22 mag, and it only has a 4x32 scope on it. anything under that 100m it is easily accurate enough for rabbits or small birds. only trouble is it loves to jam on expensive cci ammo, but it cycles winchester power points (subs and high velocity) perfectly fine, which is half the price.

sam