What is the BEST 22lr Rifle out there?

[deerhunter61]

I was wanting to get some feedback on 22lr rifles. I AM NOT TALKING ABOUT TARGET 22lr RIFLES. I am looking for hunting 22lr.

Example:

Weatherby
Remington
Browning
CZ
Savage
Ruger

Please include Bolt vs Auto.

What are the best 50 yard/100 yard groups you get with your 22lr?

 

[Javelin]

GSG-5 is not on your list. I would recommend an SBR and maybe later you can throw a suppressor on it. They are so much fun.

 

[jaholder1971]

The Savage Mk2's are the buy for the money right now. While mine's the Mk2 FVT (heavy barreled target rifle) the standard versions will give incredible accuracy.

 

[az_imuth]

There are several sporter type rifles still being manufactured out there that are very well made and plenty accurate for hunting small game. I have a first year (1984) Ruger 77/22 that is very accurate, has an exceptional trigger and still comes in blued steel with a nice walnut stock. They also come in stainless/synthetic if that is your preference.
I can also reccommend any of the pre-war Mauser sporting rifles if you want a full-size rifle of a quality no longer found. The older Winchester 75 Sporters are very nice, especially if you can snag a later model with a grooved receiver.
However, without a price range the list is endless, as there are so many great rimfires that have been produced over the years.

 

[MIL-DOT]

The CZ 452's (bolt) have quite the rabid following, I recently got one from Budsgunshop for $366 delivered.
But I'm just as impressed with my (semi-auto) stainless Marlin 60 I got locally for $219.
If I could back get what I have in the CZ and scope, I'd do it in a hearbeat, and just keep the Marlin.

 

[ieszu]

Since you said "Best" and not "best for the value" you can always get a high-end Anshutz.

But for the money, I actually prefer a Ruger 10/22 or CZ 452... both can shoot better than I can, and the Ruger can be upgraded with better barrels/bolts/stocks as my skills go up.

Oh, and I do know people who hunt with their Anshutz's....

 

[Shawnee]

Bolt-action - Browning

Semi-auto - Browning

 

[TCB in TN]

Marlin 39A.

 

[txdude321]

i like my savage and my ruger, dont underestimate the savage bolt actions they are really accurate

 

[Javelin]

Since you said "Best" and not "best for the value" you can always get a high-end Anshutz.

But for the money, I actually prefer a Ruger 10/22 or CZ 452... both can shoot better than I can, and the Ruger can be upgraded with better barrels/bolts/stocks as my skills go up.

Oh, and I do know people who hunt with their Anshutz's....

Anschutz are the absolute best bolt action .22lr rifles. I have a 1913 supermatch though I would not recommend anyone hunting with one...... CZ and Savage both make a great rifle. And 10/22 is the economical repeater.

OP: Are you really deadset on a .22LR? The .17HMR is really economical for what it offers and the rifle is no more expensive. I did not realize just how much the cost of quality .22LR has gone up vs. the current price of quality .17HMR (I think the HMR might even be a tad less expensive too). Try a look here as this topic is all these guys talk about.

http://www.rimfirecentral.com

Good Luck!

 

[t george]

i like my belgium browning semi auto... its just a fun gun as for goups i donno but i know that the rabbits dont like it when i have it in my hands

 

[mainmech48]

Define what "best" means to you. Lacking any sort of objective criteria to consider, the term is entirely subjective and the all the answers you get will be equally valid.

 

[krs]

Cooper Arms probably, but I like my Marlin 39's, and the venerable Ruger 10-22.

Kimber makes nice .22 rifles but stay away from any Kimber rifle with an "Ebony foreend tip" because it'll be a cheap plastic sleeve.

Best hunting .22 for the money has got to be the CZ rifles. There's one of those that keeps catching my eye.

 

[Meowhead]

What does 'best' mean?

Since for me it would mean good price, semiautomatic, large-capacity magazines and a ton of accessories/customizing options, I'm going to go with Ruger 10/22.

 

[theNoid]

Welps, it depends on you and your needs. Shoot, according to the way I see it, my sons cheap $99 Mossberg Plinkster 702 is one of the best for hunting, it shoots minute of pDog pretty much every time you pull the trigger if you do your part. We were the first out in these parts to pick one up, now three other families have one and it is their most shot rifle.

Now of course there "better" guns out there, but for what...and how have we decided they are better? I mean if a gun is being used to shoot pDogs and jack rabbits and it does just that, can there be a "better" or "best".

Personally, I like the looks and feel of my Browning BL22 with long octagon barrel, it shoot s MOpD as well.

Now my Ruger 10/22 with Raptor stock and Green Mountain barrel is super comfy, looks schweeet and guess what....it kill pDogs just as good as the last two mentioned.

My dad's 39a feels like a real centerfire gun and is just as reliable as any mentioned, and it kills small game all the time.

My buds old beater truck gun, a Springfield single shot does it's designed part as long as the shooter does as well.

My wife's bone stock 10/22 is plenty accurate out of the box to kill most anything you intend to as long as you do your part.

I guess what it boils down to is that most, if not all of the models available today are accurate enough to do the job of "hunting" with as long as you do your job. So what it boils down to is what appeals to your eyes, and what feels best in your hands. If we stack 50 22lr guns up against each other and they all kill the rodent we are shooting at, does one of them kill it "best"...naw....one shot one kill is easy enough with pretty much any rifle on the market anymore as long as you like it, are comfy with it, and practice with it.

Just my thoughts...

Noidster

I would also add that no matter what best rifle you buy....you will then need to find the best ammunition for it. 22lr can be really picky when it comes to ammo for sure so good luck, pick a gun YOU like, buy a crap load of different ammo, and have fun...yeah most important...HAVE FUN!!!

 

[orvpark]

stainless model 60 marlin

 

[shotgun12321]

I got a 10/22 which is pretty accurate, considering I haven't really modded up any of the performance stuff. Just added a stock, scope, extended mag release (the factory one is terrible) and a 25 round clip

 

[XD-40 Shooter]

I'd say the Ruger 10/22, with the vast array of aftermarket upgrades available for it, you can't go wrong.

In a bolt gun, I'd go with the Savage, they seem to be sweet shooters.

 

[Chilean]

The best...Anschutz

pick a 64 action (ie 1416) sporter if you don´t want to expend a LOT of money in a 54 action, and still is a hell of a rifle...

 

[atblis]

Well

If I needed a bolt gun for squirrels/rabbits, I wouldn't hesitate to go guy a CZ.

If I had more money than sense, I'd get an Anschutz.

I have a Ruger 77/22 VBZ. It is okay, but I wouldn't buy another.

 

[Coal Dragger]

I like my Kimber Model 82 (no longer in production as this was made by the original Kimber of Oregon).

Of course that is a heavy barreled prone target rifle.

Anschutz is hard to beat in anything they make, and lately I have had a real hankering to buy a Weatherby XXII which is an Anschutz barreled action in a fairly nice stock.

I expect groups at 50 yds with match ammo to be under 1/2 inch with a good .22LR when I can do my part. Most of the time they will group even better than that. The last five round, 50yd group I shot with the Kimber running Lapua Midas measured .366 inches center to center. This was shot prone with a sling. From a good solid bench rest (unlike the back of my Pickup, and my elbows and sling) I am confident it could have been even better.

 

[rangerruck]

savage or Marlin, none of the rest. Why? because the others are all too expensive, and too beautiful. you can get a used savage or marlin for under 100 bucks. if you get a marlin mod 80 or 81, starting from 1937, until any made today, a 981t, they are bolts that shoot short, long, and long rifle. plus they have synth stocks, if you dont like synth stocks, marlins are easily replaced with laminate or wood stocks, that you don't mind beating up.
Plus their accuracy will be better than any of these other mentioned. and you don't have to limit yourself to the 981, you can go with a mod 60, 75, 75c, 99, 99m1, 989, all for old, and if you can find a 7000, 795 , 2000, 880, or 880 sq, you will have both in bolts, and semis', some of the most accurate 22's you will ever touch.
all mod 60's deserve to bought used, at a pawn shop or gunshop, for 100 bucks or less.
The savage 64, beside the marlin mod 60, is the next best entry level 22 semi auto out there, and it is mag fed, with a heavy duty mag.
the savage mkII , can be very accurate, especially when you are talking heavy bbl and laminate stock, also some of the most accurate 22's you will ever touch.

 

[rangerruck]

now then, a cooper, will guarantee you sub moa groups at 100 yds, and anschutz is... well... anschutz. and they are hunting rifles, and their accuracy is the best in the world, it is what olympic shooters use, just these are put into hunting type stocks. but you will pay much for them.
a kimber is also up there, and then a little less is a Thompson/Center.
Out of your list, the only one I would take would be CZ.

 

[9mmepiphany]

for hunting and style i'd get a Anschtuz 1710 (i have a 1712 because i wanted the rollover cheek piece w/o open sights) which is about as good as it's going to get without going semi-custom (Cooper)

as a great value for the money i have a CZ 452 American (i'm a scope kinda guy) that i got for less than $300

the Weatherby is a nice compromise. it has an outstanding stock/wood together with the cheaper Anschutz action

 

[dagger dog]

Cooper makes a rimfire called the Jackson Squirrel rifle excellent quality in a semi custom rifle, can be had in a no nonsense matt finish with oil rubbed stock all the way up to a fine blue and fancy claro walnut.