.22 Bolt Action Rifles

wildmanh

wildmanh

Part time Leather Bender/Sheath maker
Joined
Jul 9, 2000
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I'm looking into buying a Bolt Action .22 Rifle for target practice. Short term plan is to learn to shoot a bolt gun and get good at it. Long term plan is to buy a Remington Model 700 SPS Varmint in .223 or maybe .22-250. Figured I'd start learning the ropes on a .22 bolt gun. Seems to have worked with my revolvers and lever guns. (learn with .22 then more to a bigger caliber when comfortable)

Here's some critiria I have for a .22 bolt gun:
#1. Left/right handed friendly - I'm left handed but my shooting buddies aren't so it needs to work for both
#2. Minimum 20" Barrel - Preferably longer
#3. Needs to be drilled and tapped for mounting a scope or have a scope mount already.
#4. detachable or tub magazine with a 5 shot capacity or more.
#5. Price range is around $250 to $350'ish and I'll be buying local.

Thats what I'm looking for. What .22 bolt guns do you guys like and what make/models do you think would work for me (given my critiria)? Thanks,

Heber
 
is 20" barrel a law requirement ? i have read that any barrel longer than 18" used for .22lr actually lowers velocity. cant remember where i read it though. -CB
 
chuck buck said:
is 20" barrel a law requirement ? i have read that any barrel longer than 18" used for .22lr actually lowers velocity. cant remember where i read it though. -CB
Click to expand...

I live in Utah and this state for the most part goes off Federal law when it comes to guns. So no, 20"+ Isn't law it's a want. I'm going to buy a target/varmit rifle with a 26" Barrel and I want a .22 thats somewhat close to that. Plus the bolt action rifles I've seen with 16" to 18" barrels look strange. IMO a 20"+ barrel is more appealing to my eye. Hope that helps,

Heber
 
If you want righty lefty a bolt action will be tough for both to use easily. The Browning T bolt is a straight pull and would be easier for either side to use, but it is out of your price range. Are you going to buy a left handed bolt gun for your centerfire rifle?

easiest for both sides to use is a lever or semi auto, but your bolt action criteria doesn't fit that either. I don't know specific models, but are you planning to buy a lefty 22? Are there any lefty 22 bolt guns in that price range? If you end up buying a right handed bolt 22, try to find one with a shallow bolt lift and one that is easy to cock. That way, you can reach across the action and still operate it fairly easy. You may want to look out for a used older 22 bolt gun. Often you will find better quality and smoothness of function as compared to brand new 22 bolt guns in the lower price ranges.

HTH

take care,

Tom
 
Id look into the CZ rifles. I picked up a CZ 452 American new in your price range. It is a really nice shooter. I know they make them in both left and right handed models, but I'm not sure how you would go about getting one that would accommodate for both. The American model has a 22.5 in barrel, so that meets your barrel requirement too.
 
Since it would be a bolt gun, and you don't have to deal with the shell ejection of an autoloader or anything, I would just get a lefty model and when your shooting buds use it they would just have to deal with the awkward bold manipulation.
 
When I mentioned a left handed friendly gun I was meaning; No right hand only stocks like the Right hand thumb hole stocks or ones with cheek pads on the left side for right handed shooters. I've shot an M44 plenty of times and it worked fine for me. Tried to use a stock designed for right handed use and it hurt. I've seen plenty of left handed bolt guns online but trying to find one here is hard. Have not so far. I've considered a special order for a left handed gun though...

But aside from the right/left bebate, what guns? $350 might be a little low but I'm a beginner... I may rase it, just seeing what out there. Oh yeah, someone mentioned Lever or semi auto rifles, I already have some so I'm now going after the bolt. Next I'll get a pump gun. Thanks,

Heber
 
Savage makes a left hand with a neutral stock. They are good shooters at a low price. Staying under $300 you have the Winchester Wildcat Target/Varmint. It is right hand only but for the money it is a lot of rifle. Comes with a total of 4 magazines and instead of the crappy grooved receiver it is drilled and tapped for weaver mounts. The CZ 452 American 22 lr Left Hand has a neutral stock and can be found for under $400.
 
+4 CZ452. They feel like real guns. Really, go look at one, nice long, deep blue-black barrel, good open sights.
Fun to shoot too.Patrick

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Thanks guys. I put my application in at Sportsmans Warehouse today and checked out their sellection of Bolt guns. The Savage Mark IIG and Mark IIG left-hand have caught my eye. I'm still looking at other guns, asked about the CZ's and thats what the guy there recommened but they were out of stock.

Heber
 
I agree on the CZ American. It is a blatant copy of the Winchester Model 52, which is definately a good thing.:thumbup:
 
I'd get a CZ over a Savage .22 anyday. Savage does much better in the centerfire precision department than their .22's IMHO.

The CZ's are known for shooting through one hole if the shooter does his part at 50 yards.
Savage may "look cooler" but after shooting one, accuracy was lacking. (this was the mako shark Mark II model)

Now if you can find one, the Remington 541-T is a scary tack driver.... but those are kinda rare and probably out of your price range.
 
I'm left handed, and I know you've tried to put this topic to rest...but you sound like you're just getting into long guns so I think it's my duty to give you full warning.

That M44 probably didn't have a scope, and if it did it was likely what we call a "Scout" mounted scope (scope lays farther up on the barrel instead of the reciever).

I can cycle through a RH bolt nearly as fast as any right hander...UNLESS you but a scope on it. Then it's a whole new story. Thumb-holes and cheek-pads aside, if you want a bolt for YOU to shoot and you want to learn to shoot through a scope you've got two options:
1. Buy a left-handed bolt and if your buddies are too inconvenienced by it they can buy their own. (Hey, that's what we lefties live with!!! It's only fair.)
2. Go ahead with a right-handed bolt, but as soon as you put a scope on it will become no better than a single shot. You'll have to raise your head off the stock, likely completely unshoulder the thing, work the bolt and set back up. The one single shot I've fumbled around with (Ruger No 1...very very nice, but expensive) was no slower to reload than working a RH bolt left-handed.



**** NOW, if 90% of your shooting is going to be off a benchrest go ahead and get a RH. Many (well some) benchrest shooters prefer an off-hand action in their guns. A left handed shooter would prefer a RH action because they only have to hole the gun with their left hand. The right hand is left free to cycle the bolt while the gun rests on bench.

CZ's have a strong reputation. Savage has an equally strong reputation. Both are great guns for the dollar and both will shooter better than can out-of-box. Most of my dealing with rimfires have been pistols and 10/22s so I can't recommend on experience.

One last thing....since I brought up accuracy...buy at least a dozen (I'm not joking) type of ammo for it first thing and find out what it likes. Rimfires are notorious for being "picky" about what they shoot. The same gun can throw 1" groups at 50 yards with one ammo, and then make one ragged hole all day long with the next. It just depends, and two guns of the same model may prefer different ammo.
 
Soilarch said:
I'm left handed, and I know you've tried to put this topic to rest...but you sound like you're just getting into long guns so I think it's my duty to give you full warning.

That M44 probably didn't have a scope, and if it did it was likely what we call a "Scout" mounted scope (scope lays farther up on the barrel instead of the reciever).

I can cycle through a RH bolt nearly as fast as any right hander...UNLESS you but a scope on it. Then it's a whole new story. Thumb-holes and cheek-pads aside, if you want a bolt for YOU to shoot and you want to learn to shoot through a scope you've got two options:
1. Buy a left-handed bolt and if your buddies are too inconvenienced by it they can buy their own. (Hey, that's what we lefties live with!!! It's only fair.)
2. Go ahead with a right-handed bolt, but as soon as you put a scope on it will become no better than a single shot. You'll have to raise your head off the stock, likely completely unshoulder the thing, work the bolt and set back up. The one single shot I've fumbled around with (Ruger No 1...very very nice, but expensive) was no slower to reload than working a RH bolt left-handed.



**** NOW, if 90% of your shooting is going to be off a benchrest go ahead and get a RH. Many (well some) benchrest shooters prefer an off-hand action in their guns. A left handed shooter would prefer a RH action because they only have to hole the gun with their left hand. The right hand is left free to cycle the bolt while the gun rests on bench.

CZ's have a strong reputation. Savage has an equally strong reputation. Both are great guns for the dollar and both will shooter better than can out-of-box. Most of my dealing with rimfires have been pistols and 10/22s so I can't recommend on experience.

One last thing....since I brought up accuracy...buy at least a dozen (I'm not joking) type of ammo for it first thing and find out what it likes. Rimfires are notorious for being "picky" about what they shoot. The same gun can throw 1" groups at 50 yards with one ammo, and then make one ragged hole all day long with the next. It just depends, and two guns of the same model may prefer different ammo.
Click to expand...

Thanks a bunch for the left handed perspective. :) I've been shooting pistols for almost 2 years now, but you are right, I'm just getting back into Rifles. This will be my first entry into Bolt guns. My friends M44 didn't have a scope and I did need to move my head to work the bolt. But in the store I was able to work the bolt on the right handed savage with out moving my head. Could you explain to me how a scope changes this?

I'm right handed but blind in my right eye so I have to shoot a rifle left handed. Though I shoot a pistol with both. As an experiment I held the SPS in my right hand and tried working the bolt with just my right thumb and was impressed at how easy it was to work. Wow! Can't wait to try out a left handed version. The bolts on all the .22's I tried were harder to work with my thumb and all rifles I tried were New never fired on display.

The Left handed Savage I tried was rather nice, I really liked how it felt. But I'm still leaning towards a right handed gun because as you said, I'd probably mostly be doing it from a bench. But then again, I might not. The range I shoot rifles at has no benches. It's just a hill side designated as a range. LOL!! I have to bring everything, targets, tables and such if I want them. Since the Savage Mark II-GL has sights already I may just buy it then add a scope later.

Lots of people on this forum have said to try lots of different types of ammo in a gun. Specially when it comes to .22's. Since I started shooting it's mostly been with Revolvers and they don't seem to care. But my Beretta Neos likes Federal bulk the best, or certain CCI ammo. So I'll definantly buy different types to try out.

Heber
 
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