.22 rifle Q

I'm going to approach this question from a different angle than the rest of the folks here, although I wouldn't argue with any option they have pointed out. I love the 10/22's, in fact I think they are one of the best rifles out there...for a person who knows how to handle them.

If I remember correctly, this will be your first gun and your first time hunting so I would say you need to look for a bolt rifle with a magazine tube. My main reason is that is the simplest configuration and the most forgiving. They will operate dirtier than a semi auto and are easier to learn to disasemble and clean. They are also easier to do a quick clean in the field/bush. Another advantage of the bolt action for a new hunter is they force you to slow down and take your time between shots. I have seen guys run out of ammo before they got their first squirrel with an auto loader.

One other peice of advice, don't be discouraged if you shoot all day and don't hit anything your first couple of hunts. Shooting a moving living animal is a lot different than shooting a pop can.

David
 
What's nice about the 10/22's is the HUGE availibility of after market parts to make them better shooting and more accurate. I've built up three 10/22's where everything was replaced except for the receiver and bolt. Now companies like Volquartsen are making just receivers that you can buy and build the 10/22 you like without even having to buy the rifle.

CZ bolt guns are also very nice.
 
The standard 10/22 is very unlikely to be as accurate as a good bolt-action at extended ranges.
If accuracy at over 50 yards is a genuine concern I would opt for something else.

Rugers are improved vastly by replacing the barrel, trigger and stock, but that costs money to make it worthwhile.
For a standard self loader I would advise a Browning Buckmark or Thompson.

The best value bolt-action in this country is the CZ. These are generally considered noticeably better than Ruger or Marlin bolt-actions.
Of course we all hunt with suppressed .22LR, so getting a follow-up shot off does not require a self-loader.

I prefer lever-actions over both; best combination of speed and accuracy. Henry are very good.
 
I hunt squirrels with a Ruger 10/77 bolt action and am quite happy with it. But if I were in the market for a new .22 right now I would buy the Browning T-bolt.
 
Samael said:
Semi-automatic rifles are illegal to own here (God forbid anyone should have one of those dreaded "assault rifles," dontcha know), but I get by quite well with a Ruger MK-III pistol with a 2X scope on it. A little bit harder to shoot, a little bit less accurate, but a whole lot lighter and easier to carry around all day.
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Where are you located that semi automatic rifles are illegal, and pistols are not? I believe that even in California rimfires are exempt from the AWB as it pertains to "evil features". None the less, even if they've changed that, centerfire semi rifles such as the M1A, M1 Garand, and the Kel tec SU16 are all all Cali legal, and so should a 10/22 be considering that the aforementioned rifles are capable of alot more damage than any rimfire. As for my rifle reccommendation, you can't beat a 10/22 for ease of repair and upgrade. Still though I'd prefer a 50's era Winchester tube-fed bolt gun if it were up to me.
 
Thats alot of info out there. Im going to the gun shop today after work. Its a short day and slow as well. I would see what they got and pass it by you guys. I tend to feel more toward the Bolt action. As a kid i used a pellet rifle so talk about you better be realy close and you got only one chance. I do intend to eat what i kill. There arent many gun shops left in LA area. As to what area im going to hunt im not sure yet. I need to find out where exactly to find the right info and phone #. CZ would be my top choice as no one realy says anything bad about them. I want something that would reach out to 100 meters max. I do alot of hiking so i noticed that most rabbits i see that dont take off are aroundn 50-75meters. Any closer and they run as if the devil is after them. If i would just stand there they would stop and look back at me after a short run. i also noticed that if i whistle loud they would stop running for a second or two to look back.
Sasha
 
I'm not too familiar with gun shops in the LA area. Maybe CBryant would know, he's out east a bit. Out here you can find some decent used ones hanging around. I'd tend to suggest looking out of town more than in town.

Hell, if all else fails, Big5 (yuck, but... well) has a couple .22s on sale right now.
 
Sasha, there are lots of good .22 rifles out there. My choice was the Marlin 981T (inexpensive), which is a tube fed, bolt action that shoots long rifle, long and short ammo. With bipod, a Nikon Prostaff scope and good shooting ammo, mine averages 5 shot 100 yard groups at under an inch.

Now the bad news. California is considering banning lead ammo for hunting throughout the state. Right now, regs say that lead can't be used an any areas that are native to the Condor, so check regs to see which areas those are. BTW, .22 ammo is only available with lead, so hunting and shooting with the .22 may be completely stopped in California in the near future.
 
Oh great as soon as i want to start hunting they are going to ban the .22 . I came a short time ago from a gun shop and let me tell you. Nothing under $500 what so ever but they did have a few models at over $1000 and even over $1700 for a .22. Checked used guns and most of them are not pretty looking. They still want $150-200. The funny thing is most of the new guns they do have as the .17 not the .22 . So any idea of a good gun shop in LA area or around it. Where they dont over price the guns and have have a good selection to check out???

Sasha
 
The 10/22 is a good semi-auto and as many have said there's a ton of aftermarket stuff for it.

If you want a bolt action I'll throw another brand into the mix. Mossberg made some great bolt action .22s in the 30s/40s. You can often find a deal on one though they are becoming more collectible. Here's a page with all the different models they made. I have a 35A and a 44B and both are tackdrivers.
 
Here in Canada they sell the Mossberg plinkster new for 150 bucks. Surely, you can find it somewhere cheaper in the US.
 
The mossbergs are great.

For used stuff you really need to find a shop where you can talk to someone who is going to steer you right. I just don't know the area there. $150 for a decent used .22 rifle isn't that bad at a gun shop in CA, these days.

if you are thinking about problems with the lead ban potential, a single shot .410 will end up being a decent choice for a budget.
 
I'm actually looking for 2 short and light youth/small woman .22s- probably single shot. Shame these things are getting harder and harder to actually purchase.
 
Sasha-not sure about L.A. but if you go down to Oceanside there is an indoor range called iron sites and they will be able to direct you to the best place in their area to buy a rifle. As far as buying a gun, go for the used ones-just ask for a garuantee that it fires. Every where I've ever bought a gun has given my money back if it didn't fire. Then all you need to do is shoot shoot shoot till you can hit what you aim at.


As far as the lead for hunting goes-I've only heard of that for shotgun shells. The lead bb's end up in water and birds get lead poisoning from eating them or eating fish that have eaten them. I haven't heard that lead rifle rounds are being considered for banning. However, if they are I'm sure the ammo companies will do the same thing they did with shotgun shells and come up with another metal to make the projectiles from.

David
 
Would somebody please tell this farmboy hick what the difference is between a 10/22 and a .22. I tried to search it but came away more confused. I have shot 10's of thousands of rounds of .22's and before this forum I did not even know that there was such a thing as a 10/22. Hope this isn't too much of a hijack Sasha.
 
The problem with the lead shoots is that the condor eats the dead animals left for dead on the field. As so many people shoot animals for target practice there is alot of lead out there. As for used guns i seen at this shop, some of them looked like they had way too many hard years. Need to go out there and hit more shops. Im going to find the # and call the Iron Sites and take it from there. Sort of realy set on the CZ i like the looks of it and that every one who has one loves it. Next is the Savage II didnt find anything bad said on that one as well.

Sasha
 
CUTS LIKE A KRIS said:
Would somebody please tell this farmboy hick what the difference is between a 10/22 and a .22. I tried to search it but came away more confused. I have shot 10's of thousands of rounds of .22's and before this forum I did not even know that there was such a thing as a 10/22. Hope this isn't too much of a hijack Sasha.
Click to expand...

10/22 is a firearm model made by Ruger.
 
10/22 is a model of rifle put out by Ruger.
10 round rotary magazive/.22 caliber :thumbup:
 
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