best .22 rifle

intheshaw

intheshaw

Joined
Jun 16, 2010
Messages
163
Im looking at getting a nice 22 rifle, prefer bolt action. I have a cheap savage right now but looking for something a lot better. Im going to use it for small game hunting and plinking. Im sick of paying for ammo whenever i go shooting but the 22 i have now is frankly a piece of crap. Just looking for opinions right now.
 
More info needed. What doesn't work for you now with your Savage..accuracy, rough trigger, etc? Do you have a scope? If .22LR is eating your lunch as to ammunition cost you may need to shoot less and perhaps better stuff.

.22LR is the Timex of rimfires..you can spend a lot of money..or not..and still have fun. Many find that trying a variety of ammunition cures their .22LR woes as to accuracy.

I own and shoot Ruger 10/22, CZ 452 and a fine Savage .17HMR..all shoot better than I can and I've been at it for over 60 years, LOL.
 
Sorry, i usually do big game hunting but im thinking about switching to a bow for that and getting a .22lr for small game. The thing i mainly dont like about the savage is the quality all around. The trigger is rough, the bolt sometimes sticks, the scope i have on there is just a cheap one to fit the rifle. It was like 80 bucks a few years ago at walmart. Im just looking for something quality built. I was really leaning towards a 10/22 and also heard that they make a bolt action version of it.
 
I have a Browning T-bolt that wasn't too expensive and is extremely accurate. Dime sized groups at fifty yards with CCI ammo.
 
intheshaw said:
Sorry, i usually do big game hunting but im thinking about switching to a bow for that and getting a .22lr for small game.
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use the bow on everything from bunnies up to water buffalo.:D

trust me. it's a lot more satisfying to take a big feral pig with a bow @ 20m than with a .303 @ 150m.
 
I've got an older Browning T-Bolt that I love. My brother went and ordered a Cooper and is really happy with it. I think they're pretty expensive, though.

Win
 
Go to pawn shops. Try to find some of the older Remingtons. A lot cheaper than a new Rifle, pretty good guns too.
 
Check out Kimber and Coopers if you want high quality bolt guns. There are others as well but not made here in the U.S.
Ruger 10/22 is a viable option. You could either buy it complete, or buy the action and start building what you've always wanted. There are stocks and barrels offered for it by so many that the choices are going to be hard to make.
 
intheshaw said:
Sorry, i usually do big game hunting but im thinking about switching to a bow for that and getting a .22lr for small game. The thing i mainly dont like about the savage is the quality all around. The trigger is rough, the bolt sometimes sticks, the scope i have on there is just a cheap one to fit the rifle. It was like 80 bucks a few years ago at walmart. Im just looking for something quality built. I was really leaning towards a 10/22 and also heard that they make a bolt action version of it.
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Savage rifles are typical accurate. Look around, you may be able to find an after market trigger for it. The bolt can probably be cleaned good, polished up a little, and lubed.
As far as the scope, look around for a nice used Leupold 4 power scope. They can be had reasonably, and are great scopes.

I'm cheap and don't like to spend much on 22's. It takes some of the fun out of it for me, plus I like to take something that isn't that great, and make it better
 
intheshaw said:
Im going to use it for small game hunting and plinking.
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Ruger 10/22. Good accuracy, build quality, and reliability. Huge aftermarket support. You can keep it stock or turn it into an all weather hunter, bench rest tack driver, or assault rifle wannabe.
 
Ruger 77/22 Have one in stainless and love it.
Browning Tbolt. had one sold it wish I didnt.
 
sambo. said:
use the bow on everything from bunnies up to water buffalo.:D

trust me. it's a lot more satisfying to take a big feral pig with a bow @ 20m than with a .303 @ 150m.
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+1 for that. Hunting w/ firearms is fun and more productive but I hunt with my longbow now pretty much exclusively.

As to .22s the 10/22 is a good, solid, reliable rifle that won't put you in the poor house.
 
My thoughts, for whatever they're worth...

Been shooting a 10/22 for many years now. It's a good gun, accurate, sound, and fairly reliable. It does need relatively frequent cleaning or it will start jamming. The BIG benefit to the 10/22 is that there are TONS of aftermarket accessories for them, and you can build one up to about any rifle you can dream of. The base rifle isn't very expensive either.

Just recently bought a CZ 452. I like this rifle more than the 10/22, personally. Much prettier, handles great, is accurate as I'll ever need a 22 to be, and is a very sound gun. It has a very simple action that seems to be very solid. The stock trigger is much, much better than a stock 10/22 trigger as well, which counts for a lot in my opinion. It is quite a bit heavier than my unscoped wood stock 10/22. I like the sights on my 452 a lot more than the stock Ruger sights.

In the end, I shoot the CZ much, much more now. It's more fun to shoot with the bolt action, which keeps you from just spraying ammo downrange. The habit of "spraying" is easy to get in to with the 10/22.

If you're into lever guns, the Marlin 39 is a really great gun. Going to own one someday. Problem is, they're getting really darned expensive. I've shot a couple Henry 22s and they seem to work pretty darn good and are a lot easier on the wallet.
 
+1 on the CZ. I love mine, shoulders and points naturally and shoots like a laser beam! Nicer looking wood than I got on rifles that cost twice as much, too.
 
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