I want to buy my first 22 lr rifle. Bolt or semi-auto?

C

cybrok

Joined
Aug 7, 2005
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Hi gents.

I grew up in a gun free house in Quebec City. Most of my uncles are hunters, but my father wasn't (my guess is he is a terrible shot, he gave me a few hints pointing in that direction).

Anyway now I am looking for my first rifle. I want a 22 lr so I can learn by shooting a LOT for fairly cheap and practice in an inside range. Then once I get a hang of the basics I'll move to something bigger.

What would you recommend to learn? Bolt action or semi-auto? I will probably get a Marlin in both cases.

Thanks
 
If Marlin is a must then bolt. I would highly recommend a Ruger 10/22 above any other .22.
 
make sure you have a source for .22 ammunition. I dont know what it is like in canada, but it is very difficult to find here. I haven't shot my .22's in a while because I dont want to use up my ammunition without being able to replace it.
 
Bailey Knives said:
make sure you have a source for .22 ammunition. I dont know what it is like in canada, but it is very difficult to find here. I haven't shot my .22's in a while because I dont want to use up my ammunition without being able to replace it.
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I heard about that. I've been told lead availability is an issue in the US. Is it related to Doe Run shutting down?

I don't know much about guns but I know about lead: A price increase in the lead (metal) is not necessarily a bad thing. With the current price (under 1$/pound), the production cost is so high that you don't make profit unless there is a lot of silver in your lead concentrate. A higher metal price would allow a more steady operation. Here I am, hijacking my own thread.

A Ruger 10/22 is somewhere down the road. From what I read the 795 is just as good, just not as customizable.
 
I would suggest a Marlin Model 60. Same gun as the 795 only it's a tube feed. That means no hard to load magazines. It's also pretty darn accurate. Last time I shot mine I was driving empty shotgun hulls down the range out to 50 yard. Could have gone farther but, that's where the range ends.

The 10/22's are nice, but the ones I have owned don't seem to be as accurate as my Marlin and they cost quite a bit more.
 
IMO the standard 10/22 is a joke in stock form. Ruger uses a sloppy chamber to make it reliable- which it is, but less than stellar accuracy. They're also pretty overpriced. That being said, they are the Honda Civic of the rimfire world. Any part you can think of upgrading can be had aftermarket. You can build an entire rifle without using a single Ruger part. And you can make them quite accurate and/or good looking with enough parts and money.

So my suggestion if you want a semi auto, since you seem fond of Marlin already, is the Model 60. More accurate out of the box, just as reliable and just a solid feeling rifle. Also has a tube mag, which if you plan on hunting with it, is more convenient.

I can't make a whole lot of suggestions as far as modern bolt guns go, I prefer old rifles. I have no idea what Marlin's current line up is like. I will suggest CZ though if you don't mind going outside of Marlin. I've shot a bunch of them and they have all been stellar right out of the box.
 
cybrok said:
I heard about that. I've been told lead availability is an issue in the US. Is it related to Doe Run shutting down?
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No. Seems to be more a purchaser behavior change (and manufacturers not adjusting production and shipping).

I also recommend the Marlin 39 (lever action) over bolt or blowback. But if that's out of the question, get a bolt action.
 
Bolt actions are great, marlin xt series, savage has similar series, or the new Ruger American Rifle. Semi auto, I prefer the Ruger 10/22 unless you go with a more expensive tactical trainer.
 
I suggest bolt action since it is proven, reliable and accurate. Also there is a shortage of ammo so BA will let you shoot without blowing through rounds at a higher rate of speed.
That said there is a lot to chose from. I have a CZ 452 and I highly recommend it. Comes with great metal sights and will take a scope too.
 
I would and do teach people to shoot with a .22 bolt action, with a magazine tube rather than a removable magazine.
reasons are, the act of working the bolt slows the shooter down, makes you take time and realize each pull of the trigger is important. A semi auto lends itself to volume fire over practiced accuracy from my experiences.
the magazine tube means you never have to worry about losing a mag or buying more, you just needs something to carry the rounds in till you reload. and use that money on more ammo.
I would recommend you stick with open sights and learn all the fundamentals before moving on to magnified or electronic optics.
later on move up to a good semi auto if you feel the need, but y then you have taught yourself trigger control , sight picture and every shot counts.
 
Bigfatts said:
IMO the standard 10/22 is a joke in stock form. Ruger uses a sloppy chamber to make it reliable- which it is, but less than stellar accuracy. They're also pretty overpriced. That being said, they are the Honda Civic of the rimfire world. ...
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I guess the 10/22 that I bought 40 years ago in 1974 was an aberration or else Ruger has lowered their production standards. It was highly accurate out of the box and continues to be just as accurate today. I am not as accurate today but putting on a scope solved that problem. I have never owned a Marlin but I have heard good things about them.
 
10/22 has the most aftermarket support. If a semi-auto, that's what I'd get.

A bolt will likely be the most accurate and robust. Savage, Ruger.... CZ if you want something nicer.

Then there are the ARs.
 
I'd go for a CZ bolt action,I heard the military trainer model is a bit cheaper than the rest. YMMV. I did have a 10/22 ,but arfter having it apart I sold it off. Just don't care for the zinc or "pot-metal" receiver,the factory issue stock also never fit me well.
 
Another vote for CZ. I have a 455 and it shoots dime sized groups at 40 yards. Well built gun that will last a lifetime.

22Hornet
 
For your first gun I would definitely recommend a bolt .22. It will teach better practice and better safety for a first time shooter. But that is just my opinion.
 
jbass said:
I guess the 10/22 that I bought 40 years ago in 1974 was an aberration or else Ruger has lowered their production standards. It was highly accurate out of the box and continues to be just as accurate today. I am not as accurate today but putting on a scope solved that problem. I have never owned a Marlin but I have heard good things about them.
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I've purchased two Ruger 10/22 rifles in the past three years. Both of them are 100% reliable, having digested thousands of rounds each with the few malfunctions experienced caused by the occasional bad cartridge. Both of them are also very accurate. My disclaimer would be I have both set up with various peep sights to use as iron sight trainers, so if I switched to an optic I might not be getting target rifle accuracy. The trigger pull is a bit on the heavy side, as is par for the course from Ruger. However, they are highly customizable, so the trigger can be improved by anything from an inexpensive trigger job to a top end match trigger.

I have heard good things about Marlin, and hope someday to add a Model 60 to my collection.
 
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