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

I own a 10/22 and a Remington 541T bolt action .The Ruger is fun to shoot but you have to put a lot of money into it to make it as accurate as a good bolt action.
 
You can find Marlin 25 Glenfields for under a hundred to start with then get a model 60 semi they will serve you well.
 
I have never shot the Marlins but can say that I love my 10/22. I think mine is pretty accurate and it feeds everything plus it has the BX 25 magazines that are very reliable.
 
I wonder if Ruger will bother with making hi-caps that won't fit the pistol? probably not, although it does suck that they accidentally made all the 10/22 high-caps illegal for the great white north.
 
For your purposes, a bolt action with a good peep/aperture sight would be best IMO. One individual shot at a time is the way to learn and a bolt forces you to slow down some. So do iron sights. With luck you'll also the learn to appreciate the advantage of making every shot count, especially the first one. It can be done with a semi-auto too of course, but it takes a lot more discipline.
 
Has any one tried the CZ 455 with interchangeable 22LR/.17 Hornet barrels?
 
another vote for a bolt action CZ. if you want to shoot irons get a trainer, lux or FS. if you want to put a scope on it go with the American or varmint versions.
 
I'd recommend the Marlin Model 60 with a 4x or 2.5-7x inch tube scope (I'm thinking Weaver rimfire series).

The CZ 452 Trainer (bolt) is being discontinued. It is a great 22 rifle with about as good a iron sights that are available from the factory. You need one. Not as good a scoped rifle as a 455 however due to the way the stock is designed.
 
Turnbolt. And be open to more than Marlin. I'll especially recommend you shy away from any contemporary Marlin. Just not the same quality.

Look to vintage on the used market. Excellent rifles to be found there and better than contemporary offerings, and that more than just Marlin. Excellent prices too. I have dozens of vintage (mostly 1930s-1950s) .22LR rifles from Marlin, Mauser, Mossberg, Remington, Savage, Stevens, Walther, and Winchester. Very few rifles made today can compare. CZ can but their .22LR turnbolts are over priced.

I'd stay away from autoloaders (semiautomatic) too for your only rifle. I own only one and that is only because as an instructor I need at least one for instructional purposes. Mine is a Mossberg M151M-B from the 1950s. Much better than any stock Ruger 10/22 of any age. You can still find the Mossberg on the secondary market, but they are becoming somewhat collectable.

And since you are in Canada, I definitely recommend you consider a Martini.
 
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Savage .22 Bolt action rifles are made in Canada. Might be less costly? Or more for all I know, but they are a best buy here.
 
I was raised on two rifles both 22, both SINGLE SHOT , one falling block, one bolt action.!! This engraves in your brain "I only have one shot I have to make it good" rather than " if I miss the shot I always have a second, third..... shot"
 
mete said:
I was raised on two rifles both 22, both SINGLE SHOT , one falling block, one bolt action.!! This engraves in your brain "I only have one shot I have to make it good" rather than " if I miss the shot I always have a second, third..... shot"
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Yup. I'm still as likely to grab this 75-80 year old single shot open iron sighted Marlin M65/Ranger M34 as I am any other. Accurate and handy afield.
P1000295.JPG
 
Unless you want to go to Sako or Anchutz money, it's a no brainer, CZ every time, i have 2



.17 HMR CZ 452 ready to do battle

 
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While CZ makes good .22LR turnbolts, you can get better rifles for the same price as CZ or equal rifles for less cost than a CZ. Just hit the gunshows and gun shops selling consignment pieces and pawn shops. Watch and wait and you'll find some good deals.

This is from a 66 year old Remington 511 that cost me $125 a little over a year ago.
Rem%2520511%2520Target%2520%28Jan%252013%29.jpg


This from a Stevens M83 I that cast me $100 bucks a couple of years ago.
Stevens%2520M83%2520-%2520CCI%2520Quiet-22.jpg


This from a Winchester M75 I bought for $325 from a shop shortly before it closed business. For the money a CZ will cost, I'll buy a Win M75 every time.
Win%2520M75%2520Tgt%25203.jpg


Point is, you do not have to spend much money for an accurate .22LR turnbolt. Just learn how to inspect rifles, be patient and watch, and strike when you find a deal else the deal will be gone when you do decide.
 
A bolt action rifle, with a removable bolt (allowing you to look down the barrel), gives you the opportunity to learn bore sighting, line of sight vs trajectory, reasons for compensating for windage, and etc..
 
In my state we cant have the 25 rounds 10/22 mags so the better choice IMO is the Marlin 60. Holds 18 rounds and is inexpensive and accurate. I have two and love them both. If you can get the 25 round mags for the 10/22 then go for the ruger. Both are great guns. Bolt actions are fun but, not as much fun of blasting 20 rounds down range rapid fire.
 
billym said:
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.
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I agree with this.

buy a good rifle you can lean to hit with.

The higher the accuracy the better

I like magazine fed ones because it's easy to unload/load


Anschutz Acheaver is a nice little light 22, 10 shot 50 yard groups in a dime.
They consider it a youth rifle, it's short and light, but it's a delight to carry

acheiver.jpg





10-22's are the standard in semi rim-fires
They are everywhere and parts and custom parts are everywhere

but I'd learn to start with a bolt action



In terms of sights, a rimfire fixed 4x is a good way to go
rimfire because its calibrated for a shorter range
fixed 4x with a dulex reticle means you will learn range estimateion and holdover better than if your always fiddling with adjustable zero

I like the Leupold fixed 4x rimfire scopes
they are spendy, but there's no need to ever get rid of that scope



Also consider a good air rifle for indoor use
Dead cheap marksmanship ammo
 
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