A friend asked me about a good 22LR rifle to plink with and also to teach his son how to shoot with. I am biased towards the Marlin 39A lever action, but I wanted some feedback from y'all on this one.

I'm sure the Ruger 10/22 has many fans as well. What are your thoughts on what action is best, and what's your favorite?

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Aaron Terry

I like the Remington 572. It's a pump action and works just like my 870 shotgun and 7600 rifle. Same action type in all my most commonly used long guns.

Marlin Model 39A

I think the Ruger is hard to beat for the money. A Nylon 66 would be great if he could find one.

My favorite 22L is a Nylon 66 that I have had since I was a kid. In fact my Dad like it so much that he bought another one so my brother and I wouldn't fight over it.

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Al
Have Gun Will Travel

I started my kids out with a Winchester 67, a Stevens Favorite and a Savage Sporter. While I like the Marlin 39 mentioned I prefer the Browning BL22. However if I was buying a new rifle to start the kids out on I'd either go with a Handi Rifle combo or a Savage 93. Is that vague enough for you? ;D

A Weatherby Mark XXII semi-automatic, either the Italian or Japanese made editions. At least I look good carrying it, even if I can't shoot worth a dang.

Very close second -- a modestly customized Ruger 10/22. I like the ones made by Clark's with the mid-diameter barrel mounted on a sporter stock. Little tiny groups and light enough to walk the field with.

I think Volquartsen used to make something called the Firefly built on the 10/22 pattern, which was made to shoot .22 Shorts. Never seen one in the flesh, but that little rifle has always appealed to me.


Bullseye


P.S.: Somehow, I missed that this was supposed to be a recommendation for a young one. I definitely concur with the single-shot school of thought on this. Of course, if the rifle is being shot under supervision, the magazines on the semis can be loaded one round at a time.

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Five screws and 3-1/2 inches.

I'm going to the river this weekend and this one will go along for the ride, I also have a ruger 10/22 with a fixed four scope that works out well.

My absolute favorite is my Winchester Model 62 that my father purchased for me in 1955. I also like the Remington 500 series rifles of which I have a 510, 512, and 550.

Marlin Model 60. Bought NIB in 1975. 35+ years and still going strong and shooting much better than I am.

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"Sursum Ab Ordine"

+1 on the Marlin Model 60. Mine was purchased in the early 80's and still going strong.

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Enter through the narrow gate

If he wants something that feels like a real, sho'nuff rifle, something that can become an heirloom, it's the 39A. I might be a teeny bit prejudiced. I drooled over rifles in the Shooters Bible and other gun rags of the late 50s and early 60s, and made a nuisance of myself whenever I went in the Western Auto, mostly lusting after Nylon 66s and whatever the Sears JC Higgins or Western Auto Revelation brand semi-autos of the time were. All good guns, and ones I'm sure I could still be proud of today. My Uncle was bad about buying guns and other stuff he couldn't afford. He bought a new 39A, and a few months later, needed some cash. That was in 1960, and I was going to be 12 that December, so my Daddy let me buy it with money I had made selling boiled peanuts that summer. It was then, and is today, one of my most prized possessions. I added the scope thirty-some years later, when the eyes began to age.

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Georgia On My Mind

I have two favorite 22LRs:

Ruger 10-22 Tricked out!


And my Henry Golden Boy!!!

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Rick
American Blacksmith

My favorite rifle is an old model 68 Winchester single shot with a peep sight. It belonged to my dad and I still have it and I am north of 72. I have shot it all my life.
The ruger 10/22 or the marlin model 60 would be my pick for a youngster just learning to shoot. I have owned both and they are good rifles.

The 10/22 had the ability to be a lot of different rifles due to all the aftermarket stuff that is available for it. Mine was stock for a while, then got a peep sights and sling swivels added. Now it has a red, white and blue laminated stock and a 3-10 power scope on it. I am considering putting on a more powerful scope.

My other favorites are bolt-actions, a Winchester 52, a Remington 40X and a Remington 541T-HB. They are bigger, heavier rifles though.

I started out with a single-shot .22 caliber Crosman pellet gun. Almost wore the rifle out shooting it.

Winchester Model 1890... I don't think it can be worn out.

The 22 rifle that I loved to shoot the most was my brother's Rossi 62a pump action believe it is considered the "gallery gun" as it is extremely short. It is very accurate even with iron sights, and a pleasure to shoot. I would love to add one of these and a Remington 552 Speedmaster to my collection someday.

39-A, would be my choice. And if he's a real little tike, the much lighter weight Henry Carbine would be a good alternative.

> Hey, Redlevel.... is it just me, or does the flute in the butt stock of your 39-A appear to be about twice as long as most others. What's up with that?

> Hey, Pluspea.... that "66" of yours looks to be in even better shape than mine (alot better.)
They are the only auto-loading .22's I will own. Mine shoot super accurate and they'll eat just about anything you feed them.

> Hey...what ever happened to those T/C auto .22's that came out about 10 years ago? They were supposed to be real fine rifles, but I never see any.

39 a realy fun 22

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WILL WORK FOR AMMO!

I am an advocate of using single shot .22's to teach someone to shoot - much safer than magazine guns, especially semi-automatics. I (and my kids) started with an old Stevens tip-up and a Winchester Model 67. I'm not familiar with what's available new these days.

An alternative for teaching would be single loading a bolt or lever magazine rifle. The previously suggested Marlin 39-A and the Winchester 9422 are good lever choices. I like Winchester Models 69, 75, and 52 for bolt guns, but these are a bit pricey these days.

For semi-automatics, the Ruger 10-22 is available new in many configurations. Remington model 66's can still be found, as well as several excellent old Stevens semi's.

.22's are a great way to learn to shoot, and they make lots of sense for an experienced adult shooter as well, considering the price of center-fire ammunition these days. Keep an eye out for older guns - they are usually priced well, and the corrosion-protective nature of modern .22 ammo usually means the the bore and action are in good shape.


Buck

I have two favorites. For open sights, it's a Winchester 9422 (first year issue); for scoped use, it's a CZ 452 American.

"Paw, this works just like my BB gun." Grandson's comment about little Marlin lever rifle & referrin' to his Red Rider. ~Simley~
And she'll feed them CB short cartridges.

Su Amigo,
Dave

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"IN GOD WE TRUST"

I hate to be a "Na-Sayer" on the Marlin 39A, but the modern ones they are selling now are nowhere near the quality of the ones made back in the 50's, 60's, 70's, maybe even the 1980's. Somewhere along the way they "Modenized or Lawyerized" the action, with a re-bounding hammer, and cross bolt safety. The result is a rifle that is unreliable, with many failures to fire (light primer strikes) and failures to eject. I bought a brand new one a year or so ago, and it took two trips back to the factory to make it right. They wound up replacing the barrel, bolt and the extractor twice. If you want a Marlin 39A, get an older one without the re-bounding hammer.

On the other hand, I paid half the money for a Henry H001 lever rifle and have put thousands of rounds through it with zero malfunctions. I liked it so much I just recently bought a Henry pump .22, same 100% reliability and excellent accuracy.

You've got a good eye, Skeeziks, and its something I've been wondering for 40 years. Compare with the right side, and below, with a 39A Mountie, also from the early 60s. The Mountie has a matte nickel finish from Checkmate, out of Florida.

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Georgia On My Mind

I started out with a Stevens Favorite that an Uncle bought new in 1915? for $3.50. Shot it until the Nylon 66's came out. My son learned to shoot with that Favorite and his son did too.

It's in the safe waiting for the next generation to come down the pike.

This is my favorite right now.

Iggy...that's the greatest thing since sliced bread!
I've never seen that adapter/tube set-up before. You can shoot your beautiful Sharps all day long for just pennies compared to the cost of shooting 45/70's.

Where can I get me one of those?

It's gotta be my old Mossburg US-44. Close runner up is an pre safty Marlin 39A. Both classic rifle's.

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Stay safe people!

I like the CZ 452 American. Good quality and very accurate. Don

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"Don't worry be happy"

When I was growing up my Harrington and Richardson 5 shot magazine bolt action was the go to .22.

Now I like my Ruger 10/22, but a Henry's Golden Boy may be a purchase soon.

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My Mother likes me.

I suggest that these are two different requirements that may not be best fulfilled with a single gun. For teaching a son to shoot I'd recommend you consider the CZ bolt action Scout model. It has a short stock, but is fairly heavy, so he may need a sand bag or other bench rest until he grows into it. And it comes with a dummy magazine that facilitates loading one cartridge at a time, single shot fashion. Also available are 5 and 10 shot mags that he could use later when out of the learning stage. For an adult plinking rifle, there are many good options listed in the posts above.

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Quoth the raven:
"Nevermore"

I am pleased that my two favorite .22 rimfire rifles made the list here.

1. The Nylon 66 that Remington made is a great shooter. Very accurate and reasonable priced when you can find one. I paid $45 for mine at a pawn shop. It has seen about 10,000 rounds ran through it plinking at beer cans.

2. The Marlin 39A is likely the most accurate .22 I have ever owned or shot. A little heavier than the Nylon 66 but more accurate.

As of last week, this one:



This is the current iteration of the Weatherby XXII Deluxe in .22LR, a bolt action model made by Anschutz in Germany. Features Anschutz match grade 64 action. I found it on a local board, practically NIB for less than what the vintage Italian and Japanese semi-autos of earlier production bring!

Check your Private Messages.

I'm an old fart who firmly believes a new shooter should be taught on a single shot rifle. It teaches them to make every shot count. I feel that something like a 10/22 or a Marlin 60, while fine firearms, are not the best for a beginner to learn proper positions, trigger control, sight picture, breathing et. et. The urge to spray and pray is just to great. I like either falling block actions or bolt actions for youngsters to start with. Personally I would hunt down a nice vintage Winchester 63, Stevens Favorite, Remington #4 Rolling Block.

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Regards,
Guy-Harold Smith II

My initial training was using a Mod 24 Savage/Stevens .22LR/.410 Shotgun. Fortunately the community dump was crawling with rats and my dad taught me to shoot in this environment. One day after I had pulled the trigger on the .22 barrel many times and me unsuspecting, he loaded a .410 into the gun and I thought this was the usual .22 until my lip was blooded. I agree that a single shot causes more appreciation for aiming and breathing properly and would recommend this gun for any beginner. Yes, they are available but not as reasonable as they were when I was a boy, mine had the "Tenite" stock & forearm.

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Sam
S&WHF 333 S&WCA 2198

Mossbergs are great rifles. Model 151, 46, 44us, 144, 50, 51 are plentiful, inexpensive, and are accurate.

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Dennis

Winchester M/63 followed by M/61.

My favorite is a stock Ruger 10/22 - it may not be very pretty but it's very accurate and 100% reliable.

My kids started shooting with a single-shot pellet rifle.
They were shooting my 10/22 fairly soon afterward, but for a while it was loaded with just one round.
Any rifle, even a semiauto, can be single loaded and probably should be with new shooters.

Put me down for the Marlin 39 and its variations--I've got one made in 1948 and whenever I hand it to someone and they shoot it and see how sweet and dead on accurate it is they get a big smile on their face.

I want to find a Lyman receiver sight for it--I'd really like one of the same vintage. It's almost perfect now but that would take it over the top.

Hands down, my 9422. My kids all learned on a Chipmonk, but they all covet my Winchester now that they've outgrown the little rifle.

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Jon

I liked my Grand fathers 62a winchester so much I decided to get my own a few weeks ago.Happy,Happy,Happy.
My first .22 was and still is a model 1904 single shot.
Much has been said about starting out with the single shot and I agree.
But the 62 is way to much fun.

DG

Here is my favorite 22lr. It's a '56 Belgium made Browning ATD.

Attached Images

DSC01053.jpg (86.9 KB, 75 views)

My son likes the Winchester 62-A. Here he is after busting up some horseapples with it. He also likes the Marlin 39-A, but it is a little heavy for him to shoot offhand with.



I would agree that a bolt action single shot is the best to start them with.

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Matt

Member, T.S.R.A. & N.R.A.

These were imported by Charles Daly, manufactured in Serbia (Zastava), and called the Superior II. They were also sold by Remington as the Model 5. But, I'm pretty sure that there is another importer dealing these again.
I had to refinish the stock as it had an ugly oiled wood but, the metal-work is even better than my CZ452's.
My 13YO Grandson loves this little rifle - with the Bushnell 3-9 rimfire scope, he's deadly at 50yds.

Bruce

I cut my teeth on the octogon barrel winchester 61 that my dad bought in the 1930s. After that is a 1890 winchester that was in 22 wrf that I had rechambered in 22 wmrf. The last one is a old end of production winchester 63 that I found new in the box. I shoot it once in awhile, but as you can see, I have babied it.

I've owned most of the guns folks have mentioned. All were good. I bought a rough Marlin 25, rebuilt it, glass bedded the action, put a 3x9 scope on it and have a tack driver.

I've got a couple of suggestions:

First, a 10/22. It is reasonably priced, and as the interest and money grow, it can be customized from mild to wild. It will also not wear out.

Secondly, as a little bit more grown-up rifle, the T/C Classic series are beautiful, well-made, accurate rifles. I bought one of the first ones made, and it is very accurate and feels very well-built as well, with no plastic anywhere in the gun.

For bolt guns, I bought an early 77/22, and I still love the feel of the gun. It is also a good understudy for a Model 77 centerfire.

I don't own one, but I've heard very good things about the CZ's as well.

The new Weatherby's on the Anschutz action are on my short-list of guns to buy.

And finally, they aren't really made for a youngster at around 10 pounds, but if you have any inclination of competitive shooting, get a Kimber 82 G from the CMP for $422.95 delivered to your door.

The Highlander

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I hope I copied that right

I've got a few that I really like--A Wiinchester 52 Sporter Repro, a Marlin 39A, a Winchester 1885 Repro, a Remington 552-1, a Winchester 72--and they're all great shooters.

...but my favorite, and most accurate, is my Oregon Kimber 82 Custom Classic, in left-hand version:


Tim

Of all the modern 22's I have I still shoot an old Remington Improved model 6 the most.