I’ll be the Soviet judge here and disagree.

Standard velocity ammo is almost always more accurate than high velocity ammo as heel based bullets don’t transition all that well to sub sonic velocity. Starting out at a sub sonic velocity reduces those transonic stability issues. In cold temps the speed of sound also decreases, which increases the transonic range for a high velocity bullet.

Bolt action rifles can be reliable in cold weather, but there’s a huge caveat. They are striker fired with the firing pin spring contained inside the bolt body. Most greases and many oils (along with powder residue) can congeal inside the assembly and the resulting drag on the spring and firing pin can result in light strikes and a failure to fire.

Not many people take the bolt apart to clean and degrease it, and then very lightly lubricate it with a very low temperature compatible oil.

A lever action has similar potential issues with the firing pin and its channel in the bolt but it’s usually hammer fired, and the mainspring is much less prone to getting gunked up with grease, oil, and powder residue.

Semi Auto or bolt in extreme cold weather remove all oils and lubricants. The Marines found that the M1 Garand would operate without any oils/lubricants at - 40 degrees, and do their job satisfactorily. Yes, I realize this is a tad larger than a .22 LR, the same should hold true in a well made firearm.

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USMC 69-93 Combat Pistol Inst.

For the last 60 years Ruger has sold over 5,000,000 of their 1022 rifles and -20° weather is pretty common in most of the northern states, Canada, and Alaska and I’m not hearing about any reliability complaints on the guns due to cold weather. It’s hammer fired, and I think any reliability problems would be more of an issue with the lubricants than with the gun itself. I’ve had several and currently own a camo stocked, Take down with a Weaver V1 - 3x scope. If the bolt were to get a little sluggish it could still be worked manually for each shot just like a bolt action rifle. That’s what I do in my neighborhood when I fire the very quiet 22 CCI long rifle CB cap ammo. It’s a little less powerful than a 22 short and doesn’t have power to work the action.

Tanks for the suggestions. Lot of guns for me to go look for.

I am giving a lot of thought of choosing .22 WMR instead. Although ammunition is more expensive it is better quality and hits harder for varmints like raccoons. I am hoping to buy a Ruger Super Wrangler and use the Magnum cylinder most of the time so a combination would be nice.

Hits harder is a true statement. Better quality is very, very debatable. Stop and think of how many true match rifles that are in .22 Mag. .22 Mag is no where close to being as accurate as good .22 LR. Top of the line .22 LR(read Eley) is about the same price as .22 Mag.

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USMC 69-93 Combat Pistol Inst.

Given that the .22 WMR doesn’t use a heel based bullet, it theoretically has the potential to be more accurate than the .22 LR. However, one has ever manufactured a target grade .22 WMR round and in practice it doesn’t match the accuracy of a standard velocity .22 LR round.

It “hits harder” than the .22 LR, but it’s still low enough in velocity and energy that it’s at best a round where shot placement is far more important than energy.

That lack of accuracy is why I still don’t own a .22 WMR.

I bracket it with .22 LR and .22 Hornet. The .22 Hornet has superb accuracy potential, still has a soft report like the .22 WMR and hits a lot harder than the .22 WMR.

The only .22 Mag. that I own is a Kel Tec PMR 30 and I bought that as the 30 round mag intrigued me.

Below is what I establish accuracy as.......but of course it is cheating as I used a match rifle to do so.

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USMC 69-93 Combat Pistol Inst.

Although it doesn’t have iron sights, the Christiansen Arms Ranger will meet or exceed your expectations, with the proper lube. Uses the ubiquitous and reliable 10-22 mags.

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213th FBINA

The OP stated Iron Sights, so that leaves it out. Now if you drill and tap it to mount iron sights it could be a viable rifle.

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USMC 69-93 Combat Pistol Inst.

My CZ 452FS in .22mag will shoot under MOA at 100yds. Practical field accuracy is "under the crosshairs", Leupold 1-4x20 scope, figure 1-1.5"

IIRC my Ruger Am Compact Ranch rifle isn't quite as good but good enough for field use as a utility/Side by side rifle with a little 1-3x20 shotgun scope. I like the 9rd magazine and tang safety.

The .22mag will hit harder out further..... .22lr is a 50yd max on varmints IMHO and that's with a head shot..... .22mag will give you 75yds or better.

I'd heard the same stories over the years about the .22 mag's accuracy..... remember it's a field gun/varmint round. As a target shooter and member of my HighSchool and College rifle teams ........I was surprised when I was getting sub 1" groups off the bench. Every group? no but in the 40-60% range with a warm bore.

The AR-7 did well for me in below zero conditions it had 0 failures to fire. Grant it, the exposure to these conditions was limited to an hour or less. If it had to be dragged through Arctic Tundra for days on end that could be different. The nice thing about polymer is it won't get as cold as metals.

It won't rust anytime soon as it's aluminum and polymer for the most part.

It has peep sights that are similar to irons

It is tough enough to handle abuse, other than straight up slamming it on a rock or something but I'm not sure why you would do that.

Accuracy is incredible considering what it is, with a scope mounted it would be even better.

Portable and lightweight.

Made by Henry so the quality is there.

I appreciate the feedback on the 22 WMR.