I am curious what 22 rifles you all have had good experiences with. The only one I have shot is the Henry AR-7. I'm mainly interested in bolt action rifles for beginners that are not limited to one shot.

I do not know if this narrows things down any, but this one would never be used for competitions or anything of the sort. I just want to shoot cans and things for fun. I only started shooting at 32 and I am 35 now, so I doubt I ever make up for the time many people have shooting to be good enough for competitions, nor do I have the time or desire to. If my girls (who will learn younger than me) do wish to do that, a more competition-oriented rifle could be had later. This one will mainly be for some affordable fun at the range and as a trainer for the girls whenever they are ready.

Finally, do you recommend mag-fed or tube-fed 22 rifles and why?

Any of the CZ-452, 453, 455 and 457 rifles are great.

The Zastaza MP 22 / CZ 99 precision / Remington Model 5 is a good budget choice.

The Ruger 77/22 is also a well made rifle, but they are getting pricey. The Ruger American is ok, but it’s a place shadow of the 77/22.

77/22, CZ-453 American and Remington Model 5.



The Browning BL-22 is a well made lever action .22 LR. The Winchester 9422 and Marlin Model 39A are even better, but are no longer produced, and are harder to find and expensive when you find them.

Left to right, Winchester 9422 Trapper, Browning BL-22, Winchester 9422 XTR, Marlin 39A:

New or used? Price range?

I've had several of the Ruger bolt-actions, all older guns from thirty years or so ago; still have two. Very accurate for non-target rifles, but have no idea what they cost nowadays. I've had one older Marlin; good accuracy, but don't expect a lever gun to shoot like a bolt-action.

You'll probably receive hundreds of recommendations...

When it comes to lever actions, Marlin 39's, Winchester 9422's and Browning BL-22's are great guns.

Anschutz, Kimber of Oregon, Cooper, Winchester, Browning, Remington and CZ all made/make superb bolt actions.

Ruger produced some nice .22 rifles as well.

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"I also cook."

Some higher end options are the Miroku made Winchester Model 52 reissue sporters a marketed by Browning shortly after they acquired Winchester in the late 1980s. They are arguably the best production sporters ever made.

A Browning marked “Model 52C” at top, with Winchester marked “Model 52B” rifles below. There were 5000 of the Cs made compared to 10,000 of the Bs.



The Kimber Model Model 82 is another high end sporter option, seem here below a Winchester Model 52.

I must have 9 or 10 in my collection. .22's last forever. IMHO, lots of stuff were made better in the old days. While I enjoy buying brand new, most of my rifles were second hand.

If it were me I'd look for a used rifle in good condition. Mossberg, J. Stevens, Marlin, Winchester, Remington, Savage......all are quality firearms.

When my son was 7 years old I bought him a bolt action Sears (J.C Higgins) .22 for 25 bucks. Not a "front line" product, but now at age 45 he still shoots it.

Regarding the reproduction 52s...I bought two of these new in 1997. I haven't done a side-by-side accuracy comparsion, but I think they'll outshoot the Ruger bolt-actions by at least a little bit and the Rugers shoot well. However, I'm not up on prices, but I'd guess these reproductions are fairly expensive today, more than most would want to spend on a .22.

The reason for my earlier question was the mention of "beginner". If you are looking for something for a youngster or a wife to learn the basics of shooting, I would strongly suggest looking for a lower end used .22 bolt action rifle. The brand is immaterial, but an older Remington or Savage bolt action .22 is tough to beat, and they are plentiful. A new high end .22 can wait for later. They will be a waste of money for use as a starter gun. Also, there is absolutely no benefit in starting with a lever action .22. Go with a bolt action.

I would go with Savage as an inexpensive entry level bolt action... probably the best method to train entry level shooters...

I love my Win 9422. :-)

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Paul
Salome, AZ

I am in Old School country up here. Lots of old Remington and Winchester bolt guns. Several Marlin 39's, very few micro-groove tho. They don't like micro-groove up here. For accuracy its hard to beat one of the CZ's. 452, 457, and they are reasonable.

I'm fine with used so long as it's in good condition. It also depends what LGS has in stock for used.

Of the bolt actions you listed which has the smoothest action? I love when something is such high quality it feels like a swiss watch ⌚ in terms of everything working perfectly together.

I have a Savage MKII BV bolt action .22 rifle with the Accu trigger and laminated wood stock. I put a Nikon Pro Staff 4x32 scope on it. It is very accurate.

Used?bolt? Simple? not a mantle piece?
Find an old Marlin 25
Simple and reliable

I would pick a Savage MKII BV again over a CZ . Spend the extra money saved on a better scope. Accuracy can have more to do with the ammo your shooting , Not the rifle or even the brand. Same brand of mid level ammo can group differently with a different lot number too .

Winchester 9422M (magnum)! Best .22 I own.

Sorry, I missed the "beginner" part. The 9422M would not be in this category...$$$

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SWCA 3749 SWHF 867

Well my Ruger American compact is not exactly high end but is a nice accurate rifle in 22 magnum but can be had in 22 L.R. also. Comes in standard length with 22 inch barrel also. Glossy finish on the rimfire models .

Not all bolt guns shoot that well.
Not all levers shoot bad.
There are so many variables (mainly ammunition) that there is not much, if any, difference in performance.
The OP should simply pick a gun that works well and is visually appealing and go with it.
Unless he plans on serious competitive shooting, which I doubt, he shouldn’t get too hung up on the optimum accuracy thing.
When I was a kid I spent many pleasurable hours squirrel hunting with my grandpa’s old beat up single shot bolt action rifle with a stock that had been broken clear through at the pistol grip, and had an old repair with duct tape. The repair was a little loose and wobbly, and the gun misfired about every other shot, but my my cousins and I killed LOTS of squirrels, rabbits, starlings, and sparrows with it from the time I was about 9 to 14 years old. Never shot it on paper, but did shoot cans occasionally.
Even though it was a beater, it seemed to be really accurate.

[QUOTE=BB57;141849961]Some higher end options are the Miroku made Winchester Model 52 reissue sporters a marketed by Browning shortly after they acquired Winchester in the late 1980s. They are arguably the best production sporters ever made.


I have to agree with BB57, I have way more 22 Rimfires that anyone should have, even a full blown PRS Vudoo. The Miroku made Win 52 sporters are the most accurate sporter ever made by anyone on the planet, along with top shelf workmanship.

If you find one for sale, I can guarantee it is not over priced if you are looking for a lifetime ownership of a sporter 22RF

Based on your input, I'd strongly recommend a CZ 457 (there's a few configs). And on the used market you may find a 452 or 455 which are earlier versions. I have a whole safe full of them and for the money ($500-700 these days) they're the best value by far in a bolt action.

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Pass it on.
Mark

I know you said Bolt or Lever Action & there have been a good number of solid recommendations But why not consider a Ruger 10/22? Yes it's a Semi Auto but you can do just about anything with a time tested 10/22

Lots of good choices out there. I shoot a Kimber 82 Government that I got through the CMP years ago for Bench Rest Rimfire matches, but a lot of our Club members really like the CZ's, which some have recomnended above. For plinking, the Ruger 10/22 is hard to beat for ~$300.

Browning BL-22 Lever Action

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Live long and prosper

Ruger's 10-22, and the American 22 bolt action. Accurate enough for my use.

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Heavily armed old man.

CZ is the affordable short cut to a family heirloom.

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"Free dirt, you dig."

I just purchased a used Savage Mark II BV. It is the most accurate .22 I've ever owned. It came with a BSA Sweet 22 3x9 scope, rings and mount. Also a very nice leather cheek pad on the laminated stock. Looks like new. All for under $300.

CZ 457 American or for small children CZ 457 Scout.

Can’t beat CZ quality for the money!

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2B1ASK1

Try the Browning semiautomatic takedown 22.

They’re the right size for a 22. So many 22’s now.days are built so large that they look like center fire deer rifle’s. That’s fine for competitive target shooting, but it’s no fun lugging around in the field.

I've got an OLD Rossi gallery pump rifle that hits what it's aimed at. And could be found cheap at a show or pawn shop.

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Time wounds all heels

My LGS has a Winchester model 69 that I liked today. The action was smooth even if the bluing has seen better days. Seemed like a vintage one with some years to it, curious if anyone has experience with them.

My 2nd 22 ever is a Winchester Model 61: shoots 22 shorts, longs and long rifle.

Not a lever or bolt action, but a true tackdriver from another era.

I enjoy the Rugers, both the bolt action Americans and the 10/22s, but nothing is as much fun as that ol' pump action! An S&W M&P 15-22 is an awesome training weapon and a fun gun at the range but doesn't take me back 55 years to the days of the gallery guns...

Cheers!
Cheers!

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Sit Reloader Sentiret

Marlin 39A is hard to beat.

I have a strong fondness for my CZ 452's and Remington 581's

Incredible rifles for the money!!

Randy

I've owned several Ruger 10/22s, each has been very reliable and accurate.

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Even older, even crankier....

Anschutz, Cooper and Kimber of Oregon are top notch, but they'll cost more than most centerfire rifles. As you mentioned earlier, see what you LGS's have on their used gun racks. You should also attend some local gun shows.

Most of the shooters I know have a number of .22's.

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"I also cook."

I am partial to the Browning BL-22. They are very accurate and have a very short lever throw. You can cycle the gun with just a flick of your fingers; your thumb can stay wrapped around the top of the grip. Very fast. Also, they are beautifully made and finished, and are available in a higher grade model as well.
Hmm I think I may need to order another one.

For bolt action I am very happy with my Ruger American Rimfire rifles. I have one in 22lr and another in 22WMR. Both with scopes. Some great features and priced right. Both accurate and no issues.

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USN Submarine Service '66-'71

Yes you can do anything you want with the 10/22 BUT it will cost you when compared to many bolt action 22lr rifles . I have two that are just as accurate as my savage mkii bv but it cost to be that good . I would never buy 10/22 again .

Good news is my LGS sells new CZ457 Americans in their online catalog for 535$ it is a bit out of budget but over time not a concern. I will research this because it was brought up so frequently in this thread. They also have a walnut varmint version and some other version that are slightly more.

Never been to a gun show, so maybe that would be fun I do believe a 22 rifle is a must. I really enjoyed my AR-7, but I gave it as a gift to someone who would enjoy it even more than me. I have always thought bolt actions are cool so I definitely want something in bolt action. I know the Ruger 10/22 is legendary, and one of the people I learn a lot from (Paul Harrell) swears by his, but I am not as into semi-autos. Maybe I could be talked into a good deal if one came, but I prefer bolt action if at all possible.

Life is too short to compromise.

Anschütz!

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FFL08

As I said in your other thread..... CZ makes a great affordable rifle that will last a lifetime. I prefer the older 452 series.

Simi like the 10/22 are not the rifles your kids should start out on.

All three of my Model 52 “R” reissue sporters are 1.25 MOA 5 shot group rifles at 100 yards with SK Standard Plus.

Price wise, the Winchester marked rifles are selling for around $1000 as new in the box, with excellent condition with no box examples selling for around $800. You’ll see them listed for $200-$250 more but those rifles don’t sell, or at least don’t sell quickly.

The Browning marked examples can bring a little more, as do examples with nicer wood.

——

Ruger 77/22s have a reputation for spotty accuracy with some of them being around 3 MOA. Mine was.

The first step generally is to buy an inexpensive shim kit and shim the two piece bolt for minimum head space and that will almost always provide some improvement in accuracy.

The next most common step is to replace the trigger with one of the three or four aftermarket trigger kits out there. They all work well, with some range in pull weights between them.

Last is the bedding. Ruger designed both the M77 and the 77/22 with flat bottom actions that theoretically will bed properly in the same horizontal plane, making it amenable to dropping into a machine cut stock.

It doesn’t always work that way with the 77/22. The 77/22 comes from the factory bedded with some fore end pressure on the barrel and that can vary over time and humidity, and enough to interfere with the bedding of the action.

When I attempted to free float the barrel I quickly discovered the more wood I sanded from the bottom of the fore end the more the front of the action settled into the action, so bedding it was necessary.

The 77/22 is however very easy to bed as it just needs support at four points: under the barrel block; under the tang; and under the two flats behind the magazine well.



Those changes improved the accuracy from around 3 MOA due to significant vertical stringing to around 1.5 MOA with significantly less vertical stringing.

[quote=LittleCooner;141850090]CZs vary a bit in accuracy. My CZ-453 American is very accurate, with consistent 5 shot 1 MOA groups at 100 yards with SK Std Plus on a calm morning. My CZ 455 Varmint Heavy produces the same accuracy, but it’s not really a sporter but more of a tactical trainer. My CZ 453 Varmint averages about 1 MOA but it gets it through a mix of very satisfying 1/2 MOA groups that are equal in number to less satisfying 1.5 MOA groups. It is honestly speaking a 1.5 MOA rifle.

All three of my Model 52 reissues are 1.25 MOA rifles. And the CZs, while well made rifles don’t compare to the Model 52s for fit and finish.

I’m a big fan of the old school military trainers and target rifles. The Springfield 1903 based trainers like the M2 at the top have gotten stupid expensive in the $1800-$2000 range. The Remington 513T and Mossberg 44US bellow it can still be found in the $400-$500 range. The Model 52A at the bottom can be had in very good to excellent condition for around $1000-$1100.



I found this new in the CMP box Remington 541T at a gun show about 6 months ago for $400.



I picked this Kimber Model 82G up a couple years ago for $500 with out the sights.




The Remington 540X and 540XR rifles are not all that common but can be found at very good prices in the $400 range and they shoot very well.



The Savage Anshutz 64 Match is also a very capable budget target rifle. Mine shot far better than it should, but the stock didn’t fit me well. So I got a semi inletted Master class stock for it with adjustable butt plate and cheek riser.

Worthy of consideration, and able to provide generations of quality enjoyment:
Bolt action - Springfield M2
Lever action - Marlin 39

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NRA Endowment Member

The slide action gallery ans field rifles are good choices.

The Remington Model 21 and 121 Field Masters are classic rifles and Are great examples of a Pedersen designed rifle. Where John Browning made guns with deceptively simple designs, Pedersen’s rifles are intricate pieces of gun art.




The Remington rifles were designed to compete with the John Browning designed Winchester 1890, 1906 and Model 61. All of them are fine rifles.

The 1890 (left) was designed for the .22 Winchester Rimfire, which never quite caught on despite having more velocity and bullet weight than the original standard velocity .22LR. Once the newer high velocity .22 LR loads were introduced by Remington in the early 1930s the .22WRF virtually disappeared. It was however chambered in .22 short as well and was widely used as a gallery rifle. It’s not uncommon to find mis matched rifles which is a very strong indication that it was used as a gallery rifle.

The 1906 (center) was originally chambered only in .22 Short but in 1908 was redesigned with a lifter that would also cycle .22 Long and .22 Long Rifle as Winchester finally seemed to admit the .22 LR was here to stay.

In 1919 they finally started chambering the 1890 in .22 LR as well, but 1890s are rare in .22 LR.

The 1906 was replaced by the hammer equipped Model 62 in 1932 along with the hammerless Model 61 (right). That was partly in response to the smoother “modern” look of the hammerless Remington 21 and partly due to the changes Olin started making after it acquired Winchester in 1932.

All of them are very well made, have very smooth actions and are a delight to shoot. Just don’t expect target grade accuracy.

The lever throw is very short, which makes it very easy to operate the lever with minimal change in grip. But it comes at the expense of some smoothness.

The Winchester 9422 is hard to beat for silky smoothness, at least in the earlier pre USRAC rifles.

The Marlin 39 has the longest stroke, but it is also very smooth, and the Marlin 39 and 39A rifles will generally shoot with a bolt action accuracy wise.