Semi Auto .22 Rifles

[TomkinsSP]

Rather than add drift to Rastoff's 'Guns Everyone Should Own' thread.

Considering current production .22 rifles. Which would you choose and why. I own a 10/22 (not a takedown model), a Marlin 60, a Marlin 795 (basically a magazine fed 60) and a Henry made AR-7. Not to disparage the 10/22, it would not be my first choice if I could only have one.

Of course, Ruger has sold 14 gadzillion 10/22s, am I missing something?

 

[ken158]

The 10/22 comes in many variations, has a ton of add on accessories and can be very accurate. I just don't see any other 22 rifle that compares if you can have only one.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

TomKin -
I give up!
What is your first choice?
Mine?
Remington 552.
Got that deflector which is great for us Lefties.
But I passed mine down to my SIL.
But I still got an oldie and a goody In the closet.
Remington Model 34.

 

[Camster]

Browning SA-22. A classic take down.

 

[FlyTyinFool]

I'm in the market too, so I'll be interested to see responses.

I'm willing to expand my budget for a life-time purchase... Say $500(ish).
I prefer semi-auto, but will do a bolt-action if it has 10-round capacity.
I also want something I can put a suppressor on.
This would primarily be a squirrel/rabbit gun.

I have a Marlin 60 with a target barrel that is extremely accurate, but heavier than I like to carry all day with scope, bi-pod (optional), and suppressor. And the tube magazine negates suppressor use.

Considered 10/22's really hard...
Great action, reliability, and above-average accuracy.
Take-down accuracy is suspect though, due to optics mounted on receiver instead of barrel.
10/22 Sporter would be my Ruger choice.

I've been looking really hard at the Magnum Research MagnumLite MLR22ATUT. It exceeds budget (suggested retail), but includes every upgrade I would want on a 10/22 platform, and uses standard 10/22 magazines (as far as I can tell). This looks really attractive!

 

[Beauetienne]

Hard to beat a Ruger Target rifle with your budget. It would be my first choice for one rifle, for the reasons stated by ken158.

Ruger 10/22 Target Semi-Auto Rifle | Sportsman's Warehouse

 

[Drm50]

The 10/22 had this market locked up. In today's market I don't
know what I would buy. The 10/22s have declined in quality from
what they once were. Marlin 60s are accurate rifles but I never
liked the feed mechanism. Still in new guns made in USA these
two would be the top choices.

 

[oink]

You need to narrow the question.

I have a couple of 10-22s. Great rifles but they all need trigger work. Their removable rotary box magazine works great. You can have different mags with different loads. The aftermarket accessory options are endless.

I also have a Remington 552BDL. I like it a lot. Mine is a good 33 years old and I haven't messed with any new productions so there's that. It does have a tubular magazine which doesn't seem to be all that popular now days but I like it fine.

I'd have to say that everyone should have a 10-22. But as soon as you get that squared away get a 552. It has class the 10-22 will never have.

 

[Ribwizzard]

I'd say any of the above you can walk out of a pawn shop for $100.
I too am in the market, but dont want to put $500 into a .22, way to many other guns I want

 

[Wee Hooker]

I currently have 4, 10/22's ( One TD,one stock carbine, one stock deluxe anniversary and one completely tricked out Ultimate) I have also previously owned a good 1/2 dozen more over they years. All were "OK" but I never really loved any of them. Guess, I'm a slow learner.
To be honest I like their ability to be modified enough that they keep me coming back . And there lies the allure and the curse of the 10/22. It's basically a "Mister Potato Head" gun kit for grownups. There isn't a part on the gun that doesn't have an aftermarket replacement or upgrade. This makes them lots of fun to customize but in the end, you often have Anschutz type money tied up in something that isn't.

My recommendation is that IF you buy one, buy it as close to the final configuration you might want . That way, you'll be tempted less to pour money into it.

FWIW, I'm a bolt action fan but if I could only have one semi auto 22 it would be a well featured 10/22 or S&W 15-22PC.

 

[Chubbo]

Variation

It does seem as though Ruger has the corner on the .22 LR semi auto Market.
with their 10/22. There are quite a few notable predecessors of it, that brought lots of enjoyment to us old poops. A couple of them, that come to mind, are the Browning .22 Auto rifle, and the Winchester Mod. 63. I own, have shot, and enjoyed both, can no longer shoot 'em, but, still love to look at, fondle, and share them with others. Here's Two. Thanks for sharing them with me.

Chubbo

 

[Seven High]

I'd get a Smith & Wesson 15/22 and a bunch of 25 round magazines. They are a lot of fun to shoot.

 

[les.b]

Here's my favorite .22 rifle. An older 10-22 with the cut checkering walnut stock, and a Leupold 1x4 scope. Very accurate, and light weight, plus it looks very nice. I have others, a Browning SA 22, and a Charter Arms survival rifle, a pump action store brand from the 1920s and others. But this one is just really nice!!:

Best Regards, Les

 

[Big Cholla]

IMO, the most over looked really good inexpensive 22 lr rifle on the market is the Remingon M 597. I have experience with five of them so far. All had barrels that delivered better than expected accuracy. Yes, there are some minor modifications that help the barrel achieve its potential accuracy. I slicked up the action bars, adjusted the triggers and free floated the barrels for a starter. Each mod added to the accuracy. I'm not up to speed as to after market products for the M 597, but I am sure some will be worthwhile and some will be so-so.

I have found my personal M 597 develops pretty good accuracy off the bench with most all ammo brands and is exceptional with a modestly priced target ammo. I have been shooting Nevada's Picket Pin Ground Squirrels out to 150 yds while using W W's 333/555 brand. If the cross wind isn't too much, the occasional kill at 175 yds isn't too much to expect. When you are shooting up to 500 rounds per day the pricey target ammo is not justified.

 

[oink]

Here's my favorite .22 rifle. An older 10-22 with the cut checkering walnut stock, and a Leupold 1x4 scope. Very accurate, and light weight, plus it looks very nice......... But this one is just really nice!!:
Best Regards, Les

I have that one too, plus a newer synthetic takedown version with the bag.

 

[TomkinsSP]

TomKin -
I give up!
What is your first choice?
Mine?
Remington 552.
Got that deflector which is great for us Lefties.
But I passed mine down to my SIL.
But I still got an oldie and a goody In the closet.
Remington Model 34.

I have owned (most have followed my children to thier new homes)...
10/22 18.5" laminate stock
60 19" laminate stock 14 tube
60 22" hardwood stock 17 tube
795 19" laminate stock
795 19" synthetic stock
AR-7 16" synthetic stock
Nylon 66 19.5" apache green stock 14 tube

4/7 are 60/795s so...

All were iron sight only. The AR-7 Is the least accurate, even with nut tight. 10/22 next, then the Nylon. Best (of my very small sample) are the four Marlins, which are almost as accurate as my Savage 93 bolt.

I don't accessorize so that isn't an issue. Tube magazines don't get lost or bent so they are fine with me. Of course, they make 25s for 10/22 and AR-7s, the 795s are stuck with 10s. The AR-7 is really compact taken down, more so than the takedown 10/22.

 

[Old Corp]

Ruger 10/22 has the lion's share of the semi-auto .22 market, and of course, I've had a few.
Appreciating older hardware is something I'm into, so, some years ago picked up a M550 Remington .22 auto. Shoots Shorts, Longs and Long Rifles just great. Recoil spring is actually tired enough that it'll run .22 CB rounds fine.
A cheap 3-9x Bushnell on it and it's deadly.
And - it's a full sized man's rifle.
I'm sure there's plenty on the used market.

 

[merl67]

If one is looking at used rifles, older Marlin model 60, and the many variations is really hard to beat for the money as a reliable and accurate rifle most can be had for $100 or less.

 

[Johnrh]

I got this one at the end of last year. Ruger 10/22 LVT 22LR BL REC SS $354.00

There are a number of videos on how to do the trigger but if you don't want to do it send it to Brimstone and he'll do a great job on whatever tier you pick.

I had mine bedding and recrowned and it shoots great for ABRA matches in factory class and even CMP Rimfire when I change the scope so I can make weight.

 

[Kiwi cop]

I currently have five .22's.

A Stirling (Phillipines) model 14, 10 shot bolt action fitted with sound suppressor, 4 X 32 scope and a stream light. This is my night time pest rifle.

Next tis my Brno #2, also fitted with 4 X 32 scope. This is my range rifle for sporting rimfire target events.

Next up is another Stirling, a Model 16 (cheap copy of M16/AR15 stock and sights) that has been retrofitted into a Stirling Model 20 (sporting variation) stock. The conversion was not a simple swap over. The stud that secures the barrel to the stock is in a different location, over the front trigger guard screw of the M20 stock. It wears a low profile "holographic" style red dot fitted this afternoon.

Next up is my Chiappa lever action. I really wanted a Henry Golden Boy but this came along at one third of the price. It too sports a "holographic" red dot sight but will retain the open sights for use when required. The open sights are a bit course for target accuracy but okay for Cowboy Rimfire matches.

Finally the newest, a S&W M&P 15-22. It too sports red dot, this one with a 30mm tube. With it I can shoot using the sight or the fold down iron sights. For iron sight speed steel the red dot can come off and be refitted in a few minutes using the iron sights as a guide.

I chose the 15-22 over a 10/22 due to the trigger (definitely not target grade on the M&P) being better than the Ruger and the better iron sights.

But if the 10/22 is the route you must take I'd have to recommend one of the "now the patent has expired" copies. The Webley & Scott I looked at had a far better trigger out of the box while the rubber stock was pure delight to hold.