Recommendations for 22 rifles?

[BB57]

This is what I am leaning towards, they are reasonably priced, shoot reasonably well, and are simple. I like the old Winchester and Remington rifles as well.

Do you recommend mag-fed or tube-fed rifles?

There are pros and cons.

On the one hand magazines are very young shooter friendly as they make it easy to clear the weapon and you can hand them a magazine with just one bullet in it. And there are single shot adapters that fit in the magazine well for some rifles.

On the other hand if the magazine is lost it renders the rifle all but unusable, and spare magazines can be hard to find and or expensive for some models.

Some magazine designs are also very poor. For example the Remington Model 541S is in all other respects a fine medium/high end sporter. However the plastic magazine is horrible. 5 round magazines are hard to find. 10 round magazines are easier to find (and they share the same mag with the Remington 77), but they crack down the middle and puke out all the rounds.

CZ mags are great in both plastic and metal versions as are the magazines for the Winchester 52, 69 and 75.

The Zastava mags for the Remington Model 5 / CZ-99 precision / MP-22 rifles were unobtainable but are now occasionally in stock on the Zastava Arms USA web site.

And a big plus in the field of hunting squirrels, rabbits etc is that you can reload just by switching magazines or top off a magazine.


Tubular magazines are harder to load but usually hold more rounds.

They can also be lost and if lost render the rifle unusable. For example the Winchester 9422 is infamous for lost magazine tubes. People will shoot them empty and then walk back to their vehicle with the rifle in one hand. There is no spring pressure on the assembly when it’s empty and it doesn’t take much for the small pin to rotate out of the detent and allow the tube to fall out.

I install a thin o-ring on the tube so that you have to press down on the end to get it out of the detent.

My major concern with some tubular magazine design .22 LR rifles is that between the lifter and the small ejection port, it can be very difficult to verify the rifle is actually unloaded.

They are probably the most common forearm for negligent discharges as a round will hang up in the tube, and the shooter will think it is clear as rounds stopped being ejected.

Some designs, like the Winchester 1890, 1906, and Model 62 have a very open design where that’s not a problem.

 

[Ματθιας]

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

You ask what we recommend but more than likely your LGS isn't going to have it used. If your LGS doesn't have it in stock what's the point?

Better yet, why are you limiting yourself to your LGS when there's SO MANY options available online? It's not that difficult to find what you want, probably at a cheaper price (even with shipping) than your LGS and transfer it in. It just doesn't make sense to me. But whatever.

 

[BB57]

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.

The Model 69 was a 1935 successor to the more expensive and shorter barrel Model 57.

The 69A came out in 1937 with an easier to use safety design and an adjustable trigger.

In 1940 they added a match version to supplement the mid priced Model 75 and the top tier Model 52 target rifles.

All of the above are great rifles. The 69A went out of production in 1963. The Model 75 was discontinued in 1958 but the Model 52 held on until 1980, so they are all vintage rifles.

 

[BB57]

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.

My Model 52s, CZ 452/453/455, and 77/22 rifles are all quite smooth to operate.

The Zastava made Remington Model 5/Zastava CZ-99 Precision/MP-22 is less smooth.

The lever action 9422 and Marlin 39a are also very smooth, and the BL-22 isn’t far behind.

But for pure smoothness of operation it’s hard to beat the Winchester (1890, 1906, and Model 61/62) and Remington (21 and 121) gallery rifles.

Remington 21:

Winchester 1906:

Winchester 62A:

Winchester 1890, Remington 21, Winchester 62A:

Rossi made a reproduction of the Model 62 between 1970 and 1998, and continued making it under the Taurus label from 1999-2007. Both were very well made and excellent shooters.

Rossi brought it back just 12 years after Winchester discontinued it and there was obviously still plenty of demand as they marketed it far longer than Winchester (37 years versus 26 years).

Henry also makes their pump action Octagon and while it’s not heirloom quality it has received generally good reviews.

 

[GypsmJim]

The one they have is 200$ and the action was smooth as silk. Had the original 5 shot magazine. The bluing was not pristine, but not terrible either. I may just get it because it seemed a good deal and I liked the action.

The detachable mag is a plus. A $12 bottle of cold blue is enough to brighten up a dozen rifles.

That's a steal. If you decide not to buy it, please PM me the name of the dealer.

 

[steelslaver]

This is what I am leaning towards, they are reasonably priced, shoot reasonably well, and are simple. I like the old Winchester and Remington rifles as well.

Do you recommend mag-fed or tube-fed rifles?

I prefer magazine fed, less complicated, you can have extras loaded up etc. Nothing really really wrong with tubes, just like mags better

 

[petepeterson]

I prefer magazine fed, less complicated, you can have extras loaded up etc. Nothing really really wrong with tubes, just like mags better

I'm not a big fan of tubes for teaching the yutes. Much easier to clear a mag, or leave the mag out altogether.

 

[Ματθιας]

I have a Cz452 trainer. I like it a lot1. Easy to shoot. Mag fed. If there's a bolt 22 I'd like to get, it'd be a Cz 452 Ultra Lux - I think they made a 455 version...

I also have Romanian M69 or M1969 trainer. Again easy to shoot, and mag fed.

 

[67tempest]

The Marlin 39A gets my vote, I have 3 of them. In my opinion, one of the best lever action 22's out there.

 

[malph]

For current production rimfire rifles, it's hard beat Cz and Tikka.

Both are making excellent quality rifles for a reasonable price.

 

[Alton]

I like both my CZ and my 10/22. But you said your daughters so I am liking the RPR 22 from Ruger because of the adjustable stock which would fit you and your daughters as they grow up.

 

[BabaBlueJay]

The detachable mag is a plus. A $12 bottle of cold blue is enough to brighten up a dozen rifles.

That's a steal. If you decide not to buy it, please PM me the name of the dealer.

I bought the Winchester 69! Will upload pictures later when I have time. Got a brick of 500 CCI quiets for plinking. Super excited

 

[wundudnee]

You did well on your 69. They are usually very trouble free. I am a 69/69A addict and have many. you may want to purchase an extra magazine or two. There is a reproduction magazine made by Wisners that is an excellent product. They are marked on the bottom with a capital W. They are around thirty dollars. Original magazine are getting very costly.

 

[GypsmJim]

You did well on your 69. They are usually very trouble free. I am a 69/69A addict and have many. you may want to purchase an extra magazine or two. There is a reproduction magazine made by Wisners that is an excellent product. They are marked on the bottom with a capital W. They are around thirty dollars. Original magazine are getting very costly.

One of the last times my Dad and I were out shooting his 69, I "lost" the mag. When he passed and I took possession of his collection, I bought an original mag off of Gunbroker.

Probably 10 years later I was cleaning out my closet and threw out a few old jackets. There it was! In the pocket. Still loaded. Now I remember. It started to rain and we packed in early.

 

[BabaBlueJay]

First of many photos of my Winchester 69

 

[Golddollar]

T
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.

I can confirm that. I have a Model 39A that I bought some 40+ years ago. I took it to the range one day, and at 100 yards with Mini-Mags I could shoot a group that could be covered with a small styrofoam cup.

 

[Tom K]

This thread just pushed me over the edge. Even though I already have a left-handed CZ452 American, I just went on GB and bought a left-handed Savage Mark II G just because it's so darn inexpensive. Photo from GB listing. I'll be interested to see how they compare.

By the way, the listed price was $250 with no credit card fee AND free shipping, so after taxes and my FFL's fee I'll be into it for $290.

 

[TIMETRIPPER]

Why are many of the suggestions given are for $500+ rifles. The Springfield M2 will well over cost $1200 if you are lucky enough to find one. Marlin 39s, Winchester 9422s and the Browning lever 2s are all $600+ guns. The CZ 22 is in the $700 range and the Ruger 77-22 bolt is what... $1000 plus?
My suggestion along the same vein of thought would be to get a nice engraved Marlin Ballard #3 single shot with double set triggers with a good Soule tang sight for a mere $2500. But not really...
The OP asked for a good beginner rifle so we show know that he doesn't want to take a loan out to finance one.
How about a used Marlin Model 25 bolt action, clip feed, with integral scope mount on the top of the receiver? Easy to find a used one for well under $250 and it will probably have a decent scope already mounted. It will also last as long as any of the above and shoot as well as 90% of any 22 rimfire rifle made.

John

 

[murphydog]

First of many photos of my Winchester 69

Excellent choice! It will serve you well for many (more) decades.

 

[cbunix23]

My vote is for a Tikka T1X MTR in .22lr. They are very accurate with a wide variety of ammunition. Mine does very well with CCI subsonic for 100 yards or less.

Review: Tikka T1x MTR | An Official Journal Of The NRA