.22 Rifles: Manual vs Auto?

[Gene L]

Can't say. I like them all, have them in all three configurations. The most accurate .22 I have is a Rem 547, it's a bughole rifle, but I don't shoot it all that often.

The most accurate semi I've owned was a T/C Classic. I would compare it to the 547, but I sold it.

Got a Nylon 66 in Seneca Green, a rare bird.

A Savage 1914 and a Meriden pump, both with oct barrels. Takedowns.

The first rifle I bought was in 1964, a Winchester 250 lever rifle. I have it now. Acceptably accurate.

So I can't say. If I were in need of a good, reliable, accurate .22 on a budget, I'd probably go Marlin Model 60.

 

[AManWearingAHat]

Both for me, just depends on the day/mood. Have a 10/22, a Henry Frontier, and will be adding an Anschutz 1907 soon...

 

[les.b]

This little Ruger 10/22 is an older one that I bought brand new many years ago. I liked that it had a checkered walnut stock. Fitted it with a little 1.5x4 Leupold scope. It is extremely accurate. Wonderful little rifle. Also have a Browning semi .22 takedown, and an old Charter Arms AR7 "Survival Rifle". Have an old generic pump takedown down at camp that we leave there for a camp gun. The kids used to shoot it a lot when they were, well, kids.

Best Regards, Les

 

[Tubbsy]

I voted manual, more specifically a good bolt gun.... i just enjoy the experience more. The most accurate .22 I've ever shot was a marlin model 60 that had zero business being as accurate as it was.... wish I'd never sold that gun.

 

[cadmike]

I had to vote manual but I sure do love my old Winchester 77 semi. I've also got a Marlin 39a Mountie that my youngest son thinks is his (it will be, someday) and I've got an old Western Auto Revelation 100b single shot bolt, which I believe is some kind of Mossberg product. Fun and accurate little rifle.

I've not seen this one mentioned yet, but the most accurate 22lr I've had was a Mossberg 44 US trainer, bolt action. Absolute tack driver, but I recently sold it.

 

[Rick_A]

My oldest is a fancy 10/22 and the newest a 15-22.
20130927_132119 by Slick_Rick77, on Flickr
20190402_141239 by Slick_Rick77, on Flickr

 

[deadin]

I have 19 .22's, but 17 of them are pistols. (Single Shot, Revolvers and Semi-Auto's, so no favoritism there.)
The two rifles are at each end of the spectrum, a 10/22 bull barrel take-down and a Stevens Favorite (also Take-down), so you might say I like compactness...... __________________
Dean
SWCA #680 SWHF #446

 

[wetdog1911]

One of my mentors told me that a M39 Marlin may not shoot where you want it too every time but you can bet the farm that it shot where you held it. Larry

There is no blaming the this rifle whan a shot goes awry, that's for sure.

I was lucky in the fact that my next door neighbor has a early 70's 39A and a local pawn shop had a Mountie from the same era. I got to shoulder both and found that with the Mountie everything lined up perfectly when snapped to the shoulder, but the rifle took a bit of wriggling around to get the sights right.. Made my decision on what to get easy. Casual shooting with the neighbor and switching rifles, both were equally accurate with the open sights.

I love my CZ 452, but if I had to choose just one, it would be the Mountie. Shoots just as good as the CZ with my 70 YO eyes and is just way more fun!

Wet

 

[bmcgilvray]

The oldest .22 rifle here is a Winchester Model 90, uncommonly seen in .22 Long Rifle and made in 1925.



The newest .22 rifle here is a Remington Model 514 made in 1967.

 

[double-dipper]

about 1/4 of all my firearms are .22LR. some days I like chootin the levers and some days I like chootin the semi-autos. I don't own a 22 bolt action anymore.

 

[44wheelman]

I seem to get carried away when I take the 10-22 out. My 9422 or m39-a slows me down a bit.

Honestly, the 10-22 can be a little boring. Big Leupold scope, bipod, aftermarket trigger, custom stock.....maybe a little too easy for under a hundred yards (nearby range). It's a 45 minute drive to the longer range, and that turns into an all day affair.

 

[nutsforsmiths]

I have an original Browning T-Bolt that is my go to 22 rifle for accuracy. I also just purchased a Mauser single action 22 from the early 1930s that is even more accurate than the T-Bolt.

 

[Cal44]

I only buy manual rifles -- Lever in most cases, but also some bolt action rifles.

I'd like to get a slide action rifle -- perhaps a 22, at some point.

But I'm expecting that it's only a matter of time before all semi-auto rifles are banned.

First here in Cali, and then eventually nationwide.

 

[dmn57]

For funzies I've got a GSG 522 SD (looks like a MP5 carbine with a fake silencer). Not real costly and I rarely shoot further than 25 yards with it, but I can rip through a 22 round magazine in a hurry. Pretty cool.

 

[wundudnee]

I voted manual operation.

 

[Faulkner]

I didn't answer the pole on this one. It's like asking boxers or briefs . . . I own .22 semi autos as well as .22 lever guns, bolt action, and pumps. Depends on what mood I'm in on any given day.

 

[tug700]

My Clark Custom 10-22 just makes it fun. I don't have to do anything but shoot for rounds. It allows me to concentrate on my techniques whereas my bolt guns cause me to move between rounds. JMHO

 

[pasound]

Two 10/22's. One a TD with a custom wood stock. One a standard, tricked out with an Archangel stock and other bolt-ons, just because I could. Ones I miss are the Nylon 66 and Marlin bolt action my dad had. He never let me shoot them. After he left this reality, the guns disappeared... Sad.

 

[beagleye]

When I shoot a 22 rifle, I like to shoot at LITTLE things; or very distant things. For me, that means CZ bolt actions.

Ed

I in the CZ camp too.

 

[bmcgilvray]

Some .22 rifle fun at the local club range from a couple of days ago, partially inspired by this thread.

Remington Model 33 bolt-action single-shot .22 rifle having a Remington date code on its barrel indicating January of 1935 production.




Rifle has a crystal bright perfect bore. Trigger is on the heavy side of decent. Ejection is interesting on this rifle and has to be a result of design. Operate the bolt in a leisurely fashion after a shot and the empty case flies what appears to be straight up about four feet, but is actually arcing to fall about eight inches to the right the barrel, about mid point of its length. The cartridge cases could all be collected in a Dixie cup on the ground beside the bench, ejection pattern is so consistent. It's very satisfying.



Two five-shot groups at 25 yards with a five shot group at 50 yards at top.


Decent four-out-of-five at 100 yards using the original sights. One shot went high. All shots sorta sagged off to the right of center. Bullet hole nick at bottom of the target was one out of a five-shot attempt that dropped off the target due to misjudging the amount of elevation required. So, a do-over was called for.


Was closing in on 11:30 by the time I wound up shooting it with the 100 yard attempts. The sun was bright and the tin bead on the front sight could have had some glare. Then again, it could have been the shooter's ability to hold 'em and squeeze 'em. Couldn't blame the breeze for there wasn't any.


Ammunition used was CCI Standard Velocity 40 grain lead.

Semi-automatic .22 rifles are kept on hand, including a Ruger 10/22. Somehow they're not as gratifying though.