Cheap 22 rifle

[Jeffh241]

I'm looking for suggestions for really inexpensive used 22 rifle. I don't have much money but I want something accurate for ideally under $300. I want to eventually mount a decent scope on it and I don't want it to be a youth rifle. Since I'm new to this I was hoping you guys could give me some direction. Thanks.

 

[alwslate]

If you're looking for a sporter weight rifle some of the older Winchester
and Remington bolt actions are very accurate and can be bought in VG
used condition for less than $300 with a bit of looking. The ones made
after mid 50s will have receivers grooved for scope rings. The Rem.
511 ( clip ) and 512 ( tube feed ) models are very accurate along with
the Winchester mds 69 and 72.

 

[Teddydog]

I have one of the Romanian "Trainer" Model 69 (I think that's right) rifles and it is quite accurate. I don't know what they sell for these days, but I'm pretty sure it would be under your $300 price. Mine shoots very well. It is a lightweight bolt action with a 5-round detachable box magazine.

Found one lousy pic of mine:

Rob

 

[Cdog]

Look at CZ. I'm not sure of their pricing now, but their accuracy is phenomenal.

 

[Fishinfool]

In a new rifle, at the $200 price range, I would look at Savages bolt action offerings. Most of the pre-Remington Marlins are also fine shooters. For closer to $300, I would look for a clean, used CZ 452 - They are very well made, and very accurate. Back in the 50's thru 70's, Mossberg made a series of heavy barrel target bolt actions .22's that had nice triggers, and were very accurate. A nice one can be found for under $300, and would make a nice sporter if you were willing to thin down the heavy target stock. Make sure any rifle you buy is new enough to have a grooved receiver, or drilled and tapped for scope mounting.

Larry

 

[hpfenning]

After I bought my new M&P 22, my daughter (24 YO) said that since I had bought myself a gun she wanted a 22 rifle. We bought a Savage 64 fxp for $137 at Walmart. It comes with a cheap scope and shoots fairly accurately out to 50 yds. (That's as far as we can go out in the back pasture). It is semi-auto with a 10 round magazine.

 

[eveled]

You are in the price range of a new Ruger 10/22. There is a reason it is the best selling .22 rifle ever made.

 

[pownal55]

Zastava 99 bolt action. 22lr, 22 mag., 17 HMR with walnut stock and high polish bluing, all steel.

 

[kozmic]

You are in the price range of a new Ruger 10/22. There is a reason it is the best selling .22 rifle ever made.

True dat!
No need to look further than the 10/22. There are several versions under 300 bucks. Literally tens of thousands of accessories. Durable, accurate, reliable and fun.

 

[jaykellogg]

I have a Savage MKII. Mine came with a threaded barrel for a suppressor and a rail for optics. I have a sweet Nikon Prostaff rimfire scope. The rifle was just a bit over $200 and has an adjustable trigger.

 

[Gray Rider]

Any pre-Remington Marlin; I've found any that I've ever shot to be very accurate and there are plenty of used ones out there for sale.

 

[shaggist]

Here's another vote for the Mossbergs. They built some phenomenally accurate 22s back in the 40s, 50s, and 60s. I had 2 of them when I was growing up and still have one now. They could be had in bolt or semiautomatic configurations, magazine or tube fed, and usually came with good target peep sights. You can find them, with careful searching, in good condition for under $200 today. I would suggest that you spend some time reading posts on Mossbergs on the RimfireCentral.com website. There are some true experts on these rifles on that site, and they are all great guys, willing to help a newby out. Mossberg built training rifles for the military back in the day, and some of their production is so marked. It would be easy to become a collector and not break your bank doing so.

 

[Rangerpat]

Ditto 10/.22, a great shooting fun gun that can be customized over time as you grow in experience.

 

[fat tom]

Buy a 10/.22!!!

f.t.

 

[Gunslinger808]

^^What he said!^^

 

[Smitty357]

Winchester Model 61 PUMP ACTION!!!!!!!!!! I just had to say it =-)

This little thing has become my new favorite plinker.

 

[Andy Griffith]

A new or used, good condition Savage, Stevens, Mossberg or Marlin bolt rifle. The older Remington or Winchester bolt guns are also great.

The bolt guns will be more versitle, as all can shoot .22 Shorts, .22 Longs, CB's or shotshells either one at a time, or perhaps as a repeater if it was made for them- something that alsmost no semi-auto can acomplish.

*some of the old Stevens/Savage autos and Remington 552 will shoot and/or feed shorts. Most of these are not typically found in your desired price range

 

[shouldazagged]

Older Marlins can be wonderful for not too much money.

Some years ago I gave my son a Norinco .22 trainer based on the Mauser action. Quite inexpensive. He and his three boys shoot it regularly, and he says it's a real needle-threader. Don't know if any are still available, but his was a hell of a buy.

 

[radar1972]

I have an old Remington 552 Speedmaster that shoots shorts, longs and LRs. And it's very accurate. You should be able to find a used one in your price range.

If I were looking to buy a new .22 rifle today, I think I'd get the Ruger 10/22. You can find those in your price range, too.

 

[Teddydog]

Join the sheep...go ahead and buy a 10/22.

: )

Rob

 

[rjencks]

Marlin XT-22

I recently bought a Marlin XT-22 heavy barrel and at 50 yards I'm getting dime size, or smaller, groups. It was the best 245$ I have ever spent.

 

[David LaPell]

You can go shopping for a decent single shot .22 if having only one bullet isn't too offensive these days. I bought a Remington Model 33 single shot about ten years back for $100 flat and mounted a scope on it. I cannot count how many squirrels I have taken with this thing over the years, but it's been dozens. I see them on gunbroker along with the Winchester 67 and other similar guns for under $200 or so. Mine is a really nice example and I went through it and redid the wood with several coats of Tru-Oil.
Something about the Model 33 Remington, I read once that these guns were a cheap alternative to the Winchester Model 52 at one time. These for a single shot rifle are a true man sized gun with a longer barrel that really stretches out there. With this gun I have never really wanted to buy a new .22 rifle.

 

[hangnoose]

22 calibers

no mention of action type you would prefer? nobody mentioned a Winchester lever 9422, it might be out of the price range. imo buy 1950-1980's used, without any plastic, in a bolt action. you should find 1 for a good price. I've been looking for a Russian/Romanian/Anshutz target or biathalon type, but they are pricey. my Ruger 22 mag m77/22 is a full sized/wt tack driver. with a trigger and bedding job it's amazing and the 22mag gives me more distance and is easier to find right now. they also make it in 22lr. the Ruger 10/22 is good if you want a semi, and it can be modified to no end by clark or volquartzen, but the m77/22 feels just like a big bore caliber. you can find severall good used guns in that price range.

 

[DeadAye]

EVERYONE should own at least one 10-22....
Next you'll need a Model 10 then a 1911.
It get's complicated after that.

 

[Jdavis]

If you are really on a tight budget, you will appreciate the Marlin model 60 more than any other budget rifle. Marlin and Glenfield use the same action and barrels which are among the most reliable and accurate. A good used one can be had for $100 or less. The quality of the 60s was not an issue after the Remington acquisition as were the lever guns so, a modern one will perform as well as the older ones. I would look for a post 1984 model in order to get the last shot hold open bolt feature.These guns are great shooters and known to out shoot the unmodified Ruger 10/22 rifles. They are plenty accurate and will serve you well for plinking, hunting, or informal target shooting.

 

[CajunBass]

I didn't bother to read the whole five pages, so maybe someone else has said this, maybe you've made up your mind already, but in my experience there aren't many "bad" 22 rifles. In fact in my experience it's pretty hard to find one.

Remington, Savage, Stevens, Winchester, Ithaca, Ruger, Henry, Marlin, Sears (Sears/J.C.Higgins,Ted Williams), Western Auto (Revelation), Mossberg, and dozens of other companies have made and/or sold 22 rifles.

I'm a Ruger fan, but I've owned 22's made by most of the above. I'd just go to big gun store and look to see what they have. I have a rule of thumb. If it looks like it's been taken care of outside, it probably has inside. If it looks like it's been used as a fence post, it probably been abused and neglected. I'm sure there are exceptions but I don't look for them.

 

[wbraswell]

Savage MkII with a heavy barrel. The FV model has no sights, scope mounts, accu-trigger, and synthetic stock. You'll have almost enough left to buy an adequate scope. I think they also sell a package that comes with a scope.

 

[Lost Lake]

You can buy nearly any gun for under $300 in a .22 caliber. Depending on what shape it is in of course.

I picked up an Anschutz with a 54 action and a heavy barrel for $200.

The stock was very plain and the gun had no palm grips or adjustable cheek, but it does have a rail. It had no sights.

That gun is unbelievably accurate. If that's what you are after.

I have a 10/22 I picked up for $180. Never misses a beat and shoots very well.

In fact I have 6 .22 rifles and haven't paid over $300 for any of them.

What are you looking for? Bolt, semi-auto, lever, pump, single shot?

.

 

[model70hunter]

If you are interested in plinking a Ruger 10-22 or Marlin Glenfield Model 60 is good for autos.

The Marlin 81 or less embellished version, the Model 25 is good for a bolt action. I found a rough Model 25 at a gun show for $25.00, I draw filed the BBL and refinished the stock. I was glass bedding a rifle for a guy and decided to glass bed the action in the Marlin Model 25. I scoped it with a 3x9 low medium price scope. It shoots as good as my Anshutz. I got to thinking if the Marlin had a better trigger it would be awesome, but then reality set in, it is hard to beat one hole groups....

Your gun does not have to cost 300 or maybe even 100 dollars.

Go to some real gun shops, look at some used ones. Some one mentioned that if one appears to have been taken care of on the outside the inside may be good too. Talk with the LGS guys, tell them what you are interested in, see if they have any ideas or know of a shop that may do more 22LR business. Unless it talks to you and you know it is a bonafide bargain you do not have to buy the first one you see.

Always remember that most of the guys here have been burned at least once. So do not let fear of buying the wrong one deter you. If that happens you have learned and then you can trade up. Some guys trade up on wives, but guns are way cheaper... Welcome and have fun. If you find one you can ask questions here about it.