I have a Smith & Wesson M&P 15-22 and a Ruger 10/22. Hard to imagine needing another style. My next .22 rifle will be a lever action . . .
Semi Auto .22 Rifles
- Thread starter TomkinsSP
- Start date
+1 on the Rem 552 Speedmaster. I've had one for over 25 years and am very happy with it.
Take a good look at the 572 Fieldmaster while you are at it. Pump gun .22s are a lot of fun too. I have an old one and it's a great shooter too.
One of the things I like about the Rems is that they are adult sized.
Edit to add: I just looked these guns up on the Remington website. Both guns feature "big-game sights", so I guess they are ready for a dangerous game safari too.
: )
Take a good look at the 572 Fieldmaster while you are at it. Pump gun .22s are a lot of fun too. I have an old one and it's a great shooter too.
One of the things I like about the Rems is that they are adult sized.
Edit to add: I just looked these guns up on the Remington website. Both guns feature "big-game sights", so I guess they are ready for a dangerous game safari too.
: )
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Interesting, as I purchased my SA22 in 1962. It listed for about $55 back then. Dealer took off a couple bucks and threw in a box of shells. I was 14 at the time worked hard shoveling snow all winter to get the money for this rifle. I also had my parents permission to buy/sell and use guns. No way could that happen today! Still have it and it has gone threw a few scopes with tip off mounts way back then. Since then I use only the iron sights and if fact no longer have a scope or mount for that gun.
That old timer is my favorite for sure in the .22 Semi class. I have had quite a few other semi's over the years and now only have the Browning and a stock Ruger 10-22
I have had at different time a Mossberg with the fold down Bakelite handle, a Marlin 60, AR 7 take down.
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OP
TomkinsSP
Member
One eye joe,
I don't have a "complaint" about the 10/22. I see how people who customise a rifle may prefer it to a Marlin 60 because there is more of an aftermarket. I am more of a bolt action guy than a semi auto guy, but I have a couple semi auto .22s. I also like older rifles, but see how it is really easier to own a currently produced factory supported firearm with lots of parts avilability and smiths familiar with the weapon.
To wit, recently acquired $100 otd from a pawn shop. New Haven (Mossberg) 250 with cheap Norinco sight one 10 and one 15 round magazine. My research says made 50 years ago, Numrich has zero parts so if something breaks... (Hey, my doctor said something similar.)
Oh, 100 yards, triangle is 3"×2"×2", 25 rounds of GECO .22LR semi-auto
I don't have a "complaint" about the 10/22. I see how people who customise a rifle may prefer it to a Marlin 60 because there is more of an aftermarket. I am more of a bolt action guy than a semi auto guy, but I have a couple semi auto .22s. I also like older rifles, but see how it is really easier to own a currently produced factory supported firearm with lots of parts avilability and smiths familiar with the weapon.
To wit, recently acquired $100 otd from a pawn shop. New Haven (Mossberg) 250 with cheap Norinco sight one 10 and one 15 round magazine. My research says made 50 years ago, Numrich has zero parts so if something breaks... (Hey, my doctor said something similar.)
Oh, 100 yards, triangle is 3"×2"×2", 25 rounds of GECO .22LR semi-auto
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Almost same story here. In 1967 my Dad "share cropped" 2 acres of watermelons with me. Said after I bought my school clothes the rest was mine. The Western Auto in town had a blonde Browning SA-22 for $75. I bought it. I was 13 at the time. 51 years later I still have it.
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Hairtrigger
Member
I like to say that one can never have too many 22LR rifles
My advise is do not limit yourself
My advise is do not limit yourself
OP
TomkinsSP
Member
Why yes, I once shot a charging 1500 pound African Cape Buffalo with a Henry .22 LR carbine.
Lucky for me, I had a .458 Weatherby. (How the Buffalo got the Henry I will never know.)
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I like to say that one can never have too many 22LR rifles
My advise is do not limit yourself
I like lever guns too.......
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I'm now down to just my first Browning auto .22 rifle,which I received new in 1968.Over the years,, I owned many others, including the Grade IIs and IIIs, as well as the short model.
If I were limed to current production .22 LR rifles, it would be a CZ 455.
I have a pair of CZ 453 (an American and a Varmint) and they are superb .22 LR sporters capable of 1" at 100 yards with SK Std Plus ammo.
I also have a pair of Winchester Model 52"R"rifles - the Miroku made "reissue" of the Model 52 Sporter - and they are arguably the best production .22 Sporter ever made.
I have a Remington 541-S and it's an ok shooter, but the crappy plastic magazine is a negative.
I also have a CZ 99 Precision in a Remington Model 5 stock and the CZ 99 Precision / Rem Model 5 are also good shooters and are arguably best bang for the buck in a .22 Sporter.
I have a pair of Winchester Model 9422s (a 1978 XTR, and a 2000 Trapper) and they put any currently made lever action .22 LR to shame.
The 10/22 is something that has changed significantly over the years. I lusted after one when I was a kid, but at that time (late 60's early 70s) the10/22 Carbine was in fact a fairly high priced .22 LR at $54.50 in 1964 when it was introduced. That $54.50 is equal to $504 in 2018 dollars. The Sporter cost $10 more and the International was $20 more - $524 and $606 in 2018 dollars.
You've probably noticed that you can buy a 10/22 Carbine for $199 today. That's because over time Ruger eliminated the steel butt plate, switch to a birch, rather than walnut stock and changed to a plastic trigger housing. The workmanship and finish is general has suffered, and not many shooters today seem to mind, since it's more of a starter set for aftermarket modification.
But personally, the only 10/22s I have an interest in are the older versions. My current shooter 10/22 is a 1976 model carbine. I scoped it for awhile but it ruins the handling and it's much more fun to shoot with a Williams peep sight. Ruger designed the 10/22 to resemble their Model 44, which in turn was designed to look a lot like the M1 Carbine. Not surprisingly the wood and walnut 10/22 carbines have the same weight and delightful handling of the M-1 carbine, something Ruger used as a marketing tool way back in the day.
I have a pair of CZ 453 (an American and a Varmint) and they are superb .22 LR sporters capable of 1" at 100 yards with SK Std Plus ammo.
I also have a pair of Winchester Model 52"R"rifles - the Miroku made "reissue" of the Model 52 Sporter - and they are arguably the best production .22 Sporter ever made.
I have a Remington 541-S and it's an ok shooter, but the crappy plastic magazine is a negative.
I also have a CZ 99 Precision in a Remington Model 5 stock and the CZ 99 Precision / Rem Model 5 are also good shooters and are arguably best bang for the buck in a .22 Sporter.
I have a pair of Winchester Model 9422s (a 1978 XTR, and a 2000 Trapper) and they put any currently made lever action .22 LR to shame.
The 10/22 is something that has changed significantly over the years. I lusted after one when I was a kid, but at that time (late 60's early 70s) the10/22 Carbine was in fact a fairly high priced .22 LR at $54.50 in 1964 when it was introduced. That $54.50 is equal to $504 in 2018 dollars. The Sporter cost $10 more and the International was $20 more - $524 and $606 in 2018 dollars.
You've probably noticed that you can buy a 10/22 Carbine for $199 today. That's because over time Ruger eliminated the steel butt plate, switch to a birch, rather than walnut stock and changed to a plastic trigger housing. The workmanship and finish is general has suffered, and not many shooters today seem to mind, since it's more of a starter set for aftermarket modification.
But personally, the only 10/22s I have an interest in are the older versions. My current shooter 10/22 is a 1976 model carbine. I scoped it for awhile but it ruins the handling and it's much more fun to shoot with a Williams peep sight. Ruger designed the 10/22 to resemble their Model 44, which in turn was designed to look a lot like the M1 Carbine. Not surprisingly the wood and walnut 10/22 carbines have the same weight and delightful handling of the M-1 carbine, something Ruger used as a marketing tool way back in the day.
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Limited to Something New.....
I would try this Steyr Scout Rifle. Throw on some optics & a can, you're in business.
Ned
I would try this Steyr Scout Rifle. Throw on some optics & a can, you're in business.
Ned
My safe contains a pair of 15-22s, a newish Marlin 60, a Winchester 77 from the 60s, and a Winchester 190 from, I believe, the 80s.
Faulkner
Member
There is a very good reason why Ruger has sold 16 gadzillion 10/22s through the years, they're good little rifles.
If I could only have one semi auto .22LR I'd hang with my Ruger 10/22 Takedown LITE. Very accurate, very reliable, and if I do my part will put meat in the frying pan.
If I could only have one semi auto .22LR I'd hang with my Ruger 10/22 Takedown LITE. Very accurate, very reliable, and if I do my part will put meat in the frying pan.
I have "never" seen a Ruger semi-auto shoot more accurate than a Marlin 60 right out of the box. It usually isn't even close. I have a target that proves that it happened that way the last time I did a comparison between a brand new Ruger and brand new Marlin. The target was put up at 90 yards. The circled groups were shot by a new (post takeover) Marlin 60. The groups away from the bull were shot by firing once then firing at the hole made. I did not shoot them at the bull. The first 3 shots were right into the bull. I never pushed my luck trying to add to that total. If you count the holes they add up to a single load of the 60.
The rest of the holes were made by a 10/22. I will say that a Ruger can be made into a better shooter but it takes money and work.
Other considerations are the aftermarket parts for the Ruger, which are abundant compared to the 60 and the Ruger mag. I detest those little things. I can load a 60 in less than 30 seconds. I can't do that in twice the time with a Ruger stock mag. There are some fine replacement mags for the Ruger though.
One more point. Neither rifle compares to a good Thompson/Center rifle but they stopped making them when S&W bought them out and they stopped making good ones a few years before that. But at one time they were excellent. So were the Browning, Remingtons and Winchesters of the past. But the .22 for the common man is the Marlin 60 which BTW, has sold more examples than the Ruger 10/22 even though there are about 10 different rifles that are called a 10/22.
The rest of the holes were made by a 10/22. I will say that a Ruger can be made into a better shooter but it takes money and work.
Other considerations are the aftermarket parts for the Ruger, which are abundant compared to the 60 and the Ruger mag. I detest those little things. I can load a 60 in less than 30 seconds. I can't do that in twice the time with a Ruger stock mag. There are some fine replacement mags for the Ruger though.
One more point. Neither rifle compares to a good Thompson/Center rifle but they stopped making them when S&W bought them out and they stopped making good ones a few years before that. But at one time they were excellent. So were the Browning, Remingtons and Winchesters of the past. But the .22 for the common man is the Marlin 60 which BTW, has sold more examples than the Ruger 10/22 even though there are about 10 different rifles that are called a 10/22.
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I have done dozens of 10/22s with the Volkswargen hammer kits.
Last I bought were about $25 and take about 10 minutes to put
in. They take the older ones down to 3lb area. I have had a couple guys complain trigger is to light. I haven't done any with
plastic trigger group. Serious squirrel hunters are looking for
older 10/22s to switch out trigger groups, then sell off to break
even.
Last I bought were about $25 and take about 10 minutes to put
in. They take the older ones down to 3lb area. I have had a couple guys complain trigger is to light. I haven't done any with
plastic trigger group. Serious squirrel hunters are looking for
older 10/22s to switch out trigger groups, then sell off to break
even.
