Best AMERICAN MADE .22LR Bolt Action Rifle?

[DeltaCypher0]

I'm looking to get an American made .22LR bolt action rifle. I need this to be very accurate for small game hunting. I've read that CZs are very good, but I really want to invest in something made in America. How are Marlins? I want a really good rifle, so I'm willing to spend good money on it. I have a Ruger 10/22 and it is not all that great, and even after putting TechSights on it, it still doesn't perform where I'd like it to. I blame user error along with the semi-auto system being inferior to a bolt action's accuracy. I want it to be a wooden stock, bolt action, and have good iron sights on it. I'm looking to purchase a new rifle too, so all the older models are not an option for me. Thanks for any advice you can offer.

[dalegribble]

i have a marlin mod 25, .22 cal i bought new in 1969 and it still shoots sub moa at 100 yds. i bought a marlin 25m, 22 mag about 15 years ago that alos shoots sub moa at 100 yds, both guns a re stock. these would be my go to guns.

i also ave a henry 22 lever that impresses the hell out of me but i have never had it to the range.

i have 2 ruger 10/22's that have served me well for 40 years and have always shot minute of rabbit with no problems.

i suppose there are more accurate, more expensive .22 rifles out there but i have never felt the need for one and have never bee disappointed in what i have.

[redrick]

Savage MK II , they will even shoot with the CZ's. Just not as pretty.

Made in Canada though.

[chadio]

Marlin 925?

[psycho nut]

I was going to suggest the savage Mk. II also even though it is canadian.

If you want to go semi since you mentioned the 10/22s, marlin's M60 is a good bet.

[bamaranger]

Can't believe nobody advised Ruger 77/22, yet anyhow.

My Savage MkII TR may outshoot it, but the Ruger with a sporting weight barrel and standard trigger (and right ammo) is right there w/ it. The Ruger feeds everytme from its 10 rd rotary box, the Savage is a pain with any mag.

The price makes the Ruger less popular I believe, but its an adult rifle that will last a couple of life times and a tremendous value.

[SteelChickenShooter]

If your focus is squirrel, and accuracy, I can say high velocity 22 ammo may not be as accurate as you want. Standard velocity can be very precise with repeatable pinpoint accuracy in many cases. I began using a Marlin 22 bolt action for my silhouette shooting because that rifle was a "one hole wonder" at perhaps 40 and 60 meters. But it fell apart at 77 and 100 meters. If you get a Marlin bolt action 22 and spend some time testing about 20 ammo brands or so at the distance of your interest, I would think you'd come up with a winning combo. The most accurate bolt action I had was a very expensive Kimber, It would shoot 16 different ammo brands with superb results averaging .375" for five shots. I sold that in favor of keeping my Charles Daly Zastava import which shoots fewer ammo brands but with similar results. In fact the Charles Daly Zastava import became the Remington model 5- but I had no use for that one that I tried. My present 22 rifle will make a single hole at two distances, and the farther shots are still well within the hit zone.

[Picher]

One of the nicer .22 LR rifles today is a "Weatherby" bolt action. It's actually an Anchutz action in a Weatherby stock, but they're really pretty and shoot very well.

Coopers are the Cadillac of the domestic market, costing around $2,300, but if you're willing to pay for quality, they're fantastic.

Savage MKII deluxe model is a very good rifle and quite accurate. Magazines aren't great, as someone has already mentioned.

Remington still makes a good bolt action, the 547, which is a higher-grade 504 but it's a Custom Shop exclusive and cost/value may be better with Cooper.

[FrankenMauser]

Ruger 77/22

Marlin bolt guns are great, but the 77/22 puts Marlins to shame.
(I own both. )

I, personally, dislike the Savage rimfire bolt actions. But, most of that is based on ergonomics and appearance. They're decent rifles, but you get just as much with a Marlin.

[jmr40]

Ruger has no competition in this category.

[rebs]

I have a remington 541 custom sporter that is a tack driver with CCI standard velocity ammo

[DeltaCypher0]

Wow, that Ruger 77/22 does look very nice. I've looked a lot at the Marlin 925, are the new "Remlins" really that bad?

[Doyle]

I don't know about the new Remingtons but my old 512x will shoot the nuts off a gnat. Those old 500 series rifles were fantastic shooters.

[hoytinak]

My vote goes to the Ruger 77/22, loved mine and REALLY regret getting rid of it....I'll replace it one day.

[mike7.62]

Cooper without a doubt.

[rtpzwms]

i also ave a henry 22 lever that impresses the hell out of me but i have never had it to the range.

?????????!!!!!!!!!!jeeeezzzzzzzzzzz

[Mobuck]

There are several choices if you want to look at older models. Otherwise, the Ruger 77/22 gets my vote(actually 3 votes since that's how many of them I have).

[FrankenMauser]

Vote count so far:
5 - Ruger 77/22
3 - Marlin 900 series
2 - Savage Mk II
1 - Weatherby (imported)
1/2 - Cooper
1/2 - Kimber
1/2 - Remington (some models imported)

*Secondary suggestions only included for the half-votes.

[Crunchy Frog]

I was tempted to be a wag and suggest that you buy the CZ "American" and pretend it's American made.

In all seriousness, though, the American, while a nice rifle, has no iron sights. When I was in the market for a quality .22 bolt rifle I also wanted iron sights so I am with you on that.

If I were buying an American made .22 bolt rifle I'd take a hard look at the 77/22. The rotary magazine makes the stock a little wide right at the "balance point" but, hey, my CZ has a magazine sticking out of it there so nothing is perfect.

A friend of mine has a 77/22 with a Volquartsen threaded barrel. It's a pretty nice setup with nice lines.

[DeltaCypher0]

I'm most likely going to go with the Ruger 77/22. It's a bit pricier than I expected, but I guess I'm buying what I asked for. Anything close to quality in the $500 range? American of course.

[DeltaCypher0]

Just realized the 77/22 doesn't have iron sights. This is an issue for me because I would be using it for small game hunting, and will most likely be shooting from close range (<50 yds). I don't want to invest in a scope when it isn't necessary. Can anyone give me more information about the quality of the Marlin 925? I understand the company is now owned by Remington and have read that people say the quality of their products has gone south. I'd like to make the most educated decision about buying my next rifle, for I do not plan on getting another one again because I am dissatisfied.

[FrankenMauser]

I had forgotten that there isn't a current 77/22 model that has iron sights. Quite depressing, really. My own 77/22 doesn't have them, either. More than a few times, I've considered having a gunsmith dovetail the barrel for sights.

From what I have heard, the Marlin rimfire bolt guns haven't really been affected by the transition to Remington. That does make sense, based on the simple action design, and (excessive?) use of stamped and cast parts. There isn't much to screw up on them. So, if issues did arise, they would be easier to correct in a timely manner.

The Marlins are nowhere near as refined as the 77/22. You could easily call them "cheap", but it's just a simplistic action design. They're still good rifles. The Marlin magazines are also easier to load, don't have as many sharp corners or edges, and don't look cheap like the Savage magazines.

[Rembrandt]

Don't be hung up on "new"......the finest .22 bolt action ever made was the Winchester Model 52. It meets all your requirements other than being out of production. 52's are going no where but up in value in the future.....you'll never regret the quality and have an investment to boot.

[oneoldsap]

The Win. Model 75 is an excellent .22 also , and not as pricey as a 52 the mags fit flush too ! There are no new ones though , they've been OOP since the early 70s I think , maybe longer .

[Baba Louie]

What Rembrandt said. Winchester 52...

OR, maybe...

A U.S. Springfield Armory M2 Model of 1922 perhaps.