Which New/Used .22LR Rifle??

[jmstr]

I recommend an extension of your horizons.

Get a .22lr in Pump, Lever and Bolt, to go with your Semi-Auto.


IF that is not an option, I recommend looking for a 1950s-60s Marlin Model 39A. Lever action, holds 19 rounds LR and I've found them very accurate.

Bolt is nice, and there are a lot of fun option out there. Mossberg used to make some really good .22lr rifles- most in bolt, I believe.

If old isn't an issue [remember- parts availability and repairs may be touchy], then look for a store brand cross reference list, and open you mind/eyes to 'store' brands.

I have a neat old Sears [JC Higgins is sears brand, as is Ted Williams] .22lr from around 1962, that was made by High Standard.

I have a neat old WesternField rifle, made by Mossberg. Both are tube fed .22lrs.

Of the new stuff, the 10/22 is easy to find parts for, and you can change it completely- making it into anything you want. It is a transformer of rifles.



Here are my recommendation:
Lever- Marlin 39A
Pump- Remington 572
Bolt- Marlin 781/881, or older Mossberg for fun factor.

[Mobuck]

Go with a 10-22 if you're on a budget. If there's a bit more in the pocketbook, get a CZ.

[Ricklin]

The old department store brands are hiding some great bargains.
The finest rifle I own is a Dept. store mutt. JC Higgins is .270, actually a Belgian mauser, I got one with great wood too.

I believe it's been discontinued, but the Walther G22 is a fun .22. The bullpup design makes it compact, yet it does sport a 20" barrel. Mine is very accurate.

Another one I really enjoy in the carbine department is the Ruger 10/22 with a Mannlicher stock. Ruger did a distributor run of these and they are still showing up on gunbroker. Very nice wood.

[ThomasT]

I had always wanted one of the Ruger 77/ss rifles and several years back found one. Mine was made in 1986 IIRC and came with the factory open sights. Those were hard to find compared to the slick barrel models.

I had read on the internet that they were not super accurate but were good enough for firld use. That would work for me. The one I bought came with a cheap Bushnell 4X straight tube scope. It looked good so I left it on the rifle.

I took it to the range and with cheap bulk box Federal ammo from Walmart it will shoot 10 shot groups in just over half an inch at 50 yards. And do it group after group. So much for all the great information on the internet.

Now its the only 22 rifle I shoot. And one of my best deals I ever got off GB. It cost me a total with shipping and transfer $400.05.

A very close second is the Marlin 39A I bought from a pawn shop with a Williams peep on it for $225 OTD. Its accuracy is amazing. It probably is as accurate as the Ruger but I haven't shot it for groups as much as I have the Ruger bolt action. Its a hunting gun for me. Its has killed a buch of squirrels, rats and Blue Jays. Plus one deer.

[ThomasT]

I looked on gunbroker and there are 227 pages of bolt action rifles, 221 pages of semi-auto 22 rifles, 17 pages of pump action 22s and 42 pages of lever action 22 rifles. You should be able to find something that excites you will all those options.

And the store branded rifles can be some of the best deals around.

[stinkeypete]

I appreciate this thread as it helps me keep an eye out so I’ll know when someone is letting “that old beat up rifle” go for a song.

When buying expensive stuff, paying for shipping and ffl transfer are fine, but for a $125 rifle.. suddenly it’s a $200 rifle and may as well get a 10/22 at Wally World.

I have my eyes open for an old Marlin bolt action with peep sights that someone wants to sell cheap because “ya can’t put a scope on it or a 25 round clip and all it does is shoot once.”

Everyone is on to lever actions and pumps.

Maybe an old Norinco clone... people are still not sure about those, either.

[Waspinator]

I say get yourself a nice basic Henry model H001 classic rifle. The action is slick and the rifle is accurate. Made in the USA with superb customer service. You are already used to the tube feeeding system from your Model 60, so it should be an easy transition. For plinking nothing beats a semi-auto/lever action combo in my mind. Bolts are great, but to me that is more for precision shooting.

[frjeff]

Have a Henry H001 on the way to Cabela’s for store pickup. Will pick up on the 11th when I have to be in that area for my car recall. In Alaska until the 9th.
Anxious to get it in hand

Thanks for all of the helps.

[T. O'Heir]

What's your budget?
The Ruger 10-22, BNIB MSRP, starts at $309US. Lotta aftermarket stuff around for 'em though. About $100 less on the auction sites for a used one. (You really need to watch who the seller is on those sites. Some of the dealers think they have a 401K retirement fund rifle.)

[stinkeypete]

Sorry, I got my 10/22 a few months ago for $199 us at Dick’s.
Add a BX trigger for $52
Add a $32 fixed power 4x scope
Add $9.00 rings
Install $11.00 bedding pillar and free float the barrel...

So yeah, $309 gets you nib 10/22 carbine, scoped, with Trigger upgrade (very nice for $52 but not needed unless shooting at the range.)

[GarandTd]

Op got a Henry, but, yeah...10-22's run about $200 nib around my parts, unless you get into a takedown model.

[claydoctor]

You bought a gun from Dick's?

[frjeff]

No, not Dick’s. Ordered my Henry from Cabela’s.

[ThomasT]

I would like to have a Henry 22 mag lever action. Also a Henry single shot 357 mag.

[Dusty Rivers]

I really like the Ruger American. It is very accurate, box magazine, super nice trigger, I highly recommend it!

[JWT]

The Smith & Wesson M&P 15-22 is a fun little .22. Quite accurate, well made, functions very good.

I'm also a big fan of the little Browning take down semi auto. They are very well made guns and lots of fun to shoot.

[Picher]

Quote: "Go with a 10-22 if you're on a budget. If there's a bit more in the pocketbook, get a CZ."

Pretty good advise. In any case, for shooting critters around the house, I like a rifle with a stick magazine because I can pop it in when there's a critter that needs killing, then remove/refill it. A tubular magazine is a pain in the neck and a danger, if you don't fully unload it.

The two rimfire rifles that get the most use here are a CZ 455, .17 HMR and a bolt-action, Remington 504, .22LR that is used to dispatch critters around the house in the nighttime.

The heavy-barreled 10-22 isn't used as much, but quite lethal and quick to load/unload.

JP

[jmstr]

Hope you like the Henry!

My dad has one and likes it. I am a Marlin 39A fan myself, but have never fired a Henry .22.

I hear great things about them, and think it was a solid choice.


Now- you have a semi and a lever action, time to think of a Henry Pump and a bolt action also?

[zincwarrior]

Try a few others out, but if you like it, then you go with what you like, after you've tried them out.

[frjeff]

Will do a bolt next, then perhaps a pump.

[ejb69]

Ruger 10/22

[tdl1953]

That mostly all I do is go plinking with a 22 Rifle. My favorites are my Browning SA22, Winchester 9422, Winchester 69A and my trusty Rossi 62.. I prefer these because they are capable of shooting the CCI Quite round.

[J.G. Terry]

My Savage MarkII is a winner. Good rifle with excellent accuracy. Likewise, my CZ 452. I'd suggest anybody hunting for a 22 rifle check these two out. We use ours weekly for informal matches shooting thumb tacks at fifty yards.

[flashhole]

I own a CZ 455 (gave it to my youngest daughter for 4H Shooting Sports competition and she kicked but for 3 consecutive years), very accurate rifle with a Weaver rimfire scope.

I own a Ruger 10/22, one of 200 made, it is the Canadian Centennial edition. Very nice walnut stock and very accurate. My wife loves it.

I own a Stevens Favorite single shot with the octagonal barrel. Just over 4 pounds. The stock is not well fit with some wobble in the forestock. It's not drilled and tapped for a scope, just iron sights that are black on black and very difficult to see. Blueing was not that great when new and is definitely showing some age. Trigger is a bit on the heavy side and is not adjustable. Still, it is a very accurate gun and a lot of fun to shoot. Only having one shot makes one concentrate that much more on accurate shot placement. I'm considering making this one into a 22 WMR and getting a different stock and sights.

Next 22 lr will likely be a model 30A or Henry lever gun.

[idek]

The Henry H001 is a nice choice. I got the same thing for my first non-autoloading .22 (next was a CZ bolt action). I saw a few recommendations for the Marlin 39a. I've never used a 39a, but I own an older Marlin 1894 in .357, and--someone correct me if I'm wrong--I believe the 39a is more or less a .22 version of the same gun. If so, I imagine a 39a would be a nice gun, but for a plinking, I don't think it's worth paying 2 or 3 times as much as you did for your Henry, and I doubt it would be any more accurate or functional.

The Henry is a good gun as is, but I put one of these sights on and it worked a bit better for me than the factory rear sight.

I also tried a receiver peep sight on the Henry, but that required a higher front sight as well, and it didn't improve my shooting any compared to the barrel mounted peep sight.