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Old October 13, 2012, 11:59 PM   #51
JohnnyCash1979
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Try a 580 Remington, my Uncle has 1 and its a tack driver. Its a single shot though. The 581 has a clip and the 582 has a tube I think. My Uncle also has a Winchester Model 52 and that 580 shoots just as good.
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Old October 14, 2012, 08:44 AM   #52
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I have a Rem 581 with a Lilja barrel and thumbhole stock that shoots 3/10" groups at 50 yards with match ammo. It helps that the scope goes to 32x and the trigger is just under 16 oz. It's converted to single-shot at this point, but I have the materials to get it back to operate with a magazine.

It doesn't get much use these days, so I may sell it at some point.
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Old October 17, 2012, 12:04 PM   #53
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Lots of older model 77/22 rugers came with iron sights. I thoroughly enjoy my 77/22 and would not trade it for any other 22 bolt gun. I have multiple ruger centerfire rifles and the 77/22 is the perfect practice gun for me. All of the ergonomics are as close to my centerfire rifles as i could ever get.
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Old October 20, 2012, 03:07 AM   #54
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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.
I agree about the quality of the 52, but the OP specifically said he wanted a rifle for small game hunting.

I love my 52, but it's really heavy and I'm not going to lug it around in the woods. The original 52 sporters and the Springfield 1922s are also fine guns, but they are collector's items now and I'm not going to drag one through the woods hunting either. The repo 52 sporters would be an excellent choice, but they were made in Japan.

To the OP: This scope fad isn't going away anytime soon. Try one, you'll like it. Get a Ruger or a Cooper if you can afford it or a Kimber if you don't mind buying used and put a good scope on it.
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Old October 20, 2012, 12:55 PM   #55
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(bolding added) 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.
American made.... for normal people that means Remington, Savage, Marlin, Ruger, and I guess Cooper and Kimber if you are willing to spend those kind of bucks.

People are finding the newer Marlin's trigger better and the 22's well made. I would certainly look at the XT line. http://www.marlinfirearms.com/Firearms/xt/XT22.asp

Savage Mark II would be my primary recommendation but it is technically made in Canada. US/Canada... pretty much same thing to me as compared to German, Chinese, Japanese, or Czech made.

I don't have any experience with the Ruger 77/22. I doubt I will buy one since they are expensive and the stock just looks like a walnut 10/22 stock fashioned for a bolt action rifle. (I have a Ruger 10/22 Deluxe.) I hear mostly good things about them but I would rather spend more for a Remington 547 (or find an as new Remington 541-S or 541-T). They are pretty easy to find.

If you are firm on the USA manufacture and no budget was stated but still keeping it "reasonable"... my suggestion is to find an as-new Remington 541-S or 541-T. They are fine rifles with an excellent reputation for accuracy and quality. They would make a great small game gun. I use mine for that.

If money is a big issue, I would look at Marlin. I would not get a Remington 504 in 22LR even if you find one new in the box. Too many were duds. I have a Marlin 983 (22 WMR) and it is a fine rifle but the trigger could stand some work. The XT series have adjustable triggers.

I love the Remington 547, but at $1000 it is expensive. But you can expect them to shoot pretty well.

Kimbers... yeah, always wanted one when the 22's were still made.

Cooper... would love to own one, but the cost is an issue for me.

Last edited by 22-rimfire; October 20, 2012 at 01:03 PM.
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Old October 20, 2012, 06:42 PM   #56
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Quote:
Originally Posted by natman
...I agree about the quality of the 52, but the OP specifically said he wanted a rifle for small game hunting.

I love my 52, but it's really heavy and I'm not going to lug it around in the woods. The original 52 sporters and the Springfield 1922s are also fine guns, but they are collector's items now and I'm not going to drag one through the woods hunting either. The repo 52 sporters would be an excellent choice, but they were made in Japan.
It's true that the majority of 52's had heavy target barrels, guess I was thinking more along the lines of the Sporters. Agreed they are becoming highly collectible....but there's nothing quite like popping some squirrels with the ol' peep sights. Old thoroughbreds like these shouldn't be couped up in metal box.

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Old October 21, 2012, 02:33 PM   #57
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It's true that the majority of 52's had heavy target barrels, guess I was thinking more along the lines of the Sporters. Agreed they are becoming highly collectible....but there's nothing quite like popping some squirrels with the ol' peep sights. Old thoroughbreds like these shouldn't be couped up in metal box.
Definitely made in the USA and certainly meets any quality requirement, but somehow I don't think a rifle that's very rare, has been out of production for over half a century and costs in the mid four figures is exactly what the OP had in mind.
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Old October 21, 2012, 08:48 PM   #58
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costs in the mid four figures
Really? $5,000, more or less, for a Model 52 .22LR?
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Old October 24, 2012, 02:12 PM   #59
natman
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Really? $5,000, more or less, for a Model 52 .22LR?
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=299364656

There are Model 52s, then there are Model 52 Sporters. Target models are fairly common. Sporters are rare and highly sought after collector's items which command premium prices.
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Old October 24, 2012, 02:27 PM   #60
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It's only a single-shot,,,

It's only a single-shot,,,
But my Henry Acu-Bolt is freaky accurate.

I'm older than dirt with bad eyes,,,
But a Lady at my rifle-pistol club once put,,,
Six rounds of Federal in a dime sized circle at 50 yards.

I purchased mine 3 years ago,,,
Then it came with a cantilever mount and a cheap 4X scope,,,
The scope was adequate but it was nothing to write home to Momma about.

Now I believe it only includes the mount,,,
But the stock Williams Fire Sights are very nice.

Also like Rainbow Demon said,,,
Some of the older Mossberg bolt-actions were surprisingly accurate.

I have a Mossberg 340-KC that I inherited from a friend,,,

With the long barrel and peep sights it's as accurate as my CZ-452 Trainer.

The Standard Catalog of Firearms values it at only $100 in excellent condition,,,
If you ever stumble across a clean specimen like mine for that price,,,
Snag it up because it will outshoot a lot of modern made guns.

Just some different options for you to peruse.

Aarond

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Old November 4, 2012, 11:08 AM   #61
Shennandoah Bill
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Ruger 77/22

Catching up with this thread very late, but I'll add a couple of comments re American .22's. First is the Ruger 77/22 as a possible selection. I have one in .22WRM, (not a cartridge know for accuracy), the VBZ version with the heavy 24" barrel. I bought it for varmint shooting & have had a trigger job, (2 lbs) & action bedding job. At 50 yards, it shoots .200-.230" five round groups with Federal Champion 40 gr FMJ bullets, sub 1" groups are standard @ 100 yds with the same ammo. No other ammo will match it in this rifle. I suspect the same rifle in .22 LR S/B even more accurate.
I also noted a comment on a Henry lever, I also have one, it mounts a little 2.5X Tasco & with CCI Maxi-mag ammo it shoots 1" groups @ 50 yards, a real suprize ! Have to try it with some match ammo & see what it is really capible of.
Currently working on a CZ 455 Varmint with a Nikon 2X7 power P22 scope. I've only run 250 rounds thru it so far but it's shooting 1/4" five round groups at 50 yards with Wolf MT ammo. So far I've only tweaked the factory trigger adjustment & replaced the factory lube on the trigger sear with TS-70 moly lube for a nice crisp 2 1/8 lb trigger. Sorry it's not American made, but the CZ's do shoot !
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Old November 5, 2012, 05:52 PM   #62
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The two-piece bolt and non-match chamber work against it. The sub-minute 77-22 has not been built, except maybe by accident.
I have a 77/22 made in 1984 IIRC and it has open sights on it. I paid $400.05 for it with all the shipping from Gunbroker. That included a straight tube Bushnell scope that I left on it. I tried a 2x7 but like the old straight tube better.

My favorite target is a sheet of paper that has a bunch of 1" squares on it. Using the cheap federal bulk ammo from WM I shoot 10 shot groups that will stay inside those 1" squares. Time after time until the barrel gets fouled. Brush it out and you are back in business. I haven't tried any other ammo. I never saw the point. So I guess i bought the only accidental 77/22 that Ruger built that will shoot. And its box stock too.

I am sure it was a fluke but a 30 yard 5 shot group I fired had 4 rounds in a very slightly elongated hole with one pulled shot less than a quarter inch out.

Another suggestion would be a Marlin 981T. I have one I paid $173.00 new, including tax for it and its almost as accurate as the 77/22 I have. Plus with the tube mag it will feed shorts, longs and long rifle rounds. The stock is synthetic so you don't have to worry about banging it up hunting with it.
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Old November 5, 2012, 08:25 PM   #63
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My only bolt .22 is one that I've had for over 44 years. It's been shooting sub-minute groups ever since I started going for groups, usually at a leisurely pace spending practically nothing. Very relaxing. It's a Stevens Model 34, so I would still look to Savage for accuracy, though I'd really like to have that "adult-sized" Ruger 77/22 also. Maybe some day.
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Old November 6, 2012, 05:56 PM   #64
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I am removing my support for the marlin 981T(s) series of rifles. My receiver is wearing where the bolt handle rubs if forward pressure is not applied when turning the bolt. I now find it quite difficult to operate the bolt with my thumb and index finger so I have to break position in between shots.
I'm not exactly sure what to make of this. I have sent thousands of rounds down range with the thing, BUT I expected it to hold up better. I am not sure if the problem is something I can fix either. Filing material away to make the surface flat might cause major problems.

Should still work well as a youth training rifle though.

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Old November 8, 2012, 04:01 PM   #65
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I feel the same as you, but when I looked at a used 452 Varmint 22lr. I caved in and bought the CZ. I look at it that I gave the money to the owner of the gun shop and the first owner, money went over seas. The CZ 452 Varmint is a great rifle, tight bore very accurate. why don't we make rifles like that. Built like a high powered rifle, and there is no problem with dry firing.the firing pin does not ding the chamber like other 22's.
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Old November 9, 2012, 04:35 PM   #66
Shennandoah Bill
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.22's are individuals

RatShooter made the observation that his Ruger 22/77 shoots until it gets fouled, but comes right back after cleaning. My 22/77 in .22WRM is the exact opposite. If I give the barrel a good cleaning, the first five round group @ 50 yds will shoot 1 1/2", next 1 1/4", etc. Usually takes about 6 five round groups until it tightens up & starts putting five rounds into the 1/4" range. I've gotten to the point with it that I just run a Hoppes bore snake with a bit of Remington bore cleaner on it down the barrel 2 or 3 times after a shooting session & let it go at that.
By the way, I'd mentioned that my Henry Lever had shot some 1" groups @ 50 yds with CCI Mini-Mags so I decided to try some better ammo in it. Well, results were interesting, to say the least. CCI Green Tag put 3 rounds in a 4" group, & 2 rounds completely missed the paper, (5X7 paper sheet). CCI Standard Vel produced a 3 1/2" group & Wolf MT got me a 2" group, go figure ! The lesson being, one can take an educated guess but you can never be 100 % sure what ammo any particular .22 LR firearm is going to like, just gotta keep trying until you stumble onto it.
I'm in that process right now with my CZ 455 Varmint, & so far it seems to like Federal Gold Match, closely followed by Wolf MT but I've still got about 12 different boxes to try. It really doesn't like anything from Eley or Remington, that's for sure.
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Old November 9, 2012, 06:29 PM   #67
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I own a Marlin 917v, it is chambered in .17 HMR which is basically a .22 WMR necked down to a .17 caliber. I bought it for a little bit less than $250. It was very accurate in and of itself, but was made more accurate after replacing the trigger return spring with a much lighter one.

I am a big fan of .17 HMR. I think it preforms in a superior manner to .22 rimfire. It can be destructive against small game with v-max bullets, but hollow point and fmj rounds make clean holes through them.

That being said I am sure Marlin makes some .22LR bolt actions that you will be very happy with if you decide on them.
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