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Old September 21, 2020, 02:11 PM   #1
The Rattler
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.22 semi auto recommendations

I’m searching for a .22 semi-auto rifle traditional style with wood stocks. My use will be small animal hunting and home defense if necessary. I understand the disadvantages of .22 caliber for home defense.

Can you make recommendations? Are there makes & models to avoid?

Thanks.
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Old September 21, 2020, 03:13 PM   #2
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I'd avoid all Marlin's made the past 20 years. An older model 60 tho, those would be a good one to look at.

Ruger 10/22 as well, but I've had issues with them and the 15 and 25 rd mags.

I was looking at the Rock Island .22 last week. Black wood stock, 21" barrel, 15 rd mags are available and the gun is probably $110 OTD.

Dunno of any more with a wood stock.
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Old September 21, 2020, 03:15 PM   #3
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I think it's hard to go wrong with a basic Ruger 10/22, which is still available with wood stock.
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Old September 21, 2020, 03:18 PM   #4
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Get a Ruger 10/22. Great gun! I would even go with the wood stock!
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Old September 21, 2020, 03:58 PM   #5
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There's always the little Browning but they are pricey.
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Old September 21, 2020, 07:39 PM   #6
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Remington 552
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Old September 22, 2020, 04:37 AM   #7
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I'm another that would recommend a 10/22 Ruger or at least a CZ 512.
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Old September 22, 2020, 05:06 AM   #8
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I bought a 10/22 carbine with the wood stock at Walmart about 15 years ago and it's been a great gun. I have three of the stock 10 round mags and never had a problem with them. Its FAR more reliable than the Marlin 60 it replaced.
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Old September 22, 2020, 09:16 AM   #9
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About the Marlin 60...
The two that I have purchased new in the last 10 years have been wonderfully accurate and reliable. That's been my experience, anyway.
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Old September 22, 2020, 09:42 AM   #10
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1st 22 auto

Ruger 10-22.
Tons of after market stuff available to personalize it as well.

Solid gun.
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Old September 22, 2020, 09:52 AM   #11
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"...or at least a CZ 512. "

Unfortunately, CZ has discontinued all versions of the 512 in .22 LR.

There are still some new/old stock out there,,,
But if someone wants one,,,
They better hurry.

Aarond

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Old September 22, 2020, 09:55 AM   #12
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Yeh; 10/22

Quote:
Ruger 10-22.
Tons of after market stuff available to personalize it as well.
I am a Ruger fan and even though the 10/22 has gone through many generational changes and not always for the best, they are still that good. "If" you find an older one, the better. I have owned the ones listed in previous replies and the 10/22 is still my #1 hunter for small game. ......

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Old September 22, 2020, 12:20 PM   #13
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A Marlin 60 will out shoot a 10/22.
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Old September 22, 2020, 01:26 PM   #14
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What's your budget? MSRP on a basic 10/22 is $309. Currently $279.99 at Cabela's.
"...Tons of after market stuff available..." And that's why. Start with better sights. And try a box of as many brands of ammo as you can to find the ammo that particular rifle shoots best and will cycle the action. The latter usually isn't an issue though.
Personally, I'd rule out the Marlin M60 just because it's a tube feed. Their M795 might do though. Has a 7 or 10 round box mag, but aftermarket stuff isn't easy to find. Stock is fibreglas filled plastic too.
A Savage M64, I've had one made by Cooey for eons, would do if money is tight. MSRP is $140. $129.99 at Cabela's/Bass Pro.
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Old September 22, 2020, 02:31 PM   #15
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Compare the features

Quote:
A Marlin 60 will out shoot a 10/22.
My first squirrel rifle was a Marlin Mod. 66, which was the predecessor to the 60. Obviously I will not bash the 60 but have evolved to the 10/22. Do yourself a favor and whatever you are looking at, compare the features, such as tube-mag Vs. magazine, barrel length and so on. .....

I attend a bunch of local Gun-Shows and your will see quite a lot of used 60's for sale and seldom any used 10/22. Another point is that their is not one single part or component that "someone" doesn't make an upgrade for. ...

Lets take one part for example

On my old-66, I broke the buffer. Basically it's a nylon block and it took a long time to get and more expensive than the 10/22 buffer. By the way, Ruger is still stuck in the mud and issues them with a steel bolt stop. Whenever I work on one, I trash this, right off and install a Poly-buffer that costs me $6.00 and lasts for over 100,00 cycles. I have never had to replace one. .....


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Old September 22, 2020, 02:31 PM   #16
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There are lots of decent-to-good .22 semis out there. Personally, I like the 10/22, and mine has run well for about 40 years. That said, it's also a sample size of 1, and had several years in there where I did not fire it at all. I'm also a plinker at heart, so I never had to do much better than minute-of-grapefruit. Anyway, after all these years, I'm just now getting around to improving it with some aftermarket goodies.

I've shot a handful of Marlin 60s, and they shoot just fine. But I've never cared for tube mags. Personal preference, but there you have it.
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Old September 22, 2020, 03:53 PM   #17
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The Ruger 10/22
With all the available accessories,,,
It's like a Barbie doll, except for grown men.

I can't deny their quality,,,
But I've never warmed up to them,,,
Maybe it's because they are so danged common.

I would recommend a Mossberg 702 Plinkster,,,
Mine is a surprisingly precise shooter,,,
But the OP wants a wood stock.

This will not be easy to find.

But if you want a precise shooter with a wood stock,,,

Start looking now for a CZ-512 before they are all bought up.

Aarond

.
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Old September 22, 2020, 04:21 PM   #18
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Just about anything out there will serve your needs well.
The Ruger 10-22 and Marlin 60 are the standards.
Disregard any "in the last 20 years" comments. Marlin is still making decent guns despite some hissy fits thrown by gun snobs with their knickers in a bunch about corporate ownership changes.
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Old September 22, 2020, 05:02 PM   #19
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If you want to spend around $300, go for the Ruger 10/22. You can trick it out into a $1,000+ plinker.

If you just want to shoot/plink, get a Savage 64. Can be had for less than half of the 10/22. Pretty accurate, too.
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Old September 22, 2020, 05:07 PM   #20
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One key difference is the Ruger uses a removable magazine and the Marlin Model 60 a magazine tube under the barrel. The removable magazine has several advantages with the disadvantage that the magazine, which is about the size of a walnut, can be misplaced. Once misplaced, you are basically done shooting until another magazine is bought for about $20. No one misplaces their magazine tube without misplacing their rifle as well. It is less rapid to reload but in a hunting situation I have never shot more than about 5 times even at a running rabbit. The tube magazine has a disadvantage that one must be VERY careful unloading as it's possible to have a round in the tube and, unless checked carefully EVERY time, there may be a round remaining in the tube.

I think the Model 60 is more "man sized" while the stock 10/22 is smaller and fat. I am smaller and fat myself, so that's not a problem for me.

Once you get a Model 60, you might do a home trigger job and replace a spring, then you are done.

Once you get a 10/22 you might be buying a new trigger unit, buffer stops, barrels, stocks, firing pins, magazines... people spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on the universe of second party 10/22 parts. The saddest thing is watching a fella try to sell the 10/22 he dropped an extra thousand dollars on for $500. It's still a 10/22. Buy a $225 10/22, drop a 4x fixed power scope on it for $30 and call it done. Maybe do the BRX trigger upgrade for $50 and you have a very nice rifle for about $300.

Sometimes you will see someone selling a used Model 60 for about $150... because it's not a 10/22. Grab that deal. Otherwise, drop a 4x fixed scope on it and go hunting. Very nice rifle.
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Old September 22, 2020, 05:59 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by aarondhgraham View Post
The Ruger 10/22
With all the available accessories,,,
It's like a Barbie doll, except for grown men.

I can't deny their quality,,,
But I've never warmed up to them,,,
Maybe it's because they are so danged common.

I would recommend a Mossberg 702 Plinkster,,,
Mine is a surprisingly precise shooter,,,
But the OP wants a wood stock.

Aarond

.
+1 on the Mossberg 702. For what was an $89 rifle in 2003, it performs better than $250+ rifles today. It was my first rifle and while it's not a pretty gun, it's still something I cherish and it shoots so well and is so reliable that I'll never let it go.

Had the OP not specified the rifle have wood furniture, I would have recommend it.

I also don't get the vibes from a 10/22, my Charger sure, because it's super accurate, but it's a pistol w/ a brace and it's cool. The rifle 10/22 tho... it feels like a commuter car. The Mossberg, the Rock Island... they're like a Geo Metro with a stick. Fun to drive until someone sees you driving it.
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Old September 22, 2020, 08:13 PM   #22
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my Marlin Mod 60 is ~15 years old. not one problem with it.
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Old September 22, 2020, 08:38 PM   #23
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10/22 and Marlin 60 are both decent guns. I think the 10/22s age a bit better.

But under the topic of home defense, the 10/22 with its easily replaceable magazines is the clear winner. Heck, you can use the 10rd mag in the field hunting, and throw a 50rd mag in for home defense if you choose. You can often find 10/22 on sale for $200 or close to it. It's possible to spend a million bucks on upgrades for the rifle...but not required. Just buy and shoot.
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Old September 22, 2020, 11:38 PM   #24
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I've got a Marlin model 60 I bought new in 2013. Not one single problem with it. I had a Ruger 10/22 and I'm not saying it wasn't accurate but it was the least accurate .22 rifle I had out of about 7. It's a shame when you have to spend more than the gun costs to be as accurate as one that costs about 100 bucks less. I gave mine to my niece.
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Old September 23, 2020, 09:37 PM   #25
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22 rifle

The little Browning take down semi auto is beautiful and extremely accurate little gun. Not inexpensive, but of all the guns I own it's definitely one of my favorites.

S&W 15-22 is another good option. More affordable and easier to find.
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