.22?

Hit the pawn shops and or gun shows. Used Ruger 77/22's can be had, albeit at a higher price, simple bolt action Marlins are everywhere, Savages, and the lever guns are nice too. Way back in my skunk war days a Marlin Golden 39A and a box Of CB's accounted for many a very quiet kills. The Ruger 10/22's are nice if scoped or the factory sites replaced to me, I simply couldn't see/shoot those factory ones, however a set of williams fire sites made it into a favorite. Don't be in a hurry and work the pawn shops and gun shows, cash money in your hand can work wonders on making a good buy.
 
One of my latest purchases was a 10-22 Takedown. My first Ruger 22 rifle. I have a Marlin(Glenfield) Model 60, and an old Winchester Model 74. The 74 being from the era of well made, expertly machined steel & wood.
The Ruger 10-22 became my favorite 22 on the first range trip! Quarter sized 20 round groups @ 50 yards. Repeatable, and to point of aim after disassembling, and reassembling the rifle, and scope, mounted in QD rings, several times.
I didn't try any really light loads, but CCI standard velocity were what shot the great group, and we're 100% reliable from the get go!
 
Wow! Great suggestions guys. So many rifles I didn't even know existed. Kinda leaning towards the Zastava suggested by Jimro. Anybody know if it's the same product as the CZ99?

Thank you.
 
I also have experienced a noticeable increase in accuracy with CCI standard velocity over the high speed stuff. Back in '71 I was buying Western XPert standard velocity 22 LR ammo for 67 cents in the yellow 50 round box. It was a bit more expensive than some, but it would reliably put 5 rounds into 3/4" at 100 yards from my Marlin. Heck, I don't have a centerfire that does that. I marvel that more shooters haven't given standard velocity a chance. Sometimes slower really IS better.
 
Wow! Great suggestions guys. So many rifles I didn't even know existed. Kinda leaning towards the Zastava suggested by Jimro. Anybody know if it's the same product as the CZ99?
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Same gun. It was imported under a number of names including the Remington Model 5 (normally with a butt-ugly laminated stock), CZ99, Charles Daly something or other, USSG something or other, etc.
 
I marvel that more shooters haven't given standard velocity a chance. Sometimes slower really IS better.
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Pathfinder, you have hit upon one of the problems facing .22LR shooters. When a bullet has to transition from supersonic to subsonic and pass through the sound barrier, it looses some stability. Most standard velocity ammo starts out subsonic so it doesn't ever have to transition. When you are dealing with supersonic .22LR ammo, at some point that bullet is going to transition down to subsonic. If the starting velocity is not very much above the speed of sound to begin with, it is going to transition before it hits the 100 yd mark. That can really affect group size.

Then you have the hyper velocity stuff that will hold its velocity in the supersonic range out to around 100 yds or so.
 
I'm left handed, so bolt action options are severely limited for me. That's probably why I like lever action and pump action guns.

For lever guns, the Marlin 39A and Winchester 9422 are hard to beat. Browning BL22 is nice too, if a bit dainty. You would have to find them on the used rack (I would go with an older Marlin instead of a new one - one without the cross bolt safety).

You might also think about a pump action .22 like the Remington Fieldmaster 572. They are a joy to shoot.
 
I've been using a Sako M-78 .22LR for 20-25 years, it sports a Leupold 4.5-14x40 vari-X III scope and is extremely accurate. It was expensive when I bought it but, is a no miss gem rifle. I have no idea what they are bringing price wise today but, it is a rifle for life and, a hand down to your offspring.
This rifle shoots near as well as my Remington M-37 heavy with the Unertl 10x scope. If you can find a M-78 Sako....buy it. You will not regret it.
 

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I'm left handed, so bolt action options are severely limited for me. That's probably why I like lever action and pump action guns.
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Clang, but then you are dealing with ejected shells going right across your face. I don't know of any .22 in either style with either a bottom or left eject.

There are left handed bolts available for you. The Savage MarK II comes to mind as one available in a left handed model.
 
I like my little Henry lever action 22 better than my bolt action and semi-automatic 22s. I paid $297 new at Walmart. It shoots anything, has a very nice walnut stock and is dead accurate. If I had to have only one, it would be the base Henry.
 
I have a Remington 512 Sportmaster made in 1947 and a Remington 510 Targetmaster made in 1941. Both are bolt action but the Targetmaster is a single shot and the Sportmaster has a tube fed magazine. Plenty of very good older guns out there that are well made and good shooters if you were interested in that route.
 
The only .22 I had for years is a 1930's production Winchester 67. I shot smallbore competition in the boy scouts & got used to subsonic / target velocity ammunition. I have employed it since with great results. I've had my 67 dailed in to put the bullet right on top of the bead at 50 meters. This rifle of mine has a lot of umm.. 'character' but the bore & crown are flawless. I put a 1907 sling on it & left well enough alone.

One day I was out shooting on the local 100 yard range. While I was waiting to check my target, I decided to see how my old Winchester would shoot at that range. After firing three shots, I was rewarded by finding a 1.6" group!

The ammo used was Gemtech's subsonic round. Drop from my 50 meter zero was about 7". In combination with the loooong barrel (about 27", makes for a good sight radius) the report of subsonic ammo is very quiet. I've been employed three times now to eliminate pests from places & for this, I use this rifle with CB ammunition. It's laughably quiet. Unless someone saw me, I don't think anyone has ever noticed.

I highly recommend these little old Winchesters, they're a doll of a rifle. You can pick them up for around $200 last I saw. Seems steep for a 70+ year old single shot but I assure you they won't let you down. They were made with American pride & craftsmanship, something I feel has for the most part, gone away.

Edit: Not to bad mouth the 10/22 one bit. I've had two now & they're fantastic little rifles. However for low powered ammo, I'll pick a manually cycled action everytime. No feeding or cycling issues.
 
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OK. I've been mulling over a lot of info here. I found some info about the Zastava having a problem with their extractor. Anyone know if that has been corrected in newer models?

Also thinking that I might get something for under 200.00 that would suit my needs and tastes. Marlin XT22 vs Savage MKIIG. Is there anything to be gained by going with the more expensive Zastava? What are your thoughts on the Marlin and Savage? Any clear "winner" between the 2?

Keep in mind that my needs might be different than your own. I doubt that I would use it very much beyond about 20 yards. I don't need a perfect fit and finish but I don't like anything obviously sloppy or cheap looking.

It will be several years before I can really use it for it's intended pupose but I would like to get it, (probably early 2015) and I could enjoy it at my local indoor range in the mean time.
 
OK. I've been mulling over a lot of info here. I found some info about the Zastava having a problem with their extractor. Anyone know if that has been corrected in newer models?

Also thinking that I might get something for under 200.00 that would suit my needs and tastes. Marlin XT22 vs Savage MKIIG. Is there anything to be gained by going with the more expensive Zastava? What are your thoughts on the Marlin and Savage? Any clear "winner" between the 2?
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1. I've heard of the extractor problem on the Zastava. It is (or at least was) caused by using a hook on both the left and right extractors. Most guns use a hook only on the right extractor and an angled piece on the left (vise versa on a left handed model). If your gun has the problem, a few minutes with a stone on the left extractor to round off the inside edge of the hook should solve the problem (it has for others who have done it).

2. For the XT-22 vs MK II, Marlin claims to have taken the Savage Accutrigger idea and made it "better". I have no personal knowledge of that. I do know that both companies have suffered quality control issues in the last few years.
 
First off, do NOT get a semi-auto for your stated purpose! It won't cycle light rounds, litters the environment with shells that are hard to find, and isn't needed.

There are many many old rifles that will suit your needs, of the turnbolt, pump, lever, break open, and falling/rolling block varieties. Are you willing to buy used or new only?

I've owned many .22s in many flavors, and I don't have a single semi-auto left, for good reason.

One of my favorite .22s right now is a single shot *turnbolt* - Marlin 915 Youth. I love single shots, espec. single shot turnbolts. In fact, this is my home/ suburbia rifle, dedicated to backyard plinking with Aguila Super Colibris - deadly on squirrels, grackles, pigeons, and doves.

Now, if you want a repeater turnbolt, depending on budget, my advice, like that of many, is the standard "CZ, then Marlin or Savage". I prefer Marlin slightly over Savages. You'd have to go USED to find a CZ in your price range, but it can be done.

But I'm also a big fan of pumps and levers in .22s, because most of them WILL cycle the unusual rounds that you speak of .... whether it's a Marlin 39, Taurus/Rossi 62, or anything else, just to mention some of my favorites, you're good to go.

But also don't rule out a single shot break action, from Rossi to younameit. I love my T/C Hotshot Youth.... the backpack rifle, under 2.5 lbs.

If you MUST get a semi-auto, that leaves the Remington 552 speedmaster, because it's the only semi which will cycle shorts and such. My favorite semi-auto ever though, by far, was a plain Marlin 60 - and yes, I've had a 10/22, which was ok, but not as accurate as the Marlin 60.

And if you want a prettier gun with a wood stock and no plastic parts, you need to go used, or just get a CZ 452 or 455 and be done with it. The older the better - pre-plastic-trigger-guards, pre-plastic-stocks, etc.
 
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I realize that this is a firearm forum, but based on your stated needs.....

Keep in mind that my needs might be different than your own. I doubt that I would use it very much beyond about 20 yards.
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Given that your ranges are short, you reside in suburbia and will hunt on an "acreage a few years down the road", and that .22lr is often hard to find and downright expensive when you do luck into it ........

..... I'd recommend either an airgun or a bow with judo pointed arrows for small game hunting. For rabbits and such, they are plenty lethal at 20 yards, you don't have to worry about richochets flying around the neighborhood, and there will be no noise complaints.

I hunt rabbits in my yard with a 45lb draw weight longbow and judo points. When I want to shoot, and there are no rabbits in the yard, a gallon milk jug makes a decent target.
 
Oh my! I think I'm in love!That CZ 455 American looks REALLY nice. I do believe I have come to a decision. If I can possibly swing it, along with the additional needed for a scope, I will get an above my original budget CZ 455 American. If I need to wait a while it should be no big deal except for the frustration of wanting it!
 
If you buy the CZ 455 Amercian check Gunbroker before you buy. There is at least one dealer on there that routinely sells them at a pretty decent price with free shipping.
 
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