Advice on 22 caliber rifle to buy...

1

12-34hom

New member
I'm looking to purchase a 22 caliber [long rifle or mag] for rabbit hunting and plinking.

I would like a lever action or a good bolt action for my choice. It has to be drilled and tapped for a scope also.

I don't have much experiance with this caliber, and need advice from the membership on what they have owned and shot and liked and disliked about thier particular 22"s.

I was looking at Marlin 39a [liked what i saw] and some Winchester models [94]. I was looking at spending around 400.00$ at the most.

Thanks for any replies anyone might have on this subject!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS....:)
 
The Model 39 or any variant is a rifle to swear by, not at! :)

The Browning lever .22 is super neat, also; it's a bit smaller and lighter. Very accurate; dunno if it's *more* accurate than the Marlin.

SFAIK, for the money, a Marlin bolt-action is about as accurate as need be for hunting. Dunno about them being already drilled and tapped for scope mounts.

FWIW, Art
 
Hey 12-34hom, Got to agree with Art about the Marlin bolt action rimfire, just amazing accuracy for about $190-$220. I like the bolt action rimfires since I typically hunt with bolt action centerfires.

I've been fortunate to have owned some very expensive rimfire rifles, but I never felt comfortable taking them into the woods/swamps. Maybe money is just too hard to come by for me, but I just ended up shooting them at the range. Eventually traded them off.

One of the rimfires I can give high recommendation to is the Marlin M880SS which is Stainless and Synthetic. I have a 30 year old 3-9x Weaver with the dual horizontal crosshair they call the Range Finder reticle. With the top wire sighted in for 25yds, the bottom wire (6MOA apart) is dead on at 100yds with the right ammo. Easy to slip into the Hasty Sling and roll cans out at 100yds with it off-hand. Also has the "Safety Selector" in the exact same position as on the Remington rifles.

Must admit that since I've had this one, everytime I see the M880SQ, Blue and Synthetic Bull Barrel, that I'm very tempted to get one of them. The extra weight of that Bull Barrel sure would make it "hang well" for those off-hand shots.

One last thing on the 880s, if you have any mechanical aptitude at all and are willing to take your time, the triggers on these rifles are very easy to slick up. I like to go really slow when messing with triggers and it took me about 5 slight polishing jobs to get mine the way I like it and it still be completely SAFE. Just remember to dry-fire with a "spent" rimfire case in the chamber to protect the firing pin.

Lots of other excellent 22 rimfires are available, but it sure is easy to recommend the Marlins since they perform so well.

Good hunting and clean 1-shot kills, Hot Core
 
which .22 to buy

I'll chime in with a different answer. I have a Ruger 77/22 bolt action .22lr that is an excellent shooter. I've been playing with different ammo brands and have been able to easily shoot .75" groups off the bench at 50 yards using Fed Ultra Match and CCI Green Tag. Marlins are great rifles as well and come in a few different models to suit your needs. If you're interested in the Ruger, email me because I'm selling mine to buy a Leupold scope.
 
I have always liked lever guns myself. Marlin 39 was what I learned to shoot on as a kid. My dad still has it, and it is still a great gun. Winchester 9422 is also a nice gun, though I dont thinks its as accurate at that 39.
 
I'm a little prejudiced, but have a look at the CZ 452s, I'm really impressed at these for the cost...

I have the "Style" model with the synthetic stock and stainless barrel...it's grooved for European style scope rings (11mm with a 60 degree notch)All models come in at 300 bucks or less.

http://www.CZ-USA.com

Good Luck and keep us posted with what you end up with.

Kevin
 
Second vote for the CZ452. Mine never met a Ruger or a Marlin it couldn't outshoot (custom jobs excepted). In lever action, the Browning is tops but I wouldn't turn down a Marlin.

But if you really want to go to the next level. Save a little more money and buy a Sako Finnfire. There is just no comparison.
 
http://www.zing.com/picture/p72466e05f69573e2e54cae793fb86fb8/ff29e934.jpg

The one on the left is "Grandma Winchester's"(my wife ;)) Trapper Model 9422, and the one on the right is my Browning. A standard model 9422 is the next size up from the Browning. The Trapper 9422's are generally tough to find. Both are in the sub $400.00 range, minus scope. The Browning has a prettier finish in the Grade II variant like mine than the Winchester does. The Browning had to go back for work on the trigger and the Winchester went back for a feed problem, so both have had minor problems. "Grandma Winchester" has no problems keeping all her shots inside of a 2 " spread at 50 yards with either of them and any ole junk ammo, so they can both be a decent plinker. The Browning is probably the more reliable of the 2, based on it's never having a jam or misfeed of any sort. The Winchester has a better trigger. It also has a better "Lever gun feel" with it's longer lever throw. A friend of mine has a standard model 9422, which has never given him a problem as far as feed, but in fairness, he shoots nothing but CCI mini mags, where we shoot anything, and his is blessed with a superb out of the box trigger. I prefer the style of the Winchester myself, but either one is a good little gun. The Trapper model is a real pleasure to shoot, and despite it's smaller size, it handles very well as a "One size fits all", from my 6' 230 lb self to my 5'2 wife.
Both come from the factory with dove tails for mounting a scope, so drilling and tapping isn't needed. Both of these wear a 4X Swift, which has been fairly decent considering the $49.00 price tag on them. I do plan on upgrading the scope on the Winchester at some point. I can't comment on the Marlins,,, yet, but I'm workin on it. ;)
 
22 rifles.

Those lever actions just trip my trigger!! Thanks for your replies.

RAE: those are a fine brace of rifles you got there..:)

I found a Marlin 39a in 22 mag a long time ago, wished i had bought it now....

Have not looked at any Browning lever actions, have seen some "gallery gun" types but not much appeal there.

How much for a Sako??? - KImber might be an option also.. :)

I'm still looking. 12-34hom. - Happy Holidays!
 
Another vote for CZ 452

There are some special edition 452's out right now that are going for $169. The only difference is that they do not have the walnut stock like the LUX version that sells for $300. I recently bought one after reading so many positive posts at the rimfire forum and the benchrest forum. They have an adjustable trigger and are very accurate. Check around for one of these special models. Apparently they were a factory overrun of military trainers. Identical to the LUX version except for the stock. Someone else posted a URL for Turner Sporting goods in California. http://www.turners.com look at their flyer on the website.
 
My vote for CZ

I'd bought CZ 452 recently after many months of contemplating whether to get a Ruger 10/22 or the Merlin. The CZ won this round.
 
Marlin 39s are hard to beat!

Perhaps it's because I grew up following my Dad around squirrel and rabbit hunting. His old 39 was (and still is) a tack driver and I was always amazed at how he never failed to nail the bushytails right in the eye.

As soon as I could afford one I bought myself a Marlin 39a and mounted a Williams 5-D aperture sight on it. It's just a personal preference but I don't like the looks of a scope on a lever gun as well as iron sights.

Several years ago I bought a Kimber and it *will* outshoot the Marlin but not by that much. Also, the Kimber has a decided preference for premium ammo while the Marlin is a meat and potatos, feed me anything kind of rifle. Good luck!
 
One thing about .22 rifles, even the cheap ones are pretty decent. Concerning the Marlin lever action as compared to any of the others, compare the distance you have to throw the lever. I have one of the Marlins but I believe the Browning may be a little smoother and shorter which is nice when maintaining your shooting stance. One thing you might consider as well is looking at some of the older models available at shows, etc. Comparing them with some of the newer models is like night and day for quality. Real walnut stocks vs. hardwood, etc.. Some of the older Winchesters and Remingtons are definatley tack drivers.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top