Best .22LR Ever

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new2this

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Being a competition small-bore shooter, I have been around many a .22 rifle. All this time shooting has left me wondering as to which .22 is the best.
In the .22 sector, I own two insanely stupid looking (in my opinion), but accurate Anschutz rifles, an M&P-15-22, and Savage MKII BTVS. Though I spent the least of my money on this particular rifle, my favorite by far would have to be the Savage. It can produce a dime-sized group at 100 yards, and look great while doing it. So I am asking you all, What is your favorite .22 rifle. http://thefiringline.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=69169&stc=1&d=1302229359
 

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Best .22LR Ever?.......only one answer, best described by Herbert Houzes titled book "The Winchester Model 52, Perfection in Design". There is an old saying among rim fire enthusiasts...."There are .22's, and then there's the 52's".

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I am also a Browning Semi-Auto fan. I like it for the looks and the way it feels in your hands. I am sure the other rifles depicted above are better target rifles.
 
It depends on my last really good outing.

Last October, it was my 20 year old Anschutz 1710 Sporter:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGZp1nE6pXc

A few weeks ago in March, my CZ American was the greatest shooting device of all time:

http://rimfireshooting.com/index.php?showtopic=6674

And then last Saturday, I was as hinky as a first grader on a sugar buzz and left 10 standing with the CZ American. A couple of strings later, I calmly shot a top Open Sight Class score with the CZ Special. This shooting sport of ours can blow like the wind.

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Growing up in the 70's, my brothers & I would go spotlighting most weekends. We often got 50-100 jackrabbits per night. We all used the Remington nylon 66 .Each of our rifles went through more than 20,000 rounds & we could all headshoot a jack from 60 yards.
 
I like John Browning's SA-22 myself. I've owned a number of .22lrs and always come back to this one. I don't target shoot though, simply plink and hunt with it.
 
I have had some very accurate .22LRs, which will outshoot the ammo used in them, even some batches of the most expensive stuff like Eley 10x, Lapua Center X, etc. I've had a customized Anschutz 411, A 52C BR rifle with a tuner, and a Lilja-barrelled Rem 581.

The best shooting rifle so far has been my latest purchase, a Remington 40x benchrest rifle with Lilja barrel, jewel trigger, Mcmillan stock, and Harrell tuner, put together by Butch Hongisto. It was a (used) bargain at $1,200.

We have a very windy range, so I never shoot my BR .22LRs at 100 yards for groups, but at 50 yards, this rifle will put my best lots of ammo into literally the same hole. Last season, at an IR50/50 match, it shot 74 consecutive 10s and something like 27X before missing the last shot by less than 1/16". (It tied the 6th highest Unlimited score ever shot.)

The Winnie had a very smooth action, but this Remington action feels even better. The barrel is unbelievable! The stock has flames painted on it and it's a bit garish, but I like it.
 
My Anschutz 1416 DKL is pretty close to perfect for me.
It's accurate and reasonably nice looking, and is just darn fun to plink with.

That said, my newly suppressed 10/22 makes me giggle every time I shoot it.
 
Marlin 39A

or 39M.

My brother's got a 39M, which is the carbine version with the straight stock. What a handy gun. The high capacity tubular magazine is also pretty great. I don't mind that it takes a bit longer to reload it either.

I didn't have a key to the lock, so this is the best pic I have of it.
Marlin39Acarbine.jpg


My Ruger 77/22 is more accurate, but it just doesn't put a smile on my face the same way as running a lever. Also, shooting them side-by-side, bolt actions require a lot of extra movement just to re-chamber a round.

Levers are still inefficient compared to an auto, but they're not as ammo-finnicky either.
 
Great question:D I am no expert, but I guess it depends on what you want it for. For target shooting you can spend a lot of money, but a CZ 452 or the newer 455 are supposed to be great choices, my CZ 527 american is very accurate up to 300 yards or so, but it is a .223 rem of course. For just having fun or squirrle hunting I like my Henry .22lr lever action; looks great and is a nice straight shooter, at ranges inside 100 yards.
 
For me, it's the M-2 Springfield. Has the heft of a sporterized 03 but it's only a 22 LR gun. Darn accurate shooter and is capable of 1/2" groups at 100 yards. This one isn't mine, but is similar to mine.

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