Best 22lr for small game hunting?

"Regarding the NBRSA records: They are particularly relevant because they were done at sanctioned shooting matches."

The thing that amazes me about any match record (or even any match at all) is that the shooters didn't get to pick the weather, the wind, the time of day or anything. They had to show up and figure out how to make the best of the conditions. You can't sit and wait for things to improve when the clock is running.

John
 
To me, a rifle for hunting has to be accurate, reliable, it has to be very strong but somewhat lightweight, and preferably semi-auto.
Click to expand...

I've owned and shot various 22lr semiautos over the years. The one I like best is the one I've owned for 23 years now: Remington 552 Speedmaster. No, it can't get the latest fad tacticool add-ons like the 10/22, so if that's important, read no further.

I have a Bushnell 3-9 Sportsman scope mounted on it. Accuracy is very good and very consistent with good ammo. (Just don't feed it Remington 22lr ammo) It seems to run best on Federal Automatch, but does well with Winchester Super-X , CCI Mini-Mags, and Aguila also. I keep mine very clean, but have seen some that still ran well with unbelievable layers of crud built up in the action.

Just my 2 cents. ;)
 
My Remington 597 is plenty accurate to do what you want. I originally paid $149.99 for it and later upgraded it with a Nikon Prostaff BDC 3-9x40 scope. That was on sale at Cabelas for $159 with a Nikon $30 rebate and my Cabelas club points I paid around $80 for it. At 100 feet I can do less than quarter sized groupings. I really haven't shot further than that with the 597 but want to get out to the range and try it out at longer distances.
For squirrel hunting you could also go more old school and get yourself a Henry lever action .22. I can split cards with mine at 50 feet with open sights. Personally, I would never scope a lever action. It just doesn't look right to me!
 
Senior Member

Join Date: March 13, 2011
Posts: 236
@75 yards I'd go with .17hmr (less drop and more down range energy)
If you are set on .22lr then go with a scoped bolt action. $200-$300 on the rifle and $200 on scope and rings

I have a Marlin 981T tube fed bolt action with a bushnell elite 3200 scope. Rifle costs about $200 and shoots sub MOA out of the box with subsonic match ammo. Leaves money left over for a quality scope.



This is a 1"x1" square at 50 yards with remington bulk. RWS match is alot smaller group
Click to expand...

I have the same exact rifle except with a lesser Simmons scope and will vouch for that.
 
For around $70 you can get your trigger/hammer upgraded on your 10/22 so you should have around a 2lb trigger if done correctly.

With that you're 10/22 should be pretty accurate.
 
@75 yards I'd go with .17hmr (less drop and more down range energy)
If you are set on .22lr then go with a scoped bolt action. $200-$300 on the rifle and $200 on scope and rings

I have a Marlin 981T tube fed bolt action with a bushnell elite 3200 scope. Rifle costs about $200 and shoots sub MOA out of the box with subsonic match ammo. Leaves money left over for a quality scope.
Click to expand...

I have a Marlin 881T that pretty much does the same thing.
 
semi auto and 22 caliber? my experience with an out of the box semi auto 22 is limited to 2...no acutally 3 brands of 22's if you count my 22 mag. my experience with the guns i own is that all would do well out of the box, with open sights out to 100 yards and be exceptional from 25 to 50 yards where i believe most game is found.

i have 2 ruger 10/22's and both will fit the bill out to 100 yards with iron sights. i keep one with a mounted scope which would be even better at longer ranges. i alos have a marlin model 60 that will fit the bill, i keep that with just iron sights. both of these guns have proven themselves for years, straight from the box without any mods. finally i have an h&r model 700 22 mag. i like this for the fast shooting at longer distance. it works very well with iron sights but i have added a scope for better longer range shooting.

i have found the guns i mentioned sufficent for plinking and small game hunting. try some different types of ammo to see what works best in your gun. my guns might not be sub moa but i know they are sub minute of squirrel or rabbit and until i take up competitive shooting i guess they will do for me.
 
.22 rifle

I agree with Joe Chicago& Old Grump.My go to gun is always my Revelation which is a Marlin 60. I also feel that right out of the box the Marlin 60 is more accurate than the 10-22. :) Cliff
 
Last edited:
I have killed squirrels, rabbits, racoons, and one beaver with my 10/22. I have also killed squirrel with my Henry .22. They may not shoot .3247691'' groups but they both seem to kill game with no problem. No modifications to either rifle. Minute of critter is good enough for me.
 
A Fish and Game Biologist asked me to mount and sight-in a scope on his older, box-stock 10-22. I found that it shot close to 1/2" groups at 40 yards with high-speed ammo, which is not the norm, especially for newer ones.

He tells me that he hasn't missed a squirrel with his rifle since I worked on it, but what's more remarkable is that he usually aims for, and hits them in the EYE!
-----------------------------------------------------------------
I've found that putting a good match-chambered barrel on a 10-22 makes a big difference in accuracy. I did an accuracy job, including bolt mods, trigger, pillar-bedding, on a friend's new "stainless" 10-22 Deluxe, but couldn't get it to group under 1 1/4" at 50 yards, even with target ammo. After installing a stainless-fluted GM barrel, but doing no further accurizing, it now shoots sub-1/2" at 50 yards. Furthermore, I like the fluted barrel for hunting, since the weight saved helps the carry and balance.
 
Marlin 60 for me. Or a Marlin 39A. I do not like the 10-22 unless you want to put extra money into accurizing it, etc. off the shelf, the Marlin 60 generally will out shoot the 10-22. Neither compares to the 39, but then the Marlin will easily shoot MOS (Minute of Squirrel).

Todd


Sent via Todd's IPhone using Tapatalk.
 
Last edited:
I have 2 ruger 10/22's and I have shot many others and have never seen one that wasnt at least capable of hitting drink cans at will from 25-75yrds depending on who was shooting, their skill level, and quality of ammo. The two I have will shoot quarter sized groups with good ammo and a rest. Both are factory. One is factory with a tapco stock. I have never seen one that needed upgrades to be accurate. I have seen them become more accurate after upgrades. For small game hunting any 10/22 with good ammo and a shooter that knows his rifle can put meat on the table easily. Not saying its the best but more than capable of doing the job.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top