Did you really think about that, before you typed it? "Two-piece bolt" and "non-match chamber" are terms that apply to the great majority of the bolt action .22 LR rifles on the market - not just the 77/22.
Two-piece bolts and/or "non-match chambers" are found in most or all models from Marlin, Savage, Winchester, CZ, Remington, and Kimber. (And I'm sure I missed a few manufacturers.)
...Just the same old, unsupported, regurgitated, anti-Ruger internet crap.
1944m1garand said:If you can get a Winchester 52 sporter, do it. Best .22 I own. They are pricey, but worth every penny.
Don't be hung up on "new"......the finest .22 bolt action ever made was the Winchester Model 52. It meets all your requirements other than being out of production.
(bolding added) I'm looking to get an American made .22LR bolt action rifle. I need this to be very accurate for small game hunting. I've read that CZs are very good, but I really want to invest in something made in America. How are Marlins? I want a really good rifle, so I'm willing to spend good money on it. I have a Ruger 10/22 and it is not all that great, and even after putting TechSights on it, it still doesn't perform where I'd like it to. I blame user error along with the semi-auto system being inferior to a bolt action's accuracy. I want it to be a wooden stock, bolt action, and have good iron sights on it. I'm looking to purchase a new rifle too, so all the older models are not an option for me. Thanks for any advice you can offer.
natman said:...I agree about the quality of the 52, but the OP specifically said he wanted a rifle for small game hunting.
I love my 52, but it's really heavy and I'm not going to lug it around in the woods. The original 52 sporters and the Springfield 1922s are also fine guns, but they are collector's items now and I'm not going to drag one through the woods hunting either. The repo 52 sporters would be an excellent choice, but they were made in Japan.
It's true that the majority of 52's had heavy target barrels, guess I was thinking more along the lines of the Sporters. Agreed they are becoming highly collectible....but there's nothing quite like popping some squirrels with the ol' peep sights. Old thoroughbreds like these shouldn't be couped up in metal box.
costs in the mid four figures
Really? $5,000, more or less, for a Model 52 .22LR?