Good .22 Bolt-Gun

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LinuxHack3r

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It's that time again! I just sold my 10/22, and plan on purchasing a good bolt-action .22lr. I am eying the following model:

Marlin XT-22TSR
Holds 17lr, is stainless, and a nice looking synthetic stock.

I have never owned a tube fed gun, but I think it would be a wise choice for a .22 rifle. I can shoot shorts, longs, and long rifles.

My price range is $300, but the lower the better;) Any bolt action .22 suggestions?

Tube vs. Magazine fed? What are your thoughts?
 
I should note, I am not looking for a gun that I can buy a lot of accessories for, but instead a nice little gun that will hold up to a lot of use over the years.

So how is the build quality of this gun?
 
The Savage Mk II always comes up in these discussions

It apparently has a nice, accurate barrel and a fine trigger, and will run well under your price range unless you opt for a top end model.

I have the CZ 455, worth a look if you have some flexibility in your budget.

Both are magazine fed, with 5 and 10 round options. I personally don't care about high capacity in a bolt gun. I don't care for tube fed. I know they have been fairly safe, I just prefer to keep my fingers from fiddling around the muzzle.
 
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It apparently has a nice, accurate barrel and a fine trigger, and will run well under your price range unless you opt for a top end model.
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I think I can score one for $250, transfer fee included.

I have the CZ 455, worth a look if you have some flexibility in your budget.
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I would love to buy a CZ .22, but I cannot bring myself to buy one of their guns that only have a 5 round magazine, unless you can convince me otherwise. I would like a fairly large capacity.
 
Cz has 10 shot mags and IMO you are doing yourself a disservice by ruling them out. The 452 is one of the best .22s for the buck. It is not a good .22, it is a good rifle period.
 
A good bolt action .22LR

I can not quote a price but,
My 22+ year old Ruger 77-22 has been a good and accurate rifle.
 
I have the Marlin 981T which I think is the xt's predecessor. Great feel, good trigger, and sub 1'' groups at 50 yards. Good enough for me.
 
I have a CZ 452 Full stock that has been a perfect performer in every way. Little more than your budget but i promise, they are worth it and once you handle the FullSstock, you will buy it. ;)
 
I cannot seem to find the XT-22TSR anywhere:) I found one or two one some websites I had never heard of, but that isn't something I'd like to try.

I am very open to the CZ's, but Ido wish that they offered a stainless tube fed model.
 
I would love to buy a CZ .22, but I cannot bring myself to buy one of their guns that only have a 5 round magazine, unless you can convince me otherwise. I would like a fairly large capacity.
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The 10/22 fits your criteria; I realize that you just got rid of one.
You can make a tackdriver out of a 10/22 all that you need to do is to replace:
the barrel
the stock
the trigger
and you don't have to stop there if you don't want, I think that my 10/22 still says Ruger on it on one part... and it is a tackdriver (and I can use 25 round factory mags if my heart so desires; personally don't like what extended mags do to the balance and "handiness" of the rifle.)

Now, you could buy a CZ for less than the price of transforming a 10/22; and that is not including the price of the 10/22!

But really, why want a large capacity on a bolt? If you are looking for precision/accuracy...
 
Well, I am eying the 455 models. They are beautiful, no doubt. But there is something about the tubular stainless that catches my eye! Now, for all practical purposes, of course 5 rounds in a bolt action .22 is enough! However, I am also thinking about target shooting. Not just shooting at paper, but also physical targets. I like the idea of loading up 17lr rounds and having at it in a bolt action gun. I am going to try and go look at as many .22's as possible. The extra $50 or so for the CZ I am sure is worth it, I am just not sure if that's what I want. I repeat, I am positive that the CZ 452/455 is a wonderful gun, I just wish they made one with the specifications that catch my attention.

I very much do like the 455FS, it looks neat:)

The 455 Lux is a very beautiful gun. Dependant on what I can find locally and put my hands on, if I end up ordering a gun it will probably be a 455 variant. However, the XT-22TR (non-stainless of what I want) may catch my eye, and is less that $200 and can be found locally. I CANNOT figure out why the stainless version is so rare!
 
I'll chuck out another suggestion: look at the Remington 51x model .22 bolt actions. Depending upon the specific model, they came in single shot or repeater bolt action. They are very accurate, and a joy to shoot.

They aren't made any longer, but they are not uncommon to find on Gunbroker; I have a pair of them, and they are my favorite .22 rifles.
 
LinuxHack3r said:
Tube vs. Magazine fed? What are your thoughts?
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Personally, I don't care for tubular magazine fed rifles, especially in .22lr, and here's why:

.22LR firearms are used many times to teach others to shoot. With a removable magazine, you know the gun is empty if the magazine is out and the bolt is locked back on an empty chamber. With tube mags, you can't see any ammo is left in the magazine.

Where I live in GA, I hunt on public lands much of the time. We are required have an unloaded rifle within 50yds of a road open for travel. With a removable magazine gun, I simply remove the magazine when needed. With a tubular magazine, you have to remove the magazine tube and pour out the cartridges, then load them in again when you are legal. It's a PITA.
 
I was at Cabelas yesterday- bought a Savage Mark II-Nextgen Cabelas Exclusive. It has a 21" long bull barrel, camo stock, Bushnell scope and with an Accutrigger for $299.00 + tax. I was going to get the Marlin XT-22TR because of its new like and Accutrigger like trigger for $199.00 but it handles kind of flimsy to me. So I went home with the Savage. In the process of cleaning it before I take it to the range!

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+ 1 for the CZ's. I have 2 and both will shoot 1/2 inch 5 shot groups at 50 yards using Wolf or SK edge to edge. Three dollar a box Eley Sport is not much worse. A shooting buddy gave me a box of Eley Match black his BR gun did not like and the American shot 1 ragged holes with it.

If you just want large capacity get a Marlin 60, I have 1 in Stainless and it is nice to look at and reliable as heck. Accuracy is so so with Walmart bulk ammo but it can kill tin cans at 50 yards pretty well. I don't shoot it as much as I should, that tubular mag can be a pain as others have pointed out.

Another suggestion would be to check out some of the lever actions. I wish I still had my old Marlin 39A Mounty, dunno what possessed me to ever sell that gun.
 
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...Personally, I don't care for tubular magazine fed rifles, especially in .22lr, and here's why:

.22LR firearms are used many times to teach others to shoot. With a removable magazine, you know the gun is empty if the magazine is out and the bolt is locked back on an empty chamber. With tube mags, you can't see any ammo is left in the magazine....
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Not to offend anyone with a tube - fed .22, but I agree with ^this^ statement. Buy one with a removable box magazine.

Good .22 bolt gun?

Marlin (own the 925, XT-22 has better trigger)
CZ
Savage

Can't go wrong.
 
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