I was going round and round about which .22LR to pick up. I knew from doing research that the 10/22 was what most considered to be the best on the market. Most would agree that it's also very reliable, and usually stuff doesn't break.
I wasn't looking to do a lot of customizing, so I didn't think that the 10/22 was for me, especially considering that I was looking at around $300-$380 all in with new rifle and scope.
I considered several of the other options, the Mossberg 702 Plinkster & Remington 597 to name two. After doing a bit more research, several gunsmiths told me that the Remington was often seen in their shops for stuff needing fixing, and I felt that the Mossberg was just too light, and it felt too toy-like.
I decided to look around at a couple of the local pawn shops and LGS, to see what I could find in the used market. It took several stops, but I finally found a 10/22 with a relatively cheap Simmons 3-9X40 scope on it priced for $219.
I suspect that the employee that I spoke with didn't really understand the concept of how to do basic math, as I offered him $200 for the rifle, he thought about it for a minute and said that he'd meet me in the middle for $210 out the door (which came out to $191.XX plus tax).
I walked away with a great, but extremely dirty rifle that I figure I can have many many years of fun with at a price that I didn't mind spending.
Keep your options open, and don't be afraid to put in the time and effort to possibly buy something used.
Exco