Don't forget Marlin!
IMO, they're a bit nicer than Savage, at about the same price. I like the Micro-groove rifling.
I don't like the magazine protruding down right where you are apt to want to rest the rifle on something. It will be in the way from a bench, and possibly in the field too. That was one reason I went with the (used) 77/22. (rotary magazine is always out of the way)
Marlin makes a bolt action 22, with a tube magazine that is never in the way, and with a nice big capacity.
Not too far from you up in Plainfield there is a nice big gun store/range. I forgot the name of it, as I've only been there once. Don't buy a Walmart gun. Walmart is known for bullying their vendors to reduce the price, and you can guess what this does for the quality too.
Don't rule out used. I started with a new 10/22, and had to send it back to Ruger TWICE before it was reliable with any ammo. There was either too much friction or too strong a spring. Finally, I sold the POJ and put the money toward the used 77/22, which was produced in '84. The 77/22 is a much higher class of gun. They used the same basic action for a 44 Magnum back in the day.
.300 Weatherby Mag's earlier comment about the lack of accuracy is false. He is thinking of Ruger M77s, which had accuracy issues in previous generations. The 77/22s never had any such issues. Mine shoots 1.25" groups at 100 yds with inexpensive Winchester Super-X. That is damned good for a field-grade 22LR. I guess it is moot point, since they're out of your range.
Scopes:You're better off spending a bit less on the rifle (i.e. Marlin instead of Ruger) and a bit more on the scope. You'll quickly find that the resolution of your eyesight is the factor that limits accuracy the most, (especially on smaller targets for which a 22 is suitable) not the inherent accuracy of the gun. Also, get a scope that is parallax-adjusted for a 22, or anything under 50 yards is apt to be blurry. If you can't afford a quality scope right away, shoot iron sights to start and save to get one. You'll thank me later.
IMO, they're a bit nicer than Savage, at about the same price. I like the Micro-groove rifling.
I don't like the magazine protruding down right where you are apt to want to rest the rifle on something. It will be in the way from a bench, and possibly in the field too. That was one reason I went with the (used) 77/22. (rotary magazine is always out of the way)
Marlin makes a bolt action 22, with a tube magazine that is never in the way, and with a nice big capacity.
Not too far from you up in Plainfield there is a nice big gun store/range. I forgot the name of it, as I've only been there once. Don't buy a Walmart gun. Walmart is known for bullying their vendors to reduce the price, and you can guess what this does for the quality too.
Don't rule out used. I started with a new 10/22, and had to send it back to Ruger TWICE before it was reliable with any ammo. There was either too much friction or too strong a spring. Finally, I sold the POJ and put the money toward the used 77/22, which was produced in '84. The 77/22 is a much higher class of gun. They used the same basic action for a 44 Magnum back in the day.
.300 Weatherby Mag's earlier comment about the lack of accuracy is false. He is thinking of Ruger M77s, which had accuracy issues in previous generations. The 77/22s never had any such issues. Mine shoots 1.25" groups at 100 yds with inexpensive Winchester Super-X. That is damned good for a field-grade 22LR. I guess it is moot point, since they're out of your range.
Scopes:You're better off spending a bit less on the rifle (i.e. Marlin instead of Ruger) and a bit more on the scope. You'll quickly find that the resolution of your eyesight is the factor that limits accuracy the most, (especially on smaller targets for which a 22 is suitable) not the inherent accuracy of the gun. Also, get a scope that is parallax-adjusted for a 22, or anything under 50 yards is apt to be blurry. If you can't afford a quality scope right away, shoot iron sights to start and save to get one. You'll thank me later.
