Semi-auto .22 Cal. Rifle Reliability

F

Frank D

New member
I'd like to hear opinions on the reliability of .22 Caliber semi-automatic rifles.
To me, "Reliability" means that a semi auto will feed,fire,eject,and reload each time it is cycled. Is there (Or has there been) a semi-auto rifle that will do that. What Model/Brand would be most likely to function that way every time. ---- We should ignore poor ammunition!!!!
 
All my .22 rifles are reliable by your standards except my Armi Jager AP74 which is close to reliable.

I have a Winchester 190 that has never failed except with cheap Remington ammo. I have had it since 1974. I also have a Marlin 60, Marlin 989M2, Mossberg model 50, J.C. Higgins model 30, and a Stevens model 87. All are reliable but the Stevens is very touchy. If it is slightly out of spec it won't work right.
 
My $70 Walmart Marlin Model 60 has run flawlessly since I bought it in '94. It's had a few wear parts replaced(buffer and springs), but never due to a failure. I've done some performance mods recently and it only got better. Just keep it clean and very lightly lubed and you're good to go.
 
My newest 10/22 has yet to have a malfunction of any kind. I have around 500rds. through it so far which isnt alot but its a very reliable rifle. I also have a cheap mossberg plinkster thats almost 100% reliable.
 
I have two Brownings (one older - Belgium made & one newer - Japanese made), and they are both flawless in their performance.
 
In my experience, most decent 22 semiautos will function reliably if they're fed decent ammo.

Translation: use almost anything besides Remington 22lr ammo and you'll be fine. Remington 22lr is NOT "decent." Remington's 22lr is at some level far below crap. ;)
 
I have been the Rimfire Match Director at my club for a couple of decades and we have always held monthly rapidfire rimfire matches. The only .22 rifle that has never jammed in these matches is my Nylon 66. A friend has a 10/22 that he has slowly customized both by himself and with the help of Que and his rifle is 99.99% reliable but its fine accuracy and trigger make my old Nylon 66 pale in comparison. The Marlin 60s either run well or horribly but none are 100% reliable. However, they are more accurate and more shootable than their arch rival, a box stock 10/22. The occasional reliable Ruger 10/22 T has taken the day many a time.

Jams are disastrous in these matches and the shooter that has a clean running rifle that day will usually win the Rapidfire Rimfire Silhouette Match. The monthly CMP Sporter Matches (six rapidfire mini-strings) are usually won by bolt guns but when the occasional semi-auto shooter wins our CMP Match, he has managed to dodge any jams during the rapidfire strings.
 
Theres a lot of people including me with Remington 597 that have problems with jamming, some ammo jamming 70% of the time.
My mates Ruger is more reliable but I find the Remington more accurate, more ergonomic and nicer looking and a million times better trigger.
Most people say the Remingtons problem is the magazine, but I don't think I fully believe that as most of my jams are FTE, and supposedly you can fix it with a Volsquaren ejector.

I personally still prefer the Remington to the ruger, mine does function pretty well with Winchester Power Points which is made in Australia I dont know the exact figures of jamming but its pretty good, and strangely its the most reliable with winchester subsonic ammo.

But I think a bolt action is better, I end up using dads Norinco more and I plan on getting myself a CZ 452. The only real advantage with a semi I see is the ability to waste ammo quickly, which I guess ain't exactly a good thing but nothings good these days:D

Oh and I don't know what the rugers like to clean but my Remington is a pain if you completely take the bolt right out, the stupid springs on the two rails are a mission to get back on, it is possible. I dont think im a very good Remington sales person am I, Id defiantly get an AK47.
Oh wait this thread hasn't gotten into that yet:D:D:D
 
As stated above, most semi-autos are pretty reliable. I have owned plenty of them. The old Remington model 550 was a rifle that allowed you to shoot shorts, longs and long rifles all without any changes to rifle. They worked pretty well. I am not familiar with any other semi that would do that. They used what was referred to as a floating chamber. The remington nylon 66's were very reliable, for sure. I still have an almost new one that never fails. Have a Weatherby XXII that has never had a jam. It is the most accurate semi I have ever shot. Winchester's model 63 was pretty reliable with good ammo. Marlin model 60's are amazing for the price they used to sell for. They do req
 
As stated above, most semi-autos are pretty reliable. I have owned plenty of them. The old Remington model 550 was a rifle that allowed you to shoot shorts, longs and long rifles all without any changes to rifle. They worked pretty well. I am not familiar with any other semi that would do that. They used what was referred to as a floating chamber. The remington nylon 66's were very reliable, for sure. I still have an almost new one that never fails. Have a Weatherby XXII that has never had a jam. It is the most accurate semi I have ever shot. Winchester's model 63 was pretty reliable with good ammo. Marlin model 60's are amazing for the price they used to sell for. They do require a complete tear-down and cleaning every few years. Replace a few parts and they are good to go for another 10,000 rounds. I never had much luck with Stevens models. Never owned a Ruger. Mossbergs will run O.K. if you keep them clean. I have found that semis require more cleaning than any other action. That includes center fires, also.....John
 
I have an old beat up Model 63 Winchester that never fails me. Pretty accurate concidering the sights.

I haven't fired a 22 semi that is as reliable.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top