You guys are righteously awesome.....
Rem 40-X eh? Don't suppose they ever made a sporter weight version. But as suggested by Jim Watson, one could "make it smaller" both in stock and bbl configuration.
What happened to the Rem 504 high-end rimfire? Guess they didn't sell.
Jim Watson, what are "SM2" & Cadet? You mean Izhmash rifles? You have a link to those? Guess it doesn't matter a lot if you cannot get them imported.
Did/do the CMP/ Surplus Kimbers have a scope dovetail?
"is there something wrong with a box mag?" - that is precisely the right question! The answer is yes, I despise them!
About the only ones (detach box mags) I'd get in a rimfire are the Ruger flush 10/22 style rotary, or the Savage - the Savage 93s stay in there really solidly, riding on that "post" with a stiff metal clip.
Thanks again - good suggestions all - please keep them coming.
Here's the real deal right now, in the big picture. I want ONE highly precise rifle (though it doesn't have to be a rimfire necessarily). I sold my beloved CZ 453 (yes in part due to the detach. box mag), but want one rifle to replace it, and it will be a .17 cal of some flavor - either .17 HMR or .17 WSM or .17 Hornady Hornet or .17 Rem fireball). But since I have not ruled out .17 HMR, I wanted to explore some rimfire options. Although I'm leaning toward the .17 Hornady Hornet for this build. The use of this rifle is dual-purpose: mainly for a fun range gun / noobie inductor to guns, but also as a turtle & crow specialist in the field. But I think I want a little more oomph than .17 hummer for this purpose, in case of a longish shot on a crow in the wind.
So the criteria are one of those 4 .17 cal chamberings (2 rimfire, 2 centefire), very high quality. NO detachable box mag (except Ruger or Savage). Can be single shot or tube-mag fed, or fixed box mag fed.
The Ruger 77/17 looks real nice in .17 HH for this purpose EXCEPT that it's too danged heavy (heavy 24" bbl). I'm looking for a 19-22" bbl, sporter weight.