Talk to me about tube-fed versus mag fed bolt action 22 rifles.

Reliability wise I'm guessing you won't find too many meaningful differences between a tube fed bolt action rimfire and a detachable box magazine rimfire.

Accuracy wise I'd hate to offer any opinion.

So it comes down to sights, trigger, and stock preferences. Get the one you think the kid would like more.

Jimro
 
Most all aspects have been covered in prior posts. The only additional meaningful info I can add regards the Marlin .22's. The internals on the tube magazine Model 60 and the magazine fed Models 70/795 are almost identical. I've even removed the tube off a Model 60 lower assembly and used it with magazines on a replacement stock. Feed reliability is effectively identical on both models in my experience.
 
I have both types and have no issues of reliability with either. Keep them clean and they work fIne. The one thing that turns me off to a lot of bolt action 22's is if the mag extends below the stock, right where I like to hold it.
 
The only one I have experience with the OP mentioned is the MKII. If you get the bull barrel version, it has the potential to be a extremely accurate rifle. The one I sold could group a .584 inch group @100yds on a calm day with my doing my part from a bipod up front and sandbag out back. Honestly though, the only thing I can fault the bull barrel version is it is a little heavier than I expected. I'd own another if I was looking for another bolt action .22lr weather it be box or tube fed.
 
I used several Winchester tube mag .22s as a youth. Lever and semi auto. They fed well, and while you could lose the inner tube, you're more likely to lose the smaller box magazine.

One thing only lightly touched on is that tube mag repeaters will often feed shorts, longs, and long rifle rounds interchangeably. In these days of .22rimfire shortage, that might be a benefit.

Box magazines generally will only feed one length of round, reliably. Some have trouble managing even that. :rolleyes:
 
Marlin 783.
img_4487.jpg_thumbnail0.jpg
 
I've seen lots of older mag fed 22's that are now single shots due to the mags being lost or damaged, and no longer available.

Tube mags tend to be pretty universal and trouble free
 
Thanks for your input Gentlemen,,,

Thanks for your input Gentlemen,,,
I appreciate your comments.

I haven't made a decision as yet,,,
It seems (as I sorta figured it would end up),,,
That there's not a measurable difference in performance between the two types.

One thing is that I like the looks of the tube fed better,,,
Ten round mags sticking straight out of the rifle,,,
Are an eyesore as far as I am concerned.

The Money for the mag fed Marlin is almost the exact same for the tube fed Marlin,,,
If I were to buy an extra magazine it totals out a lot more.

I'm leaning a bit towards the Marlin XT-22TR,,,
But there I always one "catch".

The mag fed XT-22 for $187.00 comes in a nice wood stock,,,
The tube fed XT-22TR for $188.00 only comes in a black polymer stock. :(

As so often happens in decisions like this,,,
I'll probably just toss a coin. :o

Thanks again gentlemen.

Aarond

.
 
Its a convenience feature. Clip fed firearms. More than likely its shooter will carry extra clips and ammo in their pocket.
Or load up a tube magazine one with 1 extra bullet or near a box of bullets. You can drop bullets and loose clips. But that's not happening with a tube fed firearm.
I don't care how good a clip fed rifle is. I'd rather buy a tube fed one. That's just my preference is all.
 
If you get a mag fed, make sure to pick up extra mags. If you get a tube fed, get a Speed d loader. I have one and it makes loading tube fed guns a breeze.
 
I've got both, and this thread was quite an education for me. Thanks folks.

Aarondhgraham,
If those were the only two choices, I'd take the one with the wooden stock, but if that's a deciding factor have you considered a used gun? Many thousands of tube-fed .22 bolt-action rifles have been made and AFAIK there's alot of used, tube fed bolt action rifles out there. Often for less than a new gun and possibly better made. Further, if you like wood stocks, you'll often find much better grain on older rifles than recently produced guns.
http://www.gunbroker.com/Bolt-Action-Rifles/BI.aspx?Keywords=22&Condition=3&Sort=4&ca=5000011
Don't turn up your nose at odd names either until you look up the name and model. Alot of store names and made-up brands were rolled on rifles made by companies you'd recognize. For Example, my "Sears 43" is a "Marlin 81".


For a bolt action .22, I like the way a tube looks, and the way nothing protrudes from beneath the stock. It's the same reason I like the 10/22 when it comes to a semi-auto. Being able to feed short, L and LR is nice too, but that's not unique to a tube. My springfield 84c- will do that from a magazine, but there again if you want more than 5 rounds, you have a chunk of metal hanging under the gun.

Best of luck whatever you decide.
 
I've had (and still have) both. While a tube generally holds more, I find the detachable magazine to be more user friendly.
 
I have a CZ 452 Varmint 22LR bolt action, magazine 5 shot. Built like a high powered rifle, as accurate as any custom job, great rifle. Magazine feed I think is safer with round count.
 
Only drawback I see to tube-fed rifles is the unloading procedure is a bit more complicated. Somewhat of a nuisance when a cease fire is called and you have to clear your rifle.
 
Box mag for me handsdown. Simpler the better, easier and much less to clean, and most of all in the field hunting, a jam in a tube fed can be a real problem. Flush mags are better but I actually prefer the slightly protruding mag of the 5rd CZ's when squirrel hunting. I've never lost a mag but I do carry an extra already loaded. When target shooting I use a single shot adapter anyway, perfect rate of fire!
 
Hello Herluf,,,

...If those were the only two choices, I'd take the one with the wooden stock, but if that's a deciding factor have you considered a used gun? Many thousands of tube-fed .22 bolt-action rifles have been made and AFAIK there's alot of used, tube fed bolt action rifles out there.
Click to expand...

I'm like you in that I am partial to wood over polymer stocks,,,
Polymer is perfectly functional but just isn't pretty.

As far as new versus used goes,,,
I have no problem with used guns in general,,,
In fact over two thirds of my fiery-arms are used guns.

But for a gift (especially new shooters) I would rather give new,,,
I like that their gift should initially be trouble free,,,
And have a warranty just in case it's not.

Aarond

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