Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Rimfires Vote for your most underrated 22 rifles and tell us why...

Hey 30Gibbs -

What are the Anschutz models to keep an eye out for?
And how much of an accuracy difference should one generally expect from the three different actions they use?

One of my favorite rimfires is a Ruger 96/22 in 22LR. It was made and shipped to a friend's little mom and pop store in 1996. After sitting on his shelf for 12 years I took pity on it and brought it home in 2008.

Paid $200 for it. Wood's not much to look at, but it is short and handy and the accuracy was surprisingly great and I've never seen another at the gun range. Just a fun little knock about.

CZ455 - not sure why they are not more popular. I suppose the trend is toward plastic stocks and autoloaders. To me a match accurate rifle that functions perfectly for under $400 is 'underrated'.

Not underrated, but seldom mentioned is the excellent NULA .22 available single shot or repeater.

Maybe we should throw in a martini or two as well. Both kinds mind you, the firearm and the beverage. Cheers!

Mossberg 640 ka, .22 mag., mine groups well, as I have read most all shoot exceptional as well.Heavy/Walnut/Blued Steel mag. fed bolt action, feels like an adult center fire, what's not to like?

T/C classic 22lr. I purchased one when they first came out for my son. It'll hold its own against most other 22's.

+1 .... Fully agree about Marlin M25.

I'm with Dan. I hate to endorse any ChiCom product, but the Norinco .22s were hard to beat for the money. Below is a blurry pic of my JW-15 that I bought back in the 80's for less than $80 in a group buy.

I put a Williams target sight on the rear and jerry-rigged a 700 Rem front ramp sight to raise the front sight for the receiver peep. Accurate, reliable and nicely blued but the balsawood stock is nothing to brag about.

There were some more glamorous Norinco bolt guns and some outfit in Ga (I recall) offered a showy walnut stock.

My Marlin 25 was a Christmas present from Santa when I was 10. In the 35 years since then It has killed a couple of short bed pickups worth of small game and varmints. It shoots most anything accurately enough and feeds all the various lenth .22s well. I have worn out the extractor a couple of times and had to replace some worn or bent magazines, but otherwise it just keeps going. It is the only .22 rifle in my cabinet.

Anyone want to compare the Marlin 25 to the Marlin 80?
I've always been a little vague on the different Marlin rimfires. I know I love the MicroGroove barrels!

AMEN ! Snagged a Model 184 over a decade ago for $400. Have not seen one since.

OK go ahead and laugh but my vote is for the Chiappa Badger.
Accurate as hell, lightweight and super reliable.

I know it looks funky and eccentric but it is a true sleeper.

My vote is for my Springfield M1922M2. It is deadly accurate, with the original iron sights, even out past 100 yards. Heavy, yes, but no heavier than any big game rifle I tote into the woods.

Rem model 12's; am up to 2 A's and a C.

Have some "neat" older guns, and a passel of CZ's, but for walk about those little model 12's are it. Their accuracy is nothing special, but they're lightweights that shoot so naturally and consistently off-hand. Fun times.

Marlin 99 - model 60's dad. Beautiful walnut stocks and sweet trigger pull.

Good call.

I'd also vote for the Remington 580 series. I've got a 581 that I bought new in the 70's. It's funny how good a trigger can get with a few thousand rounds through the gun. I found a 541 stock a few years ago and now it looks as good as it shoots.

I have to say that the Win Model 69 (clip) and Model 72 (tube) are about as accurate as any. Beats my Model 75 Sporter and not that far behind my Model 52 and that ain't bad. Get one with the grooved receiver (or tapped if you don't mind the price drop) and scope it. Plain, classic but top of the line shooter. You won't regret it.

Remington 580 series. With a lighter trigger spring and nothing else my 582 shoots groups as good as I can hold.