Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Rimfires List your top pick for best shooting and handling sporter

I'm wondering what your pick is, for the top 22lr's to look for. I'm out and about looking at different gunshops a lot, and run across some cool rifles. Sometimes at very good deals. Recently I saw a nice looking bolt action 22lr Anschutz. It was not nearly as nice as the Winchester 52 sporter that I bought within the last month though. However, it was priced at $300.00. I've also mentioned the BRNO's and old CZ's I've ran across recently as well. Those being in the $350 price range.

I was at a few gunshops over the weekend and saw some nice rifles, and told my girlfriend that I can't buy all of the good deals I see. I'll save some for others. One rifle I saw was a nice little Winchester model 69. It was $300.00. I handled it, but turned it away, as it is no where near as nice as my newly acquired model 52. Didn't care for the sticky action it had, and it was not built with the same quality of the 52. I've seen much nicer examples with target irons for $400.00.

Then there was a beautiful Browning T-bolt, but it was a 22WMR. If it had been a 22lr, I may have considered buying it. It had a beautiful tiger striped maple stock. Priced at $700.00, which I believe is decent for what it is.

I also saw a BSA single shot with target irons for $700.00. Don't know what that is worth though. Nice rifle, but very plain looking stock.

So, if a guy were looking for some ultimate 22lr sporters, what are your top rifles that should be considered? List 5 or more that you would consider, and how much you'd expect to pay. That way I'll know next time I'm out looking at rifles, which ones are more desirable. Thanks!!!

Here's an outline of what I'm looking for:

1. Best shooting
2. Best looking
3. Best handling
4. Most desirable
5. Best bang for the buck
6. Collectible
7. Good trigger

I have had quite a few rimfires over the years and still have a few and shoot them often.

My Fab 5:
1) Cooper 57m Custom Classic
2) Kimber K22 Super America
3) Sako Quad/Finnfire
4) Nula Model 20
5) Vudoo V22 Light Hunter
Most anything Anschutz needs close look

Plenty of others that should and could be in that list but those are 5 keepers for me

6)Cooper 36
7)Blaser R8
8)Win 52
9)Rem 541s and T
10)Savage Anschutz 54
11) Kimber 82
12)Tikka T1x

Remington 541T
Remington 581

I would have a hard time limiting it to one or two rifles, but among my stable at the moment a couple stand out as good looking rifles, accurate, and extremely well balanced for field work-

Kimber 82
Remington 541S/541T
Winchester 75 Sporter
Remington 547 (not in my collection yet) pretty rare but the ones I've seen are extremely well built IMO
Original 52 Sporter- best one on the list but pretty spendy

If you can get that Anschutz for $300 it is probably a Savage Anschutz? Still a great deal and I've never heard of one that wasn't extremely accurate. What exactly about it wasn't attractive to you? Wood can always be reshaped or replaced. Also, if you are looking at the Anschutz, try to find a 54 Action model.

For me: M2 Springfield.

There are innumerable models with the BSA moniker, but if it had a low receiver wall on the right side and a long lever, possibly with a ball on the end...it could have been a BSA International. Probably not at 700 bucks, more like 1,700...but you might look again. When I was shooting smallbore competition, the BSA Intl gave up nothing to the Coopers, 52's and Anschutz 54's.

All of those already mentioned are top notch rimfire sporters! I’d add Mausers - mm410b and es350b or ms350b. The 350 is heavier but a dream for offhand shooting (for me anyway).

PennDog

Yesireebob.

Coulda been a BSA Model 8, 12, 12/15, or 15 though too.

Those Springfield 1922 are pretty cool, but I wouldn't want to carry that boat anchor into the woods for a day of squirrel hunting. Better pack a big lunch if you're going be out there long

Clackamas Kimber 82 Custom Classic. Nothing came close to the lines and balance….and good looks. Had more than my share of high end .22’s, it’s the only one I wish I’d kept.

Common problem for the fella that is on the search!

Lots of great ones mentioned. My pick wouldn't stray to much from those already listed, but hitman's comes very close to my pick. One that I would add
is the Kleingunther (KDF) K22 or the Mauser 201.

Original Steyr Zephyr ...with a 2 X 7 rimfire Kahles Scope.

This is a rifle i have never owned or shot, only read about occasionally or when cisco shows his off a lil bit.
Im interested

Browse around for the Mauser as well.

The Search Continues.

I like hitman's list as well. Much appreciated guys. I know I've drooled on some nice Coopers and Kimbers, but damn are they expensive. I'm also like sheister, and appreciate the original Winchester model 52 sporter, but I can't afford one, so I got the next best thing. I think it will take 50 years of use, before it's as smooth as my 1949 model 52. Ha ha.. But the Japanese repro is not a bad rifle. I know someone was saying it's not original because of the irons, but it could have fooled me. The rear sight looks like it had been on there since new. The bluing is actually very slightly faded a little in that area, upon examining it closely today, it's been on there for a looooong time. Also, when the serial# starts with NRA, it gives one a slight pause to think..

Don’t have any of the fancy ones. Rem 513 S & T, 10/22 and a couple of TC Contenders. I desire precision above all else.

Rem 541-S
Rem 547
Rem 40-X or XB target
Rem 40-X single shot sporter or repeater (think $$$)

While I own most of what is listed above, my Sako P72 would top my list.

That is one I've never seen. Probably don't find those out on the used rifle racks often, do you? I think if I did find a Sako 22lr, I'd probably be taking it home with me.

Nice to see some Remingtons on the list. I respect the hell out of the rimfire Remingtons. Some older guys at my club in Washington have some nice ones, like the 37's, and boy do those rifles shoot. Hell, even the old pump actions shoot well. Reminding me, that I also saw a nice 572 fieldmaster pump (probably an 80's model) the other day too. They were wanting $600 for it!!!