Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters "Accurate" 22 WMR

Can anyone recommend an accurate out of the box 22 WMR rimfire for under $500? My boys are having a hoot with the old Glenfield Model 25 .22 LR at the local outdoor range, but I can tell they are looking to upgrade to something with more pizzazz. I realize the surer bet is the 17HMR, but I'd like something with a bit more bullet weight should I take it into the game fields as well.

I can recommend a Ruger 77/22. I have one that shoots great. But you must try as many different brands of ammo to find which it likes best. Mine shoots Remington "Premier" with the 35gr Vmax bullets into an inch at 50yds. I bet either a Savage or Marlin bolt will shoot as well and probably be cheaper. But you should be able to buy any scoped for under $500. Marlin way under and Ruger most expensive, not necessarily any better, it's just what I have. But remember to try all brands of ammo and you will find one it likes.

Try one of the new Savages for a lot less than $500.

For that jingle, I would look for a Browning A-Bolt in .22 WMR.

I own both a Marlin 917V in a 17HMR ($198) and my son has a Savage 93R17 in a 17HMR ($149). You can get both of these rifles in a 22WMR. I think the Marlin is a little nicer in build quality, but both are deadly accurate.

By the way, my Marlin chrono'd 2,730 fps last weekend with CCI ammo.

I agree with the above. Both the Marlin & Savage are a great buy and extremely accurate. Nothing against Ruger, and a great choice if you are looking to customize, but the price is higher.

Mike

CZ 452 American. They can be had for around $350 retail if you shop around, usually sport decent walnut, have better than average triggers and are pretty accurate. Mine shot around MOA at 100 yds w/Remington 33 grain V-Max factory ammo on a windless morning.

I've not fondled a 94/22M that wouldn't shoot better than needed, but I guess availability is a question these days. And maybe price?

My own 94/22 will do an inch for 5 shots at 100 yards with a couple of different loads. They are not made anymore but not exactly rare. Saw a nice one at a local gun show yesterday for $350.

The Savages, Marlins and (especially) CZ's shoot pretty darn well. As a matter of fact, I have never seen a CZ rimfire that was not exceptionally accurate.

MD

CZ without a doubt, have to watch the magazines however. Some take a little tuning to get to feed properly.

Savage is now putting the Acutrigger on their rimfires...

My Winchester 9422M is a MOA gun with CCI TNT load. Unfortunately, they're no longer made. I'd look on the used market for one, as it's an excellent gun.

My Win 9422M is not an MOA gun. It does feed very smoothly with Win ammo but less so with other brands. I like the rifle very much. A CZ might be a better buy right now.

I don't know how much pizzazz you'll find in the Marlin 983T, but I have one that is wonderfully accurate.
[bleep]

+1 for the CZ--Here's mine..

If you want the joy of beautiful tools, get the CZ, Browning or Anschutz for a .22 WMR.

If you just want to clobber crows, the Marlin or Savage will do it for a lot less. I am still shooting a Mossberg 640 Chuckster, and couldn't have any more fun.

Consider the Marlin bolt action, tube fed .22 WMR ..
Model 983S.
Stainless steel,laminated stock and easily as accurate as the Ruger costing 200.00 more.
Comes tapped for a scope if you wish.

I have had one for a few years and for groundhogs(back east) crows, varmints it'll do the job.jim

http://www.marlinfirearms.com/Firearms/22WinMagnum/983S.aspx

Savage 92FVSS in 22Magnum is an amazingly accurate rifle out of the box and it looks great. The bull barrel helps make this even better. I have one with a 3-9X silver finished BSA scope and it makes heads turn. At 100 yards there isn't much that you CAN'T hit with this thing. I dance bottle caps around at 100 yards, and anyone with a calm hand can do the same. I would NOT hesitate to buy one of these for any young shooter out there. I put a Basix Trigger on mine to get rid of the only thing NOT fantastic on this which was the factory Savage trigger. I like it better than the accutrigger. I bought the rifle for 210, the scope for 90 and the basix trigger for 80, so I've got $380 into this rifle and I would bet it will out shoot any rifle in that caliber and it will be a rifle your boys will say, "Wow, Cool!"

Jim in Oregon,

Is the trigger guard on your 983S metal? On my 983T, the trigger guard is molded plastic.
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[bleep], Yes my stainless rifle also has a non metallic triggerguard...only it's stainless colored.Delrin Acetal..Pretty tough material.:)
I wasn't wild about the funky-looking orange-red non mettalic front sight, but it works.
I have a 4X matte stainless scope on mine..and a Marlin sling..

I like the 12 round tube magazine capacity..and no box mag to misplace.
The rifle reminds me of my first rifle.
A Stevens Buckhorn .22 bolt action, tube mag.
Lordy, I killed a bunch of groundhogs and crows on our western Maryland farm as a lad with that rifle back in the 50's..Still have it too.

The kids really enjoy shooting the .22 or .22 WMRs..and especially when they HIT consistently.
That Marlin shoots accurately..
Out west here, Rockchucks, gray digger squirrels and mountain boomers and nutria don't stand a chance within 100 yards..:).Jim

There's nutria in Oregon?