I realize that beauty is in the eye of the beholder however...

What do you think is the best looking wood/blued rifle is under $600. My Ruger 77/22 just isn't doing it for me anymore (I've never been taken by any of the Ruger rifles...something about the dog leg bolts).

I was leaning toward a CZ-455...thoughts?

Thanks!

I have a 455, but I think for LOOKS, the Ruger is prettier. I've had a couple Rugers, and they just didn't shoot all that well, good enough for tree rats, but nothing exciting. They MIGHT be a little better looking than my 455, it's nip and tuck, but the CZ shoots better than either Ruger I had.
I think the Remington 504 is a good looking rifle, too, but they had spotty accuracy reports, those that shot well, shot superbly, but they were few and far between.

The others that I find personally appealing are priced more than $600, stuff like the Sako rimfires, (pre-Quads), and various issues of the Winchester 52 and Browning copies. The Browning T-Bolt might fit in under the $600 mark, I don't know.

if Rugers 'doglegged' bolt bother ya, THESE would absolutely drive you phugging bonkers.....

there really isn't much dogleg in a 77/22 bolt. More like a gentle sweeping bend with tapered thickness





now here's a fugly bolt. But it do feel right......

Would have to agree, The 77/22 for pure looks, but from ones I've been around accuracy can be spotty. For accuracy the CZ, if you can pick the rifle from a dealer some of them can have some really pretty wood, others can be rather plain. Used market would open up a whole bunch of others.

I think the OP is just grasping at straws in order to justify the CZ purchase. I say buy the damn thing and sell the Ruger 77 cheap if you don't like it ..As far as I'm concerned the Ruger has better features and a regular (not bass ackwards) safety. He'll also find out the CZ's are more finicky in scope mounting as well. I say go for it...

Didn't CZ change the safety on the new models to the normal (for the US) positions? Might be getting my CZ's mixed up LOL.

Take a look at the Remington 541T. Great looking rifle and reputed to shoot as well as they look. I've seen a few of them lately at gun shows for right around $500.

Also, an older Winchester 75 Sporter if you can find one in your price range would be a great addition to any stable.

It,s not what you are looking for but I have a Marlin 983SS 22 Mag with a Weaver SS scope & the Laminate stock. Everyone who see,s it compliments me on how beautiful it looks. Beside,s that it is deadly out to 150 yds. Check it out you might like it & they are way under $600.00

I'm with Sheister on the 541- T , butI would go with the one with the thinner Barrel , not the Bull Barrel . You just might find a used 541-S , but don't know what these are going for these days . I turned down a 541-T with a really nice piece of wood ( hard to find in a T ) for a full blown Rugger 77/22 BenchRest Rifle which proved to be one of least Accurate 22s I have ever owned . I like the looks of the Win / Browning 52-S Repros , but I don't like the Scope-on-a Stilt Mounts required to clear the Bolt . This is one case where I would have preferred the Copy to be not quite so good . An old BRNO 22 is also a possibility , but since Beauty is in the eye of the beholder ....who knows ? I think the Ruger Sporter esthetics are near perfect .

lottsa old, retired blind people there?
They're just being nice....
Plywood topped by a SS scope? how can that be 'beautiful'?

I would have to say for beauty a Kimber Of Oregon Super America with 1/4 rib. The problem is finding one for under $600!

Well, I am biased, my favorite keeper is a 100 year old BSA Martini Model 12. Old world, really old world. Single shot falling block lever action. 29" bull barrel with micrometer peep sites. Seven apertures on the flip up rear site to choose from. Front site is either a post or globe. Not even marked 22LR, cartridge .220.. I have won many a rimfire silhouette match against all kinds of modern scoped rifles. One could find one around $600 if one is patient.

I've seen a couple used Mk XXII's in the $600 range. Now dats a good looking rifle.

Last weekend at a collectors/antique rifles gunshow I was at a table looking at a Winchester model 75 sporter. It sure was a beauty and it was priced below $600.00. I was going to snap it up until the model 71 came strolling in. I didn't have enough money to buy both, so I decided to just get the model 71 and hope the 75 is there next time . I'd pick that over any Ruger m77/22 or CZ 455 any day of the week and twice on sunday!!

Those 75 sporters are the berries. Dad used to shoot 3 position with a Model 75 Target. Many years later he had the barrel cut to 20" and had the stock reshaped to a sporter. Still shoots after having about 100,000 rounds through it.

Brno 611

Yeah Karnis, I was in love with that 75 last saturday and was seriously going to lay down the money until I saw my friends eyes pop out of his head when the 71 showed up. I had my (just bought from the show), "The Red Book of Winchester Values" in my hand and saw what the 75's were bringing. Bout crapped my pants when I saw the guy only wanted "$575.00 FIRM"....However the 71 was too good of a deal to pass up and I had bought a primo Pre 64 model 70 std wt earlier in the morning, before we even got to the show...Hard to kick myself in the azz too hard after getting 2 smoking hot deals that day

For the "under $600" it would have to be my Sako Quad.



This Rem. 581 used to be under $600, but a few face lifts later it exceeds that number.

CZ 452 American ,looks and one of the most accurate 22's I own,it shoots circles around my 77/22

I found this Kimber Hunter Silhouette in the used gun rack for around $600. It shoots as good as it looks. I also have a CZ 452 Varminter. It shoots well for what it costs but the trigger is no match for the Kimber.

It's not hard to make that 452 trigger very nice with either a Yo-Dave kit or the poor mans trigger job found in the stickies in the CZ forums at rimfirecentral. The Yo-Dave kit cost me $20 shipped a couple years ago and in 15 min. it made my 452 trigger as nice as the trigger on my 1416 Anschutz.

I have an Eric Brooks kit in the CZ and while it helps it is not in the same league as the Kimber trigger.

Here is my CZ with the Brooks kit. It really performs for all the more it costs.

I think the Yo Dave Kit is the newer name for the Brooks Kit . The Parts sure look the same . Brooks was a Gunsmith near Cooperstown , NY as I recall . I must have the only CZ where the thickest Brooks "tube" which slips over a Trigger Pin was not quite thick enough ( I think the thickest Wall thickness was 0.020 Inches ) to get rid of all the Creep . Wish I could buy those "tubes" with just a little more wall thickness and in Steel not Brass . I tried the Aluminum Tape they use on Furnaces to get the extra few thousandts I needed , but it did not hold up . Wish I knew someone who could Plate 0.005 or 0.010 Inches of tough Metal on that Brass for me . The Pull Weight Springs supplied with the Kit go well below what I like , and I like Light Triggers.

A Model 52 Sporter in a pawnshop for 599.

My Remington 504 looks damn good and shoots even better!

Love cz452 American

Spend the extra cash on a 453! The set trigger function set at 8 ounces and standard at 1.5 lbs is a blast. Easily my most prized firearm. Stock American short of having it professionally pillar bedded and floated. With cheap CCI SV I can shoot the nuts off a squirrel at 50 yards.

I would not get rid of the blued 77/22 ...

that being said, the 455 american I have doesn't look too shabby.

The only way I would get rid of the 77/22 is if I was moving waaaay up, like a nice Cooper.

I got my 52B sporter out of the local Ad bulletin for $375 several years ago when they were $550 - $600 at gun shows.

CZ but for $100 more you can get a sako quad.

My father in law had one of those little wasp-waisted Browning autos that carried the tube mag in the butt like the vintage Winchesters. I always liked the looks of that rifle.

I have a couple of Marlin Mounties that absolutely shoot, two "wasp waisted" Brownings, and a 10-22 (that one misses on good looking). I found a Remington 510 in my FIL's store room after he passed away. No finish, but that little single shot flat out shoots. Then I stumbled into a 511 repeater in a pawn shop for forty bucks a while back, that is really nice. Not as nice as a 541, but the same gun w/o the glitz. It is a keeper.

A couple of Anschutz 54 sporters were as good looking and shooting as I ever had. I cannot live with the rollover stocks (all they came with back then) so they went. Tried a 52 sporter a few years ago. Disappointing accuracy. XXII look good, functioned not so well on two tries.

Beautifully stocked 541S was a sad story. I scoped it. I always leave the rings finger tight until I get to the range to make sure the reticle is right. This one was and I started shooting. Got two distinct groups a couple of inches apart of about a quarter inch @ 50. Floated it- same. Glassed the action-same. Full glass bed same. Pulled the scope and rings and sent the rifle packing. A few months later I noticed the scope was unemployed and I needed it. That is when the light came on. The rings were only snug. I had sold a really good shooter with outstanding wood. The shopkeeper kept it and still has it in his .22 collection. Jack

Mnimz: I second the contention that the Kimber Model 22 Hunter/silhouette would be tops for looks (AND for performance!) at the just under $600.00 price.
My Kimber Model 22 H/S shoots superbly and the trigger is repeatable and sublime.
I also enjoy the medium heavy barrel and over-all mass of the Rifle.
You will have to look for these on the used market only though as Kimber is so busy building pistols they had to shut down their rimfire Rifle line for now.
The CZ rimfires shoot well enough its just the hangdown magazines and bass-ackwards safeties that keep me away from them.
None of the CZ's (in my beauty gauging eyes) come anywhere near the Kimber Model 22 H/S's for looks!
Best of luck with whichever you choose.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy
P.S.: And welcome to the Camp Fire by the way.

Have maybe a dozen or so .22 rfs. Really like the looks of my CZ 452FS in .22rf and 455FS in 22 WRM. Am partial to full stocks. If I were to choose a self loader it would be my Dad's old Win. 63 with a 20" barrel, still take it out and shoot it on occasion, slide action would be my old Rem. 12C, only pump I've got though.

Looks don't mean to me, I will take a very accurate ugly rifle any day but my CZ 512 .22 WMR is in my opinion super accurate and very good looking.

I am convinced that the CZ 455 is the best value for your money in rim fires below
$800.-.
The American 455 has classic sleek lines, decent to nice wood, all steel and walnut with polymer clips that work very well. The older steel magazines are still available but are in my opinion not any better. No plastic or pot metal in any action or rifle parts.
Best of all, with the right ammo, they are tack drivers and can do routinely .5 inch at 50 meters. My .22lr, loves Winchester PowerPoint and CCI stingers.l
I also have the new Browning T bolt in .22lr, although as accurate as my CZ rifles, I hate all the plastic in the action parts. On top of it all, the T bolt is $150-200 more.
In my opinion Browning should have just reproduced the old T bolt.
I think the CZ is the equal or better then the Browning counter part in every aspect.

My older Brno model 4, a fore runner of the CZ also loves Winchester power points and stingers, shooting it in ragged 50 meter holes.
I use my Brno/CZ on gophers 95 percent of the time. Can not wish a better rifle for it.

Cz455 or 452 or 453 if you can find them IMO best gun for the money

It seems like you want another bolt action, but have you checked out a Henry pump?



I have a CZ452. It's quite accurate. When I go out for bird or squirrels though, I take the Henry (actually purchased for my grandson) or my Marlin model 60.

I like the looks of these rifles but I know some people can't stand how they look. Both are 452 FS and are amazing in accuracy. I was always afraid the full stocks would not shoot well. I was definitely wrong. This is my first time for a picture on here so maybe it will post.

My CZ 512.

I like full stocked rifles so have a 452 FS in 22rf and a 455 FS in .22 WRM. Both very accurate and nice rifles.

1955 Marlin 56 steel receiver lever action Extremely accurate with the target peep, as were all the 56/57 family-

Nice rifle Fireball

Reading some of the above posts about Kimber hunters for $600 makes me wish I live where they live or shop where they shop.

"I was leaning toward a CZ-455...thoughts?"

Mnimz,

I feel the CZ 452 has a more svelte stock, The American. If the hog back stock does not bother you... there is the full stock and the Lux, the Lux has a hogback stock but it is walnut and both the full stock and the Lux have the excellent tangent rear sight (which none of the 455's have!). CZ ran a few maple stocks if the light color works for you and you can find one.

Don't think the Ruger's are under $600 anymore and the only Kimber Hunter I've seen around HERE for that price was after a shop partially burned and had a water damage sale!

Jerry

I cannot resist a good looking 22LR so I'm glad most of them, including many here that folks are so proud of, simply do not make the cut.

A while ago I came across a Ruger 22/10 in full rifle profile w/o the hideous barrel band and with a classic trim claro walnut stock for @ $450. With a Weaver rimfire 2x7 scope, it shoots as well as I can. I have seen others like it that have carved images in the wood -- Boy Scouts commemoratives etc, -- but this one is not of that batch.

Its a keeper.

1B

Also, when it comes to looks for me, the magazine has to be absolutely flush with the stock. That being, they also carry better. Save your money for another year and maybe score a Cooper. Save it for about 5 years and do a C Sharps. One could also buy some nice wood for about $400 and dress up his Ruger. Last, if the bolt handle is the only issue, maybe slick it up with butter knife installation.

I'd have to say the Savage B-Mag........hahahaha

I have to put a vote in for my CZ 452