Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Rimfires Looking for bolt action .22 LR

I have a Winchester 69A that was like new when I bought it many years ago. With a 4X scope on it will shoot 1/2” all day….same design as the Winchester 75 Getting hard to find on sites that are in great shape but are out there if you look around.

Those old Winchesters are super cool. And they generally will surprise ya how well they shoot.

Agree it’s not easy finding one in pristine condition. They so good, they get used and used a lot.

DF

Most of the Savage varmint 22rf rifles will shoot just as good or better than most rifles mentioned. And at 1/2 the price

Posted this in a separate thread but just to throw it out here.

Link to Savage Timber series

Salvage rifles generally shoot pretty good.

And if one has no pride and if showing up at the range with one doesn’t bother you, you probably good to go.

Me, I’m too prideful. Guess I gotta work on that.

Haven’t gotten one, yet. I never say never.

DF

I used to shoot factory benchrest with/against a retired Wall Street lawyer who shot a bone stock cheap Savage off a bipod. He did very well.

Perhaps you can help me find my new .22 LR? I have been using a BSA Martini action for years and years as my target rifle. I have been using a Marlin M39A Mountie as my squirrel rifle, but I am going to give that to my nephew for Christmas (I gave him my pre-64 Model 94 .30-30 for his birthday, so he will need a lever action .22 for practice and squirrels). I want to get a high-quality bolt action .22 LR. I am having a very hard time picking out the right one. Part of my issue is that I haven't ever had to ship for a .22. My dad gave me the Marlin when I was 5. My budget is $500-$600 for the rifle. I could be persuaded to go higher, but part of my problem has been getting acclimatized to current rifle prices. Some things seem to be about the same price they were 20 years ago. Other things are astronomically high. I recognize that the almighty dollar doesn't stretch as far as it once did, but I have been picking up very nice centerfire hunting rifles for less than the prices I see on many .22 LRs.

I am very partial to older rifles with nice wood and blued steel. I plan to mount a scope on it, so iron sights are not a necessity. I don't want a single shot. I want at least five round magazine capacity. I am looking for a hunting and plinking rifle. I'd prefer something that looks nice, but has some signs of honest use. I am right-handed.

Rifles I have been considering, in no particular order, include:

Browning T-Bolt - one of the old ones made in Belgium. I have several FN Commercial Mausers.
Sako 54 - I have a Sako .243 and I love it.
CZ 457 - are there other CZ models that are "better?" My older brother loves CZs, but I have never had a bolt-action CZ.

Are there any others that I should be adding to the mix? Are any of the three above particularly "better" in some way than the others? Thank you for any opinions or assistance you can offer.

Since your brother has CZ's and loves them, you should see if you can shoot some of his rifles. Ask him why he "loves" them. It might be more obvious after you shoot them though.

I shot my brother's 527. It's a nice little rifle. The question wasn't really, "are modern CZ's nice", but rather, "are there nicer/better rifles at the same or similar price point?" The array of responses in this thread have been really helpful. I have to wait a couple of months before I make another rifle purchase (or put in a ton of extra hours this month, but the weather outside is so nice), but barring a deal popping up on an old T-Bolt, I am going to check out the T1x Hunter and a CZ 457 at the LGS (they are dealers for both).