Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Rimfires .22 autoloader recommendations

I've never owned a .22 autoloader and for some reason have a hankering to buy one. Just started to do a little research last night and like what I read about the Marlins (60 and 795). Criteria is it must be accurate and reliable - good trigger is a bonus. Thanks for the info.

The triggers on the Marlins are not going to be light. The rifles will be accurate, however. Somebody on the internet is selling a spring kit to make the Marlin triggers better, but I have not tried them to know for sure. I really like the model 60 for a straight forward, out of the box no frills rifle that will not be modded. There is not a lot of aftermarket support for them, but it really isn't needed.

Remington 552 Speedmaster is very reliable and very accurate. Not cheap though - think $250 to $350 for a nice clean used one. Mine has a nice trigger for the field, but its no bench rest trigger. Tube mag holds 14 long rifle, but they cycle shorts reliably too. Holds 22 of those I think.

10-22 if you swap out the barrel and trigger. Most sporters are good plinkers as-is but I wouldn't expect a stock 10-22 to be "accurate". They can be dogs to dynamite depending on luck and/or $$$.

Marlin 60s and the many similar models are good shooters and inexpensive too.

You didn't mention a budget but keep an eye out for the Weatherby XXII autos. My dad just picked up a pristine tube fed version for 550 and I have a clip fed version of same. They are beautiful and very good shooters with very good triggers

Nothing is more reliable and capable than the Ruger 10/22. Yes they are a bit rough out of the box, but they are super reliable, and as accurate as you want to make them. The rotary magazine is the best designed on the market, cheap, and flush mounted. After market options abound. I have Weatherby XXII's, Kimbers, Remington 541's and I reach for my Ruger 10/22's with Magnum Research Carbon barrels nearly every time.

Its a 10/22 world. More aftermarket for them than all the others combined and if you want to run as issued its all the better.

Agreed: 10/22's are fine rifles if you're no more than four feet tall and have arms not exceeding eighteen inches in length.

You won't get a great or even a good trigger with a Marlin model 60, but you will get an accurate rifle and the easiest take down to clean of the auto loaders. I used to not think much of the Marlin 60 and boy was I wrong....a very accurate rifle and most often out shooting a Ruger 10/22. I now. have two Model 60's. The most accurate auto loader for the money is the now discontinued Thompson Center Classic 22. The T/C Classic 22 did have chamber cutting issues with the extractor cutting the breech face. Just be sure to inspect the chamber area on a used T/C Classic. Also there is a simple fix for the extractor issue on "Rimfire Central".

Much $$$ is spent accurizing the Ruger 10/22 to shoot as well as a T/C Classic 22 does right out of the box.

Doc

if you like old school cool, find yourself a Winchester 74. they will hold their own accuracy wise.

Remington Nylon 66

They make a big boy version in addition to the youth model.

Laffin' here.

Assuming that a balance of cost and performance is part and parcel; the 10/22 is where it starts and ends. Contrary to what many suggest, I've found small need for aftermarket replacement parts other than a trigger tune up. They do benefit from a full length bedding job, or so my sample of two suggests.

Slammer: My recommendation (based on 55+ years of using 22 auto-loaders of ALL makes and models!) is the Ruger 10/22!
Period - nothing even comes close to it in my extensive experience.
Good luck with whichever you choose.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

My semi auto 22 rifles with no problems:
Remington 550-1
Remington 550-1
Remington 550-1
Ruger 10/22 with Shilen barrel and STG trigger
Ruger 10/22 with Tactical Innovations barrel, Kidd bolt, Volquartsen trigger
Browning SA-22
Browning SA-22
Remington 552 speedmaster
Remington 552 speedmaster
Remington 77 Apache
Remington Nylon 66
Remington Mohawk

My semi auto 22 rifles with no problems but seem obsolete:
Birmingham model 20
Stevens 87
Savage 87E
Savage model 6
Winchester 77
Winchester 77
Winchester 190
Winchester 190
Marlin A1
Mossberg 50

My semi auto 22 rifles with problems:
Marlin 88
AR-7

I have a beater marlin 60 synthetic that rides on the seat of my SxS most times. It's a little rusty. But shoots good. Never any hang ups. Upgraded to fiber sights (Williams ?) and and tacticool oversize bolt. Great gun for what I give. ~$150?

I like 10/22s ok, I dont like loading the mags but they function good usually, if your talking right off the shelf with no mods a Marlin 60 is hard to beat, most of them shoot better then they should with correct ammo...... Remington 552's are usually good shooters as well

Beat me to it... Look no further than the 10-22..

These rifles are often overlooked--I have two and both of these will shoot 1/2" or better @ 50. The only semi-auto that I have owned that will consistently out shoot them is a

T/C 55

Jim

If you want a tube fed, then Marlin 60.
If you want magazine fed, then Ruger 10/22.

Both are reliable and accurate right out of the box. The Ruger can be upgraded if desired.

I agree on the 74, they are very accurate in the autoloading line and very well made