Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Rimfires Will $500 buy much?

Looking to shoot .22 rimfire a bit more accurately - probably 50 yards on average with 100 yards being a bonus. I already have an old birch-stocked 10/22.

Thinking some options are:

- upgrade my 10/22
- CZ bolt action
- Ruger American rimfire

Suggestions on where my money might be best spent?

I would get the CZ.

CZ would be my LAST "choice"...mainly because I shoot 'em all.

Hint...............

Be sure and upgrade your ammo if you haven’t already done so.

CZ or Tikka T-1X, either will be good and will fit your price range. If you are a wood and blued metal guy that likes tradtional styling then the CZ, if you are into more modern styling then the Tikka T-1X.

The Tikka T-1X really impressed me with its out of the box accuracy.

The Ruger American Rimfire failed to impress me, I tried two in 22 l.r. and 50 yd groups ran from around and inch to 1-1/4".

drover

There is a Tikka Tx1 for sale in the classifieds now. Maybe the best for dollars spent in a bolt action rifle. Tikka’s are normally boringly accurate. Good ammo helps.

For that money, I would start searching for a Winchester 75 Target. Hopefully a later model with the grooved receiver and swept back bolt so you can mount a scope easily. If you're patient you should be able to find one in our price range and it should shoot better than any of the other units you mentioned once you find the ammo it likes. My 69A (same action) and 75's all seem to dote on SK Standard Plus, but you'll only know if you experiment a bit.

Another one to keep an eye out for is an early Remington 513T. Great shooters, but not great triggers. At least the Winchesters have adjustable triggers on them, not sure you can adjust the Remington down to a reasonable amount, but there is always a way or a spring kit you can get to reduce the trigger pull....

Bob

If Kerri wasn’t cut from posting she could tell you

LOL. Bob you find any trails blazed lately. 🤣😂🤣

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Hint...............

If say CZ over RAR, a nice 10-22 could be done for $500 too.
I also have found the Remington 581s and 582s to be very accurate and affordable. You could add a good scope to one and still be under $500.

Hint.............

The Savage thumb hole model is nice.

Hint...............

Well you could spend the $500 on a 10/22 and perhaps it would work and shoot well. To me odds are much better with a CZ 452 or 455. Used they will leave a bit for a scope and rings. Don't know the Tikka rimfire, but Tikka's in general are very accurate.

Didn't mention it, but I already have a Bushnell 4200 that I plan to use.

Admit that I like the idea of getting a completely different rifle, plus I like the idea of having a bolt action 22.

Sounds like the CZ or Tikka might be the best and easiest way to get going with this - CZ for wood, Tikka for synthetic.

Appreciate the help.

LGS had a new 455 American with honest walnut for $369 the other day, just to give you an idea. Bore and crown looked very good to me. I was tempted. Bought a .45 instead.

Look around, $450 landed me this Anshutz and vintage Redfield scope at a local pawn shop earlier this year. I sold the scope for $125 and ended up with an extremely accurate (Aquila Pistol Match) rifle cheap.

Nice grab EdM!

Yep an Annie for $450.. Nice. My last buy was a CMP Kimber 82G, but a bit above the $500 from the OP. With ammo it likes it will do 10 in less than 1/2" at 50 so happy with that. Also have a CZ 452, it will do close to that, I think they are about the best out of the box 22LR for the money.

As far as used rifles it has been mentioned the Remington 581/582 is a VERY good choice- the KSA-22 is a Really nice rifle for the price and also very accurate.
With either one of these rifles U will have enough $$$$$ left for a Scope and possibly some ammo

God Luck

Jim

Find a good used CZ 452

CZ

I've got a 582 that's mediocre with cheap bullets. I gave about $250 for it, nice finish but the stock was a disaster and I re-finished it, Maple. Wouldn't say bad though but I haven't tried Wolf or Club in it yet. I picked up a 513T for less than $500 that needed a lot of cosmetic work and I got it working for not much more than the redfield inserts and some hand work on it. I got the trigger down to 3 1/2 lbs, but it's still not a nice trigger. The stock is beautiful zebra stripe though after I put tung oil on it. I picked up a new Savage BVTSS for about $300 and it's not bad but still not broken in. Not quite up to the 513T though, except for the real nice accutrigger. If I did the Savage MKII again, I'd get the cheapest synthetic stocked one and try to improve it. Never had a CZ, Annie, Tika or Kimber but thought about them. If I saw one for $450 I'd probably buy one. A real shooter is an obsession and you'll be chasing it for a while if you go down that hole. There's a fair amount to learn. I've got my 513T at consistant 3/8" max over 50 shots at 50 yds. Most of the others always open up to 3/4" with fliers with 50 shots, but plenty of near single hole stuff in between. With 100 yds, more velocity will help, but I've not had much luck with 100 yds.

The first BVTSS I got I had to send back, the bore looked like it had been tapped not lapped. They sent me a new one and it's much better.

I just got a CZ 457 Varmint and it shoots CCI SV into about .75 at 50yds for 10 shot groups. It shoots better than I do. Get the Talley rings for it.
PS I was tempted to get the TALO exclusive Ruger 10/22 #1235 with the checkered birch stock and light varmint barrel but am glad that I went with the CZ. It's classier and I need all the help that I can get.

I consider a 3/4" group with 10 shots at 50 yds not very hot. It's got to stay under 1/2" for me to even consider it's going to work and then with about 50 shots. I've had plenty of 5 shot groups that stay next to each other, but the 15th one goes off to 3/4. Doesn't work in my book. But then I'm picky. I'm talking off a good bench and with a scope above 15-20 power. I've never found rings or mounts to add up to much unless the rifle is really that hot.

My CZ 453 routinely shoots 5 shot groups right at .25 at 50 yards.

It really depends on what you want to do. Of your suggestions I would go with either the CZ or upgrade. You might go look at www.rimfirecentral.com or steel chickens site and find a target rifle of some sort for that money as well.

A heavy barrel Savage will likely get done what you want it to for half the price. Buy a Savage for $250-$275 then a Ruger BX trigger and a good barrel with the remaining money.

I've have or had all three. I put a kidd barrel and target stock on my standard 10/22. With factory trigger I'm getting .8in 10 shot groups @100. Eley tenex and Weaver v16. Shoots better than my cz455 american. My winchester 320 shoots better than my cz. Stock issues with my ruger american predator and I didn't feel like replacing it so got rid of it. 10/22 are just fun to mess with, finishing up one with a 16in GM sporter barrel, bedded the stock, went with a brimstone tier 2 trigger, volquartzen tune up kit and kidd charging assembly. I hope it shoots!

CZ is hard to beat !

If I were limited to $500 for a rimfire rifle, I would buy the Tikka.

If limited to $500 I would start prowling the used market for a nicely maintained example of a rifle that started out as an $800 rifle a couple years ago. More bang for the buck than a new sub-$500 gun.

That said, the last .22 bolt gun sporter I bought was an old BRNO #2, unfired looking, for right at $500. The last .22 bolt gun of any type that I bought was another M2 Springfield, in righteous condition, for just a few bucks more- $700. The deals/bargains are out there if you have the nose to dig them out.

When I recently went to the local Gun Store and asked for the most accuracy for .22 he pulled out a Ruger Precision.
I did not have the $400, only $300 of fun money.... but it ifit the criteria of being under $500
Is there a reason that has not been suggested?

I'd be shopping the used market and the collector gun shows or Gun Broker once you figure out what you are looking for. I grew up with a Winchester M62A pump, but always wanted an internal hammer M61 and found a nice one for that kind of money at a collector show.

If you want accuracy, the Remington 513T someone mentioned would be a good choice. I had one for a time and it was an incredible shooter. That’s the good news. The bad news is that it was real heavy, with that bull barrel (24 or 26 inch, I forget). Most recent 22 is a Tikka T1X, and it’s really accurate. And light and easy to handle. So glad I bought it.

If you like a sh*tload of cheesy plastic on a gun ,OK.

But the CZ 457 will shoot every bit as good in any caliber offered and for $20-40 less have a Walnut stock and virtually no plastic.

The CZs also have barrel & caiber interchangeability that the Tikka lacks.

Also , CZ is investing Millions of dollars in a new Arkansas plant.to employ hundreds more Americans.

Berretta / Tikka just want our $$$$$.

CZ is a fhuqking joke.

Hint................

Thanks for sharing.

No problem .Glad to help.

I have to say the 513T I have is actually the best shooting 22 I've got. The rounds go in the chamber tight and the bolt locks up fine and is not picky. The Savage MKII is close and may be able to do as good for $200 less, but looks like a race rifle, not a real rifle. The 513T is heavy metal, heavy stock and the biggest bugaboo is the trigger but if you can deal with that it's a real shooter. In the MKII the bullets are loose in the chamber, and you have to be careful about using the bolt, but the trigger is a wonder. I'm also not a fan of short barrels. I'm supposing the 513T would out-do the MKII because of the velocity at 100yds, but that's to be determined.

Good intentions, I'm sure but your execution was off.

I've multiple Remmie 5XX's...the RAR crushes 'em mechanically.

I doubt I've chopped more than a few dozen 22LR barrels.





Pass the increase in rigidity and muzzle velocity increase.

Hint...................

Then sell him one of your .22's for $500.

If it was mine, I'd do this with the $500:

$225 for a CPC full tune up.
$185 for a 24" GM stainless fluted sporter contour barrel.
$ 60 for an American style modular stock.
$ 25 for a high comb American style stock module.

kchunttwatt,

I don't sell...but simply shoot it all and then some.

Hint.....................

Not hardlly....:)

For the money out of the box, I would put my money on a CZ. Proven to me more than once. Money on 10/22 improvements, a custom gun, maybe, maybe not. Go over $500 then.........

Which is exactly what I expected you would say.

I am just not into overpriced & overhyped foreign made Tupperware..

Sorry if that conflicts with your World view...

No conflict here. I simply said what I would buy if I had $500 to spend. I believe the CZ is a fine rifle too.

On the other hand you would be everyone's last choice as a human.

Gnome!

Easy, CZ 457.

18" S/S American. You bost the BEST magazine in the Industry and obviously the perks of S/S. Inclination is easily arranged and the triggers smoke ALL things CZ,with about 30 seconds of "work". 500 Clams will yield a NIB rifle,Boyd's handle and a 25 MOA 1913 extended rail. Hint.





Nothing else begins to touch it,for the jingle.




And CZ is simply fhuqking HILARIOUS in "comparison".



Pardon my shooting it all.

Hint................