No real good reason but I’m planning on picking up a new .22 and would like to hear suggestions. It’ll be used primarily for woods hunting rabbits with my Beagle on our daily walks. I try to stay 1 notch above the deeper value guns in favor of something with more soul.

I’ve already got a 77/22 Mag so primarily looking only at a 22LR.

For reference - have a soft spot for the BL-22

Can get a bl22 for that if you can find one, sounds like you are into the wood/blued guns, if thats the case, check out the cz 457. If plastic doesn't bother you, the tikka t1x is the bad boy on the block right now. Love mine.

CONTENDER - add Bbls as needed............

I thought maybe you were just looking for ammo on a $600 budget.

I'd look for a nice pre-lock Marlin 39A. If you've never handled or shot one you will be pleasantly surprised.

BL-22's are alright if you don't mind a 10 pound trigger or putting time/money into a trigger job and still not having a particularly accurate rifle. My BL-22 had absolutely the worst trigger of any .22 I've ever owned and also had the distinction of being one of the least accurate. My Henry out shoots it by a bunch and had a crisp, 3 lb. trigger out of the box.

$200 for a 10/22.

$200 toward whatever stock moves you, use the difference to buy ammo.

$200 for a CPC full tune job.

Close, shipping has gone up so CPC will be a little more. I'd pull money from the stock budget for better sights in the woods.

I sold a '73 deluxe model 10-22 yesterday for $450...............

CZ 457 American.

My latebrother had a Grade II BLR. Very pretty, but only a so-so shooter. He sold it when he bought a Kimber 82.

For the use you describe, I’d be tempted to buy a Browning SA-22, which should come in right about $600, last I looked, unless you insist on a Belgian.

I agree with Pappy the SA 22 was built for rabbit hunting. Lighting fast and a dream to carry.

I love my Ruger 10/22 T best small caliber rifle I ever owned.

There is a very nice one FOR SALE , RIGHT NOW UNDER THE CLASSIFIED SECTION.

Great suggestions! I’ll have to dig into the models I’m not familiar with. Thanks fellas!

CZ 452/455 is awful hard to beat for the money.If you get lucky a Anschutz 64 action could pop up.

Marlin lever action. Pairs well with beagle on walks. Has a lot of soul bing wood/blued/lever action

A classy and interesting one in your price range.

https://www.gunsinternational.com/g...-24-semi-auto-22-lr.cfm?gun_id=101629794

Different strokes for different folks, but I would only recommend one of those miserable bottom ejectors to someone who I didn't like.

My brother bought one of the Brownings and didn't like it for that very reason. He quickly tired of hot, empty brass raining on his forearm/going down his shirt sleeve.

My ex was shooting my old Browning SA22 and it spit a hot into her low cut shirt. Other than her dropping the rifle it was a pretty funny deal.

They are a pretty neat little rifle, easy break down and very lightweight. Just got that nasty bottom eject thing going.

Semi? You might find a tricked out TC/Bergara/MR 10/22 clone and be ahead of a Ruger. I like my Ruger 10/22s, but others seem to build better 10/22s than Ruger, lately. For a bolt gun, as others have said, CZ.....or Tikkas ‘seem’ nice to me, and shoot good. Haven’t gotten my own yet, as I tripped over a limited run T-Bolt first.