Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Rimfires Accurate Budget 22 Semi-Auto?

One of our sons bought a model 60 and was happy with it. He just added a home made sling and was off hunting rabbits and ground squirrels with it out of the box. I listened to his advice and bought a model 60 with a laminated stock at Walmart for $160 normal price. I did add a low end scope I had around and bought a low end sling for it and off we went to shoot and hunt.

There is a simplicity with the model 60 as it is a "buy it and shoot it" rifle. Simple plain and enjoyable.

I have built many 10/22's with restocking them and adding match grade barrels and found them to be a delight when shooting or hunting. I was able to work on the triggers in those rifles and the final product was a very accurate rifle with a lifetime of shooting ahead for it. Those 10/22's will group extremely well with premium ammo and the group sizes are about a 1/3 of the group sizes with the model 60.

HOWEVER, I never really bought the model 60 for it's accuracy, which is ok for hunting purposes, but rather like a trip back to the teen years of simply having a 22lr rifle to take out hunting and enjoying it.

A model 60 should serve the OP well at the distances he will be shooting......if he can find one. I would think that since they have been discontinued those that own them are less likely to sell. Good luck

Answering the question of why they cut the tops off the pins.....

Before too long the pins are pretty badly shot up. Cutting them off below the neck gives a new flat base, and a lighter and smaller target for 22s.

Another vote for the Ruger 10/22. They are the most adaptable option with huge aftermarket support for all kinds of parts and upgrades. I have several, which I have used in various matches including Steel Challenge.

A basic model is about $300 new when on sale. They are so ubiquitous that if you look around you can probably find a used one for a good price.

I have a 10/22 and like it, but there are a lot of 10/22 clones out there that can probably be had cheaper like the Winchester Wildcat. However, if it shoots anything like my Bergara BMR bolt action you might want to look at the Bergara BXR. It's around $550 most places, and you might find it a little less right now.

it'll ruffle some feathers but every Marlin model 60 or variation of is always outshot in a 10/22 I've seen

CZ 512 outshoots any other semi.
And will function with subs.

For now, I have settled on a solution.

My wife hasn't shot her 10/22 for years. She offered to let me make a few mods to it, and to use it for the pin shoots.

So the BX trigger, a Picatinny rail, and a red dot are on order. I wiped some stain on the stock to cover some light scuffs that the grandkids put on it. I'll add a sling, and that will be what I use for the time being.

Thanks, everyone.

Sounds like you hit on all the necessary points to make a 10/22 shoot better. Enjoy!

I am a 10/22 fan, have four of them. While the BX trigger is a good upgrade, a Volquartsen hammer in the original trigger group is better and cheaper. Anyone with decent mechanical skills can install one in half an hour.

Oh NOW you tell me! [wipes GSR off hands, puts stock trigger group in spare parts bin].

After while I'll have to give my honey's 10/22 back, so that is good to know. Thanks.

Thompson Center makes a nice in expensive semiautomatic 22lr rifle.

As others pointed out, the 10/22 is hard to beat at that price point. But Thompson has one upped the game, with some nice improvements and pretty much full 10/22 accessory compatability. So yes, I think that is an ideal choice.

Problem is that I can't find one to buy.

There is a used one on UtahGunExchange, but the seller won't respond to text, and phone calls go straight to voice mail, and I don't get any response there either.

I'm headed down to Orem on Friday. I'll check Gunnies while I'm there.... maybe Gallenson's in SLC along the way. But it is starting to feel like there is a 10/22 in my future.

A CZ512 will shoot rings around nearly any .22lr Semiauto that hasn’t been massaged in some way. They aren’t ammo fussy and are generally priced well. I wouldn’t overlook it if you come upon one.

5 round Mag, you’d spend more time reloading than shooting.

i use my ruger 10/22 , I dropped in the ruger bx trigger and changed the sights to Williams Ace in the Hole set, which is a red fiber optic front sight and a ghost ring rear peep sight, very fast and accurate.