Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Rimfires Your dream .22LR. What is it?

Just curious what yours would be. I've been thinking about selling a few my centerfire rifles and getting into something nice.

A few of the Coopers have caught my eye but who know's. I'm easily swayed. What do you like?

Terry

I am sure others will not agree, but I just built my dream rimfire rifle last winter.

I started out with a Stainless-Steel Ruger K77/22 Action and went from there. I used a Clark Custom Guns 20" Stainless-Steel .920" Bull Barrel chambered in .22 LR. Clark Custom Guns uses Lothar-Walther Barrel Blanks to make their barrels from.

I then acquired a Volquartsen Laminated Roll Over Monte Carlo Rifle Stock, which I free floated the forend on.

Since my Rifle was originally a Synthetic Stocked Ruger I had to buy the trigger guard, magazine well and action screws for a Ruger K77/22 VBZ to be able to put it in the Laminated Wood Stock. These come with Ruger's Target Grey Finish, so that had to be polished off to make the Stainless-Steel shiney to match the receiver and barrel.

I used Ruger 1" High Scope Rings to mount the 4x16x42mm AO Weaver Riflescope.

I totally reworked the trigger until it breaks like glass at 1 1/4 pounds safely, and also added an adjustable overtravel stop.



I am totally pleased with how this project turned out and how this rifle shoots. This rifle definately shoots better than the shooter if you know what I mean, ie if I miss I know it is ME.

I have always loved the feel of the Ruger 77/22 action. I also like the flush fitting 10 round magazines that do not protrude down below the stock.

Everyone has their own idea of their perfect rifle. I am sure others opinions will be different than mine, and rightfully so. That is why we all live in this great country as we still can make our own choices in regards to some decisions.

Good luck with your quest.

Larry

A NULA comes to mind.

Go to Guns America, look at Kimber Super America .22. Mine is for sale and has the best stock they ever put on one.

Tacksmacker

Mine is a vintage Remington 513S (sporter) model of the 513T target rifle. Full-sized, great trigger (1.8 lbs) and shoots at least 9 different types of ammo under .5" (best group of 5 was .115") at 25 yds. If I could find one with the grooved receiver for scope mounts--well, that would be just peachy.

I believe I already own mine ... either the XXII or the 39A. I have no desire to own another rf rifle except perhaps a 1894M in WMR ..... I'm happy with what I have

The one I'd like is one I cannot have, nor locate - but still salivitate over, 25 years after I first saw it.

It was made entirely by the hand of an elderly gunsmith/friend, who has passed away - Bob Foster, may God rest his soul.

Bob said he made it, because he just "felt like doing it", and no commercial rifles suited his fancy, anyway.

I was privledged to have Bob do a step-by-step show/tell with me, during the week or so that it took him to build his own .22WRM boltgun from scratch, excepting the barrel - for which he used what I remember as being from a Winchester.

The blued action's OD was no bigger than it needed to be to contain the slender barrel shank and cartridge; while the walnut stock was carved into a typical low-comb classic design and beautifully finished in oil.

Bob additionally made the scope mounts & rings to a very high standard - but had not yet scoped it when he passed.

That rifle lept to the hands and settled in firing position like it had grown there - One could ask for nothing better.

My gennie 1934 Model 52B Sporter doesn't even come close.

.

Any variation of Mark II or 10/22 for me.....especially if you add a Tactical Solutions threaded barrel and SWR suppressor!!

I like that Mark II! That looks like fun.

Here is one on my quite toy's

Nice! Is that a Burris red-dot and, if so, how do you like it? I have an Ultra-dot L/T but don't think it's the same quality as the Burris Fast-fire....

No, that's the original that started it all. It's an Optima.

Im redoing the first rifle I even owned, a Remington 581 I got in 1976. Im duplicating my tactical rifles stock by hand and will be dropping it in to make a trainer. Im looking for 1/2" at 50yards, nothing jaw dropping but I want the ergonomics to be on the money.

20 something years ago I built a semi custom Remington Model 581. I had the barrel shortened (also removing the front sight dovetail), polished the bore and set it in a Bishop's Classic Style Walnut Stock. I worked over the trigger and mounted up a scope. Man that old rifle shot great.

I had kind of forgotten all about that old rifle until I read your post. Sure wish I would have never sold it to my cousin.

Larry

Of course it depends on what YOU want to do with it...the best of the best?
-pick it up and shoot fantastic groups? Anschutz, 54 action.
-hang it on the wall and polish the beauty? 1959 Belgian Browning.
-build your own? Suhl 150 action with Douglas barrel

There are a Ton of great choices at every conceivable price range. Have a great time in your search! Experimenting with different guns, then selling them at a loss, is an easy and fun way of getting an education!

I have a Ruger 77/22 that works, but....for a dream shooter, a Cooper would be sweet or I would be very satisfied with an Anschutz 1416D HB - I'd love to find one with a sporter stock instead of the current beavertail format.

Easy question for me.
A Remington 40XB Sporter or a Winchester 52 Sporter in 2nd place.

My dream .22 is my left hand Kimber of Oregon M82. It's just the plain base model Classic but "plain" is a relative term. Full size but lightweight, great trigger and accurate as can be.

Since they don't make these anymore I would heartily endorse your desire to get a Cooper or Anschutz or other high end .22. Even a top of the line .22 doesn't cost a whole lot more than some factory centerfires these days and the joy of ownership repays itself many, many times over.

I bought my dream 22 6 months or so ago, Weatherby XXII sportin a 2.5X8 Leupy. Next would be a Win 52 sporter.

Joseph

Not near as flashy as some, but I'm pretty darn satisfied with my old 39A.

My "dream" .22 would have a better trigger than the Ruger 77/22 will allow, otherwise it'd be a 77/22 with a .920" diameter, 20" or so fiber-wrapped barrel in a light stock.

I've got a setup like that in a 10/22 and a Jard trigger. That is pretty good, shoots well, packs easy even for long distances, but sometimes it flings brass where I don't want to dig brass out of, thus the urge for a bolt action.

I guess ... maybe a 40X rimfire from the Remington custom shop ... assuming it uses the same trigger group as the centerfires so a Jewell HVR could be installed as an upgrade.

Tom

I have been collecting, selling and shooting .22s for almost 50 years. I would like to have a custom rifle built, a single shot, on an action like Ruger's #1. If it is a factory built rifle, It would have to be a Cooper Western Classic. I own a Super America, a Model 52, 541S and many others. I'll probably sell some rifles and get the Cooper.

Dream 22 would be a 22mag in a Ruger No.1

My "ideal" 22lr would be a Kimber Montana.

Aside from that, I use this:

Great taste as usual Brad.....man do you know how to pose irons for gun porn!!

Got mine, a "sporterized" 10/22. Might add a suppressor.

Brad, great lookin' rifle.

Which Leupold?

Brad is that a Ruger?

I have always been fond of my Waffenfabrik Training Mauser 98 in 22LR. I don't know alot about mausers but this one looks just like an issued 98 just in 22LR, I even have the bayonet for it. I got if from my grandfather who took it home from Germany, still have the capture papers. My grandfather always claimed you could light a match with it, I don't know about that but it's a tack driver.

Brad,
Looks like an oil refinish on that Ruger.
I did the same thing on a 77/17, including rounding the square edges. Sure improve this stock.
Virgil B.

Since we're talking dream 22LR I'll take a Martini Hagn single shot with octagon barrel.

No re-finish. Standard stainless Ruger 77/22. I took it out of the Zytel stock (sold that on ebay) and put it into an NIB factory walnut stock I got on Auctionarms.com for $100. To make the conversion from plastic to walnut I had to get bottom metal (stainless "Target Grey") from Ruger. I dropped in a new sear (lightened the trigger to 2lbs) and mounted a standard 2-7x33 Leupold. It shoots around .5", five-shot, fifty-yard groups with the cheapo American Eagle factory stuff.

All in all a superb little rifle!

Here it is when it had a 3-9x33 on top (shows the wood better):

Now dat is one model perfect fence post pic!

Dober

Terry: You just can not spend enough money if you go with any factory gun. I found this out years ago. As you may remember this is why I seek the same Orbendorf barrel for my M-2 1922 project. Unless you can get 5K+ in a project you just won't be satisfied.

In other words you just got to make up your mind and beat your pocketbook to death. If you do, I will feel your pain!

CZ 452 LEFT HAND with a nice 6x42 Leupold.

Its very sweet for a lefty bolt gun.

BMT

Well, we are talking about dreaming here right? My .22LR dream gun would be a Ruger 10/22 that has been SBRed and FA and with a threaded barrel with a screw on suppressor. I'm not a fan of FAs other than the Thompson M1, but a FA .22LR would be sweeeeeeeeeeet! With the cost of ammo as it is nowadays, it would be the wisest choice for a FA.

LINK To just wet your appetite. I know that this will be more to your liking.

That would work! I had to tone down my wants a little though. There are some serious rumors floating about my company closing down. I did buy a little BRNO model 1 and I'm refinishing the stock.

So far I'm liking it.

Terry

Not really, just clean the closet. This is the time to be trading up, unload the less desirable and cash out for the big ticket stuff. Now is the time to unload the stuff that never sees the light of day/never gets shot or seen.

I'm content with my old Annie cuz she sure shoots fine.

This is my Cooper Custom Classic in 22lr. The Kimber Super America is sweet also.

I took my Kimber Super America out the other day, dont think I have shot it for a year or so and I just dont know what would be better. Feed it Wold MT and it shoots bug holes. Don't look half bad either.

Very nice.

Right back at ya

A couple of beauties for sure! Those are the ones I'm talking about.

Terry

Here are some Coopers:



and some Anschutz:

Here's a 10/22:


and a Remington 541 T:

passport, that is a beautiful Kimber!!

And a beautiful bench too!

You are to kind, thank you

Jeez fw, seeing your handsome collection makes me feel better about my own .22 obsession.

Do you have a favorite in that bunch?

I am pretty simple... The 541T does it for me.. maybe a badazz piece of furniture on it though..

A Spikes Tactical dedicated .22 upper with a can on a M16 lower would be my 'dream' 22.

I have a 77/22 and an Anschutz I'm quite happy with. What I would really like though is a factory Ruger #1V in 22LR.

I've posted these before. At this point in my life, I'm not really into "dream" stuff, as material things have diminished in importance. That said, if, when the low wall comes back from the gunsmith with a new barrel, it meets my accuracy expectations, it could become my favorite.

The Ruger has a factory sporter contour SS barrel, and the stock has been refinished and checkering expanded. A trigger job, of course.

Paul

Kleinguenther model K-22, followed by the Voere or Mauser versions, respectively.

Could be pretty darn happy with a Sako P94S heavy barrel as well... the newer Quad varmint that I already have ain't a bad way to fly either...

I guess this pair had me dreaming till this spring. I woke up and don't need to dream anymore. I'm finally happy after almost 63 years. LOL!! Always wanted a rifle with the skeleton grip, skeleton butt, inletted swivels, checkered bolt handle and super wood. Both are Cooper Americans. Still unfired. I use my 1712 Anschutz's(one in wood and the other a Fwt.)for silhouette and hunting. But I like carrying my Sako Quad(light) and it is a shooter with exc. trigger.

I'd hafta shoot'em

Those are absolutely beautiful. The dark stocked one would be worth selling a kidney for!

Hell I would give 2, I have 3. I can drink straight tequila and piss glaicer water.

LMAO!!!!! Thanks guys. The one in french walnut is back with LeRoy Barry(LeRoy built both rifles when he was at Cooper) to have the skeleton grip cap installed and bolt knob checkered. I bought it 2 years ago and I just keep dreaming of the one that had it all. So this spring I bought the darker one which had everything I ever wanted on a 22LR.

Well then Passport, I'll sell two of your kidneys and keep my own! You da man!

And then I'd shoot the dark stocked one.

Everything but your fingerprint on the trigger!!

petr,
sorry about not getting back to you sooner. I hadn't checked this thread in a while.

The Cooper .22 with the better wood is probably my favorite. I call it "Noggin Masher".

Yep, or my left cojone!

Original M63

How can you possibly stand to not take those beauties out and shoot them? I don't think I could last 24 hours without wanting to know if they shoot as well as they look- and I bet they do!

Bob

Remington 547

talk about aiming low?!?!

Really? Not a Cooper or Kimber? How bout one fom the Remington custom shop?

Give it another go.

A brace of Martini & Hagn small fallingblocks with top wood. One in Walnut burl and one in bird's eye Maple (both in full stock).

A Remmy 521T Nice rifle and very accurate.

Some people dream of what they can obtain. Or even when they can obtain something better or that is looked at as better, they may not want it.

I'm very happy with my two CZ 452s and my T/C R-55 Benchmark...looking to get a couple more CZs (one being a CZ 452 FS).

The CZs make me very happy. I'd rather live my dream.

i would have a turbo action, shilen 4 groove ratchet barrel, harrel barrel tuner, jewell trigger set at 2 ozs, weaver t36 scope and a mcmillian edge stock. that would be my perfect rifle.

i have a hall actioned lp/rb action, lilja barrel, fudd tuner, jewel 2oz trigger, weaver t36 and a wallnut wood stock all smithed by james messer. it shoots very well and i'll keep it and maybe change to a harrel tuner and a better barrel later on. at this moment i'm 4th in the points at the range i shoot in matches at, and this is the first year i've shot in them. the rifle will out shoot me for sure!!!!

The Winchester 47 target that I had when I was a kid and traded away. Would love to be able to give it to my grandson.

My dream .22LR is a Ruger #1 with light weight barrel and the Ruger scope mounting system. Ruger will never make it. So I have already sent my Ruger #1 in 30-06 sent out for conversion as we speak. Can't wait to get it back.

I have to sneak in here.
Last week I dropped my 10.22 lab-experiment and broke the stock (long story). My dad was shooting his 22 Mag, but had his Browning 52 clone in the rig, so I borrowed that.
Nice, classy, solid rifle. Not too fond of the trigger. But still, a wonderful gentleman's rifle and it killed gophers just peachy.
Anyway, at the end of the day Dad had an incident with the Mag, so we both needed to go to the range before hitting the gophers one last time.
So I benched the Browning last night, and at 50 yards it literally piled the bullets on top of one another. I was stunned and impressed. I'd always thought it was a good rifle, but never a rimfire death ray.

Have a Kimber of Oregon 82 that I've had for probably 15 years. Not sure if it would qualify as my dream .22lr, but it has been nothing but accurate fun thru all that time. Had some spare time today and put about 150 down the barrel all but 5 offhand. Those 5 I shot benched off a couple boards. Not sure what they measured but 3 of the them were touching and the other 2 not far away. Feels almost like a BG rifle and more accurate than most.

Until I saw "Jawshunting" 40x custom on a previous post I never wanted another .22lr.

There is one I would like to have back. A Savage break open exposed hammer .22lr over a .410 with a plastic fake wood stock that I used a lot as a kid. Don't remember the Model number.

i have my dream .22, a 1975 or so 10/22. i had a beautiful kimber for a few years but sold it because it was just too pretty to hunt squirrels with. give me a reliable, reasonably accurate rig for squirrels and vermin here on the farm and i have all i want. years ago i wanted one of those stevens crackshots. always thought they would be a perfect squirrel rig.

Battue, it was a Model 24; the originals had a "Tenite" plastic stock, like many of the cheaper Savage/Stevens guns of the late 1940s and 1950s.

Mike

Thank you. I had a lot of fun with that rifle/shotgun combo.

i have 1922 springfield m2 being built as i type!!!!!! great wood, lija br. custom mounts, leu.scope. did i menton great wood? well yall get the pic.

so far, been pretty happy with a pair of Cooper JSR's in .22LR & 17M2...but in the back of my head i'm thinkin i'd like a pair of Custom Classics with upgraded timber to go with them.

since i already got the LVT's to go with them, kinda thinkin i'll just collect the whole set, so to speak.

somehow the perfect gun is always the next one.

FyrepowrX-Great looking stocks on those two rifles.