Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Rimfires If you bought a .22 today, which one would it be and why?

Well, I bought a (nother) .22 a couple of months ago. I'd been trying to find a Win 63 for obvious reasons but they were pretty much out of reach. So when I learned that the Taurus version was a respectable rifle, I checked it out. Everything looked positive, and so I inspected one at the local g'store. The rifle looked and felt beautiful, and the price was unbeatable. With over 500 rounds through it, it has not had a malfunction of any sort - perfect operation every shot. Great balance, hefty, fairly substantial barrel, all steel construction, beautiful bluing and maching/woodwood. Granted, I've not held or shot an original 63 to compare, but this copy feels pretty good. I am very happy with it. I'm just waiting for the tang sight to come in.

grouseman

You bring up an interesting thing. A couple of years ago, I was on a pistol buying kick. Doing all of the research, and comparing everything in the equation, I decided on a Taurus. Why? Because it was the best in every respect; design, fabrication, quality and price. During that "mountain climb" I was on, I read that Taurus is a well managed company, which turned me on, given the sad state of affairs with Smith &Wesson here in the US, at that time, not now.
I'm laughing, cause just last night I was looking for an older Winchester 63 in Gun List, as I never owned one and thought I really "need" one. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> But, the turn off was what they are asking for them.. Too much for me.
Thanks for the reminder about Taurus. I WILL be looking at them when I go to the gun shop today, if they carry them??
Don

Remington 541T.. See my post on this page. I know they're not made anymore but if you can find one, buy it.

Just did by a new 22 LR. Got a CZ Trainer, all I can say is
WOW. Put a 6 x 24 Bushnell on it, shoots 10 in a quarter with
bargin 22 shells, got some good Federal Gold Match and all 10
where touching. Went with a Trainer, at $175.00 was a good buy and a 24 inch barrel I beleive, hardwood stock will take a better beating on the front on my quad.

This will not be my last CZ.

I've got Winchester 22's in 62A, 63, and 9422 Legacy.
Two Ruger 10/22's, one HB custom and one 22" rifle.
One sako 22 bolt gun, and one Savage Stevens Favorite.
The next 22 rifle I buy will be a Winchester 67 single shot, just like the one dad bought me for my 10'th birthday.
Dang, I shoulda NEVER sold that gun! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />
Virgil B.

Ditto on the 541T.

I would buy a wrf or a henry lever or a 66

I don't need any more .22s, but I want to echo the support for the Remington 541T and 541S. They are superb. I buy them when I see them, and then sell them to friends and family. I don't keep them because I am LH, and they are not.

Another gun that I buy when I can is the old Browning T-Bolt. It is a great mechanism, and quite accurate. But like the 541s, they are beginning to be priced out of reach. Be careful--some of them are "salt guns" with extensive rust under the wood.

WHAT? You sell them because you're LH??? LOL.. I'm LH and I've shot RH rifles for better than 5 decades.. Who cares, in this particular incidence, whether you're LH or RH. It's an easy rifle to use either way and I'm hoping you can make the switch and keep one next time. They ARE definately beginning to be real scarce.

I started shooting big game just as the first LH Rem 700s came out, so I am strictly a LH person, as far as bolts are concerned. There is only so much room in the safe. I still get to shoot the 541s I have sold--they just get paid for by brother, father, hunting buddy, etc.

My LH 22s include a couple of Oregon Kimbers, a T-bolt, and a NULA. My "ambis" include a 40x BR gun, a Remington pump, a Model 63 and a couple of 10-22s.

funny... today I saw a browning auto 22 takedown... going thru the debate with myself, I wonder which one of me is gonna win?? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I own a Dakota 22 for all the reasons you listed!. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />Too
bad they are not made anymore, but used ones can be
had. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

I restocked mine with a beaded cheekpiece, two screw gripcap
and rimfire recoil pad. Wood was bastogne and duplicated from a pattern I made by Claude Gatewood.

And by the way, I wouldn't swap it for two Kimbers! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Oh yeah I have one of those too, forgot all about it nice little Belgium made 22 auto. hides in behind several Ruger 10/22's. Ruger is my choise for a 22 one can do a lot of things with a nice litte Ruger.

Bullwnkl.

I'm happy with the one I bought last spring, a TC Classic semiauto.

Marlin 39 just to see how it compares in fit and accuracy to mine that dates to 1947. That or a used Remington bolt gun in the discontinued 500 series. Ward

Cooper 57M. It is beautifully crafted, puts 5 shots into one ragged little hole at 50 yards (as the factory test target shows), and mine is left handed.

I have to go with the Marlin 39A. I've still got the first one I ever bought. Owned a bunch of 10/22's, a few Marlin's and Remington's, but none have ever equaled the 39A. I've got a Browning 22 auto that is near equal, but the 39A is my first 22RF love.

Yep, one of my very early 22's was a Marlin 39, but that was 50 years ago when I could only afford to own one rifle at a time.. So, it got traded.. Sure wish I had it back as I LOVED that thing...
Don

Well, I guess I've actually contradicted what I said in my earlier post. I had said that if I were buying a new 22LR I would buy would be a 39A. What I actually did was trade in my 1897CL (39A) and purchased a CZ 453 American in 22LR.

I had recently put a scope on my 1807CL replacing the Marbles peep sights. With the scope on, I learned that the rifle simply was not shooting consistently no matter what type of ammo I tried. Sometimes it shot great, but most times it was hard to get 1" groups at 25Yds. I finally got frustrated with it and sold it.

The CZ's fit and finish is great, it's accuracy is excellent, and the single set trigger on the 453 is absolutely outstanding. I'm very pleased with this rifle and would highly recommend either a CZ 452 or 453 to anyone thinking about purchasing a new 22LR.

firstshot
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Make your fist shot count!

I'd look for a nice 9422. Preferably one made in the early 70's.