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

Tell me which .22 you would buy, whether it's based on QC, fit and function, looks, realibility, whatever. What brand? I'm just sort of curious if people believe there is a certain .22 that simply "stands out" among the rest.

Price range, please. There's a world of difference between the Savage bolt .22s and the Kimbers. Both great guns in their own respects, but FAR apart in price.

I am partial to the Savage and Marlin bolt actions myself. The Savage for the "Accu-trigger" And the Marlins for the "microgroove" rifling.

Hmmm, if you put the Savage trigger in the Marlin would that be a "SAVAGE MARLIN"? Sounds like a gamefish.

When it comes to .22LR, I'm kind of partial to Lever actions. I like a gun that has some "heft" to it, that feels like a grown-up's gun. I also want somthing with quality, that will last forever and I can hand down to one of my kids someday. I'd want it to be accurate enough for popping squirrels in the head, and more than anything....just plain fun to shoot.

With that said, If I were buying a .22 today...it would be a Marlin 39A. I've got a Marlin 1897 CL which is just a special edition of the 39A and I just love it. No, it's not as accurate as bench rest bolt action, but that's not what I bought it far. I'ts a fun gun to shoot and is plenty accurate for the squirrel hunting I do. 5 shot groups at 25 Yds are just over 1/2" CTC and thats better than minute of squirrel head.




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Make your first shot count!

I would stick with either of my two favorite bolt actions, the Ultra Light Arms or the Cooper. The ULA in a synthetic stocked rifle or the Cooper in a walnut stocked rifle. Both are great rifles, built to high standards of quality and accuracy.

Being left handed influences my decisions obviously. Based on my experiences with them, they are two of the best.

If I could find an original S model or Super America Kimber M-82, I would choose that. Among currently made rifles, either the Cooper 57M Custom Classic, or possibly an Anschutz 1710D with the Meistergrade wood. The Kimber is a little more compact and lightweight, but if you want a big, heavy, full sized rifle sized for adults instead of teens, the Anschutz is it. Coopers workmanship is astounding, great wood, great metal finishes, perfect checkering, and they are guaranteed to perform or Cooper will make it so. For a less expensive rifle, right now I would go straight to CZ.

I "need" an original 52A Sporting Rifle..Having said that I believe Anschutz makes the most consistently accurate production 22 on the market today.....

Most likely it would be a Winchester, (old or new, lever or bolt), or a Ruger semi or bolt. Most other brands don't appeal to me and I've been extremely happy with these brands.

For some reason, probably just $$, I've not gotten wrapped up in the Kimber/Cooper craze.

No knocks on any of the others. JMO.

Does Winchester still offer a .22 in a bolt action model? I didn't see any on their webpage.

I would have to pic a Winchester 52B original sporter. Why because it is the bench mark by which all other sporters are judged.

No unfortunately Bearstalker Winchester does not currently make a bolt action rimfire. I wish they would make another run of the 52s. The Miroku model that I have shoots just great. Winchester could kill the compitition if they brought it back like it was made years ago. We if they changed the bolt design it would.

JC

I agree. Where I mostly see Winchester bolts, and levers for that matter, are at gun shows. Most guys aren't interested in the old ones because they don't know the value. The dealers do, that's why they're on my list of what I'd buy and why I'd buy it. Assuming the deal was right.

Last .22 I bought was a 9422M and I paid through one of my orifices for that one. But, it's mine now. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

this summer I picked up a winnie 9422m xtr, nice wood, finish, and a great price.... sometimes even I get lucky <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Ruger 10/22.
Then I'd soop it up a bit <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />.
Bart

I would buy another 94/22. Reliable, accurate, god looking..........I would end up buying it to give to my girlfriend so i can get my personal 94/22 back.

I just bought a new 22. I bought a Ruger 10/22 Target. It is a little heavy but very accurate and capable out to 100 yards.

I use it for shooting gophers and whatever else. My son had a 10/22 and we swap magazines. Can't think of a better working/hunting 22.

Probably a pump gun, because I already have a bolt, an auto, and a couple of levers. Remington Fieldmaster, most likely.

I'm sort of itchin' to get my hands on one of those Ruger stainless laminated 10/22 with the heavy bull barrel.

Tho, I find that Marlin stainless/synthetic bolt action rifle to be very tempting as well.

Either way, I wouldn't mind using either one to take out on a cold winter morning/afternoon to do some rabbit and coyote hunting.

Ruger is coming out with a compact 10/22 that looks intersting. would be a perfect .22 for my wife. The loss of the barrel band can't hurt accuracy.

http://www.ruger.com/Firearms/News-09-26-2005.html

Marlin 39-A, because everyone needs to one a good one, and I don't.

The question is far too general for me to answer. I like lots of 22's, all the way from an H&R Sportster up.
Benchrest shooting, plinking, hunting, position shooting.... they each have a "best" one for my likings.
Don