Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Best rimfire semi-auto?

Gents,

I usually prefer bolt actions, but would like a semi-auto rifle in .22lr or .17 HM2. What is a quality semi auto, new or old? T/C made one a few years ago that looks nice (threaded receiver, nice trigger, steel receiver, etc.).

I've had a Marlin 60 and a 10/22 but didn't care for either. The 60 didn't seem as reliable as the 10/22, and forgive me but I don't like the Ruger! I don't like the painted alloy receiver, crappy trigger, barrel attachment method, etc. I don't criticize others for liking the 10/22, but it feels more like a toy instead of well made firearm (I do like Rugers in general though).

And, I'd rather not buy a 10/22 and replace everything but the receiver! Probably easier to start with a different receiver to begin with. I know the 10/22 can be a sweet shooter, but would like something with a little bit better fit, finish, and design if that makes sense.

Thanks,

Jason

A Remington Model 552 might suit your fancy.

http://www.remington.com/product-fa...s/autoloading-model-552-speedmaster.aspx

They have been made for 50 years or so and are still in production. Another older rifle you might like would be a Springfield/Stevens Model 87A or 187.

https://www.google.com/search?q=spr...mp;ved=0CHMQsAQ&biw=1280&bih=585

Great suggestion. I like tube feeds and the fact that it handles S, L, and LR.

I've had a T/C and it was a great gun, just don't waste your money on the 10 round clip.

I had a 552 for several years. I liked my 572, 39, and old 510 better so sold it when I was thinning the herd. Accurate and fed well. No problems, just had to keep it clean like any other firearm.

I haven't shot one yet but the new CZ 512 seems interesting, and if it is as good as their bolt guns it should be a sweet shooting rifle.

Browning makes a nice take-down auto-loader.

I replaced EVERYTHING but the receiver on my 10/22 over a several year period.There is a reason the 10/22 has spawned an entire aftermarket industry.Wound up with a really sweet shooting reliable rifle.

Finally decided to start from scratch with a MOA
SS receiver and apply all I've learned as far as parts,modifications,etc through trial and error.The main lesson I learned is,the most expensive is not necessarily the best.

I also played with both and both guns got sold off since they didnt hold my interest but now a friend recently purchased Rugers new take down stainless 10\22 and it seems fit and finish is made to a higher standard that my old 10\22, I am close to grabbing one on my next trip to the dealer!

Get a Kidd Supergrade. You won't have a cheap painted finish on the receiver, a poor trigger, or a mediocre barrel and you won't need to buy anything but a scope.

The Remington 552 and Browning are good suggestions. If you can find one (try gunbroker) Weatherby used to sell what looked to me to be a high quality semiauto and if you want to spend some real money a Winchester 63.

The New 552s are nice rifles but have a raised comb which makes their open sights pretty much useless. IMO they're a scope only rifle. The new ones are also around $500 or more. Remington's been making these since the mid 1950s and you can find good used ones for about half that without the raised comb.

I've ran 60s and 10/22s, but never really had stellar accuracy. I had one 60 that shot fairly decent with CCI green tag, enough to win one match I shot it in(factory, sub $200 class).

My Remington Speedmaster is very accurate with CCI mini mag HPs. Sub 1/2" at 50, plenty good enough for me. OTOH, my Rem Pumpmaster is not nearly as accurate as my SM.

One thing to be wary of on the SM is to be sure to thouroughly clean the chamber after shooting shorter loads. The fouling will accumilate and can cause LRs to stick just short and the rifle WILL fire and blow the case out. I've had it happen twice and it can be a PITA to get the case out of the chamber when the head completely seperates. Not to mention it's a bit rough on the ears.

Nylon 66

I looked at the prices on "gunbroker" and based on what's there the Weatherby, Browning or Win. Model 63 are all, to me anyway, real money, $650 and up. 552s are about what I said.

I'll vote for the 552 also.

I've owned/shot all of the rifles mentioned.

The Marlin rifles (Model 60 and variants) are, by far, the best value for the money as far as accuracy. Almost all Marlin rifles will shoot great.....but this is ofset by the fact that they are generally fairly plain and ugly. They also require more frequent cleaning than the other rifles mentioned. Neglect a Marlin Model 60 and it WILL fail to feed and fire. Clean it regularly and it will outperform rifles costing twice as much.

The Weatherby rifles do look great and perform adiquitely. You will pay a premium price for the Weatherby name and "looks", but generally not get an equal return in accuracy or reliability.

The Remington 552 rifles are decent looking and very reliable. They require a normal amount or maintainance, but not eccessively. They do have the added benifit of working with any ammo they are fed (.22 LR, .22 Long, .22 Short) which can be an advantage to some. They are not as "pretty" as the Weatherby rifles, nor as "ugly" as the Marlins...but generally they "work" every time.

There is one Winchester rifle I really like. It is not the normally suggested Model 63.....which is a great, but awkward design. No, it is the short-lived Model 490 which was a Model 100 look-a-like. This has been a reliable and accurate rifle, but does require occational cleaning to remain functional.

Now we come to the best of the lot. This is the Ruger 10/22. It might not be the "pretty" candidate (although in the "Deluxe" version that has cut checkering....it ain't bad) and there are some that are better. I'd like it a lot better if everything was steel instead of cast alluminium....but it ain't bad. Considering the accuracy (which is most often outstanding), looks and value-for-the-dollar, the Ruger is head-and-shoulders above anything on the market.

Unless you are going to regularly shoot .22 Shorts (damn seldom today) or want to impress your friend with a "name" (Weatherby) the way to go for most is the Ruger 10/22. I p-refer the "Deluxe" with cut checkering, but the "Standard" version is just as good.

If money isn't an issue, hands-down, go with a Volquartsen. They are extremely well made and scary accurate!

I have a T/C R-55 Benchrest model that is very nice but it is mainly a range rifle and has been discontinued. I'm thinking hard about the CZ 512 mentioned earlier. More of a field piece and would fit right in with my 2 CZ 452 bolt actions.

The T/C 's mentioned are great rifles. My Silver Lynx is the most accurate .22 I have.




The Sporter in 17mII is an absolute laser, and mucho funno in a skwirkle patch....



Personally, I like the walnut stocked Classic's better. Longer, lighter barrel and a not-so-chunky stock

Well,
I have a few rimfires, but the only semi that I have left is a 15yr old 10/22. After I bought it I was at Shilen on a Sunday when they were testing 10/22 barrels in the shop. I was lucky to get the best test barrel. They said they couldn't sell a test barrel to the general public and offered it to me at a very very good price. I was also able to buy one of the few Jewell 10/22 triggers. I changed out the stock and did some shimming of the trigger housing, changed the extractor and firing pin. It shoots very well. Don't use it much any more.

My current favorite semi-auto .22 is a Ruger K10/22-22, Wal-Mart special, with a 24" GM fluted sporter barrel.

If you want a reliable, but less accurate, rifle, the Remington Nylon 66 would be a good choice. They feed flawlessly and as long as you clean the powder residue off the bolt/barrel interfact every 1,000 or so rounds, as long as there is ammo in the magazine they will feed, fire, and eject.

If you like rifles that feature blued CM and walnut, the old tubular feed Winchester 77s are good rifles. The clip magazine 77 Winchesters that I've owned, shot, or fixed haven't been nearly as reliable as the tube-feed 77s. They are kinda heavy and don't have the best triggers, but they are generally quite accurate.

Jeff

I am a lefty and the Nylon 66 gave me a nasty flinch. It spits burnt powder all over a lefty shooter. A tuned 10/22 is hard to beat. The Marlin 60 is great, but the trigger is usually harder to tune. My favorite knock about semi is an old Norinco ATD, a knockoff of the Browning, that I bought new for $80 because it had a ding in the stock. It is an absolute tackdriver and is very light and compact.

For a .22 autoloading walking-around rifle, it's hard to beat a Browning SA-22.

Most accurate out of the box 22 Autoloader I have ever owned is a TC Classic.Sweet trigger.Number two is an old Browning BAR style made in Japan.

Overall, it's hard to beat a tricked out 10-22. As a gun nut, I've always had to work on my guns and there's so much available for the 10-22 that it would have to be #1.

I had a T/C and agree it was accurate with a good trigger. That gun, unlike the 10-22, built up a lot of gunk in the action. The 10-22 design sorta segregates the fire control parts from the chamber. My T/C went down the road and for that reason.

I have a Nylon 66 and think it's a great .22. Those are very tough and functional rifles. My Walther barreled, Clark trigger, "worked on" 10-22 is more accurate and I like it more than any semi auto .22 on the market.

With all the aftermarket products available to the 10-22 shooter, one would be hard pressed to not have a gun that totally fills the bill.

DF

DF et.al.

I have a friend that used to shoot in the ?IPSIC ?. Whatever the initials, 22cal, metalic, silhouette comp. in La.

The vast majority of 22 cal rifles was RUGER 10-22.

I happen to like mine.

+1!

Never owned nor shot a Volquartsen, but have handled a couple and know a few Volquartsen owners. Volquartsen's version of a 10/22 is a great little rifle! In both 22 and 17 caliber.

I love my Rem 597. Scary accurate. 50 rounds at 50 yards inside a silver dollar. (Scoped)