Considering a .22. Ideas and opinions please, my brain is fried.

[hikeeba]

Ugh. I'm a little burned out from doing research, research, research. Maybe you guys can throw out some opinions to help steer me in a direction.

I would like to get another .22, preferably a long gun. I'll only be doing paper punching/plinking. It'll be a fun gun. Accuracy is somewhat important, and so is price. I'd really like something with open sights, too, but I am not writing off a scoped gun. I currently have a Ruger Mk II 4" standard barrel and a Winchester model 62 pump gun. They are both great fun to shoot, but I'd like something else. Here is what I've considered thus far:

-Standard Ruger 10/22, but I fear I want to mod the daylights out of it and make it a benchrest queen. $$$ It is hard to find aftermarket heavy barrels with open sights (that are in stock).

-Ruger 10/22 Compact (16 1/8" barrel), but these are impossible to find. This one I'd just put a Hogue stock on. I like the shorter barrel idea, and with a Hogue stock, it would match my NRA Mini-14. I know that's sort of messed up, but, oh well...

-Thompson Center R55, but they are expensive. However, from what I've read, I wouldn't need to mod this gun, as it already has a good trigger and decent barrel.

-Marlin 70 Papoose, just because it is small, it breaks down, and it seems pretty cool. Definitely wouldn't be much in the way of accuracy, but I could be wrong in assuming that.

-Henry lever action, just because I think lever guns are neato. It would also carry some historical significance, and I'm a sucker for nostalgia.

-Savage Mk II, because I think it would cover the accuracy and fun factors well. Plus it has Accutrigger goodness. Downside is no open sights, unless I get the target model, but then I wouldn't be able to fit a scope to it if I wanted to (I've read the target model has no provisions for a scope).


I have also thought about getting a .22 handgun, too.

-Another Ruger, either Mk III or 22/45, just because I have some familiarity with the platform. Too bad the mags aren't compatible with the MkII.

-Buckmark, probably something with a longer barrel. But I am sort of new to having a gun that requires actual tools (real screw driver or hex key) to break it down. I dunno...

-Sig Mosquito, just because it looks cool and functions more like its larger counter parts. Looks like mags are expensive, though.

-Walther P22 - See Sig Mosquito

-Walther SP22, but these are new and I haven't seen them anywhere.

-Ruger Single Six, for the nostalgia aspect


As you can see, I'm pretty much all over the place.


Any thoughts or opinions on the above would be appreciated. I do realize the 10/22 is probably the most popular .22 out there, but for some whacky reason, I am hesitant to jump on one. Maybe I fear that I'll get the modding bug, and it'll end up costing me tons of $$$. I guess I'd like to stick within a range of $200-$400, ideally.

Thanks for reading!

[Brickboy240]

The best 22 rifless I have ever shot:

(and I own several of these, too!)

Marlin Model 39 lever action

Winchester Model 63 semi-auto

Remington Model 550-1 semi-auto

Remington Bolt Action Models 510, 511, 512 and 514

Browning Automatic 22 rifle

Browning BLR-22 Lever Action

Now, many of these are very pricey or hard to find, however if you find one...they're very much worth owning (like the Winchester 63 and Browning Auto). Some are easy to find and surprisingly inexpensive (the Remington bolt guns). All will out-shoot the average new production 22 rifles like the Ruger 10-22.

I own a Ruger 10-22...its my daughter's beater and yes they're fun, but if you're punching paper, you'll have to do tons of work to get the groups you'll get out of the 100 dollar Remmy bolt guns.

Check your local pawnshops for one of those Remington bolt guns...chances are they have one and its at or under 100 bucks. They'll give you dime sized 50yd groups all day long and are very well made guns. I own three early Remmy bolt gun 22s and they are almost always my "go to" guns for serious shooting. They're surprisingly good for the money you'll spend.

If you have 350-450 to blow....check the gunshows for a nice used Marlin 39 or Browning Auto 22 - they're big fun and definately worth owning. You can get a nice used Marlin 39 for what you'd pay for a new Henry and the Marlin is TEN TIMES the gun. They are along the quality level of your Winchester 62 pumpgun...well made rifles, indeed.

Good luck in your search...early 22 rifles are a big part of my collection. I love older 22 rifles!

- brickboy240

[maxxborist]

i am VERY happy with my CZ rimfires. you should look into them.

[Joeywhat]

I love my Walther P22. No malfunctions caused by the gun. Picky about ammo, though.

[jmichna]

I've got a Marlin Model 60SS, semi-auto, open sights, tubular magazine; a Savage Mark II bolt action (came scoped, however); and an old Mossberg 346KC bolt action, tubular magazine. I owned a Ruger 10/22 semi-auto with open sights (contemporary to the Mossberg, in the early '70s).

Out of the box, I'm very pleased with my Marlin 60SS and my Savage Mark II. I use better brand bulk ammo and have not had any of the feed problems you sometimes hear associated with Marlin Model 60s.

The Marlin Model 60SS is a sharp looking rifle, IMO, and draws comments at the range.

ETA: There are a number of Savage Mark IIs that come with open sights. One is the Mark II-F.

[fishngrits]

GSG-5.
German Sport Guns GmbH - GSG-5 - specs

[mhillsing23]

A Remmy 552 is a great semi that shoots shorts, longs and long rifles. They still make them, but are pricey new. If you can find an older one at a decent price jump on it.

I have a Remmy 597 which is a semi auto compared to a 10/22, but I like it much better. They are more accurate out of the box and have a better feel to me. You find a lot of older reviews complaining about feeding issues but with the new magazine design I haven't had ANY problems.

CZ bolt action rimfires are great too. I really like the American and Silhouette. Keep in mind some of their models don't come with open sights because they are intended to be scoped.

If you are going for another pistol stick with the Ruger family and get a 22/45. They are good stock, but with a little work they are amazing!

[G McBride]

I think I would get a Henry just for the lever action and the historical interest of a lever action. I have heard good things about them and one will be in my collection by year end.

[Wild Rice]

I second the GSG-5.
GSG-5 22LR copy of MP-5

[longtalltechsan]

Originally Posted by Wild Rice

I second the GSG-5.
GSG-5 22LR copy of MP-5

How much are these selling for?