I'm on a tight budget. I can get the 702 plinkster for $260 or the ruger for $360 brand new or $300 used (both with the wooden stock). I know the 10/22 gets all the praise, but worth the extra $100? I'll need the rifle for target shooting at the range and an all around fun gun.
Getting my first rifle. Mossberg 702 vs 10/22
- Thread starter mbps
- Start date
Hightrailtracker
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- SW Ontario
*cough* ....................... Remington 597 Heavy Barrel 20 inch ..................*cough*................ FSRC
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Hightrailtracker
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- SW Ontario
Remington Nylon 66 Apache Black if you can find one buy it , should be a great shooter , my 66 A/B (1974 built) will give any other auto loader out there today a run for it's money !
Marlin 60, Marlin 795, Savage 64, or if you can find one, Savage 6A or Stevens 87.
Current factory 10/22's are poor value for the money. Overpriced in my opinion and quality can be dodgy. Was very disappointed in the stainless birch sporter I bought earlier this year - sold it pretty quick.
Seems that I keep saying this in multiple posts, but the 10/22 and Rem 597 have a lot of plastic in their actions. The Marlins and Savages feature more metal and seem to me to be more durable.
I've owned one or more of all those mentioned here; no longer have the 10/22 or 597.
10/22 fans remind me of a friend who owns a Honda Civic. It's the best car ever made, he says, after replacing the tranny twice under warranty, replacing the rear window under warranty to fix a leak, and as long as you keep spare fuses with you for when it rains or gets cold.
Current factory 10/22's are poor value for the money. Overpriced in my opinion and quality can be dodgy. Was very disappointed in the stainless birch sporter I bought earlier this year - sold it pretty quick.
Seems that I keep saying this in multiple posts, but the 10/22 and Rem 597 have a lot of plastic in their actions. The Marlins and Savages feature more metal and seem to me to be more durable.
I've owned one or more of all those mentioned here; no longer have the 10/22 or 597.
10/22 fans remind me of a friend who owns a Honda Civic. It's the best car ever made, he says, after replacing the tranny twice under warranty, replacing the rear window under warranty to fix a leak, and as long as you keep spare fuses with you for when it rains or gets cold.
If you're on a budget, a Marlin 795 (box mags) or Marlin 60 (tube mag) should be topping your list. Buying a 10/22 gets you less accuracy, at a higher cost. The iron sights on the Marlins I've seen lately haven't been great, but I put cheap scopes on them anyway. The last (new) 10/22 I bought was so inaccurate that putting a scope on it didn't make an ounce of sense anyway. At 40 yards, I couldn't reliably hit a pop can with it. Different ammo/different scope never changed it's accuracy.
If you are on a tight budget,and want both a fun gun and a target shooter ,don't overlook the Norinco JW15 ( BRNO knockoff) bolt action, simple, well made and very accurate.I have both the long barrel (26'') and the short 13'' barrel .....not as finely finished as the BRNO but just as functional....around $200....give or take...
Marlin 795.
More accurate out of the box than a 10/22, just as reliable, far less money, upgradeable should you decide to go that route.
I still have my 10/22 - for no other reason than I have half a mind to monkey around with it some day - but I haven't actually shot it in over two years now. My 795 gets out to the gopher patch on a regular basis, and the accuracy and reliability inspire me to upgrade it, instead of having to upgrade it like I would with my 10/22 to get decent shooting out of it.
Don't buy the hype on the 10/22...
My 795 gopher slayer in its current config.
More accurate out of the box than a 10/22, just as reliable, far less money, upgradeable should you decide to go that route.
I still have my 10/22 - for no other reason than I have half a mind to monkey around with it some day - but I haven't actually shot it in over two years now. My 795 gets out to the gopher patch on a regular basis, and the accuracy and reliability inspire me to upgrade it, instead of having to upgrade it like I would with my 10/22 to get decent shooting out of it.
Don't buy the hype on the 10/22...
My 795 gopher slayer in its current config.
Rickster66
Regular
- Location
- Montreal, Quebec
Marlin 795 is a much better deal at $175 and more accurate than either of the two options. Add a Simmons scope for $50-75 and you have a very capable .22 lr platform. If you like tinkering/upgrading then the 10/22 is a more suitable platform as the options are endless.
My shooting buddies and I have quite a few different .22 Semis that come along on nearly every range trip.
Only one of my buddies owns a Mossberg 702 and it is affectionately known as the "mossturd stinkster", and the nick name was given to it by the owner...not us.
It never fails to fail no matter what ammo brand.
We always tell him to sell it but he stubbornly refuses and I kind of hope he keeps it as it drives him crazy and provides us all with some serious entertainment as his face turns beat red and the curse words fly.
One of my group also owns a Mossberg Blaze and I have nothing bad to say about that rifle, it digests dirty bulk with aplomb and is plenty accurate...a real budget rifle that performs and I'd recommend it over the "stinkster" any day of the week.
Only one of my buddies owns a Mossberg 702 and it is affectionately known as the "mossturd stinkster", and the nick name was given to it by the owner...not us.
It never fails to fail no matter what ammo brand.
We always tell him to sell it but he stubbornly refuses and I kind of hope he keeps it as it drives him crazy and provides us all with some serious entertainment as his face turns beat red and the curse words fly.
One of my group also owns a Mossberg Blaze and I have nothing bad to say about that rifle, it digests dirty bulk with aplomb and is plenty accurate...a real budget rifle that performs and I'd recommend it over the "stinkster" any day of the week.
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- Location
- Nova Scotia
Look at a Marlin over the Mossberg.
Ive had a bunch of them over the years and now have two 10/22s.
Although a Remington speedmaster is really the best one, will even spit out shorts.
If your hungup on the trigger you can fix it or ask why like a friend of mine does.
He has shot his bone stock for 30 years with no issues. Its the same as new ones.
Although a Remington speedmaster is really the best one, will even spit out shorts.
If your hungup on the trigger you can fix it or ask why like a friend of mine does.
He has shot his bone stock for 30 years with no issues. Its the same as new ones.
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Shooter_01
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Durham Region, Ontario
Another vote for the 10/22.
Hightrailtracker
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- SW Ontario
< I'd be willing to wager his 30 year old Ruger was built a LOT better than the current ones.>
I bet your right and not only Rugers but many others too .
I guess I was wise to keep my first two NIB guns I bought in 1974 a Rem Wing Master 12 G , Rem Nylon 66 Apache Black 22lr both are still in excellent condition and I have never had an issue with either one to this day .
Some times the expression " they don't build them like they use to " seems to ring true ....Sad ..
I bet your right and not only Rugers but many others too .
I guess I was wise to keep my first two NIB guns I bought in 1974 a Rem Wing Master 12 G , Rem Nylon 66 Apache Black 22lr both are still in excellent condition and I have never had an issue with either one to this day .
Some times the expression " they don't build them like they use to " seems to ring true ....Sad ..
You would think it would be better but about the same really.
I asked him to borrow it to compare, so i had his late 60s model, one from the 90s and one from 2010.
Same receiver finish, matte vs shiney, same stock trigger except for the 2010 but the pull is he same. The only differences were the Lyman sights which are actually the same and the wood was much nicer with a metal buttplate.
Other then the years on it you wouldnt know it was any different. The 10/22 is a well made rifle regardless of The date in my eyes. I can pick of 12ga hulls at 50 yrds with them all.
I asked to swap stocks with some cash but no deal.
Cant comment on a 2016 model.
I asked him to borrow it to compare, so i had his late 60s model, one from the 90s and one from 2010.
Same receiver finish, matte vs shiney, same stock trigger except for the 2010 but the pull is he same. The only differences were the Lyman sights which are actually the same and the wood was much nicer with a metal buttplate.
Other then the years on it you wouldnt know it was any different. The 10/22 is a well made rifle regardless of The date in my eyes. I can pick of 12ga hulls at 50 yrds with them all.
I asked to swap stocks with some cash but no deal.
Cant comment on a 2016 model.
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