Cost effective semi 22

BigBraz15

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My neighbor is asking about thoughts on a reasonably priced semi auto 22 rifle. Any thoughts on where to look or what to stay away from?

I believe he would be looking in the $300 range as a peak.

Thanks!
 
A savage MKII or B22 for a bolt-action or A22 for semi - either one is more accurate 'out of the box' than the Ruger. And cost less!
 
Savage 64f. Good accurate gun for the price. Better than a 10/22 in my opinion with the downside of low customizability.
 
another vote for the 10/22. most of them shoot pretty decent. I especially like the older ones. Personally, I hate the old cooey 64 jammomatics, and would not take one if you gave it to me, because of the pot metal mags.
 
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Zortron, the 64 is very accurate for the price - I have 2 of them. I just bought a 'better' scope for one of them, the 2nd has a vintage El Paso Weaver 4x for 'close-in' shots. I had an A22 but I hated the "Reset CLUNK" o the trigger group so I dumped it, but it was accurate. NOT as good as my Sav B22, tho. Wish I could find a CZ semi, still looking . . .
 
The 10/22 I have no love for. The bolt release is bad, and everything about the magazine is awful (the oem design, the release, and the absurd 10 round limitation). They are very overpriced for what they are.

I paid somewhere around $150 for my 64 brand new. Can’t beat that.
 
Tell buddy to find an older 10-22 and don't look back . the 64 has a smaller ejection port and is more prone to jamming if you have any unburnt powder and they have a similar action to the old Mossberg semi's. the Marlin is another option. sure the 64 is accurate but a good old Ruger 10-22 with a scope works just fine . and buddy when he has more cash can buy a different barrel for it in the future but I doubt he or she will need to. shot lots of critters with a 10-22 many years ago on a farm . and you can get lots of custom parts for the Ruger also. tell buddy to spend at least $200 on a scope in the future . a Redfield or Burris . 3x9 . someone above said that the 10-22 bolt release is terrible and the mags are limited to 10 rounds ??? the 64 has what a 7 to 10 round mag ?? no ? and if we could get the 25 round Ruger BX mags from what I have heard they work flawless . the 10-22 if the Glock of the semiauto 22 rifles as far as I or most in the know people would say .
 
For that budget I personally think I’d opt for a 10/22

I have a Savage A22 that’s been supreamly accurate and reliable but general consensus here is that’s not majority of case. I also have a takedown 10/22 also very reliable and fun if not as accurate.
 
Used 1022
Lots of factory and after market parts.
The standard BX1 10 round magazine is one of the best designed magazines. It is copied by alot of others.
The after market is swamped with accesories. In fact you can build a clone of a 1022 with everything but the magazine
There are devices to clip the mags together.
The 25 round BX 25 had feeding and fit issues as did the Butler Creek versions.

Savage 64 hasn't improved much since the original design . My last choice. I'd buy any number of bolt actions first.

Marlin 70/795 are a great rifles , no longer made, parts and magazines are hard to find . The 25 round magazines are junk.
 
Here's a target I did with my 64 using a 3-9x40 duplex scope. 10-round groups of diff ammo at 25-yds. OK for a 'hundred dollar rifle'. I now have a red-dot on this rifle for 'quick shots'.
Sav-64-25yds-Digital.jpg
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Based on what I'm seeing in the EE, determining gun values is getting tricky....especially if Marlin 795s/60's are suddenly worth some of these asking prices? lol

Since the OP didn't specify intended purpose, just "22 semi" then I wouldn't argue the 10/22 advice in this instance. I think the Marlin's I've had (3 x 795s) all shot better than the 10/22 I bought new, but they were light guns and didn't exude quality. They did behave as they should, and carried a lower price new-appropriately so.

As for what to go for, my own purchasing decisions support what I think-I got a Thompson T/CR22, a 10/22 clone made with improvements and in spite of the (green) stock that flexes a little, ergonomics are great and the gun can shoot. I've chilled-out on my opinion of Ruger 10/22s, but would still pick a T/CR22 over one today if I was getting a semi. I would still NOT pick a 64, but I have more experience handling/fixing them then I do shooting them.
 
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