^might also add, if you take issue with the Ruger BX-10/rotary mag...then I think there is a good chance you haven't used a variety of 22LR box magazines. They're less troublesome than your garden variety Anschutz mag costing about 3X as much. I don't love loading them either, but enter the Uplula mag loader. SBI makes an adapter that allows you to run Remington 597 mags too.
Cost effective semi 22
- Thread starter BigBraz15
- Start date
^might also add, if you take issue with the Ruger BX-10/rotary mag...then I think there is a good chance you haven't used a variety of 22LR box magazines. They're less troublesome than your garden variety Anschutz mag costing about 3X as much. I don't love loading them either, but enter the Uplula mag loader. SBI makes an adapter that allows you to run Remington 597 mags too.
- Location
- Nova Scotia
For under 300$, I'd pick a Marlin 70 HC or 795.
If you can afford 450 or less, a 10/22.
Savage 64 last gun I'd recomend.
If you can afford 450 or less, a 10/22.
Savage 64 last gun I'd recomend.
keep in mind that a marlin 60 or 795 trigger is just ok at best, so is the stock 10/22 trigger. A norinco jw-20 (browning sa-22) knock off is admittedly roughly finished, but is also generally very accurate and has a nice crisp trigger.
there was a time when 1990's era Norinco jw-20's were going for $125. After a thorough cleaning these were good shooters.
there was a time when 1990's era Norinco jw-20's were going for $125. After a thorough cleaning these were good shooters.
I'm going to guess that because he's asked you for advice, he's not particularly knowledgeable about firearms. And maybe not warm to the idea of a used firearm (although that would open up a ton of great options for under $300).
The JW-20 is a great little clone of the Browning semi. I have one and it's a fun little rifle, accurate enough with iron sights. Light, kids could handle it no problem too. But I wouldn't let your neighbor try to take it down, I can see him breaking something. And then losing the little cartridge stop because nothing holds it in once you remove the bolt.
10/22 is pretty much foolproof. Cooey/Savage 64 is generally a fairly reliable rifle too. Rossi RS22 looks like a Marlin 70 clone, anyone have one? Not too much at that price.
The JW-20 is a great little clone of the Browning semi. I have one and it's a fun little rifle, accurate enough with iron sights. Light, kids could handle it no problem too. But I wouldn't let your neighbor try to take it down, I can see him breaking something. And then losing the little cartridge stop because nothing holds it in once you remove the bolt.
10/22 is pretty much foolproof. Cooey/Savage 64 is generally a fairly reliable rifle too. Rossi RS22 looks like a Marlin 70 clone, anyone have one? Not too much at that price.
Marlin Model 60 and 795 are no longer made, so they are difficult to find and the ones that you can find are probably more than $300.
Ruger 10/22s are a good choice, but are more than $300 new. Unless you find one for a heck of a deal, you probably won’t find a used one for $300.
The Savage 64 semi auto gets the job done. It’s not the best looking gun out there but is under $300.
My recommendation for a decent 22LR would be the Savage FV Heavy Barrel. Decent accuracy, available magazines, and good value for a beginner rifle. It’s closer to $400 though and is a bolt gun. I would recommend a Ruger 10/22 as a Semi auto as it can be customized to your heart content.
Ruger 10/22s are a good choice, but are more than $300 new. Unless you find one for a heck of a deal, you probably won’t find a used one for $300.
The Savage 64 semi auto gets the job done. It’s not the best looking gun out there but is under $300.
My recommendation for a decent 22LR would be the Savage FV Heavy Barrel. Decent accuracy, available magazines, and good value for a beginner rifle. It’s closer to $400 though and is a bolt gun. I would recommend a Ruger 10/22 as a Semi auto as it can be customized to your heart content.
easyrider604
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Greater Vancouver, BC
Having had Ruger 10/22, Savage 64, Winchester 190, Springfield 87 fish gill, Marlin 60 and Marlin 795 in the past, I would only buy a Marlin 60 or 795 again. My Ruger couldn't hit the side of a barn (shooting from inside the barn...kidding), Savage 64 was Ok but the magazine is a joke, Winchester 190 and Springfield 87 were wonderfully accurate and reliable but they are too old by now and spare parts might be unobtainable. The Marlin 60 reached the 11 Millionth unit production milestone years ago. The ones I had never had a failure to feed, fire and eject, same goes for the Marlin 795 and were super accurate, almost like my bolt rifles.
Can't go wrong with Marlin 60 tube mag or 795 box mag or both.
Can't go wrong with Marlin 60 tube mag or 795 box mag or both.
easyrider604
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Greater Vancouver, BC
Double tap sorry
southwest maddog
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Narrow Ranch
There is a Marlin 795 on the EE right now.
I have 2 Marlin 795s and a Winchester Wildcat. I would recommend either - they both have a last round hold open, which to me is a big deal on a semi-auto 22. I loathe the feeling you get when you drop the firing pin on an empty chamber because you weren't counting your shots.
The Marlin has high cap mags if thats your jam, Wildcat doesn't but the Wildcat mags are very reliable in my experience. I shoot left, and the wildcat has a reversible safety, thats why I bought one.
Marlin has Tech Sights as an option, really nice peep sights. Finding some might not be easy though. The Wildcat comes with a peep sight out of the box, but the front sight is too big IMO, making it hard to hit anything at 50+. I put a small 4x scope on mine and now she can bang 2" spinners at 50 all day long.
The Springfield/Savage/Stevens 87s are still pretty available, and an interesting system with how they lock open until you release the trigger (and how you can lock them closed with the bolt handle). Not sure on parts availability, but you could buy two and keep one as a parts gun for what an new 10/22 costs. I think I paid $150 for mine last year on the EE.
The Marlin has high cap mags if thats your jam, Wildcat doesn't but the Wildcat mags are very reliable in my experience. I shoot left, and the wildcat has a reversible safety, thats why I bought one.
Marlin has Tech Sights as an option, really nice peep sights. Finding some might not be easy though. The Wildcat comes with a peep sight out of the box, but the front sight is too big IMO, making it hard to hit anything at 50+. I put a small 4x scope on mine and now she can bang 2" spinners at 50 all day long.
The Springfield/Savage/Stevens 87s are still pretty available, and an interesting system with how they lock open until you release the trigger (and how you can lock them closed with the bolt handle). Not sure on parts availability, but you could buy two and keep one as a parts gun for what an new 10/22 costs. I think I paid $150 for mine last year on the EE.
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Another vote for regular 10/22 - they are reliable, generally foolproof, and accurate enough. The 20-22” sporter versions more so, otherwise a custom barrel would be even better. The bolt release as is sucks, 5 min fix with a round file.
Spend some money on ammo and training (Project Mapleseed is great for beginners to mid-level).
Any semi .22 will start to jam after 400-500 rounds, especially with dirty ammo.
Spend some money on ammo and training (Project Mapleseed is great for beginners to mid-level).
Any semi .22 will start to jam after 400-500 rounds, especially with dirty ammo.
All 4 of my semi auto 22s cost no more than $300, and two of them were half that much. The only one I had any issues with was the Winchester wildcat, I couldn't get it zeroed with high velocity bulk 22lr, it shot high even with the sight adjustments at their lowest. Switched to standard velocity stuff (which cycles just fine) and problem solved. But I don't like the big front post so I've since gone to a small scope instead.
Ymmv of course, but in my experience $300 is plenty for a reliable plinker.
Are they reliable though? My buddies sure isn't. Sample size of one, sure, but I've seen plenty of reports of similar lack of reliability from newer production 10/22s. Enough so that I would only buy one if I planned to dump a bunch of aftermarket parts into it.
On the contrary. Of the 35+ used rimfires which have been in my hands at various points and lengths of time, only one of them cost more than $300. Of those, only 3 needed parts/repairs, and even then still didn't cost over $300. Most just need a good cleaning to get them functioning 100%. Yes, the used market opens up a whole world of great semis.
