Best first rimfire Ruger 10/22 vs American

thefaculty

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Hey everyone,

I just received my RPAL and am looking to get my first firearm. I hear that you can't go wrong with a Ruger 10/22 for getting lots of ammo downrange at an affordable cost but woudl love to hear your thoughts. Knowing myself I think I would quickly tire of a semi-auto and would probably prefer the process of a single action so would love any thoughts or suggestion you guys might have for me for my first rifle.

Thanks in advance for any recos.

Dan
 
Welcome to the sport and board Dan,
There's many diverse opinions on your question. Most of us old guys started out with Cooey single shots or repeaters...still my favourite 22. You might also look at a lever action like a Henry. Lots of fun,fast shooting and pretty accurate. I'm not a 10-22 fan personally but they are very popular.

Before the beloved liberals attacked our sport so viciously , my favourite semi was the GSG 15 which was superior to the 10-22 in every way. Another option for semis that's still available so far are the Deryas from Turkey. Have a look at the TM22.

Another great bolt action to look at is the Ruger American. I have one in 22 mag that is a tack driver. Really nice rifle.

Enjoy! Buy and try them all!

A/D
 
I would save you some time and money. Don't get any of the rugers. Get yourself a CZ 457 MTR and you will be happy with it's accuracy, reliability, and aftermarket parts and accessories. Most ruger rifles just won't shoot in a bucket...
Thank you!! A lot of others have reco'd this rifle as well, I will take a good look at it!
 
if you are looking for accuracy the basic 10/22 is not it for that mater any semi won't fit that bill
if you spend 1000-1500$ on a 10/22 platform you will get accuracy
ruger american ok accuracy
cz bolt action would be a good choice
find a old winchester 69a with a grooved reciever classic accurate 350-500$
tikka t1 very good
if your budget is less than 600-900$ then you are stuck with mirdeocre guality
henry lever guns poof quality loading and unloading the tube fed mag will get old fast poor accuracy
if you want accurate buy a bolt gun
if you want a lever browning bl of win 94/22 1000-1600$
 
I would save you some time and money. Don't get any of the rugers. Get yourself a CZ 457 MTR and you will be happy with it's accuracy, reliability, and aftermarket parts and accessories. Most ruger rifles just won't shoot in a bucket...
Does the MTR have a match chamber? If so, i would skip it for a first gun. Not being able to reliably use cheap ammo is no Bueno for a first gun IMO. Otherwise a CZ 457 would be a great gun.

OP i have no love for the 10/22. It's OK, but it's nothing special. The one area the 10/22 shines is aftermarket support. If you wanna spend a bunch of money customizing and upgrading your gun there is no 22lr that can compete with the 10/22.

My favorites are Savage Mark II for bolt action, and Marlin 795 for semi auto. Bang for your buck it's really hard to beat the Savage Mark II, they're cheap but accurate. They don't make the 795 anymore and used prices have been climbing, so I'd recommend the Winchester Wildcat as an affordable and available alternative. Wildcat and 795 both have last round hold opens, which for me is important on a semi auto 22lr. 795 also has 25rd mags available. Wildcat is more left-hand friendly - mag release and bolt release can be operated from either side and the safety is reversible.
 
I’d suggest getting yourself a quality gun for your first regardless of action style. Something you will want tk hang on too and maybe pass down eventually.

If I where starting from scratch I’d opt for many of the choices I ended up making:

Bolt Gun: CZ457 American (I have a Canadian model which is very similar that’s hands down one my favorite range toys).

Lever Gun: Henry Frontier 22LR. (Mines a 22wmr but I wish I opted for the 22lr) Cheaper lever gun but much easier to maintain than the brownings and easier to find than the out of production marlins and winchesters. The Savage Revel shows promise and maybe a great option but no personal experience with them. Henry also offers lifetime support for there rifles to the original owners so that’s worth noting.

Semi auto: Browning S/A22. This one was my first it’s a 3rd generation Heirloom and is easily the most important gun I own. Great rifle amazing design and ultra reliable. Easy to clean and timeless. A rifle thats been designed and made mostly unchanged since 1914 and still produced today. They really got something very right with these.

That being said those would be or are my choices your tastes and right choices may vary. That said the good and bad news is guns are worse than lays chips you can’t just have one so enjoy what ever you choose.
 
I am so grateful everyone - you have sucessfully turned my head in the direction of the CZ 457 or perhaps the Tikka T1 (which will magically become a T3x at some point down the road) ;) )- thank you! Someone above mentioned spending money on a good first gun that I will hold on to and I do like that idea. It is not that money is no object but I have learned in my 45 years that spending well is not something to fear. In addition to a decent bolt action I am also keen on a Winchester 1873 and a good pump, perhaps a Mossberg 590? (I do tend to obsess on new adventures!)
 
Mossberg 590 is cool if you like tactical stuff, but a base model 500 is a better gun for hunting, skeet/trap shooting, etc.

I bought my first gun over 10 years ago, a base model Savage Mark 2. Still use it regularly, despite having plenty of other 22s. Hell i like it so much I bought a 2nd one - heavy barrel laminate stock version - and I'll likely be buying more for my kids in the near future.

Here's one of my boys shooting it last weekend.

1000021416.jpg
 
Some great advice so far, I would pass on new Ruger 22s if you had the budget for a CZ457 or Tikka T1x. Personally, I prefer the T1x over the 457 but that's a personal thing. Not suggesting one is better than the other, but both are better than a Ruger American in my opinion. T1x MTR is almost an easier suggestion (not just because I like it more) but more because as many hours as I have behind CZs...the new 457s feel different depending on which one you're holding. All Tikka T1x MTRs feel the same/same barrel weight..only variable (and it's one worth looking at) is the T1x UPR. Held one of those and while an expensive upgrade from the MTR, BOY that stock feels good/light! The 457 model I like the most is the version with the AT-ONE stock. And most of that affection is for the stock itself, but that would be the 457 I'd buy today if shopping.

And the T3x (no surprise) would be my top pick for a centerfire!

Pump shotguns=start with the the application or how you want to use it, THEN start looking at models. Mossberg are known to juggle model#s and have too many SKUs but for most people, a model 500 is plenty. Tactical-looking stuff is fun and they can be fun guns to run, but use is far more limited and price tends to be higher. There are great deals on used too if you want to go that route and know how/where to look. 870s and 500s are THE two to consider for most people, both are excellent and both have their pros/cons.
 
Thanks everyone - looking at the CZ 457 they come in 3 calibres. Of course I do not want the 17HR at this time in favour of wanting cheaper ammo to get more rounds downrange for this new sport so it lies between the .22LR and .22WMR - which would you say is preferred over the longer term?
 
Thanks everyone - looking at the CZ 457 they come in 3 calibres. Of course I do not want the 17HR at this time in favour of wanting cheaper ammo to get more rounds downrange for this new sport so it lies between the .22LR and .22WMR - which would you say is preferred over the longer term?
22lr hands down.

Match grade 22wmr is not a thing, and cheap 22wmr is multiple times the cost of cheap 22lr.
 
CZ452-453’s are wonderful shooters.
Brno #’s be gooder too.

The old 69A’s are decent.

If you happen to stumpull acrost an old Browning T-Bolt, another wonderful score.

10-22’s…….meh…….🤨
 
Any recos for a good scope for the CZ457 Amercian? I do not want the cheapest, I would much rather invest in a scope that will last and see me through multiple years and, potentially, rifles. Always with tanks for your time and recos!!
 
Any recos for a good scope for the CZ457 Amercian? I do not want the cheapest, I would much rather invest in a scope that will last and see me through multiple years and, potentially, rifles. Always with tanks for your time and recos!!
 
Deffinetly yes get a 22lr. I got my Henry in 22wmr. And although I love the gun and even love the 22wmr round I do wish I opted to get the Henry in 22LR as it’s much cheaper to shoot in bulk.
 
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