What reliable fun .22 would you recommend for under $350?
- Thread starter David_M
- Start date
Cabelas Canada has them in stock. Just got mine last Friday.
Great rimfire lever action. Very happy with it.
lol, so did you tell the OP hey buy a 10/22. However just know I dropped another $165 on the gun cause the trigger sucks?
I'm not saying the 10/22 isn't a great gun after doing a bunch of work to it. I'm just saying very few people leave it stock like most savage and CZ owners. If they do upgrades, it's not in the price range of $200+
There are soooo many 10/22 owners that don't want to add up the cost of there add-ons because it's well over $1000 including the gun itself. The OP said $350 price range.
It's a civic and if you want to drop a ton of cash on a 22, then a 10/22 is perfect!!!!!!!!!!
Like others have commented a Cooey would be a great start too! And you can sell the Cooey for what you paid for it when you want to upgrade.
If you don't take a lose on a 10/22 you're lucky!!!!
I'm not saying the 10/22 isn't a great gun after doing a bunch of work to it. I'm just saying very few people leave it stock like most savage and CZ owners. If they do upgrades, it's not in the price range of $200+
There are soooo many 10/22 owners that don't want to add up the cost of there add-ons because it's well over $1000 including the gun itself. The OP said $350 price range.
It's a civic and if you want to drop a ton of cash on a 22, then a 10/22 is perfect!!!!!!!!!!
Like others have commented a Cooey would be a great start too! And you can sell the Cooey for what you paid for it when you want to upgrade.
If you don't take a lose on a 10/22 you're lucky!!!!
Actually, I didn't drop $165 on the gun because the trigger sucks. I dropped $165 on the gun because I just don't care about the money and felt like improving the gun. For the same reason, I bought $4000 worth of Bilstein adjustable shocks for a 911 that didn't suck but could be improved. The mistake you are making is to assume that people invest in upgrades only because the original is somehow "bad". People sometimes buy upgrades for their own personal preference even though the original was just fine. It's not just Honda's that are upgraded. I see 100 cars every day with upgraded wheels even though the wheels that the car was originally sold with, are just fine. You are not really making sense but hey, everyone is entightled to my opinion.
Last edited:
I'm one of the few who left their 10/22 perfectly stock... almost. I added the 25 round mag and that's it. I think it's a great little shooter just as it is.
For a bolt action I must confess I've never tried a savage mkII, so I'm going to give one vote to the marlin 980. Being able to hit cigarettes at 75 yards is plenty accurate enough for me.
For a bolt action I must confess I've never tried a savage mkII, so I'm going to give one vote to the marlin 980. Being able to hit cigarettes at 75 yards is plenty accurate enough for me.
Certainly a nice 10-22 can be found within your budget. They are handy, reliable, and fairly accurate. A used cz is also a possibility. Or stretch the budget a little and get a new one.
I have a few friends with savages and they have been more than a few recurring issues with the cheap mags. Personally I think they're prices run to close to cz prices when new. The Henry had lots of fans too if you want a lever action.
If it were me though, i would look for a used 10.22 deluxe in good condition on the EE. If you are one of the few who doesn't care for them you can sell it quite easily.
I have a few friends with savages and they have been more than a few recurring issues with the cheap mags. Personally I think they're prices run to close to cz prices when new. The Henry had lots of fans too if you want a lever action.
If it were me though, i would look for a used 10.22 deluxe in good condition on the EE. If you are one of the few who doesn't care for them you can sell it quite easily.
- Location
- West Quebec
The CZ is agreat gun for accuaracy bought a used one from a board member and it's more than I expected with a trigger job done by a pro.
My wifes Ruger 10/22 semi is loads of fun as well so have the best of both worlds.
I won't own another 10/22 (had 2) again. They do have their camp, but I have no use for 'em.
For new semi's, can't go wrong with the Marlin 60/795. I love my Remington 597, and have had no issues with it, but some have. It runs flawlessly with either of the hi-cap mags.
Bolts? Love 'em all, but in your budget would lean towards a Savage.
I have a weakness for the older .22's, and most can be had for half your budget. Mossbergs, Marlins, Remingtons, Savage/Stevens. My first (and still a fav) .22 was an old Cooey 64. Too many good 'ol guns to list really.
For new semi's, can't go wrong with the Marlin 60/795. I love my Remington 597, and have had no issues with it, but some have. It runs flawlessly with either of the hi-cap mags.
Bolts? Love 'em all, but in your budget would lean towards a Savage.
I have a weakness for the older .22's, and most can be had for half your budget. Mossbergs, Marlins, Remingtons, Savage/Stevens. My first (and still a fav) .22 was an old Cooey 64. Too many good 'ol guns to list really.
Last edited:
hometownhero
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Toon Town, Sk
Anyone know where to find a Savage mark ii fv-sr? Wolverine sold out and I want one. Also, whats the going rate? I see one none sponsor has one for 389 which I'm guessing is about 100 high.
looks like so without scope.
$279 at my local store is what they are selling for.
wayupnorth
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Northern Alberta
there is a reason Ruger 10/22's are the top selling 22 gun of all time.
i ran a stock one for 28 years.
love that gun.
best gun ive ever owned.
you can shoot them stock or trick them out, they choice is yours.
my co worker picked one up and we took it to the range today.
right out of the box he put 50 rounds in a 3" group with iron sites.
for anyone asking what is the best all around 22 to pick up i would not hesitate to say the ruger 10/22.
now if your wanting a bolt then the fella's up above are better, but the Savage is a nice and cheaper way to go.
and if your want a lever you cant beat a Henry.
while browning is a better gun its almost twice the price.
there is a thread here talking about a knock off 10/22 clone that frontier is selling.
they look pretty good.
and i think $250 people are saying.
if i dint already have 4 10/22's id pick one up and test it out!
i ran a stock one for 28 years.
love that gun.
best gun ive ever owned.
you can shoot them stock or trick them out, they choice is yours.
my co worker picked one up and we took it to the range today.
right out of the box he put 50 rounds in a 3" group with iron sites.
for anyone asking what is the best all around 22 to pick up i would not hesitate to say the ruger 10/22.
now if your wanting a bolt then the fella's up above are better, but the Savage is a nice and cheaper way to go.
and if your want a lever you cant beat a Henry.
while browning is a better gun its almost twice the price.
there is a thread here talking about a knock off 10/22 clone that frontier is selling.
they look pretty good.
and i think $250 people are saying.
if i dint already have 4 10/22's id pick one up and test it out!
I've pretty much got this list. My 10/22 is a custom build - because I wanted too, not because the stock one I had before was bad (it was actually great). My CZ is a 455 in 17HMR (I shot a .5" group yesterday at 100m), my Henry is sporting a scope.
The Henry is probably the definition of "reliable, fun" because you can shoot super quiet .22 shorts out of it. It has replaced the pellet gun for plinking at the cabin (neighbors will never hear the shorts), and I can use it for hunting small game, too. Good as a survival type gun because it holds lots of rounds and cycles great. My wife shot it with open sights at 25yrs and got about a 2" group - she had never used a gun before.
"What reliable fun .22 would you recommend for under $350?"
I'll echo just about everyone else;
My 10/22 ran ~30000 rounds without issue. The only mod was the bolt release done with a die grinder. I cleaned the gun twice, once when I bought it and once at ~20000 rounds. It was an experiment
. I gave the rifle to a new shooter, it's still going strong. You asked for "fun and reliable", I wouldn't list it if you asked for accuracy. You couldn't hit a barn if you were inside it. 
My Savage bolt is amazing. It's still lnib at ~1500 rounds.
I won't claim it to be as accurate as a CZ, but it's in your budget, a CZ isn't. It's accurate enouph for me. I bought the TRR SR, my brother has the $200 version, it shoots the same.
My favorite is my sons Henry lever. For us it's the most fun to shoot, holds 15 LR, very accurate, and it's an action shooter. It too is young, ~1000 rounds, but never an issue.
One of our games is shooting clays at 30 yards. We'll line up rows of 8 or 10 clays, first person to break their row wins. Whoever shoots the Henry, wins!
I'll echo just about everyone else;
My 10/22 ran ~30000 rounds without issue. The only mod was the bolt release done with a die grinder. I cleaned the gun twice, once when I bought it and once at ~20000 rounds. It was an experiment
. I gave the rifle to a new shooter, it's still going strong. You asked for "fun and reliable", I wouldn't list it if you asked for accuracy. You couldn't hit a barn if you were inside it. My Savage bolt is amazing. It's still lnib
at ~1500 rounds.I won't claim it to be as accurate as a CZ, but it's in your budget, a CZ isn't. It's accurate enouph for me. I bought the TRR SR, my brother has the $200 version, it shoots the same.
My favorite is my sons Henry lever. For us it's the most fun to shoot, holds 15 LR, very accurate, and it's an action shooter. It too is young, ~1000 rounds, but never an issue.
One of our games is shooting clays at 30 yards. We'll line up rows of 8 or 10 clays, first person to break their row wins. Whoever shoots the Henry, wins!
hometownhero
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Toon Town, Sk
Almost got it there. Ruger is over 5 million built. Marlin model 60 is over 11 million built.
10/22
Produced 1964–present
Number built over 5 million
Model 60
Designed 1960
Number built over 11 million, 1960 - present
wayupnorth
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Northern Alberta
thats actually cool to know.
for some reason i was watching a video that stated that ruger was the top selling.
but i just checked and your right with you numbers.
its odd that you never hear anyone recommend a Marlin to anyone, eh?
hometownhero
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Toon Town, Sk
I will only recommend a marlin to someone for a semi 22lr. I did the rugger thing and it wasnt very exciting I mean sure it shot everything but it just took a full mag to hit what you were aiming at. Always here of ppl having fte problems on here and new parts are recommended. Put over 1000 rounds down my marlin the first 2 days I had it and not one problem. Im at 2000-2500 rounds down it in just 4 outings with it. Zero problems. Shoots very very good as well.
I've had a ruger 10-22 since the early 70's all original with countless rounds through it and not a problem. For a cheaper bolt gun the Norinco copy of the CZ looks intersting and in a semi auto they have a Browning takedown that may come home for a close look see. I also picked up a little used CZ 455 super match for $350, excellent rifle and had a Timney trigger installed already.
