.22 rifle recommendations

GSG -16 has 22rd mag if thats close enough

It comes with 2 mags and buy 2 more.

Adjustable stock and lots of cool add on's available if thats your thing
 
My 10/22 is complete stock config except for a Bushnell scope. In my view the gun is fine as it is - it is not necessarily good because you can put aftermarket parts in it. There are people here who have had stock 10/22s for over 50 years and they still function well in stock configuration. I am sure some add ons may enhance performance and usability but out of the box the gun is reliable and a good .22 for both beginners and intermediate shooters, in my view.
 
Hmmm. I think we've gone through this list somewhere before. Anyway, no the 10/22 is not "the best". I would also suggest don't put much decision weight on 25 round magazines.

What would you prefer in a semi-auto? Walnut and steel, or synthetic and stainless? Detachable box magazine or tubular? Under the barrel tube magazine or in the stock butt? Do you like the charging handle on the right, the left, or under the barrel? Grooved receiver or open sights? Is ease of disassembly and cleaning on your list? What is your intended use? Do you follow the herd or do you like something different? Do you like a full-size or compact rifle? Do you want a take-down feature or ultra small size for backpacking? Do you like vintage rifles or does it have to be modern?

There are soooooooooo many different rifles.
 
Grouse Man said:
Hmmm. I think we've gone through this list somewhere before. Anyway, no the 10/22 is not "the best". I would also suggest don't put much decision weight on 25 round magazines.

What would you prefer in a semi-auto? Walnut and steel, or synthetic and stainless? Detachable box magazine or tubular? Under the barrel tube magazine or in the stock butt? Do you like the charging handle on the right, the left, or under the barrel? Grooved receiver or open sights? Is ease of disassembly and cleaning on your list? What is your intended use? Do you follow the herd or do you like something different? Do you like a full-size or compact rifle? Do you want a take-down feature or ultra small size for backpacking? Do you like vintage rifles or does it have to be modern?

There are soooooooooo many different rifles.
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Nailed it, I'm going to assume that the OP doesn't really know what his preferences and all we know so far is that he wants a semi with decent magazine capacity.

Hopefully he will fill us in about his intended use, which should be pretty easy, and possibly answer a few of your questions about aesthetics and size etc.
 
My first .22lr was the cheapest “knockoff” 10/22 you could buy....the bolt won’t stay open now. I then picked up a new Marlin 60...”cheap”...front sight was shaped like a egg when i got it, and won’t eject shells in very cold weather, not really accurate either. Haven’t enjoyed it all. Those two are making me desire a nice bolt action. I’d say...set your budget and do the “Buy once, cry once”, research, and when you see the one you want. Get it! If you don’t, someone else will!
 
Lever action Henry 22 .
Cooley 64
Vintage Marlins are great , lightweight and well built .
I have my original 10/22 and , after several upgrades , it’s still my go to if I want to lay waste to the gopher colonies.....10 round Max thanks to stupid ####ery but what can you do .
Good thing about the 10/22 is the aftermarket parts are still a bit easier to find in our new post rational hell hole than some other models parts .
 
As some have stated before ask yourself
1) What do you want from it? Are you just looking to practice, possibly hunt small game, shoot extremely accurate long distances, plink like a mad man.
2) What are you willing to spend? I would suggest inexpensive (probably bolt) at first as many great .22 can be had for cheap new and used.

My thoughts through trial of friends and my own and are only my opions (though if you ask me they are the best thoughts :) )

Bolt Actions

1) Cooey Model 60: Inexpensive used rifle, I've never had an issue, and have found them fun an accurate. I do prefer a detachable magazine as I can load up several and swap them out.

2) Savage Mkii: Again another inexpensive .22 that has been great fun for me. The accutrigger is a nice touch to make a bad trigger better. The detachable magazine does stick out which some find annoying. Big bonus is it can be found with iron sights, seems rare among new rifle

Semi Auto. A big thing for myself in semi auto is the availability of larger magazines. No, 25 - 100 rounds isn't required, yes it can be a pain to load, but it is FUN!!! to shoot.

1) Ruger 10/22: There Is a reason the 10/22 is so popular and has so many variants and aftermarket parts. It was previously my #1 recommendation, but with controversy over the legality of 10/22 Magazine over 10 round

2) Remington 597: With Remington bankrupt at the moment new material could be hard to come by. My experiance is that the larger magazines can have feed issue at time, but it is still a fun. Not a terrible choice, but better options do exist.

3) Savage A22: I have a love hate relationship with the Savage A22. Removing ALL the factory grease and giving it a thorough clean and re-oil has made me love it, but prior I hated it as I had to many failures to eject to the point it ruined any fun. After the clean I mentioned I haven’t had any subsequent issue with any ammo and is a pleasure to shoot. I would recommend it cautiously, as my experience (sample size of 1) is that it is fun when you get it working, but a pour initial experience is not worth it. I have several other minor pro’s/cons that your welcome to pm me about if you want to hear me rant.

4) GSG-15: Limited experience but it was nice to use and handle. The owner (a friend) claimed it has been quite reliable, but the thought of stripping it down is apparently a bit daunting, to him at least. I'd probably go a gsg-16 as I want option of the drum mag. (Just saw a drumag for gsg-15)

5) Savage 64 FX: Skip. Again a limited sample size, but my experience has been meh, to picky on cheap ammo
 
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Tred said:
2) Savage Mark 2: Again another inexpensive .22 that has been great fun for me. The accutrigger is a nice touch to make a bad trigger better. The detachable magazine does stick out which some find annoying. Big bonus is it can be found with iron sights, seems rare among new rifle
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My only and I mean only problem with the Mark 2 is the magazine. I will be surprised if I am the only one, but my Mark 2 magazine has always had jamming / failure to feed issues. I used the original OEM one and thought it was just me so I have been manually loading single rounds for years. Earlier this year, I looked around for a replacement mag and it appears that the most common are the OEM Savage mags. I bought two of the more pricy aluminum ones thinking maybe over time they will have improved it. Both have the same issue. I have tried various makes/models of ammo and the issue happens consistently. Several people on CGN have indicated similar experiences and they indicated it comes down to a poorly manufactured magazine - some have said to use some pliers to make some adjustments. I am still on the hunt for third party mags that are available and in stock for the Mark 2.

Other than the magazine, I love my Mark 2, and so do my kids.
 
Savage MKii I was unaware of anything other then oem mags, admittedly I have never looked. I have only used oem aluminum mags, purchased at the same time as the rifle. I never had an issue with the rifle accuracy or reliability. Unfortunate and interesting to hear that you have my own is a little cheap take driver.
 
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Tred said:
Savage MKii I was unaware of anything other then oem mags, admittedly I have never looked. I have only used oem aluminum mags, purchased at the same time as the rifle. I never had an issue with the rifle accuracy or reliability. Unfortunate and interesting to hear that you have my own is a little cheap take driver.
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Mine came with a steel mag originally - I bought the aluminums recently.

I do not discount that the problem could be with the shooter (me) and how I am cycling the bolt, but I have zero problems with my CZ 457 .22, and since I have tried the newer aluminum magazine and they do the same thing - that's why I want to try a non Savage mag.

I agree about the accuracy out of the box. I think this is why my kids like it so much because when they learned how to shoot, they hit soda cans, balloons, water bottles not to mention the splatter targets, fairly easily with the built in sites.
 
I had some fail to eject with my mk2 fvsr, but for the price its a very accurate rifle, i also have a cz457 mtr that is a good step forward in quality, finition and ease of operating the bolt. I also really like the cz polymer mag.
 
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Stock 10/22. No upgrades. 10 shots at 50 yards today. Don't let them tell you that they're only spray and pray.
 
I’ve had cz’s, Marlins, savage semis and bolts. All have been accurate. But the CZ’s are definitely the most. My 452lux will shoot .5” groups with CCi standard.

But I did just buy a 10-22 off the EE. I’ve shot many over the years but they always had a stigma around them for me as guys that shoot TVs and dishwashers and leave them in a gravel pit. Lol.

But I decided I wanted a semi back in the line up and decided to take the plunge into a ruger.
Now I just need a hand getting my old dishwasher out to the gravel pit. Hahahaha
 
I just about purchased a TCR-22. But on thoughtful reflection concerning my shooting/hunting habits over the years a combination gun or a sub gauge shotgun has become my go to firearm for hunting.
I don't totally lack in good target rimfires, and if I need that itch scratched I already own a Ruger Mk II that's a wonderfully accurate pistol.
But that's just me only getting older and my shooting habits changing over the years.

And I got other 22 rifles, an 1885 Winchester with peep sights and a 1936 ES350b Mauser that I sometimes wish it was magazine repeating.
If I didn't own that Mauser I am certain I would have some kind of CZ rifle instead. I should never have sold that 490 Winchester but whatever.

And I own two other superb semi auto rifles that fulfill other needs. And four small bore centerfire varmint rifles too. So I don't call myself a fudd.
 
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