Best 22 lr for small gaming hunting?

[10mmmills]

This may sound crass but..,
Buy the one you like to look at, the one you like to hold and fondle. Across the board they will likely shoot better than you are able to especially from the shoulder at scurrying varmints. Some are more reliable feeding wise, the major manufacturers as opposed to the “knockoff “ companies will have better components. In addition, if you are scope inclined buy the best you can afford, it’s worth it. It’s my experience that if you buy a cabelas brand scope they will fail. Yes they have they’re warranty but it’s only as good as the receipt in your hand so keep it forever,…. And by the way, they’re receipts tend to have disappearing ink.

 

[Butcherbill]

Chasing birds and hares in the wood... I'll seldom have the opportunity to take a shot past 30y.

What I’d love to be able to hunt small game with is a .22lr handgun, but nooooo that’s to dangerous to be out on crown land with. Around here grouse are close up 10-20y but I have shot hares out to 50y. The norm for hares is 10-30y.

 

[sillymike]

The G2 Contender carbine is supposed to be back in production

Or the Eabco 97 rifle

 

[Longstud]

The G2 Contender carbine is supposed to be back in production

Or the Eabco 97 rifle

The rifle in the top photo is just pure bliss wow. My Dlask Kidd will still be my go to rimfire hunter. Gun is so accurate it should be illegal. Has cleaned the KYL rack on more than one occasion in ORPS

 

[Grantmac]

Based on your budget I'd look for a used Anschutz 1712 in the Monte Carlo stock, then you'll also have an excellent silhouette rifle which is a great shooting game for hunters.

 

[heliace]

Browning Buckmark. Browning sa a close second. All the rest are too heavy, clumsy or for poor people.

 

[kamlooky]

The rifle in the top photo is just pure bliss wow. My Dlask Kidd will still be my go to rimfire hunter. Gun is so accurate it should be illegal. Has cleaned the KYL rack on more than one occasion in ORPS

Me Lawrd, awlways one in the gang.
Pritty fancy schmantzy bling gewn awn with yer pair.

Yeewowzers.

 

[Longstud]

I dont own the beauty in the pic Looky. Jeezuz Lawrd sheeed bie a niceuhn fer shuuur. Oh crap hes turned me tuh thuh darkh side. Built the semi myself but its a keeper fuhr shuuur.

 

[kamlooky]

Eye-cee me error now awn the lappertawp.
T'wuzz awn me eyephone.
Sillymike, neeeeee-ice.

 

[Longstud]

Yep Looky, Sillymike shurrh noseh hawh tuh pikum. Nawt shuuur whare hees findunh thems. Oh crap this is startunh tuh be fuwn

 

[antiqueguy]

Can’t go wrong with an old cooey model 39/60/600 they will shoot just about any ammo well and be reliable.

As far as ammo for hunting use whatever shoots best in your rifle

 

[sillymike]

Lets not forget the Browning Trombone, I'd guess these days a nice example must be around $1k

- a Savage 29 or Remington 12 (of the same vintage) can usually be had for less $

 

[sillymike]

A Stevens Pocket Rifle would be within the budget, and would certainly be fun to own...
- But I don't think our overload would allow you to hunt with one

 

[JQIAN]

For lr I prefer bolt action and my budget would be 1500 but honestly it’s doesn’t matter much to me. Im just looking for the most reliable and accurate one lr for small game.

Steyr Zephyr 2
extremely accurate, pleasant wood stock, fit your bill too.

 

[sillymike]

You could do it in stile, with a Steven Ideal
- And you could get fancy with a take-down two barrel set (22lr and 17HM2)

 

[Butcherbill]

Lets not forget the Browning Trombone, I'd guess these days a nice example must be around $1k

- a Savage 29 or Remington 12 (of the same vintage) can usually be had for less $

Love the pump .22’s, a buddy has a Trombone and I’m the caretaker of a Win M61. Awesome shooting rifles, they don’t make them like that anymore.

 

[regulate34]

My CZ 452 lux get the most hunting action out of my 22s.
Except my Dlask 10/22 rules the gopher patch for sure.

 

[sillymike]

If the OP is into semi-automatic... but is also a HK fan

 

[RBS56]

I will echo what others say. CZ455 would be well worth the money. Just a beautiful little shooter.

 

[sillymike]

Want a bolt action, but also want it to be German