Best 22LR for sports shooting?

Asking for the best is actually a pretty focused question.... Top 3 would cover the podium of contenders for the top spot.

Vudoo is often mentioned as a good shooter..... usually followed by people who out shoot other people with Vudoo setups using a much less expensive rifle.

Here's what a free model suggests,

What are the top rated rimfire rifles in 3 catagories, Under $500 US, Under 1000US and no limits budget?


Direct answer: Top-rated rimfire picks by price — Under $500: Ruger 10/22 (standard or 10/22 Takedown), Savage Mark II / AXIS II (rimfire variants), and CZ 457/455 (American/Trainer); Under $1,000: Tikka T1x / T1x MTR, Ruger Precision Rimfire, and CZ 457 Varmint/Precision; No budget limit: Vudoo Gun Works V22/V22S (custom precision), Bergara B-14 Rimfire (precision models), and Anschutz 54/64 target rifles.
What I used and why

  • I pulled current buyer-and-expert roundups and tests to identify consistently top-rated models in each price tier.
  • I included both popular, value-oriented repeat winners (Ruger, Savage, CZ) for the under-$500 list and higher-precision factory/custom builds for the higher tiers.
Short rationale (one line per model)

  • Ruger 10/22 — legendary reliability, huge parts/aftermarket support and best value for plinking/training under $500.
  • Savage Mark II / AXIS II rimfire — accurate bolt options with good triggers and value pricing.
  • CZ 457/455 — excellent out-of-the-box accuracy and euro-grade actions at budget prices.
  • Tikka T1x / T1x MTR — accurate, crisp factory triggers and modern stocks; often under $1,000 and great for hunting/precision rimfire.
  • Ruger Precision Rimfire — chassis-style, adjustable, built for NRL22/precision rimfire competition under $1,000.
  • CZ 457 Varmint/Precision — tuned-barrel options and heavy-barrel varmint versions that compete with dedicated precision rigs.
  • Vudoo V22/V22S — boutique precision rimfire with match-grade barrels and actions built for sub-MOA performance with premium components (no budget limit).
  • Bergara B-14 Rimfire — production precision rifle with excellent barrel and stock options for serious shooters.
  • Anschutz 54/64 — world-class target rifles (match/training rifles) used in competition; premium price and accuracy.
If you want, I can:

  • Give a short table comparing accuracy, typical MSRP, and best use (plinking, hunting, NRL22/target) for the nine rifles above.
  • Suggest accessories (scopes, triggers, mags) for the model you’re leaning toward.
Which option would you like me to expand into a comparison table or buying checklist?
 
Lots out there, but have to decide what we are looking at. A bench rest target gun is heavy, and shot from rest. Off hand is a different stock and much less weight.
 
Ummmm, seriously?

Of the several thousand available 22lr, ?

So you are baiting us all into saying which one is best and how one is better at the range and another is better for hunting so inevitably someone will say something that someone else will take offence to and/or out of context and get schnippy about and them someone else will chime in about libtards and then someone else will make a d-bag comment about immigration or some other thinly veiled racist bs and someone else will call someone a commy. Eventually the mods will shut it down. Etc etc etc. .

Is that the definition of trolling ?
 
There is no correct or even incorrect answer to this.

Fact is this is pure preference and taste. Hell I couldn’t answer this truly and honestly with my own perameters.

Some days I want one of my CZ457s. Others I want to shoot the gentry lever actions, Others I’m happy plinking away with my dirt cheap project norinco. Others still I want to blast away some ammo out of one of my Browning SA/22. In other words For me the best 22 I have is the one I WANT to shoot on any given day.
 
I'm going to read this as "best all around". To me that means best mix of reliability and accuracy, for the price.

I would suggest a Ruger 10/22 if you want a semi automatic. They are affordable, the quality is decent, most of them are not picky about ammunition choice, and they are accurate enough. The aftermarket is also massive if you ever want to upgrade or change something on the rifle. The downsides are the stock trigger not being great, and the quality of the stock on basic models being poor. But there are factory models available where both of these components have been upgraded.

I have owned a number of them and for me they have simply just worked.

There are also a plethora of clones of various quality and price.


If you want a manual action gun, it's easily the CZ457 for me. It is a bolt action. Super smooth, accurate, very reliable, and a good trigger out of the box. In my opinion these offer the best mix of affordability and performance without having to tinker. Just pick the one you want; there are lots of factory versions. The aftermarket is not as big as the 10/22 mentioned above, but is still decent.

These also, in my experience, seem to just work. Getting a dud is pretty rare.


Firearms are kind of like cars. What is best is highly subjective and highly situational. The answer you get depends hugely on who you ask.
 
Parts Only Canada said:
I'm going to read this as "best all around". To me that means best mix of reliability and accuracy, for the price.

I would suggest a Ruger 10/22 if you want a semi automatic. They are affordable, the quality is decent, most of them are not picky about ammunition choice, and they are accurate enough. The aftermarket is also massive if you ever want to upgrade or change something on the rifle. The downsides are the stock trigger not being great, and the quality of the stock on basic models being poor. But there are factory models available where both of these components have been upgraded.

I have owned a number of them and for me they have simply just worked.

There are also a plethora of clones of various quality and price.


If you want a manual action gun, it's easily the CZ457 for me. It is a bolt action. Super smooth, accurate, very reliable, and a good trigger out of the box. In my opinion these offer the best mix of affordability and performance without having to tinker. Just pick the one you want; there are lots of factory versions. The aftermarket is not as big as the 10/22 mentioned above, but is still decent.

These also, in my experience, seem to just work. Getting a dud is pretty rare.


Firearms are kind of like cars. What is best is highly subjective and highly situational. The answer you get depends hugely on who you ask.
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I hate my new 10/22. Quality isnt the same 10 years ago.

Litterally everything I own. Outshoots it and it the target model.. Plus what people want for 10/22s. Ive bought used Anschutzs.

Marlin 60/70/795 or the Mossberg 151. I think is better. Only thing 10/22 got is the customizing factor.

Also at club shoots, that you can win with a Cooey. I never really see 10/22 fare well. All seems to shoot too fast and like missing.
 
OkayShooter said:
I hate my new 10/22. Quality isnt the same 10 years ago.

Litterally everything I own. Outshoots it and it the target model.. Plus what people want for 10/22s. Ive bought used Anschutzs.

Marlin 60/70/795 or the Mossberg 151. I think is better. Only thing 10/22 got is the customizing factor.

Also at club shoots, that you can win with a Cooey. I never really see 10/22 fare well. All seems to shoot too fast and like missing.
Click to expand...

For sure. And your experience is valid just like anyone's.

Like I said, I think there will be a lot of opinions on what "the best" is. In my opinion the 10/22 is "the best" semi auto for a beginner because they tend to work properly out of box, the accuracy is fine (unless you get a dud), they are everywhere, affordable, and highly customizable. With a sprinkle of modification, the 10/22 can become almost anything that anyone needs out of a .22LR.

I also probably have a more new-school/modern preference on sport shooting. For those of us who are pre-retirement age, the Mossberg 151 ceased production before we were even born haha.
 
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