Best "El Chepo" .22?

K-Roc

K-Roc

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Over the years it seemed I had to "graduate" away from .22... but after I did, I returned to .22 rifles. I like the cheap ammo, lower noise level, and in a sense "safer" firearm... it made me wonder what is the best cheap a$$ .22 rifle?

I will say the Chiappa Badger .22. It is accurate, single shot (dont use a lot of ammo) and small for those camping trips... plus you can stick a tripod and scope on in in a jiffy. Oh, and great to teach new shooters on... probably my fave firearm out of the dozen I own. What a great rifle and I have used it more than any firearm I own.

$190 for it too... wow... $800 firearms sit in my safe and this one goes back woods camping with me.

Seemed like a fun topic... What do you think?
 
I like the savage mark II g simple wood and metal made right here and mine did 1/2" groups without mods with a 12x scope wish i still had it. I now have a 305f that does the same thing but for a few more bucks.
I started getting light strikes with it after a few years, sent it to savage and they made it right again and even threw in an extra mag. Cant beat that, there are lots of cheap ones but when you need something down the road what then?
 
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of the .22 rifles I've owned or shot the Norinco NS522 is the most accurate sub-$1K I've shot. next would be Savage SV-FR or CZ 452/455s. add some $$$ and my 80's Anschutz 64 match silhouette shoots far tighter. "with match .22 ammo"
 
I own 4 22LR rifles.

Remington 597 Heavy Barrel, Old Winnie Cooey 600, Norinco JW15A-13" and a Norinco NS522.

My 2 favorites are by far the Norinco's. I have done nothing with the JW15 backpacker and it'll do 1-1.25" at 50 yards with cheap ammo. The NS522 is much better but still needs work. Check out the two threads on these rifles in this forum. I get more people asking me what they are and more people leave impressed after seeing them.

I'm more of a fan of the bolts than the semi's. My wife likes to blast away with the 597 but its not my thing.
 
A bottom line savage MK11 or Norinco bolt is likely the cheapest 22lr rifle you will find that actually works and isn't in the " bic lighter disposable" category.

Keep in mind that if you do have to throw away the 1st really cheap rifle you buy and replace it it has now become quite expensive...and you still have crap.
 
I bought my marlin 795 a few years ago when they were around $120 and even though I've got some nicer more expensive .22's that marlin goes with me every time I'm outdoors
 
cyclops666 said:
I bought my marlin 795 a few years ago when they were around $120 and even though I've got some nicer more expensive .22's that marlin goes with me every time I'm outdoors
Click to expand...

Yep...Marlins are good value too. I left out semi autos from the el cheapo conversation as I believe it to be sage advice to avoid a semi if yer buyin a cheap 22 and don't want grief. That said there are plenty of Marlin and other cheap 22 semis that work fine...hit/miss tho and usually ammo sensitive with a preference for quality ammo to run well.

Having to buy quality( more expensive) ammo isn't condusive to the elcheapo mantra either.
 
Marlin XT Bollt action 289.00
Marlin 795 Semi stainless blued model on sale 159.00 reg 209.00 ,stainless is around 259.00 harder to find too
Love them both almost always goes on every range trip

 
Your over looking many good old Cooeys!! They have taken a price jump over the last couple years but still good value in the sub $200 range. The 597 and 10-22 both work well. Save your money and get a CZ. You likely will have this gun for years and shoot it more than any other gun you own. Resale is very good. Just my 2 cents. Aj
 
The norinco brno clone that looks like a mauser is surprisingly decent. Rough, but mine shoots above its price point
 
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