Best Older (1975 and previous) Semi-Auto .22

[Magellann]

Winchester 490. Walnut & steel, man sized proportions. Great trigger, very good accuracy right out of the box. 22 LR only. The factory recall had something to do with the rifle firing again and again with one trigger pull. As long as the brass did not disintegrate in unsupported discharge, this was not usually a show-stopper for a little bit. Once you had the barrelled action out of the stock, there was alot of small parts fully interchangeable, with the Cooey Model 64.
The biggest advantage the Ruger 10-22 has over it, is considerably longer shooting sessions between cleanings, and a plefora of accessories. (of course the Winchester is no longer in production)

Edit: The Best of 40 Years of Gun Digest edition has an excellent article on early 22 rimfire semi-auto rifles IMO.

I have a 490 also, great gun, although I find it has to be kept spotlessly clean or the bolt will not stay open when empty. Thats the only minor problem Ive ever encountered with it.

 

[Paatz]

I've got a minty original 1903 in .22 automatic, and a few boxes of shells, complete with the carrying case.
My Dad taught me to shoot with that gun.
And I just picked up a minty 552 with scope at the gun show a couple of weeks ago!
I bought my first Mossy last fall, a 46M and yes it starts an addiction.
Haven't fired either of them yet.
I had my eye on a 151M but someone else got to it before me.

 

[fat tony]

I am working on a Squires & Bingham 20p right now. All it needs is a new rear sight - going to try my NECG peep sight if I can ever find it again.

Not sure if the 20p predates 1975 or if it came out around that time.

I do know they were quite nice rifles to a young kid back in the day when plinking was not considered a crime against humanity in Nova Scotia.