best rimfire when the time comes

D

djmay71

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
EE Expired
Rating - 87.5%
7   1   0
Location
Eastern Ontario
so i should be getting my PAL in the mail in a month or so (I hope)

anyways, i've been thinking about my first purchase- and i know I want a rimfire- something semi auto and accurate out to maybe 80 yards (i plan to do some small game hunting in the future)
so i was thinking maybe a .22LR? What about a Remington 597? (Seeing as I don't have the cash to sink into a Ruger 10/22, but I'd like the option in the future to put on a tactical stock and the whatnot)

Tips? Opinions?
 
By the number of 10-22s in the EEs etc., the number of the owners looking for parts and the parts available to make it shoot, I would not suggest a 10-22. There are not many other manufacturers that sell "additions" as the guns they produce probably do not need them.I am very content with my Marlin and Mossy semis.
 
If you want an inexpensive accurate out of the box semi go with a Marlin. If you ever want to start messing with it buy a 10/22. The number of parts and kits available for it is unreal! A used 10/22 should be in the $200 range if you look hard and in the long run that isn't very much at all!

And welcome to the boards!
 
I will always own a 10/22. I have owned & shot dozens of .22 semi's and none compare to a 10/22 in reliability. I just bought a hardly used stainless 10/22 off EE cheap. Now I have 2. At 80 yds, you will shoot 1"-2" groups with a stock 10/22. Marlins are good but not as reliable. I have never seen a Mossy semi .22 that didn't jam. They are very ammo and weather sensitive.
 
The only semi-auto .22 rifles I currently own are 10/22's. My first was a stainless model. It functioned 100% out of the box and was quite accurate to 75 yards but not as accurate as my CZ Varmint (bolt action). I do know someone who has had nothing but trouble with his 10/22. I guess I was lucky.
 
I'd stay away from the 10/22. It is the fussiest semi-auto ever made IMO. If you don't have the perfect ammo its nothing but problematic. I got rid of one a long time ago for this reason and went to bolt and lever actions and have never had a jam or misfire since.

As far as I'm concerned for accuracy, a decent bolt action blows out most semi-autos. Some semi-autos are cool but I've long chosen reliability over coolness, at the same time while not implying that all repeater action rimfire rifles perform 100% all the time either.
 
I've read some very bad reviews with most rimfire products coming from Remington, including their ammunition. I think for the time being it's probably good to avoid them until quality control steps up. Check out the reviews on Cabala's and Wholesale Sports. Google the heck out of any gun before you decide on it. Chances are you can even watch an entire take down video on youtube of whatever gun you decide to buy.
 
What the hell, I thought 10/22s were quite reliable. I have owned two, my first one fed everything, the second one never misfired or jammed or anything (though it's not stock ;) ) :dancingbanana:

Though I have a 10/22, I just got a CZ 452 full stock/mannlicher and it's probably the funnest rimfire I've ever shot.
 
djmay71 said:
soTips? Opinions?
Click to expand...

My opinion? Buy a bolt action rimfire for your first rifle. Semi's tend to teach a spray and pray mentality that discourages learning how to really shoot well. They are generally less accurate than a decent bolt action and can be fussy regarding ammo and magazines. 10/22's make good platforms for a build, but aren't very satisfying in the stock condition, in my experience.

I recently bought a mint Savage Mk.II bolt action for $100 off the EE as a project gun. It will shoot at least as well as any stock 10/22, feeds everything ammo you can find and is 1/2 the price or less of any 10/22 you can find.

Whatever you buy won't be the only gun you ever own, so I suggest finding a nice condition used bolt action and learning to shoot on it, then buying whatever semi strikes your fancy once you have some experience and skill built up.

Mark
 
Look at something from CZ such as a 452 far from cheap but worth the money as a long term investment. They shoot very well and will probably for most last a lifetime which makes the cost reasonable.

Must agree with mmattockx that a semi-auto for a first gun is not the best choice, you do get the tendancy to spray too much.

Personally learned to shoot on a Cooey .22 single shot and know it made me a "better shot" as I only had ONE, with my Nylon 66 I would waste so much ammo.

A good bolt action will teach you to shoot more accurately and save you some bucks in ammo.
 
Last edited:
Every rimfire guy eventually tries a 10/22 :) , and more often than not they like what they see....;)...I've also found that a $10 VQ extractor will solve 95%+ of any "fussiness" claimes regarding the 10/22....:stirthepot2:.....my one advice would be to try and time the purchase of a 10/22 as best as one can, b/c there are definitely times that they can be had less expensively.....:D
 
If it's a semi you want, buy a 10/22 and get on with it. Buy a used one, older is better. Watch the EE for prices, but for the most part, they seem to sell at a premium, as guys around here are looking for 'project' material for various custom builds.

Hit the local gun places and check often.

Mine was bought in the early 80's. Never given me any grief. Only 'mod' it has, is to remove the stupid bloody bolt hold-open lever.

Dunno how many thousands of rounds it has through it. Lots. Stock barrel, stock extractor. Gets washed out every couple months use, a good squirt of oil, and allowed to drip out before reassembly.
I wanted a heavy barrel for it, but it shoots well enough that I have not bothered. Have made enough first round hits on gophers at 100 yards, to be happy with the way it shoots.

All sorts of options for things that you CAN do to them, but there are millions of stock ones around, too. If you don't have any real interest in mods, consider the nicer Walnut stock version.

The factory mags are dead reliable, and can be stripped for cleaning out.

About the only other firearms I know of, that have as large or larger a pool of 'corporate knowledge' for them, as well as choices for accessories, would be the 1911 colt pistol, and the AR-15 platforms, yet nobody ever seems to get on a rant about how the makers of those 'make' you buy aftermarket stuff.

If you ever get a chance to shoot a really good bolt gun, do it. It'll ruin you, though. :) You will want an Anshutz bolt gun! Or a Walther.
Heard lots of good things about the CZ, and the Savages, but would suggest again, looking at the used gun rack if you can. I've only ever seen a few worn out .22's. Most have at least two more lifetimes worth of fun in them! There were lots of really good models available from Winchester and Remington, as well as Marlin, and others. Pick the one you like.

There were a bunch of C.I.L. branded Anshutz rifles sold in Canada. Worth watching for.

Take a look at the Savages. Never had one, never aspired to. Guy that have them are mostly happy, and they are not expensive.

Cheers
Trev
 
mmattockx said:
My opinion? Buy a bolt action rimfire for your first rifle. Semi's tend to teach a spray and pray mentality that discourages learning how to really shoot well. They are generally less accurate than a decent bolt action and can be fussy regarding ammo and magazines. 10/22's make good platforms for a build, but aren't very satisfying in the stock condition, in my experience.

I recently bought a mint Savage Mk.II bolt action for $100 off the EE as a project gun. It will shoot at least as well as any stock 10/22, feeds everything ammo you can find and is 1/2 the price or less of any 10/22 you can find.

Whatever you buy won't be the only gun you ever own, so I suggest finding a nice condition used bolt action and learning to shoot on it, then buying whatever semi strikes your fancy once you have some experience and skill built up.

Mark
Click to expand...


^x2, well said. I don't think anyone should start shooting with a semi-automatic. The "spray and pray" thing is true. Not saying they're not fun, or that adding one down the road is a bad idea....but as your first, I think they ARE a bad idea. Savage is the most accurate for the price these days new, but even an older bolt-action Cooey will get you rolling for 1/2 the price of a new Savage..which is already an inexpensive rifle. (following this? lol) Even if you have deeper pockets, I'd still suggest a Savage.

On the 10/22 issue~reminds me of the discussion regarding dog bites. "more people are bitten by labs than pitbulls". Dig deeper an you find out that there are probably 100+x more labs than pitbulls out there. It's a question of odds, not a comment on labs. (and I'm not dog owner BTW) If you want to know how "good" a 10/22 is, look at how many have been sold...and continue TO be sold. There is bound to be the odd stinker when 5-6 MILLION have been made. I have a mint 10/22 with about 1/2 a brick through it that has fed/fired everything I've tried. I have friends who have thousands and thousands of rounds through theirs with barely a complaint, and no mods. either. The only thing negatives I will happily admit to on 10/22s is #1. The trigger is heavy #2. Ruger doesn't seem to be wanting to improve this beloved carbine with each passing year. If/when you do decide to get one, look for an older one with less plastic.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom