Cheap bolt or semi action

P

PickleMac

New member
Rating - 100%
1   0   0
Location
Maritimes
So I've recently got my pal and would like to learn to shoot. Everyone says I should start with a 22lr because it's cheap and provides a good foundation. Trying to decide between a semi or bolt action and keep it fairly affordable. My two choices would be a savage mk II or a marlin 795. I know the marlin will be more fun if I want to just shoot cans but will the savage be more accurate out to 100yards if I want to actually try and hit a target? Any input greatly appreciated
 
Marlin 795 is surprisingly good, despite its low price.

Very rugged, and it also can take 25 round mags.

I wouldn't use it for a target rifle to 100 yds though.

A Savage B Model or Ruger Rimfire would be better bolt options.
 
Best bolt for your money right now is the Scorpio; a number of the dealers here have them; can be found new for less than 200 from time to time. Man, do they ever shoot too!!
 
OP, if you're really new to the game, don't start with a semi auto rifle.

To many things that knowledgeable people do automatically and seem like common sense, aren't, to a newbie.

Hopefully, you have a mentor and a place to shoot safely??

If you don't have a mentor but a place to shoot, where other shooters are present, get a few suggestions from them. Most shooters are very willing to help out a newbie.

I would suggest a 22 bolt action rifle with a detachable magazine. Even a tubular magazine, under the barrel or feeding through the butt is OK.

Just a lot less things to go wrong during the learning curve.

Not only that, it slows down the rate at which you will use up ammo and will hopefully get you to pay more attention to shooting stances and sight pictures.

Stick with STANDARD VELOCITY ammunition. It's usually more accurate. There will be wails of derision over this but very few rimfire rifles shoot the hot ammunition as well as they shoot standard velocity ammo.

Now, there are a lot of dealers at the top of the page that will have exactly what you're looking for, or you could go onto the EE for a used rifle.

One other thing, many folks firmly believe that new shooters should start off with iron sights. I'm not of that opinion. Not everybody is gifted with 20-20 vision and glasses, especially progressive lenses tend to make sight acquisition difficult.

IMHO, you should take a look at some of the scope/rifle packages that are offered. They're cheaper than buying the components separately.

Once you're familiar with your new rifle, you may decide you're looking for something that will shoot well out to what used to be extreme distances. Many clubs are starting to have matches where they are shooting 22 RF rifles out to 300+ yards, with very specialized and expensive equipment.
 
Go with a semi auto as a 22 bolt action can get boring pretty quickly . The Ruger 10-22 is the best option , and they come on sale quite often , and will last for many , many years . If you decide that you want to step up to a little longer range shooting in the future , you can purchase a 223 or 22-250 bolt action which would give you a lot more distance than a 22lr .
 
Meroh said:
Best bolt for your money right now is the Scorpio; a number of the dealers here have them; can be found new for less than 200 from time to time. Man, do they ever shoot too!!
Click to expand...

Thanks for the tip, this wasn't even on my radar but seems to beat out the savage mk II and only at a much cheaper price



bearhunter said:
OP, if you're really new to the game, don't start with a semi auto rifle.

To many things that knowledgeable people do automatically and seem like common sense, aren't, to a newbie.

Hopefully, you have a mentor and a place to shoot safely??

If you don't have a mentor but a place to shoot, where other shooters are present, get a few suggestions from them. Most shooters are very willing to help out a newbie.

I would suggest a 22 bolt action rifle with a detachable magazine. Even a tubular magazine, under the barrel or feeding through the butt is OK.

Just a lot less things to go wrong during the learning curve.

Not only that, it slows down the rate at which you will use up ammo and will hopefully get you to pay more attention to shooting stances and sight pictures.

Stick with STANDARD VELOCITY ammunition. It's usually more accurate. There will be wails of derision over this but very few rimfire rifles shoot the hot ammunition as well as they shoot standard velocity ammo.

Now, there are a lot of dealers at the top of the page that will have exactly what you're looking for, or you could go onto the EE for a used rifle.

One other thing, many folks firmly believe that new shooters should start off with iron sights. I'm not of that opinion. Not everybody is gifted with 20-20 vision and glasses, especially progressive lenses tend to make sight acquisition difficult.

IMHO, you should take a look at some of the scope/rifle packages that are offered. They're cheaper than buying the components separately.

Once you're familiar with your new rifle, you may decide you're looking for something that will shoot well out to what used to be extreme distances. Many clubs are starting to have matches where they are shooting 22 RF rifles out to 300+ yards, with very specialized and expensive equipment.
Click to expand...

Cheers, you've pointed out a lot of good stuff that I hadn't thought about. I don't have a mentor but I do have a range to practice at, hopefully I can find someone for some advice there. My main focus is learning how to shoot well in order to take a deer this fall so I think a bolt action with a scope is the way to go since that'll mimic a hunting rifle and the pace of shooting I hope to do
 
If you're looking for a first gun on a budget, I'd look at the Scorpio 22 as well. I don't have one, but I have it's big brother, the NS522 (same action), and it's a sweet shooting rifle. I've had good luck with relatively cheap ammo out to 200 yards with it. Jerry, the man behind Mystic Precision, is a big fan of the Scorpio 332 as well. There was a thread not too long ago in the rimfire section where people were talking about them, some good info in there.
https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/for...32A-mods-making-a-silk-purse-from-a-sow-s-ear
Kristian
 
Last edited:
If you are planning to hunt deer a 22 LR is not a caliber to choose. To practice with it is definitely a good choice.

For hunting you might want to consider one of the "standard" hunting calibers, 30/30, .308, 30-06. Or, one of my favs 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5x55, 7mm, 7mm-08.
Any of which can harvest deer humanely.

Using one of the 30 caliber options means you will have lots of commercial ammunition to choose from.

Best of luck,
 
easyrider604 said:
I am tempted to buy this Scorpio at Gotenda for $189.00 but it seems to require some tinkering to achieve its full potential. With a couple of 22s still unfired (by me) in the safe, I think I'll pass.

This is a solid deal for a solid rifle. Just read the link by turbo above, copied here:

https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/for...32A-mods-making-a-silk-purse-from-a-sow-s-ear
Click to expand...

It's hard to go wrong with a Marlin - bolt or semi. They're reliable and pretty accurate - they're not target grade or match grade, but even the semi-auto should group 1" at 50 yards. And they're inexpensive. 10/22s on the other hand, have a huge following, but it seems to me that people tinker with them to bring out any potential, and they cost a fair bit more.

If you search the EE here, you'll find a handful of .22lr Marlin semiauto and bolt rifles.

Good advice above, BTW to shoot standard velocity. In my limited experience, they are more consistent if you're buying half decent ammo.

Cheers,
Neil
 
Last edited:
easyrider604 said:
I am tempted to buy this Scorpio at Gotenda for $189.00 but it seems to require some tinkering to achieve its full potential. With a couple of 22s still unfired (by me) in the safe, I think I'll pass.

This is a solid deal for a solid rifle. Just read the link by turbo above, copied here:

https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/for...32A-mods-making-a-silk-purse-from-a-sow-s-ear
Click to expand...

turbo_bird said:
If you're looking for a first gun on a budget, I'd look at the Scorpio 22 as well. I don't have one, but I have it's big brother, the NS522 (same action), and it's a sweet shooting rifle. I've had good luck with relatively cheap ammo out to 200 yards with it. Jerry, the man behind Mystic Precision, is a big fan of the Scorpio 332 as well. There was a thread not too long ago in the rimfire section where people were talking about them, some good info in there.
https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/for...32A-mods-making-a-silk-purse-from-a-sow-s-ear
Kristian
Click to expand...

Im pretty tempted by this rifle, for the price I can get a scope with it and still come out ahead on a marlin or savage. Tinkering with it wouldn't be that bad since Jerry has laid it out pretty well and it's something I usually enjoy to do
 
Bolt guns are far easier to clean, and .22s tend to be pretty dirty. Bolt comes out, and then you have access to the breech and a straight run with a cleaning rod.

Most semis have a closed back of the receiver, so it's going to have to be a pull-through. (I guess you could clean form the muzzle with a rod, but all the manuals will tell you to clean from the breech end)
Getting the bolt in and out of a semi can be a real pain in depending on how the bolt, recoil spring, recoil spring guide rod, and bolt handle interact with each other

I think the Savage A22 solves both of those problems by having a removable receiver cover to allow easier bolt removal and access to the barrel.
 
Ruger 10/22....cheap, reliable (if kept reasonably clean and use 10 round factory mags) and they are fairly damn accurate

Think about getting a used one. At any point in time, there probably a couple dozen for sale on the Rimfire Equipment Exchange
 
I too have been looking at a new 22, and the bolts have the nod. But I feel the Savage B-22s have the edge in that the Sav MkIIs have a rep for feed probs and ejections too. The B-22s seeem better from what I've read. Check out Savageshooters.cxx The mod j.baker owns the site and he's based in Ohio. he has a review of the B-22 as well as threads about it on the forum. Prob the way I'll go, but waiting for a Sale or rebate. Here abouts in NB they are going at $430 + - if you can find one. Marlin 60s are in the mid $300s and the Sav-64s are only around $200. You pays your money and you takes your chances ^O^
 
I too have been looking at a new 22, and the bolts have the nod. But I feel the Savage B-22s have the edge in that the Sav MkIIs have a rep for feed probs and ejections too. The B-22s seeem better from what I've read. Check out Savageshooters.cxx The mod j.baker runs the site and he's based in Ohio. he has a review of the B-22 as well as threads about it on the forum. Prob the way I'll go, but waiting for a Sale or rebate. Here abouts in NB they are going at $430 + - if you can find one. Marlin 60s are in the mid $300s and the Sav-64s are only around $200. You pays your money and you takes your chances ^O^
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom