First Rifle - Having Trouble Deciding

N

New2shoot

New member
EE Expired
Rating - 100%
2   0   0
Location
Winnipeg
Ok so I have done the CFSC and am now playing the uber fun waiting game for my license. In the meantime I figured I might as well look for the rifle I want to buy so I can get it the same day my card shows up in the mail. I have shot before, air rifles, .22s, C7A2 and a Shotgun. And as much as I'd like my very own C7 I'm going with a .22 for my first rifle.

Now I have been looking around and from what I've seen there are three rifles that tickle my fancy.

Rem 597 - I like that I could afford to buy it now (206.94 at Lebaron) and that it is a semi automatic since I found that was the most fun part of shooting the C7, the fact that I didn't have to load every shot. I'm not sure on the reliability of the rifle though so that's whats holding me back.

Rem 770 - I like that this rifle seems to have much better reviews on it, but it's towards the top end of my price range (468.94) and would need some saving up towards. Is this rifle even worth thinking about anything beyond 50m plinking?

CZ 452 Silhouette - I like that this rifle is supposedly solid but its a bit above my price range again at 534 at Lebaron. Is this weapon much better than the Rem 770?

(Rem 700 when I am out of school)

What are your thoughts/experiences/I-heard-this-rifle-sucks-because.
 
It depends what you want to do with the rifle. Plinking would favor a semi auto. If accuracy tickles your fancy a bolt is the way to go and a CZ or Savage would be something you might want to consider looking at. Expect to pay a bit more for your scope if you're into accuracy.
 
Pick up a used Lakefield Mark II. They go for about $100 or so, and will shoot the johnson off a skeeter at 50 paces. Offhand, mine will put full mags into a toonie at 50 paces with BORING regularity. If I shoot off the bench I can shrink it down to a quarter. Get yourself a half decent scope (I ran a $50 Tasco 3-9x40 for the longest time, just swapped on 3-9x40 Bushnell that came off my Enfield, wifey gets the tasco now) for another $75-100 (you'll keep that scope for a while!) and spend the other $200 you would on getting a 10/22 to run properly on AMMO. :D
 
Plinking is fun for a while and accuracy is an ongoing challenge. Accuracy is way more interesting for me.
 
Of the three rifles you have listed, my pick would be the CZ. If you really have your heart set on an inexpensive semi, Marlins are probably the best in their price range.

The Remington 770 is a centrefire. Don't buy one; they're absolute junk, besides the fact that you will want to start out with a .22.
 
Savage Mark II

Price: $421
Contact: savagearms.com

For the first time since we began doing our annual gun test, a single rifle has won both the Editor's Choice and Great Buy awards. So how did it do it? With its gleaming stainless-steel action and barrel and a laminated hardwood stock that echoes the sculpting of legendary stock-stylist Reinhart Fajen, the MK II certainly looks considerably more upscale than its price tag indicates. But good value alone doesn't win Outdoor Life's top award. To do so, a firearm must exhibit a level of performance consistently better than that of other guns in its class. The Savage MK II .22 RF we tested proved to be not just the most accurate rimfire we tested this year, but the most accurate rimfire we've ever tested, including some high-dollar rifles of exalted European origin.

After the gun was sighted-in at 50 yards in a test tunnel, the first four 5-shot groups measured .191, .202, .263 and .260 inches, for an average of .229 inches. Yep, that's less than a quarter-inch! More remarkable is the fact that these tiny groups were fired with standard Remington/Eley ammo and an old lot of CCI Green Tag, neither of which are considered the ne plus ultra by accuracy fanatics. The smallest group of all was fired by team member Sam Arnett, who demonstrated his award-winning benchrest technique with a barely measurable .109 inches. By comparison, an eighth of an inch equals .125 inches, so go figure.

Aside from its obviously super-accurate barrel, much of the MK II's shootability was credited to its weight and the solid way the contoured stock rides the bags.

Testers' Comments: Incredible value; can't beat the price for this kind of accuracy; Trigger pull could be better; A tack driver; Savage can be proud of this firearm; Aesthetically very pleasing overall; a damned fine .22 rifle; I¿ll buy it.

Editor's Choice
Great Buy
Workmanship:***
Performance:****
Price/Value:****
Click to expand...
http://www.outdoorlife.com/photos/gallery/gear/shooting/2008/06/gun-test-08?photo=6#41789783
 
Last edited:
CZ or Savage bolt action if you are looking for accuracy.

The Ruger 10/22 is a fun gun but it needs some aftermarket items to make it a target rifle. These include replacing the barrel, some of the trigger components & bedding the action. Include gunsmith charges if you do not do this job yourself.
 
Ruger is something you will need to tinker with, they are just not the same as the older ones in the fit/finish/accuracy department. I would say save up for the CZ, they are a nice gun. My first rifle was a lakefeild mk 2... shot alright but the mags were crap... I understand the savage uses the same mags.
 
I've heard that savage uses a proprietary round that is more expensive is that still true? I am both into plinking, and before I joined the cf was trying my hand at competitions, nothing big just small ones but I wasn't too bad so an accurate rifle to get back into the swing of things would be nice. I like the looks of the Savage Mk II FV (http ://www.savagearms.com/markiifv.htm) I'm into a synthetic stock and even if the listed price is in US dollars, that is still a pretty good deal (unless the Canadian prices are exhorbitantly higher like everything else)
 
A Savage rifle chambered for 22LR (as well as any other rifle chambered for 22LR) will happily shoot 22LR ammo.
 
new2shoot,

There are savage rimfires chambered in the .17 rimfires and they are more expensive.

+1 on getting the savage mark II (in plain old .22 lr) for your first gun. With the brand of ammo mine likes best (happens to be Federal hollowpoints) its mag can consistently be emptied into dime sized groups at 25 yards (typical range to evaluate a rimfire).

RG

<><
 
I was in your position a few ears back. Like many I chose to buy the less expensive guns such as the Ruger 10/22 and Savage 93 & MKII among others. Last year I bought my first CZ, a 452 in .22LR. Since then I've bought two more CZ rifles.

Yes the CZ costs more but it is a true joy to own and shoot. The only accessory you'll ever need is a $15 trigger kit. I don't miss owning a semi-auto 22 one bit.

My only gripe is all the money I wasted on cheaper 22s before I bought a CZ, probably enough to pay for another quality rifle.
 
The first rimfire rifle I bought was a Ruger 10/22 target model. I have no regrets. As for upgrading it to be more accurate. I've had the trigger done, and replaced the scope rail with a Leupold one piece unit. A scope with an adjustable objective and you're good to go.

I'll eventually get around to updating my old Ruger 10/22 post with these new modifications. The cost was minimal and with Lapua Super Club ammo the results have been very good.

That being said with no changes at all, the Thompson Center R55 Benchmark and CCI standards shoots with the CZ rifles.
 
I have a Lakefield Mark II and switch out 7 different mags when using it . I never had a problem with an original mag nor any I got from savage. Depending on the wear on your bolt, the mag lips may need a tweak, but not a few hundred dollars to make the gun shoot.
 
Andrewe said:
I was in your position a few ears back. Like many I chose to buy the less expensive guns such as the Ruger 10/22 and Savage 93 & MKII among others. Last year I bought my first CZ, a 452 in .22LR. Since then I've bought two more CZ rifles.

Yes the CZ costs more but it is a true joy to own and shoot. The only accessory you'll ever need is a $15 trigger kit. I don't miss owning a semi-auto 22 one bit.

My only gripe is all the money I wasted on cheaper 22s before I bought a CZ, probably enough to pay for another quality rifle.
Click to expand...


X2... best advice by far.
 
Go for a bolt gun. You'll get more joy out of putting 5 rounds through on hole than you will putting five rounds downrange as fast as you can pull the trigger.

Both CZ and Savage are great choices. I've shot & owned both, and both are fantastic.

Savage is like the Honda of .22's-Cheap, reliable, and everyone has one.
CZ is a bit more of the Mercedes of .22s- Comes from Europe, well crafted, and performs beautifly.

Id say get whatever your wallet will allow you to get, just keep it a bolt.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom