Getting a new .22LR! Wondering...

Siggy Stardust

Siggy Stardust

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Looking around for a new .22 and am eyeing at the Browning BL-22, the Marlin 39AS, and the Savage Mako. What I'm primarily concerned with is accuracy.

Anyone have any opinion on what would be the most accurate of these guns and how they handle? Any other suggestions for a .22LR? I love the look of the T-Bolt rimfires, but I just don't want to spend $600 on a .22. Anyone have any experience with the CZ's? Looking for a bolt or lever-action.
 
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Can't go wrong with a CZ. The Savage is certainly cheaper, but they also have a too-high-for-me possibility of getting a lemon. I know a whole whack of the '07 rifles were junk. I don't know if they've made any changes in procedures at the factory since then, perhaps. Anyway, a CZ 452 American is certainly worth taking a look at. Or a 452 Silhouette (blued) or Style (nickel-plated) if you want a synthetic stock. Or a 452 Varmint if you want a heavier barrel. Or a Lux if you want open sights. Or a 453 American/Varmint if you want a better trigger. At any rate, it's certainly worth your while to do a bit of research here and somewhere like rimfirecentral on them to see if you should be considering moving them higher up the list of possibilities. I've been very impressed with the ones I've shot and own, and you'll find no shortage of similar feelings out there. Very nice and accurate rifles.
 
I'd take Savage Mako of those three mentioned. Its essentially Savage MkII with all consequences :)
 
personally i'm a fan of marlins, and lever actions in general. i'd vote for the marlin 39A if you could get your hands on one.

it will hold 19 rounds of LR ammo.

in a magazine article i have on hand, it averaged 1.35" at 50 yards with eight different types of ammo (only two were target, the rest cheap). sounds good to me!

i recently got a ruger 96/22. not a conventional lever gun, but handy. rugers famous rotary mag, short throw lever (54 degrees). i don't know what the accuracy is like though, and i got mine used (they no longer make the 96 in 22LR).
 
Oh goody, I'll get in on this. First let's dismiss the T-bolt. When they first came out, I picked up both a new T-bolt, (The first in town) and a CZ 452. The CZ outshot the Browning so badly it was embarassing. I'm not saying it wasn't accurate, but the CZ shot groups half the size. Of course paper punching does nothing for in the field shooting.

Now we'll skip ahead. I'm a lever action fan first and foremost. I just replaced my CZ with a Browning BL-22. I don't know just how tight of groups it will shoot, but it hit 15 out of 15 shotshell hulls at 25 yards off my elbow at the range. It was also accurate enough to take the tops off the heads of a few grouse a week back. It's way too much fun to not say to get it.

The 39A is the only type of rifle I haven't owned, though my best friend has one and I've put alot of rounds through it. It has a heavy, bull barrel as far as rimfires go. Add that to the length and you've got a very stable, high weight platform for good shooting. It feels like a real rifle, where the Browning feels like a nimble .22 rifle.

As for the Savage, I have a MKII. Though not the Mako, :)puke:) it looks better and is the same action. Mine has a sticky chamber if I don't keep it clean, but it's very accurate. Good luck with your choice.
 
I ahd a browning T bolt for about two weeks, until the cheap plastic trigger started to peel and the fancy gold plating came off. I much prefer the CZ452 or Marlin, and the Browning lever is very well made. Savage is good for a price point, but you get what you pay for.
 
What about the Winchester Wildcat .22? Does any out there have one or any opinon / info on these units? Accuracy, handling, etc.? They seem very reasonably priced, but not sure how they compare to the other makes/models discussed in this thread...
 
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