Which .22?
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Using your criteria, there are several choices. On the top end, I would spend a bit more than the $400 and consider the CZ. There are several models to chose from, and they run $450-$500. Consider this........if you keep it for 10 years, then it only costs you about $50 a year.
On the bottom end, I would look at the Savage Mark II WITH THE ACCU-TRIGGER. These are in the $150-$300 range. The wood stock models seem to balance better than the composite stocked ones. The accu-trigger is a great help toward better accuracy.
Perhaps a visit to a local range or gun club will help. Ask at your local gun shop who owns a model of each, then phone that person and tell him what you intend to do, and ask if you might fire their rifle the next time they are at the range. Shooters are glad to help one another.
The only thing you have to be aware of is that people tend to put forward their ideas and are a bit biased toward their own rifles.........
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