newbie looking for opinions on 22LR semi

If you are buying it with the intention of target practice be very careful with semi guns. A 10/22 is useless for target shooting as it only has pie plate accuracy. The Remington 597 is an improvement but is still a poor target gun.

I would guess the CZ is probably more accurate but can’t back that up with first hand experience
 
horseman2 said:
Oh the conflict . . . I want to get a semi-auto but I want to teach my son to shoot.

Start slow and a bolt action will slow things down while "he" learns to shoot and you too.

The numerous times a father has taken his child to the range with a semi-auto and it suddenly goes to spray and pray while learning little and voiding what started out as a learning process.

Start with a bolt action and thank you to the others who supported this learning curve.
Click to expand...
Good post...and advice
 
Marlin 795. I was able to pick up a stainless a few years ago. I put a nice Nikon scope on it. Normally shoot cci mini mags and am good out to 150m. All in at $450.
 
Your first rifle, learning to shoot and with a nine year old then I echo those who have recommended a bolt action .22 rimfire with iron sights.

If you can find a Cooey that has been cared for that would be a great start, I still have mine which I purchased over fifty years ago. I wanted a semi-auto but my Father only allowed me to buy a single shot and I was about 12 at the time with money I earned delivering fish and chips in sweltering heat on a heavy CCM bicycle. Imagine ... I bought ammo at the corner store and fire crackers were not yet banned! However, I was not instructed about not dry firing ...

The CZ platform is excellent esp. the 452 line which is discontinued, but I would consider this later and the need for a scope.

Try the Equipment Exchange and you can place a WTB ad if you wish.
 
I agree with horseman, starting out with a bolt gun slows everything down so that good shooting fundamentals (and safety) are driven home. That’s how I learned to shoot, my dad didn’t let me touch a semi until he thought I was ready.

I own a 10/22, and this will probably be your progression if you buy one
1) after your first trigger pull you will look into trigger work, or shop for a BX trigger, or better.
2) after swapping triggers you will shoot a few groups, and see that they aren’t good. So you’ll head out and buy better ammo
3) with good ammo, it still won’t be great. You’ll then shop for a better stock, one that free floats the barrel. Because the barrel band can’t be helping anything.
4) after getting the new stock you will see that your groups are still meh. Your sanity will be tested. So you’ll probably start shopping for a new barrel. So basically the only factory part you are left with is the receiver. At this point it Amy be perfect for you.

I didn’t make it past #3. While shopping for a new barrel I saw a post here mentioning that it was somewhat common in 10/22s for the barrel to not be perfectly true in the receiver. Bad tolerances, bad batch of receivers, poor QC, there were a ton of threads on various rimfire forums that discussed this problem. I had my scope sighted in for 25 yards, but past 35-40yards I was constantly missing gophers to the left. So I took it apart, clamped it to the countertop and measured, and sure enough the muzzle was canted to the left by ~2mm. I was told that it could take 6 months or more to get anything back from Ruger through warranty. So now I wait.

I’m just glad that I lucked into seeing that post here when I did, it saved me from forking a bunch of money over for a match barrel that still wouldn’t hit anything past 40 yards.

A lot of people love the 10/22, but I wish that I had just called Dlask and had one built right from the start....
 
Totally agree about most peoples dislike for semis as a first. Marĺin 795 was my first. Looked like new, got an okay deal on it. Sights are off....poor qc on marlins people always talk about. Put a scope on. Meh. Trigger. Garbage. Meh. Cycled fine. Seems like it had alot of fliers. It sits in my safe.

Bought a Henry large loop carbine. Super fun, well built with nice wood Very nice trigger. Eats any 22lr i can put in it. Never had a fail to fire. Not sure on pin point accurcy. But i can hit a 4inch plate pretty far out with it on irons.

Then, got a great deal on a lakefield mk1 single shot. Put the scope from the marlin on it. Its a sweet little gun. At 40 yards i can put shots through the same holes. Tight groups. Fun gopher gun. Taught me breathing and trigger control. It actually comes with me to the farm the most...even out of my center fires.
 
Last edited:
another vote for 795. no real ftf fte until it gets filty filty, eats everything, 25 round mags, decently accurate and reliable.
oh ya, and affordable. Spend the difference between a 795 and a 10 22 on a bucket of bullets for the kid.
Cheap rifle + cheap ammo = decent results + happy kids. At least in my house.

or buy a 795 and a cooey 60 or 39 for the price of a 10 22.
 
First .22 LR rifle: I agree with those who suggested bolt action, preferably single shot. My Savage MK1GY is on on my never sell list. If you can find a CZ452 Scout, even better. Get a single shot adapter for it as well.

If you’re really bent on a semi auto, I’d go with a Marlin 60. Almost as accurate as a Savage or CZ boltie, the two 60s I had could do 3/4 inch groups at 50 meters. In bone stock condition. There are more of these rifles in existence than the seemingly ubiquitous 10-22.
 
Last edited:
easyrider604 said:
First .22 LR rifle: I agree with those who suggested bolt action, preferably single shot. My Savage MK1GY is on on my never sell list. If you can find a CZ452 Scout, even better. Get a single shot adapter for it as well.

If you’re really bent on a semi auto, I’d go with a Marlin 60. Almost as accurate as a Savage or CZ boltie, the two 60s I had could do 3/4 inch groups at 50 meters. In bone stock condition. There are more of these rifles in existence than the seemingly ubiquitous 10-22.
Click to expand...

I second the Marlin 60. Impressive rifles; tube mag feeds no issues, they feel and look good, and are accurate. Unless you are willing to spend a bunch of extra money on a 1022, they tend to be hit or miss lately.
 
My first semi .22 was a Norinco, was a POS, got rid of it quickly. Got a 1022 basic, i like it, reliable. My favorite now is my Browning Buckmark taget rifle. Can not be customized like the Ruger, but I just love it more, more accurate, having better result than the 1022 basic model when scoped with Bushnell Banner 1.5-4.5x32.
 
Last edited:


This was the best target today shot with a 10/22 at 100 meters. The other target scored 280-6X.

Other recorded scores were 507, 427, 539 and 501. We shoot 60 rounds for score. This was the first time we put 10/22's to the test.
The 539 was shot in 9 minutes although more time was allotted.

Keeping all 10 shots in the scoring rings helps. Having a 10/22 that will function reliably with SV ammo is the answer.
I don't have the answer for the shoot who has to use HV ammo to ensure function.
 
I’m a little late past the post here but I bought a Henry lever action .22 for my first gun. Still to this day one of my favourites to shoot and I have many non restricted and restricted firearms. 15 shot tubular magazine, high reliability, eats anything. Have fun and stay safe!
 
Hey OP, what did you end up buying??

IMHO there are a number of great guns and what you and your 9-yr-old love will be personal preference. Find something that feels right #1 and is accurate enough for your uses.

My oldest son (now 12) LOVES his bolt action .22 and he prefers to shoot with a scope.
My youngest (now 10) loves semi autos and much prefers shooting open sights. We went through three different .22s before settling on one he loves (it was easy to sell the ones he didn't love). The first was a mossberg (junk), second was a savage (bad feeding issues), third a Ruger 10/22 (kept it but it sits in safe full time), now he has a Mossberg blaze with the banana clip and he LOVES it.

2c
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom