Semi Auto
- Thread starter Shoeguy
- Start date
If you're new to rifles maybe a low-priced one first ? A savage-64 runs around $200, or less if you buy used. That would be a good start. I also have a Savage A22 and I don't like it 'cause when you release the trigger it 'clunks' wierdly. Just distracting, plus the trigger is really heavy like ca 4-5#. And not much you can do to improve that.
Maybe if you go used you could find an old Cooey or Stevens semi - they're reputed to be very accurate (like rabbit hunting accurate, not 'target' accurate). And a used Marlin-60 is always a good bet. Try the EE here for good deals - some are 'un-used'.
If you have the bucks or the inclination to get a better rifle, CZ makes a good semi. too. I'm avoiding the R-word 'cause they're not really accurate 'out-of-the-box' unless you get one of the higher end builds. IME
Just a few thoughts . . .
Good luck
Maybe if you go used you could find an old Cooey or Stevens semi - they're reputed to be very accurate (like rabbit hunting accurate, not 'target' accurate). And a used Marlin-60 is always a good bet. Try the EE here for good deals - some are 'un-used'.
If you have the bucks or the inclination to get a better rifle, CZ makes a good semi. too. I'm avoiding the R-word 'cause they're not really accurate 'out-of-the-box' unless you get one of the higher end builds. IME
Just a few thoughts . . .
Good luck
I have a Savage 64 that was given to me, and a Browning Buckmark. I'm currently trying to find a Bergara BXR with the carbon barrel wrap. I get bored easily shooting .22 and using a semi keeps me more interested. The Savage shoots marginally better than the Browning.
Thirsty_Fox
Regular
- Location
- Eastern Ontario
I think if I were buying one today, I'd get the Savage A22 with the Accutrigger. You can get 25-round magazines for it or use the 10-round rotary for hunting since they're flush. Made in Canada, accurate, and the newer stocks are pretty good.
I'm a fan of the Marlins (60, 795, Papoose/70PSS) but they don't seem to be back in production under the new ownership.
I don't recommend the Wildcat, Mossberg Plinkster, or the 10/22 -- I know the 10/22 is popular but I've never used one that I liked at all unless it's been modified to the moon, and they're more expensive than I think they should be.
Browning SA-22 if money no object and you intend to use iron sights.
I'm a fan of the Marlins (60, 795, Papoose/70PSS) but they don't seem to be back in production under the new ownership.
I don't recommend the Wildcat, Mossberg Plinkster, or the 10/22 -- I know the 10/22 is popular but I've never used one that I liked at all unless it's been modified to the moon, and they're more expensive than I think they should be.
Browning SA-22 if money no object and you intend to use iron sights.
- Location
- West Central Alberta
I had two Ruger 10/22s and I think they are way overrated,accuracy was lacking big time.
A Reminton 597 is way more accurate in my opinion.
A Reminton 597 is way more accurate in my opinion.
- Location
- Edmonton Area Ab, Candle Lake Sk
I would purchase a firearm is currently in production . One spare magazines and parts are available in Canada. For example google Marlin 795 magazines in Canada. This 22 is very common and popular in Canada, very awkard to shoot with out a magazine.
Why not the Winchester Wildcat? I have one, haven't shot it much but I have nothing bad to say about it. Went bang every time, no feeding, extraction, or ejection issues, and it has a last round bolt hold open which is a feature I very much like on a semi auto. The reason I picked one up is the safety is reversible which is great for people like me who shoot lefty. There is a lot of plastic on the gun though; for $300-400 they're not super cheap either, although far from expensive too.
I'll second the Mossberg Plinkster being trash, knew a guy with one, probably the most unreliable gun I've ever shot.
10/22 is great IF you want to spend a bunch of money on upgrades. Otherwise I agree with you, I think they're overpriced for what you get. My friend has one in a Arch Angel stock and its a fun gun, but its not nearly as reliable as I would have expected from the number of people who swear by the 10/22.
Wait, are you saying Marlin 795 mags are hard to get, or easy? Factory mags are harder to find because the 795 isn't made anymore (Although Ruger is bringing back the Papoose under the name 795 which uses the same mags, so they should be available again at some point assuming Ruger doesn't redesign the mag) but theres lots of 25rd ProMag magazines out there.
I own two Marlin 795s. Love 'em. Accurate, reliable, 25rd magazines exist, has last round bolt hold open... For the prices I paid ($150 and $200, both used) I can't think of a better semi auto 22. Trigger guards are prone to breaking, but neither of mine have broken yet. If/when they do I will buy an aftermarket trigger guard, and trigger to go with it.
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Mystic Precision
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Summerland, BC
I compete in LR rimfire PRS games and love the 10/22. As an open rifle, it has a prefit match barrel with tuner, tuned trigger, stock with proper bedding... otherwise, all the internals are from a factory carbine donor (was cheap like rice when we bought them).
will keep up with the rather expensive bolt rifles out to 400m for a fraction of their costs.
Just depends on what you want to do
Jerry
Attachments
Thirsty_Fox
Regular
- Location
- Eastern Ontario
The main reasons I don't recommend them is because they're quite unique and I don't think will suit most people, and I've heard/read enough issues about the rear sight and other bits of the plastic breaking. You can't get extended magazines for it (since 10/22 extended are prohibited) and it isn't that cheap. I just think for the money an A17 is a lot better, especially with that accutrigger.
I was actually quite interested in the idea of the Wildcat when I first heard about it, as I don't really mind plasticky in general so long as it's done well. But having tried a friend's, I found it didn't feel very good in hand or to shoot. Trigger and accuracy were more similar to my Savage 64 (ie. sufficient but not wonderful), but being much lighter no doubt plays a role in that. Yes it breaks down really easily but while that's nice, it's not something you end up doing very often, really.
Anyways, I can see it being a good choice for the right kind of person but I think that the people who are asking which one they should buy probably will be better served by more typical ones. Spend a little more and you get the excellent A22... or if you want to go cheap as chips, the Savage 64 can often be had for $170 with a 3-9x40 scope (or cheaper yet without). Now if they'd put the 795/60/70PSS (Papoose) back in production, that'd be great.
Ruger 10-22.........
CZ Shooter
CGN frequent flyer
Look no further than the Ruger 10/22.
I don't understand why people think they are overrrated.
They are like the AK's of the 22lr world...reliable and simple.
I remember when I was just getting into shooting sports some 25 years ago and bought me a used 10/22, which was also my first 22lr rifle at the time.
I asked the guy behind the counter how do I clean this thing and he said:
"You don't clean the 10/22...the more you shoot them the better they shoot, as they will self lubricate with the lead nosed rounds"
He probably meant just the actual bore, but I interpreted his words as:
"Just shoot it and don't worry about it".
I was still pretty young and impressionable at the time, so I thought that the man behind the counter obviously knew what he was talking about.
I mean how could he have worked at a gun store if he didnt...right?
So shoot it i did.
Not only I did, but I also fed it the cheapest ammo I could find...anything from the bulk pack Thunderbolts to Winchester Wildcats to any other dirty stuff that happened to be on sale.
As my learning curve was rising and after shooting what would be about 5 000 rounds (and some 5 years later), I did realize, that the man behind the counter may have not been the ultimate authority on guns (as I once thought he was) and his advice might have been slightly exaggerated.
However, I decided to stay true to not cleaning it and make an experiment out of it instead.
About 15 years later and roughly another 15 000 or so down the pipe, I finally decided to take it apart and clean it for the first time.
At this time, the round count was roughly 20 000.
I could not believe the amount of build up in that gun...everything was coated with a thick layer of black, gritty residue, but still moving.
Maybe I just got me a good one right from the get go, but I thought this was very impressive.
As far as accuracy was concerned, as the time I only had access to a 25 yard indoor range and had no issues producing a roughly half inch sized ragged holes with any ammo (allthough the point of impact would often shift while switching to different stuff).
Shot and owned other 10/22's since then...those I would clean every 500 rounds or so, as I had already concluded my no cleaning experiment and I seen no need to push them any further than that.
Also...I never felt the need to do any upgrades, as I don't like fixing something that is not broken.
I could never figure out why people spend arm and a leg on upgrading these.
So take what you will from this one, but the 10/22 is deffinitelly not overrated...quite the opposite (at least in my non-scientific experience).
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Thirsty_Fox
Regular
- Location
- Eastern Ontario
With all these 22s, and especially semis, you play the lottery each time. Sounds like you got a great one and that's awesome.
But it seems they now commonly are not quite as reliable nor accurate as they may have once been, nor very well featured, and not cheap to buy. I think it's one of those things where they were great when they came out and the mantra has been to just get the 10/22 ever since (mostly by people who haven't tried any alternatives), despite the slip in build quality and introduction of better-suited alternatives.
I'd even say the 10/22 shoots almost exactly like the Savage 64, which is less than half the price with a scope, in terms of trigger feel and accuracy. And the 64 even got 20-round magazines recently (very surprisingly), which are prohibited in the 10/22.
Your experience with a less-is-more approach to cleaning has also been recommended by many for the Marlin semis (model 60, 795, Papoose) and my experience has been that as well. It's like they quickly get to a certain level of dirtiness then just stay that way. I find an occasional light cleaning with some G96, no additional oil, and it's good to go. They never really seem to need a clean so much as I just like getting them all shiny to inspect.
