I'm hoping to get a .22lr gun within the next few months, and am unsure which one would be best to get. The ones that I'm considering are as follows: Savage Mark II-BV, which has a 21" heavy barrel and a 5-shot clip, and is b.a.; Ruger 10-22 semi-auto, 10-shot clip, 18 1/2" barrel; Marlin 7000 semi-auto, 10-shot clip, 18" target heavy barrel, 'last shot' bolt hold-open. I'm looking for advice on which one you all think would serve me best. I would be using it much of the time for plinking, but would plan to do some gopher/magpie/etc. hunting with it. Thanks
Welcometo AR,all are fine choices for what you intend I would go with the Ruger 10/22 They're accurate and reliable with lots of accesories available, Hi cap mags , stocks, barrels, etc. I have two a standard blued that has thousands of rounds fired and a stainless that is just getting broke in nicely. the only problem with the 10/22 especialy with high cap mags is keeping ammo around, just my thoughts
Thanks, axle. Right now I'm kind of leaning toward the Marlin, because it is cheapest and has a heavy barrel. But accuracy is most important to me. Is there anything, for any of the guns, that I should know about, such as certain types of ammo that wouldn't be safe to use? Just wondering because I read somewhere on this forum that CCI Stinger is not good to use in the Marlin, although I don't remember the reasons for sure (I think the CCI Stinger ammo was a bit too long and jammed or something).
Well I don't know if the 10-22 will be anywhere near the most accurate. I'd just get the one you like the looks and feel of and if your a bit disapointed with the accuracy, just try different brands and velosity ammo. Stingers and other Hyper-velosity type ammo are perhaps less likely to produce the best accuracy, but you'll never know until you try it.
Just keep away from any staticial analysis.
Posts: 2355 | Location: Australia | Registered: 14 November 2004
If you don't care much about the cost Kimber and Anschutz make some fine .22 bolt actions that will probably last a lifetime......but they are a lot more money than the ones you are referring to.
Posts: 119 | Location: Alberta | Registered: 25 February 2007
I second the C Z option..my 452 varmint outshoots all my .22's even my 35 year old Browning T -bolt; which I thought was the ultimate .22. some shooters even say C Z's compare to kimbers and annie's for accuracy.
I was sort of hoping not to get quite as expensive as the TCs or CZs. But I suppose in a way you get what you pay for. Alberta Separatist, could you tell me how the Savage Mark II-FV shoots as compared to the CZ 452? Accuracy is very important to me, no matter which gun I eventually choose.
I guess my problem is that I want the best of all worlds: you can't always find the qualities cheap, dependable, and accurate all in one gun.
The great thing going for the ruger is like someone has already stated....all the accesories available for it. Late-on if you are unhappy with the accuracy you can get an aftermarket barrel for the Ruger pretty cheaply. I had a Butler Creek Bull barrel that I could hit nail heads with at 50 yards. Sold it because I wanted fluted. STUPID!!! The new barrel is accurate but not as good as the one I had. Personally I would go with the Ruger. I have shot all the ones you ask about and they all are similar in accuracy. Only problem I had with the Marlin was it sure seemed to jam easily if it was allowed to get very dirty. Had to keep it clean for it to function 100%.
Posts: 153 | Location: God's country Northern Minnesota | Registered: 29 March 2001
Can't relate to the Savage .22...but I had a Ruger 10/ 22 about a year ago. it jammed so much that after 2 months of cleaning, paying a gunsmith to examine/clean the chamber/extraction and more jamming; I was so frustrated that I sold it. Prior to that a Remington nylon 66 and many years of trouble free shooting, but not all that accurate. I didn't get true accuracy until my Browning T - bolt and then the C Z 452 varmint. now the T -bolt sits in the safe and the C Z gets all the attention.
One more vote for the CZ 452, clearly the most accurate, reasonably priced, rimfire I've owned (Oregon Kimber excluded). The TC Classic I own holds it's own against the tricked out 10/212 I built.
I was hoping to get a semi-auto, but the CZ is starting to sound attracting. I'm planning to go to a gun show in April, so I'll probably see what they have there as far as used guns goes, and that will probably impact my decision.
Well, in the last 3 weeks, I went crazy and bought 2 .22s. The first was a marlin 925 BA. The next was a savage MK II BA. I scoped both of them. Now the marlin, I've got it sighted in. The accuracy is great. Off the bench it was one-holing it at 25 yds, using rem. brass covered hp. Hoping today or tomorrow, I'll get the savage dialrd in. One thing I would recommend, even before you scope it, as soon as you get it home, is to clean it REAL GOOD. Then use a good metal polish like flitz and polish the bore. I've done that on both of mine new ones , and I think it might help quite a bit. Just my 2 cents worth! tommy
The 10/22 is fine for what it is. But it is among the more inaccurate 22 rifles available out of the box. It can be made close to bolt accuracy.
I have shot CZ's and a couple different Marlin and Savage bolt action rifles. Including the heavy barrel Savage you are asking about. Any of those bolt actions are pretty accurate.
The big drawback to the Marlin and Savage is the trigger. It can be made better with an aftermarket trigger. But by then you are all over the cost of just getting the CZ. CZ's can be made smoother with a little work, but little expense. And is better out of the box anyway. Editing here:I just remembered you can now get the Savage with an Accutrigger. Those I have shot were pre-Accutrigger. That might make it more competive with the CZ as the Accutrigger is pretty good.
From the several CZ's I would think you will get average accuracy around a half inch at 50 yards for 5 shot groups without buying super expensive match ammo. The Marlins and Savages are just a little behind,running 2/3's to 3/4's of an inch grouping.
If you want an automatic, Ruger 10/22's with a Hogue over moulded stock, and Green Mountain fluted heavy barrel will match the Marlin and Savage bolt guns or be slightly better. I would go that route rather than a Thompson myself. Well actually I did go that route. For comparison box stock 10/22's will average around 1.5 inches +/- a quarter inch. Or at least the several I have any experience with did.
If you just have to have an auto, I would go 10/22 and make it better. If you have to go inexpensive, I would go Savage bolt gun (it feels just a bit more substantial than the Marlin). If you can swing it, get the CZ. It is a well made all steel and wood rifle you will be happy to own 10 or 20 years from now long after forgetting it cost a bit more.
Posts: 852 | Location: USA | Registered: 01 September 2002
I have had a 10/22 for the past 21 years and I have put several hundred thousand rounds through it. It has never given me any trouble in the functional reliability department and it has been accurate enough to count for countless ground squirrels. I have spent the past 21 summers hunting these diminutive beasts in the mountains of central Utah with the same 10/22 until about four years ago. I have owned several different 10/22 rifles in different makes and models (the Mannlicher stocked one is my favorite). My only complaint is the heavier trigger pull, but this can be remedied with aftermarket parts - some have even come with good triggers. I have built several into heavy barreled ground squirrel rifles for myself and for friends using aftermarket barrels, triggers and stocks. All of the ones that I have owned or seen shot did really well with the Federal copperplated hollowpoints that are available in bulk at WalMart in a 550 round pack (for under $10). You might want to consider the 10/22 Target model with a laminated stock and hammer forged barrel. Where I live, 10/22's average about $160 with the Target model going for about $340. I do like the Anschuetz, Kimber, and CZ rifles as well, but they do cost more. For the money, it is tough to beat the reliability of the Ruger 10/22. They are very simple in design and have very few moving parts in the action. Plus the magazine (a la Mannlicher Schoenauer) is very reliable. They are easy to clean to as well. Plus, one could always buy one, then modify it with custom parts (starting with a trigger) as time goes on (if one really feels it is necessary - and it often isn't). These parts are not really very expensive if purchased piecemeal - in fact a whole industry has emerged that specializes in 10/22 parts (stocks, barrels, triggers, etc.). Plus you could always buy a spare barrel in .17 Mach II if you ever want a different caliber. All you have to do is switch the barrel. I love 10/22's mostly because of their rugged reliability and versatility. I have not found the same level of functional reliability in other autoloaders (especially Marlins), and I feel that this is just as important a feature as accuracy is in a rifle. Plus, they are not that expensive. This has been my experience with the 10/22 - and it has all been good.
Posts: 283 | Location: Utah, USA | Registered: 01 June 2005
Hello again, I'm back. I didn't get anything at the above-mentioned trade show. Right now I'm considering a 10/22 target, which comes with a heavy barrel. Then, if I wanted to, I could get the high-capacity magazines for it as well, which I think would be an advantage if I were to go gohper hunting. One thing: if I were to find the trigger too heavy, would that be something that I could adjust myself (a screw or something) or would the trigger need to be (1) serviced by a gunsmith or (2) replaced altogether? Thanks.
Originally posted by Davis Goertzen: Hello again, I'm back. I didn't get anything at the above-mentioned trade show. Right now I'm considering a 10/22 target, which comes with a heavy barrel. Then, if I wanted to, I could get the high-capacity magazines for it as well, which I think would be an advantage if I were to go gohper hunting. One thing: if I were to find the trigger too heavy, would that be something that I could adjust myself (a screw or something) or would the trigger need to be (1) serviced by a gunsmith or (2) replaced altogether? Thanks.
I have 8 Ruger 10-22's and did my own triggers on six of them. The single best thing you can do to improve the terrible pull weight of the factory delivered trigger is to change out the hammer to one like Power Custom sells. I have two of their hammers in triggers and they give a good 2 1/2 pound pull, + or - an ounce or two. No need to change out the sear as the factory sear works as well as the aftermarket sears. Leave the factory main spring in as it works. I spent a couple of years over on Rimfirecentral where I learned what I say here. And, Rimfirecentral is a good site to visit. You'll need to do some tuning on the magazine spring as the factory doesn't wind the spring up tight enough, and feeding can be an issue, especially when you get down to the last few rounds. There are many other mods you can do as you climb the learning curve with the 10-22, but initially, all you need do is change the hammer for a good pull.
I'm thinking I'll probably get either: a Ruger 10-22, a Remington 597, or a TC (can't recall model). Heavy barrel no matter which one. What you you all recommend?
For out of the box accuracy, you can't beat the TC Classic. Extremely well made, better than the 10-22, and all steel too, no aluminum like the 10-22 receiver. If you like to fiddle with a rifle, and have some personal investment in the outcome, get a 10-22. I'm a fiddler.. A buddy up here has a TC and I watched him shoot some outstanding groups at 50 yards, near 1/4" for 5 shots.
Don
Edit to add: I spent a lot of time on Rimfircentral and read lots of posts by guys who had problems with the Rem 597. I don't own one, so I'm telling you what other guys have said. FWIW
The TC I was thinking of was the Benchmark, as it looks as though it has a heavy barrel and the Classic doesn't.(???) Correct me if I'm wrong on this. Thanks too for the heads-up on the Rem 597, I'll have to take a closer look at that.
The 10-22 is great fun, sort of like an M1 carbine at 2 cents per round. And it's a great base for a custom. But by then, you have an expensive rifle.
The Savage and the CZ are best for starting out, IMO. The new Savage rimfires come with the accutrigger, which can be adjusted BY YOU to as little as 2#. The new CZ 453 is a little more advanced than the 452 in that it has the single set trigger we see in the centerfire rifles. Triggers are very important to me.
For $150, you can buy a Savage Cub .22. This is a youth model single shot bolt action with a short stock, 16" bbl, and a receiver sight. That short stock seems awkward until you shoulder it and realize the peep sight is really close to your eye, and you can see it really, really well. I am 60 and wear trifocals, but I believe I could shoot the mustache off a mouse with that rifle. It weighs less than a lot of pistols, about 2.5#, and you could tote in in a backpack, archery quiver, or down the back of your shirt probably, and never notice the weight.
You will not live to wear out a Savage. I still shoot one my grandfather left me, made around 1930.
