Good .22 auto for under $200

[deerhunter]

I have bolts, and levers, but since I sold my 1022T, I was thinking of picking up an autoloader.

I was trying to decide among:
 
Remington 597.
Ruger 1022(standard)
Marlin model 60(with clip)
TC classic(it costs more, but is it any better?)

Does anyone have any experience with these?  how do you like them?  Does any one possess and advantage over the others?

I guess my main concern is that it is not difficult to take apart for cleaning or lubricating.

[1911crazy]

I have bolts, and levers, but since I sold my 1022T, I was thinking of picking up an autoloader.

I was trying to decide among:
 
Remington 597.
Ruger 1022(standard)
Marlin model 60(with clip)
TC classic(it costs more, but is it any better?)

Does anyone have any experience with these?  how do you like them?  Does any one possess and advantage over the others?

I guess my main concern is that it is not difficult to take apart for cleaning or lubricating.

deerhunter;

WARNING TO ALL ABOUT SEMI AUTO 22's I HAVE HAD A VERY CLOSE CALL WITH A TUBE FED GUN. THE GUN WAS EMPTY SO I THOUGHT WHILE CLEANING IT A BULLET POPPED UP READY TO CHAMBER NOT GOOD SO PLEASE BE CAREFUL WITH TUBE FEDS!!! Remove the tube first before cleaning be sure not sorry.  I don't know how it happened it was a while back but it still has me leary of tube feds.

Sorry i just wanted to pass this on I sold the gun right away I just thank god it happened to me now and not one of my kids after I pass on?

I have had my 10/22 ruger for years and it has been the best over the others I have owned. Its a gun I can let my sons shoot and they have a ball with it. It has never failed me in 26 years that i have owned it. Just when you get it take it apart and stone all moving parts and deburr the scope screw holes. I check every old/gun for sharp edges and burrs on all moving parts. And us a "moly lube" anti- sieze on the slide with just a bit of oil.   Moly lube will also lighten trigger pulls when used on sears too just like that expensive trigger job.                                BigBill

 Merry Christmas to all!!!!!!!!

[Darrell Davis]

   I see that the question of "A good .22 for Under $200" date back to Dec. or so of 2002, but am new to the contributors and would like to put in my 2 cents worth about the TC "Classic," It ISN'T.  Classic that IS!!

I hope that maybe the folk from TC get a chance to see this, but the best I can say for the "classic" is you might get what you pay for. I guess the biggest problem I have with the rifle is that it IS NOT the rifle of their ads. Not even close!

I have shot mine with a number of brands/types (including match) ammo and it shoots ok. Not great, just ok.

However, the trigger does not even come close to the quality claimed in the ads. Even with the trigger stop I installed (gross over travel) it is still a long, VERY LONG, ways from a "match quality" trigger.

The 5 shot clips are not that easy to load, I can't put a loaded clip into the rifle with the bolt closed. The rifle does not always feed. The bolt does not always strip the first shot from a fresh clip when released.

This rifle is nothing like a 10/22 in quality of operation. BUT, I guess I did get what I paid for. I just wish I would have come up with the rifle that TC listed in their ads.

The finish (wood) is also far below a "classic" level with sanding marks showing through the finish etc.  Oh well, at 60 you would think I should have learned.        :roll:

[Flash]

What about the Remington Viper? You don't see them anymore. Anyone know why they were pulled from production?

[daddywpb]

One vote for the Remington 597. The trigger wasn't the best out of the box, but I put an aftermarket sear in mine and it helped a lot. It was a drop in fit and now the trigger is crisp and clean. It is accurate, easy to clean, and personally I like the finish on them. The sights are nice, and it's taken it's share of squirells and rabbits.

[Graybeard]

Darrell, have you given TC a chance to make it right? Everyone lets a lemon out from time to time. It is how they deal with it when it happens that makes the difference. That's the one BEST thing about TC really. Over the years they have bent over backwards to make sure they make you happy when you get a TC product that doesn't work or look up to standards. I've had them replace a Contender barrel I blew up and a stock I broke in a fall from a treestand, both clearly MY FAULT, and replaced at no charge to me even tho they understood it was my fault.

If you haven't given them a chance I suggest you do so. Tell them what you've told us. I'm betting they make it right and at no charge to you other than the cost of shipping it to them. Push the issue after the fact and they might even pay that if it is as bad as you say. Making the customer happy is the one thing I think TC does best.

GB

[Darrell Davis]

:grin: Graybeard, THANKS FOR THE REPLY!!!!!!!!

In answer to your question about contacting TC, the answer is NO, I have not.

I guess I just felt a bit taken. Maybe I have just been in this game for too many years. It just seems so simple that both sides should be able to understand what makes up  1/2 inch groups and that it takes a trigger with  a light crisp let off, No creep and NO over travel to qualify as a match level trigger.

I wrote to TC before buying the rifle to double check on their claim as to the groups to be expected, but did not THINK to ask about the claim for the trigger. My feeling was, how can anyone with time at the bench and in the field, let along in the industry not know what it takes to make the claim such as "A CRISP COMPETITION GRADE TRIGGER ENHANCES ITS PERFORMANCE STILL MORE."

My best 50yd. group to this point is 3/4 inch (ten round), shot with Rem. Target Rifle/Eley limited. I have tried eleven different loads at this point with maybe the best showing coming from CCI Blazer which put 18 out of 20 rounds into a 7/8 inch group at 50yds. Three of the loads tried have been "target" grade ammo.

Maybe it is me, maybe it is the Tasco scope shot at 12 power for the groups, maybe it is the conditions shot under. However all groups have been fired from the bench and I have yet to see the PROOF of' "ITS MATCH-GRADE BARREL CAN DELIVER HALF-INCH GROUPS AT 50 YARDS."

Again, thanks for your answer and the forum. I will take your advice IF I can get the pages of the forum to print out so they can be sent to TC

[Darrell Davis]

:grin: Jim, thanks for the comment. I have already taken Graybeard's advice. The letter to TC, along with copies of the applicable forum pages are already in an envelope and ready to go to TC.

As I have already said, I guess I just felt like I was taken and there wasn't much I could do about it

Not sure I can ever trust the TC Classic after this, even if TC did replace my rifle. I was at a local gun shop a week or so ago, and the owner's comment about the trigger of a Classic he had on the rack was, it was pretty good for a semi auto.

That is not what I am after, I would want and expect a firearm matching the quality of the rifle spoken of in their advertisements. If they cannot produce a quality equal to the ads, then the ads should be changed.

I am an old feller, who still believes in BLACK & WHITE, RIGHT & WRONG and TRUE & FALSE. I only ask that a company live up to their claims of quality.

The proof will be in the puddin, I will keep the forum posted as to the results.

 :oops:  :oops: PS Sorry about the double posting of my info last time, tried to do a bit of editing. Hope someone can delete the extra posting.
   :oops:  :oops:  :oops:  :oops:  :oops:  :oops:  :oops:  :oops:  

[jh45gun]

I do not blame you I also feel when you spend your hard earned money you should get what you want or orderd. Good Luck I am sure they will treat you right. I would let them know you are corresponding on the web I am sure they will bend over backwards to avoid any bad publicity. Keep us posted and good luck Jim

[Darrell Davis]

Hey there folks,

There is a short up date about the TC Classic saga under the heading "Thoughts About the TC Classic"

Keep em coming! :wink:

[chunter]

I just was at the gun range playing with a new 10/22 that is only offered out of Walmart stores. It has a longer barrel than the standard 10/22, it also has a better shaped stock and good wood. It shot great! I was able to get 10 shot/ .5 inch groups at 50 yards. (using RWS target rifle ammo) If I remember right they are offering it for around 179.00

[Darrell Davis]

Hello there,

Just tying up the loose threads, so if any of you followed the posts about the TC CLASSIC, you can see what I hope to be my final comments by going to the topic "Thoughts about the TC "CLASSIC."

Keep em coming! :wink:

[ba_50]

Chunter,

That is amazing accuracy. Is yours a stainless or blued rifle? Thanks. BA