A BEGINNING PLACE

[williamlayton]

Some come to this place thinking they know something----that can be correct----it can also be a bad thought.
I am speaking in the first person here.
While i know some things i don't really know if I know or just have an opinion.
I suspect that there are others just like me.
I know that I have shot .22's a lot---owned a bunch---but what do I know, is the question.
I am going to go back to the primmers--a starting place---and seek discussion, to better make an informed decision.
In .22 rifles there are two catagories---they may overlap in areas.
Hunting & target.
There are Pumps, Bolts & Semi's.
In a .22---for accuracy---is there a big difference in accuracy by choosing one locking system over another ??
If I am paper punching---shooting different distances----without going to a built-up super competition rifle---what should I be looking for in basically off the shelf .22's.
I am interested in brands and thoughts.
Blessings

[Lurker]

Marlin 39A... I have some that shoot as good as my Winchester 52 sporter does.

Bill

[Doe]

Not really. I have a 10/22...marlin model60.....Henry H001T...CZ452...Marlin981T..all shoot good for small game out to 75 yards, just get what fits you and you'll be happy  .

[williamlayton]

Is Barrel length a significant factor in paper punching?
OR---is lock-up the significant factor?
I an getting a Remington 552 Speedmaster auto and am Thinking of a Browning T-Bolt for a bolt gun.
Blessings  

[teamnelson]

WL, I have recently been reading up on Liberty Training Rifles for the Appleseed project. Ostensibly, the program is designed to train and develop marksman, not just safety fundamentals. The two popular platforms there are the 10/22 and the Marlin (Remington) 795, both semi auto, both with ghost ring sights. The latter can be had for $125, and are popular for budget concious families that want to outfit all the kids, but from my reading its a very accurate and reliable gun for punching targets. I would lean that way specifically because I've shot a lot of 10/22s. I would like to start from scratch, place myself through the discipline of a learning environment, with a completely unfamiliar platform in the hopes of improving on skills.

Mahalo, Chaps

[briarpatch]

Good choices William. 

[williamlayton]

TM
You aught to know by now that I don't read the right side of the menue first--- .
Though I do take it into consideration before making a choice.
Blessings

[subdjoe]

I like my Marlin Mod. 60.  Good looking, fairly accurate, reasonably inexpensive, and will handle just about any of the LR ammo out there. 

But I also like my 1940s vintage Mossberg 46b.  Cost me 100 bucks, will feed just about anything in .22 rimfire (those RWS conical bullets don't work, but I haven't found anything except a revolver that they will work through). 

Personally, I think that just about any of the older 22 bolt actions, say from the 30s through 50s, are the best value for the money.  Rugged, decent wood on them, well made, and accurate.

[mechanic]

Wm, I have about 15 -22's around the place here, and I can say with all assurance the most accurate one is the versa pack barrel on my H&R Handi rifle frame.  I bought it off the NEF forum, found a receiver it locked on, and added a scope.  Outshoots some $500.00 rifles......

I'm thinkin' that you don't know until you try.  You might buy two of a particular rifle, one shoot ok, and the other shoot outstanding.

For a man of your means, I would recommend just buying about a half dozen varied and trying them, then donating the remainder to good friends on GBO........


BTW, I think Texas is tops.........

Ben

[williamlayton]

Well now---man of my means  .
I gave up---years ago--trying to live within my means on things that matter to me. i found that I was more frustrated by buying within my means than if'n i just got what worked.
Now, I am trying to live on a balanced budget theory---when i breath my last, I will spend my last  .
That is somewhat, tounge in cheek--I hope that is understood. I don't overspend but I do spend on things I want.  
Seems like I am closing in on 15 in the last two months---4 and plans on at least two more. Yup---I go on the theory that you need one of each.
If'n I had all that I have bought and traded of, I suspect it would be close to 15---if's and but's.
The T-Bolt is next in line and a marlin tubefed bolt has my slobber boiling.
Then, dang his old hide, Swampy goes and gets a Fieldmaster---if'n I could get my hands on that ol Christian, I would wring his neck.
I am an idiot.
Blessings

[TLARbb]

The rifles you listed in your OP are fine.  That said there are others out there that are fine as well.  And, I'll vouch for Swampy's pump; my brother has one and it is scary accurate.  I've been trying to get it off of him for 15 years.  I will probably not suceed in that endeaver.  

I have a CZ 452 full stock, that is the most accurate .22 rifle I own, outshooting my Remington 540/580 series bolts.  I sure would like to have one of those T-bolt varmints in .22 Mag.   Anyway, good luck with your quest.  Let us know what you finally wind up with.  

My first ever .22 rifle was a Remington 552 Speedmaster.  It was an accurate rifle and very reliable (not as accurate as that Fieldmaster, but plenty good enough).  I did experience a couple of jams over the years I owned it and they were tough to clear and always a result of powder residue building up in the action, so you will need to do some scheduled maintenance (cleaning and relubricating - I used lokease on mine) to prevent this from happening. 

EJ

[Rangr44]

In my own 50 oe so years of shooting & hunting experience, I've found that the three action types mentioned in the OP, plus two more (lever and break-open singleshot), will all be plenty accurate enough for most hunting IF the shooter can do their part.
A good scope, of course, will help many shooters "do their part" - but that's not an absolute.

For serious target shooting, i.e. formal competition, in "box stock" or "out-of-the-box" condition, after an initial cleaning, etc, most single-shot or detachable magazine bolt action target rifles and most Marlin 39a's will do just fine.

The RF semi-autos "can" be just as accurate - but not out-of-the-box.  They all will need "something", to brig them up to snuff.

One of the biggest variables, though, is ammunition - every rifle seems to like one particular taste better than others - which is why an accurate rifle shooting ammo less than it's favorite can be outshot by a rifle of lesser accuracy that's shooting ammo it prefers.

Of course, "stuff" changes, if two shooters temporarily swap rifles.     

Jes' sayin'............................................

.

[b44mag]

im going to give my 2cents worth on the 597 its not worth the 2cents im giving
my buddy just bought his wife one begining of this year i was with him when he bought it brand new with the color changing stock i tried to talk him out of it i had one and it war a POJ but he would not listen so he bought it for her with a extra mag took it home put a scope on it for her she loved it was so happy that he bought her her first gun so after about a week of her loving that gun in the house they got out to shoot it
WELL  she went from loving it to why did you buy me this piece of junk moral of the story is dont but the 597 it JAMS
he took it back got ripped off on the trade in on a pink lam 1022 she loves that gun and it dont jam shoots great
                                                 
now i know i might be off the accurate ? but i see 597 and it gets me all fired up
                                            b44mag

[Torwe]

WL like mechanic out of all my ,22's the versa pak barrel I got off this forum is by far the most accurate I am posting a photo of a 10 shot group at 50 yards shot with the vp and bitterroot valley ammo

[bilmac]

I can't seem to get the accuracy out of my 10-22s that other people seem to. I have one all original and another that is tricked out including a barrel and trigger job. I have started trying just about every variation of ammo available, I even bought some target ammo just to see, but I don't want to shoot that for everyday.

My most accurate 22 is my first, a Marlin M81 tube fed bolt gun. I attribute it's accuracy to a really great trigger pull that I accidentally stoned when I was a kid.

[williamlayton]

I have others report the same about versa pak.
Good shooting----I can do that if you ignor the powder burns on the target and just take my word for it.
Blessings

[Cornbelt]

Let me tell you about Ed. He was runner up in the nationals at Camp Perry in 1959 and a gunsmith for 40 years. The gun he used was built around a bolt action. (I think Win 52.) But he chambered it for shorts only; at one point reaming it out to LR to make it more versatile. Versatile it may have been, but accuracy suffered, so he cut it off and rechambered to short only. He would only use one type of short match ammo to minimize the variables. The stock he made to fit his own specs; pull, drop, cast-off, etc.
  He also could SEE, as he had eyes like a hawk; hunting and trapping well into his 70's, but he never did get around to putting a finish on the barrel or stock; only rough sanded and cold blued.
  Funny thing though, his hands shook like a leaf; same for his dad and his son, but good marksmen all.
Guess they just knew when to pull the trigger.
 
 

[Hit or Miss]

My vote goes to the CZ 452 Full Stock.  The only thing done to it so far is a drop in trigger job.  I get bored really fast punchin' paper and so I shoot the heads off of dandelions and hunt wolf spiders with it!

[pastorp]

Well William, it isn't that far from east Texas to the fla. Panhandle so just drive on over and wring swampy's neck.  I might fly down to join in the fun. We have relatives in west Florida we need to visit anyway.

I think the most accurate 22i own is the one my dad gave me when I was a kid. It says JCHiggens on the barrel but my smith tells me it was made by mosberg. It's a bolt action tube fed. Of course one reason it's accurate for me is because I shot a brick of 22s through it every week for years. Since it was the only rifle I owned until after I was married I learned to shoot it pretty good. 

Regards,