Author Topic: .22 rimfire choices narrowed down to... (Read 1842 times)

JimG · « **on:** June 12, 2005, 09:45:51 AM »

In my search for the perfect .22 for me I have looked at a 'zillion' different rifles and have been somewhat dissapointed. Here is my current short list-

Ruger 10/22 w/synthetic stock and ss. Don't like the sights. Too hard to get a good sight picture in any light. The stock seems flimsy to me. Otherwise it's ok. It is over my $200 self imposed limit.

Marlin 795SS w/synthetic stock. Seems to be better assembled than the Ruger. Stock seems 'solid' also. Sights are ok, not great but ok. Under my $$ limit.

Remington 597SS w/synthetic stock. Seemed very well built and the stock fit me pretty good. The sights seem to work for me as well. Under my $$ limit.

Savage MKII F and 64F. Looked at both. Sights are fine to me but the stocks seem flimsy. The bolt on the MKII F rubs hard on the action. Actually was wearing metal away. Had to all but hit the bolt to cycle the action. Well under my $$ limit.

What say all of you? I don't want to fiddle with whatever it is I buy. Out of the box I would like reasonable accuracy and reliability.

jh45gun · « **Reply #1 on:** June 12, 2005, 12:03:54 PM »

Stay away from the Remington they have not had good reports. The Ruger is a dependable gun and you can add stuff later but out of the box there are better choices for accuracy. That said with them it is a crap shoot some shoot real well and others are so so. If they all shot good out of the box folks would not be spending money on target barrels. Out of the Two left I suppose it would be a toss up both are accurate and folks like them. IF that Savage is wearing metal something is wrong with it look for a other one and check it out. I like Henry guns my self but I own a Magnum so I do not know what they cost for a 22LR. I am not big on Savage triggers and feel that after buying a gun you should not have to add 80 bucks for a trigger or take it to a smith and get a trigger job. same goes with the Marlin but out of the two I think the triggers on the Marlin guns are a bit better than the Savage over all. I really think you should go with the suggestion of the CZ with a birch stock. I have been impressed with every CZ I have seen and if I wanted a other bolt gun that is what I would buy. Since my Romanian 69 Trainer shoots so darn good and My Henry 22 mag is my go to rimfire, I am not in the need for a other. I did not mention the Romanian to you before as it has a military style trigger. ( Two stage if you are used to shooting them or want to get used to it the Romanian 69 Trainers are a Bargain at around 100 bucks or less retail.

S.S. · « **Reply #2 on:** June 12, 2005, 02:35:04 PM »

I would go with the 10/22 from your list.
Numerous interesting add-ons for it.

MI VHNTR · « **Reply #3 on:** June 12, 2005, 03:22:44 PM »

I've got a Remington 597 LS in 17 HMR that has been flawless since day one. Don't sell them short. FWIW, I also have a 10/22 so I can base my opinion while owning both rifles. Here's a link to a rimfire site with lots of info on any of the rimfires that you've mentioned:
http://rimfirecentral.com/forums/index.php
MI VHNTR

jh45gun · « **Reply #4 on:** June 12, 2005, 03:33:56 PM »

Congrats on having a flawless Remington thats great for you but I have seen lots of negative reports too so just making him aware of that point. The local gun shop will not even stock them though they do other Remington products so I also based my answer on that. Jim

Jason · « **Reply #5 on:** June 12, 2005, 05:49:33 PM »

As has already been mentioned, the local shop that I frequent won't sell the Remington 597 or 710s. It sells a ton of other Remington products, but those caused too many complaints and unhappy customers, so people who want those individual guns get sent to Wal-Mart.

Old Griz · « **Reply #6 on:** June 13, 2005, 07:33:18 PM »

:cb2: You might want to check out the CZ rimfires before you make up your mind. Those that I know who have them (mainly the 452 American) think they are the best .22 rifles they have ever owned. The feedback here on this forum seem to agree as well. I have not fired one yet, so Im simply going on hearsay evidence.

www.czusa.com/01.04.php

However, I can speak for this Ruger, the 77/22 Varmint. It is for sure an excellent .22 rimfire, but, it is waaaaaaaay over your $200 limit!

www.ruger-firearms.com/Firearms/FAProdView?model=7021&return=Y

As always, you can get some pretty good advise from the guys here.

shoots4fun · « **Reply #7 on:** August 21, 2005, 06:13:20 PM »

I have a Remington M597 (camo stock and matt barrel, Wal-Mart special), works flawless with the included magazine. At time of purchase I bought a spare Remington brand magazine that didn't work well with the gun (that was a little frustrating at first). I noticed how the original clip staggered the bullets compared to the Remington retail clip. For the first couple of loads through the spare clip, the bullets were not pushed up high enough to catch and load. A light dab of oil in the clip cured what ailed it.

I have yet to have this gun jamb on me with Remington LR, haven't tried my federals though.

My local gun shop doesn't carry them either, I was told they weren't a very good gun, junk was the word they used, yet they had never had one in to sell. I'm wondering if people are automatically giving this gun a bad rap due to the "Viper" 22 of a few years ago. I had one of those and it truly was garbage. Bought it at Wal-Mart, returned it that afternoon for a Ruger 10/22 LSS, which I still have and is a fine gun.

As for the Ruger, I'd only shot Federal LR through it and seldom had a jamb, and never with the factory clip, on occasion with a Ram-Line. After getting the M597 and a box of Remington LR, I found my 10/22 hated them. In the Ram-Line it jammed every other shot. It wouldnt surprise me if the M597 jammed with the federals.

Accuracy on both guns are outstanding IMO. I gave the M597 a good cleaning after bringing it home initially, then went out and ran about a hundred rounds through it. It settled in well after I went through the first clip. Gave it another thorough cleaning and can now consistently shoot inside of a dime size pattern at 25 yards with open sights. That's actually better than my 10/22. I won't be getting rid of either of them.

Old Griz · « **Reply #8 on:** August 22, 2005, 06:51:31 PM »

:cb2: I don't understand why they dropped the Nylon 66. THAT was a fine .22 autoloader!

Slamfire · « **Reply #9 on:** August 23, 2005, 01:53:16 AM »

For an autoloader I get along quite well with my Glenfield Model 60. But for shootin' the eyes outa flies my Sears 2C is the one I choose. It's a Winchester Model 121 in disquise. :lol:

Ifishsum · « **Reply #10 on:** August 23, 2005, 07:51:25 AM »

I have 2 Remington 597s that have been flawless. The bad reports stemmed from the early magazines that definitely had trouble, but it's old news that some can't seem to let go of. The open sights are very good, a bolt buffer is built into the action and the bolt stays open on the last shot. If your dealer has had one in stock for a long time, you might get a bad magazine but Rem will replace it for free with a phone call.

armory414 · « **Reply #11 on:** August 26, 2005, 06:24:51 AM »

I shot 3 different 597's with the new magazines. The problem wasn't the magazine, but the failure of each rifle to hold zero when scoped. I didn't care for the sights, the bead on the front sight covered a 1 inch bullseye at 50 yards.

shoots4fun · « **Reply #12 on:** August 26, 2005, 09:06:42 AM »

Isn't it the scope that is suppose to hold zero?

armory414 · « **Reply #13 on:** August 26, 2005, 09:28:42 AM »

Sure, as long as the rest of the gun is doing it's part. The scopes I used were known scopes, and good. With or without scopes, these 597's had floating zero issues. Horizontal stringing out to 7 inches at 50 yards, no matter the ammo.

shoots4fun · « **Reply #14 on:** August 26, 2005, 10:05:30 AM »

Interesting that 3 were shooting that way. Mine shoots fine, whether I just get it out or I've shot a hundred rounds through it. Only problem was the extra clip I bought was the first design and had too many problems with it, so I returned that clip and will be on the look out for more of the second design.

TeePee · « **Reply #15 on:** August 26, 2005, 08:29:31 PM »

:eek: 597 rem . The one I have is a great little 22. Just as good as my MARLIN 60 or my RUGER 10/22 and a little more accurate than my STOCK RUGER! But then again so is my MARLIN. Really are the REMINGTONS as a whole in the 597 that bad even if some had problems which seem to be an easy fix. Don't get me wrong the RUGER is very dependable just not as acurate as the other two. Don't cut short the 597. :?

HeltonPrecision · « **Reply #16 on:** September 05, 2005, 07:12:44 AM »

Remington did have problems out of the 597's when they were first introduced! But im sure they have fixed the problemsby now. I think it had something to do with it not cycling right and if im not mistaken they had a recall on it

.........

Have you thought of purchasing an older .22 rifle ?

Savage .250 · « **Reply #17 on:** September 06, 2005, 04:06:48 AM »

If i was "looking" for a .22 and wasn`t sure what i wanted i think i`d go to a local gun show and have a look around. There is usually a ka-zillian
.22 for sale. Some new, used, etc but the best part is price. They want to sell and you want to but.............. get to haggle some and get a gun.
Is that the American way or what?

" The best part of the hunt is not the harvest but in the experience."

rich56 · « **Reply #18 on:** September 09, 2005, 07:13:09 AM »

For $214 get the 10/22 with the 22 inch stainless barrel and deluxe style stock. A good rifle as it stands and lots of aftermarket parts available. If you must have synthetic stock your wood one will be very tradeable or sellable on e bay or www.rimfirecentral.com