# Help me choose a .22 rifle. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 16, 2009, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-a-22-rifle/481597 "2009-01-16T15:00:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-a-22-rifle/481597/61 "2009-01-19T02:06:55Z")
> [@Martini\_Enfield](#): > > {I} have found them to be surprisingly tolerant of different ammunition Interesting. Maybe they just don’t like Remington. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-a-22-rifle/481597/62 "2009-01-19T04:40:47Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Interesting. Maybe they just don’t like Remington. Possibly. I’ve always found the Remington rimfire ammo to be a bit lacklustre, FWIW. Their centrefire stuff is excellent, though- it’s clean, accurate, affordable, and the brass is very high quality as well. Excellent stuff, IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-a-22-rifle/481597/63 "2009-01-19T05:19:42Z")
> [@Martini\_Enfield](#): > > Possibly. I’ve always found the Remington rimfire ammo to be a bit lacklustre, FWIW. Their centrefire stuff is excellent, though- it’s clean, accurate, affordable, and the brass is very high quality as well. Excellent stuff, IMHO. Which Remington .22 ammo are you using? If it’s the Thunderbolt stuff I can see where your problems lay, it’s the absolute worst of the cheap-cheap .22 rounds out there. A buddy and I tried to torture test a used 22/45 and we could not get the gun to misfire or stovepipe except with that Thunderbolt shit. Every fourth or fifth round seemed to take the piss no matter what, even fed single shot into the breech. I’ve had my fair share of adventures buying surplus eastern bloc pistol and rifle ammo and I’ve never seen anything that shot as piss poor as that Remington stuff did. It’s a shame because their high end ammo is great, but I wouldn’t be surprised to find that the Thunderbolt .22 ammo was made in a backwater province in China for the way it performs. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-a-22-rifle/481597/64 "2009-01-19T05:45:31Z")
> [@Cluricaun](#): > > Which Remington .22 ammo are you using? If it’s the Thunderbolt stuff I can see where your problems lay, it’s the absolute worst of the cheap-cheap .22 rounds out there. A buddy and I tried to torture test a used 22/45 and we could not get the gun to misfire or stovepipe except with that Thunderbolt shit. Every fourth or fifth round seemed to take the piss no matter what, even fed single shot into the breech. I’ve had my fair share of adventures buying surplus eastern bloc pistol and rifle ammo and I’ve never seen anything that shot as piss poor as that Remington stuff did. It’s a shame because their high end ammo is great, but I wouldn’t be surprised to find that the Thunderbolt .22 ammo was made in a backwater province in China for the way it performs. The Remington “Cyclone” stuff is spectacularly unimpressive, IME. Dirty, only average performance, prone to jams in Ruger semi-auto handguns, and generally disappointing all round. The Target .22 ammo is similarly unimpressive, IMHO. It’s also very dirty and I’ve found it prone to misfires, and the Lead bullet is not something I’m very keen on (I prefer copper projectiles for health reasons.) I try and use Winchester Bushman or Winchester Power Point ammo when possible, as it’s made in Australia and is surprisingly good, cheap ammo. My preference is for CCI “Stinger” ammo, though- 1650fps with a 36gr CHP projectile on the end. At $8/50rnds it’s not a hell of a lot more expensive than the Bushman ammo ($5/50rnds), and it’s _very_ accurate from a bolt-action .22 rifle. ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-a-22-rifle/481597/65 "2009-01-19T05:58:56Z")
Wow, you guys get banged on ammo prices. I can find CCI Stingers at $5 a box or less per 25 rounds. There is a good reason that Aussie gun laws get a lot of mention in US gun mags. You should start a tread one day about “Ask the really repressed gun owner” I have no idea what you have to spend and go through to enjoy what we get to take for granted. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-a-22-rifle/481597/66 "2009-01-19T06:08:07Z")
> [@Cluricaun](#): > > Wow, you guys get banged on ammo prices. I can find CCI Stingers at $5 a box or less per 25 rounds. There is a good reason that Aussie gun laws get a lot of mention in US gun mags. You should start a tread one day about “Ask the really repressed gun owner” I have no idea what you have to spend and go through to enjoy what we get to take for granted. I did an “Ask the Australian Gun Owner” thread when I first joined a few years ago. I’d be happy to do another one but I’m not sure how much interest there would be, to be honest… ---
**Author:** ![masterofnone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@masterofnone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/masterofnone)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-a-22-rifle/481597/67 "2009-01-19T15:24:54Z")
Thanks for your advice everyone. I’m leaning toward the 10/22, but there’s a Marlin 795 on consignment for $110 that looks brand new. Anyone know of any issues with these? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-a-22-rifle/481597/68 "2009-01-19T15:33:00Z")
[Here’s a review](http://www.defensereview.com/modules.php?name=Reviews&rop=showcontent&id=60) an owner wrote on his Marlin 795. He likes it. Incidentaly, **Martini Enfield** : In that review the guy said he bought a 550-rd box of Federal .22LR from Wal-Mart for ‘just over $8’. (About AU$12 this morning. The review was written in 2005.) ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-a-22-rifle/481597/69 "2009-01-19T15:54:26Z")
Other reviews: > [@](#): > > I’ve had the Remington 597 (POS) the Marlin 795 (better than the Remington) and a bunch of the 10/22’s. The Ruger is lightyears ahead of the other two. IMO you cannot go wrong with this rifle. > [@](#): > > Good: > 10 shot clip > Accurate > Fun > Cheap > Looks nice > Easy to clean > Easy to field strip > Semi-Automatic > > Bad: > Hmm, maybe not as accurate as one would want, that’s all. But hey, .22 have limitations, and the box says don’t expect anything tighter than a 2 inch group. > > [He also says loading the magazine hurts his fingers. – JLA] > [@](#): > > This light weight is great for putting on a sling (which I did), and carrying it on your shoulder would be a pleasure. However, the light weight makes shooting the rifle rather difficult, as its lightness allowed the barrel to move with every little motion of my body. > > When I did get the rifle still, it shot very well. Accuracy at 25 yards was commendable, capable of one ragged hole if you can manage it. > > \ > > Overall, I would have liked a heavier rifle. But I did like the last shot bolt hold open, and the 10-rd single stack Marlin magazine is a high quality magazine. Reliability - two jams of the failure to eject variety, but I think EVERY rimfire rifle jams at some point. I did not think the two jams I had were really a problem. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2009, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-a-22-rifle/481597/70 "2009-01-20T00:29:25Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > [Here’s a review](http://www.defensereview.com/modules.php?name=Reviews&rop=showcontent&id=60) an owner wrote on his Marlin 795. He likes it. > > Incidentaly, **Martini Enfield** : In that review the guy said he bought a 550-rd box of Federal .22LR from Wal-Mart for ‘just over $8’. (About AU$12 this morning. The review was written in 2005.) I know, we’re getting shafted on the price. But what can we do about it? Oh, that’s right, nothing. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![dynamitedave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ed655f/32.png) [@dynamitedave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dynamitedave)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2009, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-a-22-rifle/481597/71 "2009-01-20T07:48:11Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > [Here](http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/67/l_2b18142c4b34d44cc7b66d3627c9d50a.jpg) is a pic of my 10/22. How do you get on with the extended mag release? I found mine ok whilst plinking, but when spending all night out hunting, I lost my mag. It was just too easy to trip it. The shop warned me about that happening. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2009, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-a-22-rifle/481597/72 "2009-01-20T11:57:04Z")
> [@dynamitedave](#): > > How do you get on with the extended mag release? I found mine ok whilst plinking, but when spending all night out hunting, I lost my mag. It was just too easy to trip it. The shop warned me about that happening. I use it solely for target shooting, so it hasn’t been a problem for me. But I can see how it might be a problem when you’re hunting. BTW: The aftermarket AR-15 (aperture) sights on the 10/22 are _awesome_. They’re a 1000X improvement over the factory sights. I can consistently hit a 4-inch round steel target at 100 yards using the sights. I can’t do that with the factory blade sights. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2009, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-a-22-rifle/481597/73 "2009-01-31T19:41:16Z")
I met the FFL-holder in a parking lot a couple of hours ago. I now have a brand new Winchester 9422. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![unclviny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e274bd/32.png) [@unclviny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unclviny)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2009, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-a-22-rifle/481597/74 "2009-02-01T01:19:23Z")
(I skipped over most of the responses), 17HMR’s are awesome, flat shooting but VERY expensive to shoot. 10/22’s are nice but I think the Thompson/Center .22LR Classic is a better gun, it has (out of the box): A better trigger A STEEL reciever Better wood Better accuracy And WalMart guns are WM specific, they are NOT the guns you find at gun stores! Unclviny ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2009, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-a-22-rifle/481597/75 "2009-02-01T01:32:36Z")
> [@unclviny](#): > > And WalMart guns are WM specific, they are NOT the guns you find at gun stores! Yeah, that’s why I had to go to Wal-Mart to get [mine](http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=2685528). I think the 22" barrel gives it a more ‘balanced’ look than the standard 18.5" one. (The stainless steel is nice, too.) ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2009, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-a-22-rifle/481597/76 "2009-02-01T23:36:22Z")
> [@Cluricaun](#): > > Actually, check that.[Here’s](http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=338951)a place that does them for $160 plus shipping, but they say that they’re on back order. I signed up for email notification when they are back in stock, but yesterday I noticed that they’re selling a laminated stock. Not the one I want. Just won the bidding on a solid birch stock (new) from an eBay seller for $164.49 plus shipping. There’s a used Ruger 10/22 International on one of the auction sites with a Buy It Now price of $480. So I thought it would be better to buy the new stock and then look for a new 10/22. Cheaper that way. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2009, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-a-22-rifle/481597/77 "2009-02-07T01:26:04Z")
Having just picked up a new Ruger 10/22 (and having put the Mannlicher stock on it) I was wondering… What did the OP finally decide? ---
**Author:** ![masterofnone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@masterofnone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/masterofnone)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2009, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-a-22-rifle/481597/78 "2009-02-07T02:45:44Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Having just picked up a new Ruger 10/22 (and having put the Mannlicher stock on it) I was wondering… > > What did the OP finally decide? I just decided I’m jealous of you! I’ve got a 1895 steyr-mannlicher carbine, and would love a copy of it that wasn’t seriously painful to fire. Seriously, I was planning to buy a 10/22 when I get my tax money back, but I may not have to. When I was about 12 my step-grandfather got up from the kitchen table, went and got his .22 rifle, handed it to me and had a stroke. I went into the Army right out of high school, and when I got back, my parents had sold everything I owned. I had forgotten about the rifle, but remembered it and asked my dad if it was still around. He couldn’t find it, but has a double-barrel shotgun that he doesn’t dare fire anyway (1916ish Hopkins? and Allen Arms Co. IIRC). He’s taking it to a gun show tomorrow, and called me yesterday to find out what kind of .22 I wanted. We’ll see! ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2009, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-a-22-rifle/481597/79 "2009-02-07T03:13:31Z")
Only saw one pump gun mentioned, the Rossi, but the [Taurus](http://www.taurususa.com/products/product-details.cfm?id=418&category=Rifle) is a nice one. List price is $299 USD. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2009, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-a-22-rifle/481597/80 "2009-02-07T03:48:31Z")
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