# Recommend a .22 bolt-action rifle
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-22-bolt-action-rifle/483926
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [January 31, 2009, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-22-bolt-action-rifle/483926 "2009-01-31T22:56:51Z")
**Posts on this page:** 18
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)
#### Post date: [January 31, 2009, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-22-bolt-action-rifle/483926/1 "2009-01-31T22:56:51Z")
Spinning off from [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=502089), what’s a nice .22 bolt-action rifle? I only have one, and it’s a single-shot. Eventually (not anytime soon, as I’ve just received my new Winchester 9422) I’d like to get a bolt-action .22 repeater. I don’t want a tubular magazine; I want a detachable one. Pretty wood is a plus. Among the contenders, in no particular order, are:
[ul][li]Ruger 77/22[/li][li]Browning A-Bolt[/li][li]Browning T-bolt[/ul][/li]
CZs look nice, but the trigger guards look cheap.
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### Author:  [@Bobotheoptimist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bobotheoptimist)
#### Post date: [January 31, 2009, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-22-bolt-action-rifle/483926/2 "2009-01-31T23:03:02Z")
I’ve never owned a Browning, but Ruger tends to have a rough trigger. It’s fairly easy to fix, but who wants to do a home trigger job on a new gun?
Marlin makes a nice .22, most are synthetic stock but [this](http://www.marlinfirearms.com/Firearms/BoltAction22/925.asp) looks pretty good for around $200.
I love my 9422, both of my sons do too so it’s hard to get any trigger time on it. I should get a couple more so we don’t fight over it.
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### Author:  [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)
#### Post date: [January 31, 2009, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-22-bolt-action-rifle/483926/3 "2009-01-31T23:13:10Z")
> [@Bobotheoptimist](#):
>
> I love my 9422, both of my sons do too so it’s hard to get any trigger time on it. I should get a couple more so we don’t fight over it.
[Here you go](http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/SearchResults.asp?SearchResults.asp?SearchType=0&Keywords=winchester+9422+%2Dmag). 😉
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### Author:  [@Bobotheoptimist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bobotheoptimist)
#### Post date: [February 1, 2009, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-22-bolt-action-rifle/483926/4 "2009-02-01T00:58:45Z")
Holy freaking hell! That’s 4 times what I paid. Maybe I should sell mine…
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### Author:  [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)
#### Post date: [February 1, 2009, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-22-bolt-action-rifle/483926/5 "2009-02-01T03:09:44Z")
> [@Bobotheoptimist](#):
>
> Marlin makes a nice .22, most are synthetic stock but [this](http://www.marlinfirearms.com/Firearms/BoltAction22/925.asp) looks pretty good for around $200.
You know… There’s just something about it. It doesn’t look right. I think I hate the stock.
I could have sworn the Browning A-Bolt was offered in .22LR, but I’ve looked at the site and it looks like it’s .22 Hornet. So I’ve been looking at the Ruger 77/22 and the Browning T-Bolt. Both rifles have nice lines. Both have flush magazines. The Ruger has a traditional rotating bolt, which is nice. The Browning has that nifty straight-pull bolt design that’s just… well, nifty! MSRP on the Browning is $75 less than the Ruger.
But I’m still open to other suggestions.
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### Author:  [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)
#### Post date: [February 1, 2009, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-22-bolt-action-rifle/483926/6 "2009-02-01T03:32:20Z")
The [Savage Mark 11 BTVS](http://www.savagearms.com/markiibtvs.htm) was reviewed recently in one of the gun mags. .42in group at 25 yds.
Detachable box magazine, pretty wood.
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### Author:  [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)
#### Post date: [February 1, 2009, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-22-bolt-action-rifle/483926/7 "2009-02-01T03:45:28Z")
> [@runner pat](#):
>
> The [Savage Mark 11 BTVS](http://www.savagearms.com/markiibtvs.htm) was reviewed recently in one of the gun mags. .42in group at 25 yds.
Funky stock on that one. The [Classic](http://www.savagearms.com/markiiclassic.htm) is nice though.
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### Author:  [@Bobotheoptimist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bobotheoptimist)
#### Post date: [February 5, 2009, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-22-bolt-action-rifle/483926/8 "2009-02-05T21:02:40Z")
Have you found what you’re looking for?
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### Author:  [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)
#### Post date: [February 5, 2009, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-22-bolt-action-rifle/483926/9 "2009-02-05T21:19:49Z")
So far I like both the Ruger 77/22 and the Browning T-bolt. I’ll still consider suggestions though! 🙂
But as I said, I’m in no rush at the moment. I’ve just received my 10/22 International stock. So that means I’ll have to get another 10/22 to put it on! And I decided to pick up a Henry U.S. Survival Rifle (FKA AR-7). According to _Gun Tests_, Henry made improvements over the Charter Arms version. (Wiki says quality went down after Armalite sold the design to Charter Arms.)
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### Author:  [@Cyberhwk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyberhwk)
#### Post date: [February 6, 2009, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-22-bolt-action-rifle/483926/10 "2009-02-06T07:37:42Z")
I’ve heard [CZ](http://www.cz-usa.com/) recommended for .22 bolt actions.
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### Author:  [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)
#### Post date: [February 6, 2009, 10:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-22-bolt-action-rifle/483926/11 "2009-02-06T10:53:22Z")
> [@Cyberhwk](#):
>
> I’ve heard [CZ](http://www.cz-usa.com/) recommended for .22 bolt actions.
The Brno Model 2 (aka CZ Model 2) is absolutely brilliant; if you live in Canada or Australia you can also get the Norinco JW-15A which is a Chinese copy of the CZ .22 and is excellent value for money.
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### Author:  [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)
#### Post date: [February 6, 2009, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-22-bolt-action-rifle/483926/12 "2009-02-06T17:06:23Z")
I like the Savage posted by **runner pat** myself. I have a 10/22, but had it re chambered in 17M2. So now I have no .22 rifle. :mad: I’m also considering the same Savage in 17HMR. I really like that stock design. Saw one in stainless with the stock in grey. Looked really nice.
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### Author:  [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)
#### Post date: [February 6, 2009, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-22-bolt-action-rifle/483926/13 "2009-02-06T17:22:42Z")
**runner pat** and **GaryM** : What do you like about the Savage, vis-à-vis the Ruger and the Browning?
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### Author:  [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)
#### Post date: [February 6, 2009, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-22-bolt-action-rifle/483926/14 "2009-02-06T17:55:30Z")
_Guns&Ammo_ March 2008 had a review of several .22 rifles. I did like the look but have no actual experience with that gun. The article did give a favorable review.
Here’s a [review](http://www.gunblast.com/Savage-MarkIIBV22.htm) of the same model with a more conventional stock.
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### Author:  [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)
#### Post date: [February 6, 2009, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-22-bolt-action-rifle/483926/15 "2009-02-06T17:58:43Z")
We have two Savage .22 bolt actions (one right-hand, one left-hand) and we like them very much. I can’t say why they would be better or worse than a Ruger or Browning. But it’s not like they’re that expensive; buy one of each and do a comparison. 😛
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### Author:  [@Kevbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kevbo)
#### Post date: [February 7, 2009, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-22-bolt-action-rifle/483926/16 "2009-02-07T02:33:24Z")
The 77/22 uses the 10/22 magazines. Perhaps it is my bad luck, but of a half dozen or so stacked or box magazine equipped 22’s I’ve owned or shot, the 10/22 rotary design is the only one that never ever jams…applies only to the stock ruger 10 shot versions, not aftermarket high capacity mags.
Rimmed cartridges feed reliably in revolvers, tubular magazines, and the 10/22.
That said, I’ve never even touched a 77/22…I do covet them though.
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### Author:  [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)
#### Post date: [February 7, 2009, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-22-bolt-action-rifle/483926/17 "2009-02-07T03:03:58Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#):
>
> **runner pat** and **GaryM** : What do you like about the Savage, vis-à-vis the Ruger and the Browning?
I like the thumb hole stock on the Savage, and their accutrigger is pretty nice. I’d like the stainless steel with the gray stock, but I’ve never noticed a stainless finished scope, so there might be a finish mismatch there. :dubious:
Only Browning I ever owned was one of their .22 [auto loaders](http://www.browning.com/products/catalog/firearms/detail.asp?value=022B&cat_id=021&type_id=001) But it was back in the 60’s. Never should have sold it. :smack: Don’t recall if the modern ones are the same as the old ones.
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### Author:  [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)
#### Post date: [February 7, 2009, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-22-bolt-action-rifle/483926/18 "2009-02-07T04:39:18Z")
77/22 all the way. Yes it needs a trigger job, but nothing crazy. A weekend at the smith and $50 will have that sucker shooting like a $2k Anschutz. It’s a classy gun, besides the mag it’s the same exact gun as Ruger’s centerfire rifles which I feel gives it pedegree. I’m a huge Ruger fan as evidenced in the last thread but honestly it’s the only .22 I’ve ever shot that I can honestly say outshoots me (besides that Anschutz, but single fire is boring). Misses are my fault, never the guns. It devours any brand of ammo like I do Doritos.
It’s the best of both worlds, it’s either the most refined of the cheap .22 bolts, or the lowest of the precision guns.
And it does not share mags with the 10/22. They look exactly the same, but they are not interchangable.