I had a similar dilemma. I got the 10/22 and never looked back.

 

I own a semi Marlin model 60. Tube magazine 15+1

get one for around 120-140. Also fits a scope nicely

 

This is the gun I would recommend as well. I went with the Marlin 795, but now I wish I didn't have a detachable magazine. Last thing I want to worry about is losing or breaking a crappy little magazine.

The Ruger 10/22 is very over rated. It is much more expensive than it should be because all the fools that buy them like to put all the tacticool junk on them.

 

Marlins Model 60 is a good one, I also like a Remington model 550-1, although these might be hard to find nowadays, this is a very good rifle:thumb: The 10-22 though is also a good choice with the option of hi-cap mags and the subsequent faster reloads than the above mentioned tube mag rifles. Other chamberings might get more glory but the .22 is hard to beat for a survival situation. The old timers here abouts shot everything from squirrel to black bear with their .22 rifles. The .22 round is definitely alot more capable than it gets credit for.

 

In my opinion stick with the regular 22. The 22 mag and 17 cost almost double and can be a little harder to find.The ruger 10/22 is a good one but almost any name brand will last for ever.(well maybe not all) I still like my old Marlin 39A.

 

Isn't that a shame? The .22MAG is so awesome, but the cost makes me shoot 30-06. I cannot imagine why it is so expensive.

 

Be accurate

Every 10/22 I've ever bought, I've kept or given to one of my sons. So I'm not averse to semi-autos. But as a general rule, their triggers leave a bit (or much) to be desired and their accuracy is not target accuracy. Were I a squirrel, less than target accuracy in a human's rifle would not make me any bit bold.

I am prejudiced. I was on my high school rifle team and had a retired sgt. major on my @$$ all that time. So what do I recommend? Yep, a bolt action rifle with aperture sights. The rear aperture should NOT be the tiny target pin-hole when hunting or plinking. Screw-in the aperture with the more gracious eye opening. Better rifles often-times have better triggers. Read lots of rifle reviews -- but not ones from popular magazines, they're there to sell products.

Ammo: Use standard velocity or affordable target ammo. It's accurate. It kills small game without destroying the meat. You can use the CB cap ammo for here-to-there shots (10 yrds). If using CB caps, use the "long", so that the bullet doesn't jump to the rifling (destroying accuracy).

What's with this hyper-velocity ammo?! Who wants to blow a critter inside-out?! How you gonna eat that? If shooting dogs, a .22 magnum is minimum -- even then, we're talking head/neck shots on big ferals. Used-to, down South, feral dogs killed more deer than hunters killed deer. And then there's the matter of rabies outbreaks.

 

Yeah Skully I would love one of the new Kel-tec 22 mag auto pistol,but it will cost to much to feed it all the fun will be lost.

 

Wew one of them bad girls with a suppresor,i can only imagine.

 

There are gun forums here for gun threads. :

 

Another useful post....your post count goes up...:thumb:

 

When I was young my first .22 was a Marlin with a magazine not the tube model. It was a lot of fun for plinking and rabbit hunting. My younger brother had the Ruger 10/22 and while it was a very nice gun I felt my Marlin was just a better shooter. After several years I went to bolt action. They are simply more accurate and I prefer not having another round chamber until I cycle the bolt.

I am not a fan of self loaders all that much. Though my shotgun and one of my pistols is.

 

Going with as mentioned above Marlin, Ruger for 22 Long Rifle and if you want to go above I think the 22 mag is also a great choice. Having had a 10/22 for over 20 years now and having it work (with a ejector and extractor replacement) my money is on a 10/22 for best bang for the buck. However the Marlin with the tube feed is effective also.

 

Ruger 10/22 mags are a lot sturdier than a lot of the new savage mags. Buy an extra barrel for the ruger, it's easy to change out if you wear out the original. Older 22's often have better mags than the current cheapies...

 

I have a Marlin 60 and just picked up a Marlin 795 yesterday. I prefer an auto loader when it comes to the .22. Bolt action IMO is for the bigger calibers

 

I say certainly stick with the .22 instead of the .22 mag or the .17 for ammo costs alone if you are going to shoot it a lot.

My personal preference though... get a lever action .22 It can handle .22lr, .22 longs and .22 shorts.

 

I have a Mossberg Model 142A .22 that I will take to the grave if I can!

 

I recommend the Marlin 60. Inexpensive, accurate, durable and fun to shoot. There are also speed loaders available for the tubular magazines to provide fast reloads when necessary.
I have two of them, one's a Glenfield and, I have a Remington single shot bolt .22 for S, L and LR.

 

A 22LR would be my choice. A 10-22 in stainless steel with a scope. I do like my old Rem 121 and Win 1906 pumps for their milled steel parts. CCI minimags and CB Longs for all my needs. A good light bolt gun would be ok too or a combo shotgun/22.

 

Those are all good but if you want a great 22 out of the box go with CZ all the way.

 

this is the best advice so far.......as an owner of a ruger 10/22....I find it useful...but when I tried a CZ452....I sold my Ruger 77/22...to buy more CZs..

 

I have an Umarex made Colt AR15 .22LR. It's an amazing gun. It seldom has a fail to fire. Check it out when you get the chance.

It looks exactly like the AR15 until you get to really REALLY looking at it.

 

Get a .22 long rifle that you can afford. My choices are 10-22,Marlin 39-A and i don't have an opinion on bolt action since left handed ones are so hard to find.Include a decent scope if you go with the marlin 39-A.

Figure for tech sights if you go for the 10-22. Also get a volquartsen extractor and trigger for the 10-22 . I have 2 marlin 39-A's and 3 10-22's if that helps any...:

 

I'm tossing around the idea of the Thompaon Center Hot shot, to add to the bob. It's a short single shot with a peep sight, but also drilled and tapped for a scope. It weighs in at 3 lbs, add 500 rds and still only weighs about 5 lbs.

It would only be used to add food to the pot, no assualting. Have other things for defense.

 

Might want to consider an AR7, Henry makes a fabulous one

 

Hubby got me a nice Remington AR-15 .22 for my birthday, I really like it. Clip holds 10 rounds, so if I miss with the first shot.... Bolt actions are too much work to me to have to chamber every round and I like the option of being able to carry extra clips for a fast change over. Just my 2 cents

 

Sheeesh another thread about what 22 to get..... O well i will play. Ruger 10/22 all the way now that they have the ruger bx-25 even more so. But the marline model 60 is reliable and cheap. I think that haveing fast follow up shots in a 22 is very important. As are fast reloads.
Just my .02

 

A 10/22 or model 60 or 70 are my recommendations too if semi auto is important. But having hunted small game for decades, I've learned that you rarely get a follow up shot anyway. So fast follow ups aren't really that useful. For hunting, I have always preferred a bolt action.

 

Well you never stated why you want your .22, so ill assume its for fun.

Like everyone has said, and always says when its asked. You can't go wrong with a 10/22, although for FUN, I reccomend a PLR-22 AR styled pistol made by Keltec, its short and compact, comes with a 25+1 Magazine, and you can buy 10rd mags ,50 rd drums and upwards to special 200+ rd pan mags.

Of course if you want more of an accurate, take your time 1 shot 1 squirrel kind of weapon..there's always the 10/22 :thumb:

 

i think the remington 597 is superior to the 10/22 because of the heavier stock barrel.

 

I call BS on this.

 

I have both a bolt CZ and a 10/22

The CZ is much more accurate, feels like its built much better, and has a much better trigger.

The 10/22 shoots faster.

If I was trying to put food on the table by shooting small game I would take the CZ bolt action, as a last ditch self defense weapon I would take the 10/22

I think longer term it wont hurt to end up with both rifles, its just a matter of which one you want to get first

 

the CZ455 is a real nice bolt action wicked accurate and you can swap out barrels from 22lr 22mag and 17hmr by removing 2 screws and putting in a different mag

so its like 3 rifles in one beautiful package

just my .02