Most shooters own a variety of .22 rimfire rifles. There are quite a few experienced shooters who feel that you are not a serious shooter if you don’t own several .22 rifles. There is some truth to this.
There are many factors involved in choosing a .22 rifle. For some, the .22 is a recreational rifle for pure fun. For others, the .22 LR is used to hone marksmanship. There are those who enjoy small game hunting. The experience is vital to growth as a shooter.
In this installment, I am looking at five good .22 rifles. They are not highly-specialized, but rather good, general-purpose rifles that will serve in a variety of chores. These chores include training new shooters, putting meat on the table, and keeping pests and varmints out of crops or away from the chicken coop.
I have always owned a .22 rifle. Today, I am lucky enough to own a half-dozen. One of the oddest .22s I’ve owned is a Winchester 250. The rifle is a mix of aluminum steel plastic and ‘middle of the road’ furniture. When the lever is operated, the trigger mechanism travels with the lever as if the guts of the rifle were exposed.
This hammerless rifle was manufactured in the 1960s to mid 1970s. It was plenty accurate and generally reliable. Trigger reset problems sometimes occurred, and I don’t recommend hunting down a vintage sample. However, in the ‘day,’ this was a rifle that provided pride of ownership and fed rural families.
Many shooters use shoot .22s with iron sights, others take a detour to optics. It isn’t unusual for a middleweight .22 rifle to group three shots in .5 to .7 inch at 25 yards. That is plenty accurate for bedded rabbit, tree line squirrels, and treed racoon. Two inches at 50 yards isn’t common.
I am going to provide a word portrait of some of my favorite .22 rifles. A person with average experience will be able to operate each efficiently. A good shot, and you will become a good shot with practice, may work wonders with an accurate .22.
Henry Lever Action
This is my favorite among very good rifles. I cannot help it. I love lever-action rifles. On a personal level, Henry’s contribution to our rights and to reputable charity cannot be overstated.
The Henry Classic features well-finished dark furniture and nicely anodized aluminum, while the barrel is dark blue finished. The Henry features a good set of fixed sights, including a fixed rear sight — adjustable for elevation — and a hooded post front sight. The receiver is grooved for easy scope mounting.
Loading and unloading are simple enough. Unscrew the magazine tube and pull it out enough to allow access to the outer magazine tube. Drop cartridges in one at a time. Drop in up to 15 cartridges, replace the magazine tube, and twist it to lock in place. The lever is smooth enough and operates on a shorter arc than centerfire cartridges.
The rifle is plenty accurate with a .5-inch group at 25 yards. I added a TruGlo 4×32 mm optic. I sighted the rifle to fire slightly high at 25 yards and then fired for accuracy at 50 yards. At 50 yards, the Henry is accurate enough for most any chore with 2-inch groups.
Rossi Rio Bravo
The Rio Bravo is similar to the Henry Classic. Rossi has been making good quality, lever-action centerfire rifles for many years, and the Rio Bravo should be a good companion piece. The Rio Bravo is a conventional lever-action rifle with open sights and a smooth action that is a useful, reliable, and accurate.
There are, however, differences between the Rossi Rio Bravo and Henry Classic. The Henry Classic’s trigger action breaks clean at a smooth 4.5 pounds. The Rossi Rio Bravo’s trigger is a manageable, but heavy, 7.0 pounds. The Henry has a darker wooden stock, the Rossi Rio Bravo a lighter Brazilian hardwood stock. Each is attractive and well finished.
The Rossi rifle is supplied with sling attachments, the Henry does not. The sights are similar, but the Henry features a hooded front. The Henry barrel is 18.5 inches long while the Rossi barrel only stretches 18 inches. The Henry rifle’s receiver is secured with slot head screws, the Rossi features Phillips head screws.
The Henry receiver has a larger opening in front of the lever. The Rossi has a separate section at the rear of the receiver that houses a manual safety. The safety may be applied while the rifle is loaded. The safety may break up the classic lines of the rifle in the opinion of some. For those who don’t feel that a manual safety is needed on a lever-action rifle, the solution is simply not use it.
In firing the rifle in rapid fire at 20 yards, the Rossi Rio Bravo performed well, but slightly behind the Henry. In absolute accuracy the Rossi trailed behind the Henry rifle only slightly at 25 yards. At 50 yards, the Rio Bravo was further behind the Henry in accuracy. The rifles handled much the same in most respects.
The Henry lever, however, comes to a stop closer to the receiver. The Rossi Rio Bravo action stops about .5 inch before the Henry, relatively. Either works fine and there is no real preference, it is simply different. I find the Rio Bravo reliable, accurate, and nice looking. I like my rifle but if I could find one on sale, I would grab the synthetic stock version with fiber-optic sights.
Rossi RS 22
This is a neat, light, fast-handling, and reliable little rifle. Based somewhat on the Marlin Model 60, the RS 22 is simplified and trouble free. The rifle is easily handled with its removable box magazine and easy to rack bolt. The sights are bright fiber-optic.
This feather light .22 is an easy-packing rifle. It isn’t as accurate as the others at 50 yards, as expected, but it makes for a good all-around plinker, and it will certainly take game at 25 yards. The rifle runs any type of high-velocity ammunition without fail. If you like to carry a rifle around the property or when spelunking, this is the least expensive option but a good one.
Ruger 10/22
Everyone should own a Ruger 10/22, and I am reasonably certain most everyone who is a shooter at all does! The action was designed more than 60 years ago, yet it remains modern. The 10/22 has adapted well to modern synthetic stocks, lightweight or tactical stocks, optical sights, aftermarket triggers, and other upgrades. Regardless the modification, the basic reliability of the rifle remains solid.
The 10/22 is built around a rotary magazine. Based on the Savage 99’s immortal rotary box, the 10/22’s detachable, 10-round magazine is a model of reliability. Ruger finally gave us the X Mag, an extended magazine in several versions including 15 and 25-round units.
The X Mag is reliable. I have tried practically every aftermarket Ruger 10/22 magazine, and none met my reliability standard. The Ruger demands little maintenance and may be a lightweight, easy-carrying rifle, or a heavy barrel, long-range rimfire. The piece simply doesn’t give up and is among the most proven rifles in the world. As for accuracy, most factory fresh standard model rifles will group three shots into two inches at 50 yards. The heavy barrel rifles will do a little better.
Winchester Wildcat
The Winchester Wildcat is a wildly innovative rifle. A modular design the Wildcat fieldstrips easily. Press in a plunger at the rear of the receiver and the receiver (complete with the action) slips out of the stock. Cleaning and maintenance are extraordinarily simple. While there is plenty of rail for mounting optics and combat lights, the rifle is supplied with an excellent set of aperture sights.
The rifle is designed to accept Ruger 10/22 magazines — an excellent move. The trigger is decent, and the rifle has proven reliable. The rifle is easily the most modern in appearance. Of course, I like lever-action guns, but this modern style is exciting as well. The Wildcat is plenty accurate, if not quite as accurate as a Ruger 10/22, when it comes to splitting hairs. I like the Wildcat, and it is affordable.
These are just a handful of the many good .22 rifles available. Each is affordable and available. Plus, they are inexpensive to fed and have little to no recoil. These rifles simply do not have any drawbacks. However, if you really want to up your game, check out a Volquartsen!
Every shooter has a favorite .22 LR rifle and a story to go with it. Share yours in the comment section.
The wood stocked 10/22 is an American classic that every new shooter should enjoy. 
The bolt is easily racked, and the magazine catch is positive in operation. 
Lever-action rimfire rifles offer plenty of fun! 
Ruger’s front post is serrated to prevent glare. Note the brass bead. 
The RS22 features a hooded front post with fiber optic insert. 
The Rossi’s front post sight offers a good sight picture. Many like the Brazilian hardwood stock of the Rio Bravo. 
Firing offhand, the TruGlo/Henry combination posted good results. 
TruGlo’s rimfire scope is an affordable choice with much to recommend. 
There are slight differences between the Rossi, left, and Henry, right. 
Even today, the Winchester 250 lever gun looks futuristic! It has provided a lifetime of service. 
This can’t be the most durable system, yet here it is 50 years after leaving the factory. 
The fully-adjustable sights of the RS22 are a big advantage. Rossi offers the RS 22 at a pittance. It is a bargain! 
If desired you may mount a combat light or laser on the Winchester’s forward rail. 
Winchester’s Wildcat rimfire rifle offers plenty of space for mounting red dot sights or an optic. 
If you like a rear peep sight, the Winchester is the rifle for you. 
Ruger designed a highly-adjustable rear sight for the 10/22. 
Shooting a little to the left? Drift the sight, then drift a little more, and you will be dead on the money! 
A hooded front post serves as a front sight for the Henry. 
The Henry’s rear sights are adjustable for elevation. A fast-handling lever gun is a joy to fire and use. 
This is western styling! 
.22 rimfire rifles are often quite accurate. 
Modern Ruger rifles feature an extended magazine release. 
Disassembly is simple enough with the Ruger 10/22. 
Disassembly is simple. Winchester’s Wildcat is a formidable competitor in the rimfire market. 
Field stripping the Rossi RS 22 is easily done. The Ruger 10/22 is a great rifle. 
The Rio Bravo features a crossbolt safety. The Henry rifle is slim trim and affordable.
I can’t believe I’m the only one so far that likes a Rem. 121 Fieldmaster, I’ve always loved mine & never had any problems with it & it shoots pretty good. The only other 22 rifle that I’ve owned was a Belgium made Browning SA Takedown which I wish I still had. I’ve shot a lot of the ones mentioned & just never felt the need to buy anything else, although I did like shooting the BL-22 & the Marlin 39, I think it was.
I bought my 9422 in 1973. My cousin had the Marlin 39A. The dads bragged about driving shingle nails at 10 yards, took a while but we accomplished. Have my dads Winchester 63, very nice but I have shot the 9422 so much, it’s definitely my favorite. After 100’s of thousands of rounds, you get in the groove.
I bought my 9422 in 1973. Fantastic gun. My cousin had the Marlin 39A. The dads bragged about driving shingle nails at 10 yards, took a while but we accomplished. Have my dads Winchester 63, very nice but I have shot the 9422 so much, it’s definitely my favorite. After 100’s of thousands of rounds, you get in the groove.
The Ruger 10/22 was my first rifle (and many others first I am sure). It may not be my most accurate rifle, but it is affectionately my favorite. My friends and I would plink for hours at $5 a brick. I remember telling my friends about hitting a bottlecap every shot at 100yards at the range with my Uncle… (all lies of course but they were very impressed or knew I was full of BS). I took my 10 year old daughter to the Field and Stream last weekend to shoot her first rifle, and guess what she shot. You know it, the timeless 10/22. She was nervous the first shot (and so was I). I fed in the first single round and she hit the target at 50 yards. It was all flying brass from there. I couldn’t get it out of her hands and had to keep reloading the extra magazines (only 5 rounds allowed at a time at Field and Stream), and she kept emptying them. I created a monster, and she can’t wait to go back. She said “Dad, are you going to have that same gun??? I said, “yes, and maybe a few more to try out.
Now with a red dot, these old eyes are almost as accurate as they used to be. I can still hit a plate, I mean a bottle cap at 100 yards!!! Now at $35 a brick, I shoot a little slower, but I am considering installing a binary trigger to add to the fun just a little. I need to empty the new connected banana clips faster. (my first were taken by the police in Moscow…I mean New Jersey whey I was younger (another long story) You can not go wrong with the Ruger 10/22.
@Rockit. Any chance you have you’re old guy vote?
Somehow Sam Elliot
Marlin 39 A all the way . And the CZ rimfires are as good as any costing five times as much . The BLR is nice but no tack driver . The Henry ? Well until it sports a real receiver Im out . As for the 10-22 its like all Rugers . “Almost “ great . Remington never built a 22 that did not have either a crappy magazine or goofy plastic involved somewhere . The old Savage Sprinfields of the 60’s and early 70’s were very good rifles . The Marlin 60 was a good functional blue collar mans squirrler . But semi autos bore me .
@Rockit… it’s cool. Stuff happens. 😆
Laugh about it.
Have both a 10/22 and a Marlin 50. Much love for both of them!
One brand overlooked is the Mossberg from the 1950’s. I still have my Model 146B, bolt action tube mag with target sights that I bought in 1952. I used it to shoot all the way to Distinguished Expert Rifleman in the NRA Junior program. It would shoot every bit as accurate as my Winchester 52C that i had in college. It is still a tack driver.
@SGT. DAVIS, sorry to hear your childhood 10/22 got stollen. The good news since then is; Ruger made a few more. Only difference is the new ones take Banana Magazines. LOL
My picks would be the Ruger 10-22, I have owned and upgraded and built clones since the 80’s, still have my original. Recently won a “Battleship” target match against a Navy guy with a clone I built, firing 16 shots, all hits. Range 25 yards.
And the Winchester Model 94-22. Obtained a first-year issue (1972) around 20 years ago in pristine condition. It is now in the hands of my granddaughter, which she shoots well.
Pick and cherish your favorites.
Cheers
I have a Western Auto Revelation Model 120 (Marlin 99) that was a birthday present when I turned 12 because every 12 year old boy had a 22 rifle where I grew up. I am in my 70s now and still use it. Reliable little rifle. Just recently acquired a Ruger 10/22 and really like it too.
I agree several of my fellow posters… @Rockit… 😆 I joke with a lot. Aftermarket support for the Ruger 10/22 IS substantial. Not one bit of argument there. I had one, Pop bought me when I was a kid. It was stolen unfortunatly by my girlfriend’s brother years ago and he wound up doing Fed Time and I never got it back because I wouldn’t pay the “registration fee” years later after the “assualt weapon ban”… it was presumed destroyed. Was it reliable, yup. Rotary 10 round mag, yup, 30 round “banana clips”… yeah yeah, this was well before any Clinton Ban and, dangit, if I don’t say “banana clips” before someone else uses the incorrect terms, I’ll go… well, bananas. Haha! I always thought the factory walnut stock was way too wide though. Much like the Marlin 336 compared to the Model 94…. just way too wide. Of course, personal opinion so… if we all he same taste.
One thing I see some folks gripe about is the Marlin Model 60… as being “junk”… pppfffftttt…. what Marlin 60 were you shooting? When they were stamped JM Marlin they were some of the most reliable .22lr ever. Now don’t get me wrong, gee… you ACTUALLY have to clean them occasionaly and for God’s sake DON’T spray WD-40 in the action and think it’s “clean”. They are not hard to field strip. Saw many of them gunked so bad with that “method” and then people call them “junk”. Another one that I see mentioned, and of course I own one, with a caveat, (it’s old, and back when…) is the Savage 64f… granted, the 10 round proprietary mags… yeah. Mine is old and on the ONE factory mag with easily 15k through it and the the rifle as a whole with no barrel change is still one of the best. That may not coinside with current modles of the 64f or their mag issues. Grain of salt there. But as far as the 64f goes, only thing that ever broke on mine was the charging handle. Hollow aluminum. I turned a solid stainless one and well, it does add a slight bit of weight to the bolt, it hasn’t complained yet, … granted, it’s not field strip easy, for those griping. But it’s really not that bad. Yes, it takes an Allen wrench to remove the ONE screw to separate the entire action from the synthectic stock… Oh no! One screw that holds it all together? Not quite. Remove the screw and they separate easy. Set stock aside… then you see just exactly what makes this thing so easy to clean and why it’s so accurate.
Yeah, there was a comment about bragging of 2″ accuracy at 50yds… I agree, that’s sad… really, really sad… IF you’re not bench resting. Snap shootiing and hitting a 2″ target at 50yds, yeah that’s good and acceptable. I dunno where the grey squirrels are there, but it’s summer time here, and they don’t hold still. It’s also illegal because they’re out of season.
Wanna a fun story about parts? I’ve got a Stevens… Favorite 17… built somewhere around 1894-ish… I aquired it years ago from my brother who thought it’d be an interesting project. It had all kinds of wrong stuff in it. Well, it’s mine now… the barrel, not a trace of rifling left… black powder and it was never cleaned. Chamber, worn slap out. Just a little patience and it’s a good little single shot. It’s a roling block breach load proabably doesn’t weigh more than 3.5lbs. Iron sight… it’s off hand accurate at 10 yds or so with in a couple of inches but it ain’t no sniper rifle.
“All Around” Best must mean cheapest junk. The last time I had a 22 that grouped 2″ @50 yds. I chopped it up with a hacksaw and threw it in the garbage. The 10-22 has a place in the list, after you drop in Rugers aftermarket trigger group.
As others have noted the Marlin 39 is missing, so is the Browning BL 22. And how did you ever miss the Browning SA 22?
I have the Henry Classic, Mossberg 702 Plinkster, Chiappas M1, Marlin Glenfield 60, the Ruger Sporter and recently got the Savage 64 FVXP. Looking forward to shooting the Savage since it came with its own scope. Tube loaders are the best for me since they never seem to jam. Gave away the Plinkster and M1. Worthless rifles.
My first 22 in the early 60s was a single shot Ithaca saddle gun…I bought with money earned selling Lancaster seeds door to door. My collection today. includes a Winchester 57 with 5 and 10 shot magazines which I purchased from my 100 year old uncle who recently passed (his first rifle). I’m also excited to have a fine condition Remington 550-1 and a Winchester lever action 9422 in new condition. I love them one and all.
Any cz 22 452 455, 457 volt bolt gun or the 512 semi will light up your life how many 22 files come with a 200 meter adjustable rear sight. All the bolt guns do. Just call me cz lover.
My rifle is an German made Erme Werke Model 712 (22 Slr) lever action… also known as the predecessor to the Henry Repeater. With mounted optics, I’ve been using it to hunt rabbits for many years… 🐰 It’s lots of fun to shoot and it’s accurate out to 100 mtrs. Over the years I’ve be very successful with it … 🐇🐇🐇
I received a Norinco bolt action .22 before the ban happened and it is hard hitting, quiet, and a tack driver at 75 yards. I use a scope on it as I’ll be 70 this yearand eyes are just starting to give me trouble. I have used many .22’s through the years and this is my opinion. LW
OF the 30 22 rifles I own, by far the Marlin Model 60 is the best most accurate. Remington bolt has best trigger pull and lock time. My old 303 Enfield in 22 is super accurate and catches the brass in the magazine. Winchester bolt 22 is a fine 22 rifle as well. Excellent trigger and trained many a soldier in the art of shooting accuracy. Browning auto 22 is a piece of art work. The 39a take down is a great back packing 22. Not to mention Sig Saur 22 auto snipper rifle. Just has a lousy trigger pull. Colt AR style 22s are just plain fun.
Coached scholastic team till discontinued (for ice hockey!) by BOE, instructor for LEOs.
10-22s for Appleseed loaners, or HB scoped for distance. Got 20-50K CMP .22 free every year.
Those were the days!
Always thought Marlin discontinued their Marlin 7000 HB, stock rail, laminated stock semi-auto too quickly, was .22 rifle equivalent to the S&W Model 41 (other than an Anschutz…), My opinion.
Excelsior,
mad
You have left out what I believe is a very sweet shooting lever actioned 22, the Browning BL-22. I have owned mine since Christmas 1974. I love it’s short (30 degree angle) lever throw that makes it accurately shoot the fastest of the non-semi automatic rifles. It has helped me put thousands of 12 oz pop cans out of their misery.
While not a cheap gun, my all time favorite 22 is a Winchester 94-22 Heritage. I’ve had mine for years and it still is reliable, accurate, and just an all round great rifle.
I also have a Marlin model 25 and a 25-M both great shooters.
Thanks’
Danny
Love the 10/22 and own a couple of them manufactured in the early 1970’s. But, I wouldn’t trade my Browning BL-22 and CZ 452 for a truckload of Rossi rifles (or the Henry levers for that matter). 2” groups at 50 yards is pretty miserable and certainly won’t kill Sage rats at anywhere past 30 yards. My CZ and Browning rifles shoot ragged holes at 50 yards with the right ammunition. They’re a bit more expensive but a $200 inaccurate rifle ain’t worth nothin’ and a $600 accurate rifle is worth every penny.
Love the discussion!
I started shooting with my grandfather’s Winchester 1906, shooting against my dad with his Remington 521. He usually won! (He had a longer sight radius.)
My first .22 was my very own Winchester 62A. I really think the exposed hammer is a plus for safety with new shooters.
I have a couple of Ruger 10-22s, and love them both. One is customized with a Hogue stock and a fluted aftermarket barrel (can’t remember the brand, and I’m not at home to look) with threads to accept a suppressor. The other is a takedown model, and I’m in the market for a threaded barrel for this one as well.
The Henry lever action looks interesting. One can never have too many .22s!
Am I the only one who owns a 52 Winchester sporter?
I have a Savage Mark 4, and a Ruger 10/22. I have problems with thr Ruger jamming, but the Savage is a bolt action, and shooting cci mini mag hp it is the most accurate 22lr I have ever owned. I have had other 22lr rifles but none as accurate as the Savage
Everyone has their preference for the best 22 rifle. I have a ruger 10/22, a marlin model 60, and a henry lever action. I like them all, but when I was barely old enough to shoot a gun, my dad let me shoot his winchester model 63 and I loved that gun from then on. unfortunately, someone broke into his home in the 80’s and left him gunless. I always wanted a model 63, so a few years ago I found one online and bought it. They quit manufacturing the 63 in 1958, and in my opinion, it is the finest 22 rifle ever manufactured.
Marlin model 39A! By a long margin! Best gun I have ever purchased… Back in the 70’s!
Oh, man!
I have a BL22, 10/22, 77/22, Kimber Classic, Cooper 57M.
My tastes got more expensive & demanding as time went on, but a little bolt action single shot with iron sights served me well for years.
I think you need to put the rock island armory tm22 into the mix. Price wise it beats everything 1 to 5. Accuracy it easily competes with the 10/22.
It is like the ugly duckling of the crowd but it shoots straight.
The 10/22 market and aftermarket is huge! I found years ago that the cast aluminum receiver is soft enough to be deformed by steel, as I was talked into taking a 1991 carbine, dropping in a Power Custom hammer and sear kit (easy project and a gift card helped), shipped to CPC (machining the receiver counterbore, aligning the barrel with an abbreviated tune-up), refurbished Nikon 4×32 scope and wound up with the original $150 carbine shooting 3/8″ groups at 25 yards. My daughter’s first shooting experience was using that for an entire Appleseed weekend. Right handed, left eye dominant like me, she shot the course left handed, while I shot my LH Browning T-bolt that Dad picked up at the BX (I paid half the $44 cost, mid-1960s). The Ruger/CPC/Hogue/Nikon/Raven Custom (oversize receiver pins insert with light finger pressure). is just as accurate as the old FN-built T-Bolt!
In the late 1960’s I bought a Glenfield bolt .22. Since I’ve always intended to buy a higher end model since I shoot weekly. I never got around to replacing the Glenfield simply because it’s very accurate. I have a 6x scope on it and I’ve killed hundreds of critters. I practice shooting about 70 yards at 2” spinning targets. The rifle keeps my fundamentals sharp and it’s cheap to shoot. I prefer bolt rifles as early in my life Dad said the point is to put one shot in the right place not fill the air with lead.
Yours is a good list, I would have included:
Winchester model 61 best pump .22 made
Winchester model 71 best tube fed bolt action
And Winchester model 1 best child’s first rifle
Keep firing!
My favorite also is the Marlin 39, from the 60’s.
Next for me would be the Remington 521-T. Both rifles are quality, solid and more than adequate to get the job done.
I have owned a Remington model 522 Viper for years and would recommend it to anyone. Although a great rifle for hunting and plinking, the only bad thing I’ve ever encountered is the lack of aftermarket support. Trying to find an affordable second magazine is near impossible as they can go for as much as I paid for the rifle originally.
I have always enjoyed plinking and hunting with my Remington Nylon 66!
Yellow dog, a big thumbs up. I bought my dad a marlin 39a in 2002 as a retirement present. I reacquired it when he passed on during Covid. That is my all time favorite rifle. Drop cb longs into it and with the 24” barrel all the squirrels hear is the hammer drop. Almost no muzzle noise, which makes taking a mess of squirrels much easier. I own a lot of .22 rifles including; a marlin 60 (junk, but very accurate), a ruger 10/22 (nicely made, but not a tack driver), mossberg semi auto that isn’t the highest quality, nor the most accurate, but has never jammed, the 39a is accurate as heck, well balanced, super high craftsmanship, and just as beautiful to look at as it is to shoot.
For semi-autos, the Ruger 10/22 is hands down the winner, as it can be personalized with a huge aftermarket of accessories, the latest being the sling mounted Magpul MOE bipod. The 10/22 is probably the only rifle in existence that is personalized more than the AR-15. As for lever action, it is really hard to beat the beautiful little Browning BL-22, as the lever only travels about 30 degrees, takes the tigger and trigger guard with it so you don’t get pinched fingers, and in fact your hand never has to leave the grip, just flip your fingers to work the leaver. After putting 15LR’s in it you simply push the tube back in, no twisting, as it has an ingenious lock. It has a very strong control feed for the ammo. It has ridiculous crazy accuracy. At the time, it was actually priced about $20 less than either the Winchester, or the Marlin, of which I would take the Marlin next.
I have an older, Winchester Model 62A pump action .22, that my kids learned to shoot with. It’s lightweight, reliable, and easy to fire. And a whole lotta fun to shoot. They were both hitting bullseyes at 25 yards in no time at all.
I love my wildcat he 25 round ruger 10/22 is nice. Mine is fitted with a scope , bi pod and having a threaded barrel excepts my surpresor and just a blast to shoot. My grandsons love it .
Yeah I’m in the same situation with yellow dog I’m waiting for Ruger to bring back the marlin 39 or the 97. I’ve got a model 97 with a production date of 1916 and my best friend has a model 39 that his father-in-law I believe purchased sometime shortly after the second world war ended and that gun is in absolute superb condition. Come on Ruger let’s get those 39’s on the market.
Marlin Glenfield Model 60 with 18 shot tube is the finest .22 rifle I have ever had! Had mine since 1976 and it is still a nail driver and super reliable. Love this rifle!
All nice looking .22 rifles, but I am surprised a bolt action .22 rifle did not make the list. I learned to shoot on a .22 Savage bolt action that my Dad bought for me second hand. My son now has that sucker, it is a tack driver and I am not a marksman.
When I was about 12 , I’m 60 now my dad bought me and my little brother savage camper companions his was 22 over 410 mine 22 over 20 gauge I spent many many days afield with that gun hunting squirrels rabbits quail.i have put thousands of rounds through the 22 barrel not so much 20 gauge I even hunted deer with it scoped using 20 gauge slugs one thing that was really fun was to let people shoot the 22 and slip the sellector to 20 gauge they really got a surprise I think that little gun is a perfect all around gun for a young boy to have it’s my favorite by far I passed it to my oldest son when he was a boy.sadly I lost him last august to a motorcycle accident it now belongs to his son ,my oldest grandson God bless
I have a J.C. Higgins Model 42DL that my father bought for me in either 1960 or 61. It is a re-branded Marlin 80 made for Sears, Roebuck and Co. It was mine until I left it for my brother. Then after he passed away in 2014, I took it back. The only other .22 firearm I own is a Stoeger Luger I bought in 1970/71.
Marlin model 60 anyone?
I’ve been around 22,s rifles for over 40 yrs it seems like everyone got there favorite,, My father had a Marlin 39 a,lever action good gun,I purchased a Remington 512, sports master, tubular magazine,bolt action and it’s my favorite rifle,23 inch, barrel,I put a 3×9 scope on it and at 25 yards it’s deadly accurate, my mom has,a target Master with iron sites,at 25, yards he could light wooden stick matches with it,I say that’s pretty accurate gun.
Thank goodness I do not own any of the above. These I do own multiples of — CZ 452, Ruger 77/22, Sako Finnfire II, Steyr Zephyr II
3 are out of production, 1 is current–steel and walnut, not polymer or aluminum
I am glad to see that you added the Winchester Wildcat! On your last .22LR article it wasn’t even mentioned. I agree with your new list!
Someone PLEASE bring back a tube fed bolt action .22! They will shoot everything from BB & CB caps to LR.
Like the author, I have many .22’s. I believe my all around favorite is a rifle I picked up at a local gun shop here in Huntsville AR for I think around $75-$80 (can’t really remember). It’s an old model Remington 550-I. This gun has a 24” barrel, iron sights and no real way to mount a scope. It’s tube fed semi auto that can use ANY .22 rimfire (except magnums, of course). I have used everything from .22 shorts (the 710 fps kind) to the fastest CCI mini mags. This rifle will cycle all of these rounds, without any difficulty!! I’ve had to do a few repairs on it, like firing pin and springs, and the stock broke, but the rifle is like 12,000 years old, so I say that’s pretty good. It can hold 23 (I think) .22 short, sub sonic rounds, it will even cycle the .22 “shot shells without issue!! So when I go outside at night, I usually carry this one, cause it’ll fire those rounds as fast as I can pull the trigger, and honestly is quieter than a BB gun or a suppressed 300 blackout, that is the God honest truth!! Sounds about like you’re cracking a walnut! I had to do some research to find the proper parts I needed, but I found this one place on line , don’t think I can legally name it here. I can sit on a lawn chair in the front yard and kill wasps just for fun! It’s a pretty darn accurate rifle, I have never measured to trigger pull on it, but it hasn’t effected my accuracy. I have looked around and hadn’t found another one worth looking at! The only person getting this rifle from me, is my son, but that’ll be after I can’t shoot it anymore…6 feet under…
That all being said, my favorite .22 as a kid was my Marlin Glenfield model 60. It broke down a long time ago, but before I was 20, you couldn’t pry this thing from my hands…at all!! It would only cycle .22 lr’s but non the less was my all time favorite, until I found that Remington. As well with this one, I also picked bugs out of the front yard. It had great accuracy and never failed me (well, until I completely wore it out). I do, like the author, have several .22’s but these are my all time favorites. I have a Savage A-22, a Ruger 10/22 several pistols and some other older rifles. You wanted my $.02 worth, so there it is. Thanks for allowing me to share this! It was a good article, and I enjoyed reading it.
Thank you
Mike
I’ve got a Belgium made browning .22. That’s just a fantastic little gun. I wouldn’t trade it for any other .22 around.
If you want sub 1″ groups at 50yds w your Henry, locate some Wolf Match Extra! Paired w my 2-7 Leupold, if I miss a squirrels head under 50 yards it’s my own fault!!!
The Remington Nylon 66 is a great rifle too.
The Savage model 64 in 22 Auto is very good and accurate. Only drawback is the magazines are 10 rounds and virtually nobody makes accesorries for it (unlike the ruger 10-22).
Wow – you brag about a rifle getting 2″ groups at 50 yards?
That’s 4MOA.
That’s lousy.
@Bob Campbell. May I? The youngster in the lead photo… good he’s wearing ears… not so good he’s leaning back like he’s anticpating recoil. No offense but that stance looks like my ex wife with any .22LR.
She was scared to shoot my Marlin 917V because it was heavy and loud. Really… then again she couldn’t understand a simple 5 speed manual transmission in an S10… or back a trailer… guess there are reasons they make ex wives. So besides the you can never do a “best”… Mossberg 702 Plinkster, meh… ex hated it. Probably wound up in some pawn shop. She hated my Savage 64f… anyway… passed down to my daughters was a Cricket, over 20 years ago. And every time I was greeted with a “Daddy, I don’t like it, I wanna shoot yours!”
All I could say was no, not yet.
Funny thing is… they ask if youngest daughter will give it up to share. Adult kids…ugg🤣.
I’m hopeful that Ruger will reintroduce the Marlin 39. I have one that was a birthday present from my dad to my grandfather in the mid 1960’s. I’ve acquired a few other rim fires over the years, but the Marlin will always be my favorite.