[tCan]

I want to do some marksmanship training, maybe some field exercises.

I'm looking at the cheapest of the cheap here:

Marlin XT-22 (Improved 925)
Marlin 795
Marlin 60
Remington 597
Mossberg 702
Mossberg 802
Ruger 10/22

I've ordered these by how accurate I feel they are out of the box (based on what I've been able to fine online) with maybe the lower ones on the list being more or less equal. I hope to have one of these rifles by X-Mas and wanted to hear some opinions from some people who may have owned these rifle. My poking around indicates that all of these are pretty high value rifles, being accurate, reliable, and for the most part durable. But even so I've 3 months to kill, so lets hear them words!

Be as specific as you want. I'd really like to hear opinions on tubular vs mag design. Ease of maintenance is probably going to always fall secondary to functional superiority for me... but feel free to chime in!

[JonM]

My opinion out of the ones you have listed the ruger will be most accurate easiest to maintain and give the fewest issue for reliability. I find tube mags clumsy to load and very sensitive to grit jamming up the works. Unless your goal is to train for a lever gun of some sort the manual of arms is not that helpful.

[big shrek]

Tube mags rarely get grit in them, unlike box-style mags that often get dropped in the dirt...
as long as you clean your tube mag when you clean your action, its not an issue.
There's a reason that Marlin sold 13 million model 60's since 1960...
Ruger's sold a little over 7 million 1022's since 1963.
Hrm...ya think Marlin might know what they're doing?

You've got them in the right order for precision. Ruger is the AK of the rimfire world, not real precise until you make a barrel change...
but its a good plinker. The Marlins would be your AR's...slightly fussy, but VERY precise.

Run away from Mossbergs...if you ever have a repair issue, it becomes an international incident, as they're made in Brazil.
Much like Taurus, it takes a lot of Time for repairs...

[aandabooks]

Just slap a Savage Mark II at the top of the list and call it done!!!!

[warhawk77]

For the price you can't beat the marlin 795. If you look around you can find them for less than $100. I am planing on picking up 2 on black friday sale.


I'm not a expert on the mossberg but I did look at them at the local shop. I was disappointed in the bolt action the bolt would come out with just a wiggle. The semi auto didn't have that issue but it felt kinda flimsy.

[willshoum]

The model 60 is just under priced....As for accuracy out of the box they shoot straighter than you do.......

[tCan]

I'll stay away from the Mossbergs then...

Originally Posted by aandabooks

Just slap a Savage Mark II at the top of the list and call it done!!!!

I was looking at that.

Originally Posted by willshoum

The model 60 is just under priced....As for accuracy out of the box they shoot straighter than you do.......

That's why I've got it up there near the top!




I know the Marlin 925 had it's issues (terrible trigger being the most concerning), but the XT-22 is pretty new and there's not a whole lot out there on them yet. What little I have heard is all good though. The XT-22 happens to come in both tube and box mag configurations. It would seem to me that the mechanics of a tube design would be a little more complex/delicate than a box mag type. But what do I know?

[zpatatus]

I have a Model 60, Ruger 10/22 and a model 795. The 60 and 795 are probably a bit more accurate than the 10/22 but not so much that it makes a difference unless you are competition shooting.

The current version of the 60 is tube fed, holds 14 rounds in, weighs 5.5 lbs and is 37.5" long. Wood stock. It has a 19" bbl. Price runs from $150-200 depending on location.

The 10/22 is detachable rotary box fed 10 shot, weighs 5.25 lbs, is 37" long with 18.5" bbl. Wood stock. There a a zillion accessories, stock, barrels etc available for it. Street price for the basic model is around $200.

The Marlin 795 is box mag fed 10 shot. Weighs 4.5lbs. OAL is 37" w/18" bbl. Price for the standard blued version is around $100 after factory rebate. They also make a stainess version. Both have a black plastic stock.

Remington 587 is a box mag 10 shot. Weight is 5.5 lbs, OAL is 40" w/20" bbl. Plastic stock. Street price is $160-200 depending on the version.

Don't know much about the others listed. I've had 10/22s for years and you can't go wrong with one. My model 60 doesn't get shot much since it is tube fed. I've had my 795 for about 4 months and I think it is probably the best bang for the buck going right now. Lots of fun to shoot and play around with.

[willshoum]

Whats up with people not liking tube fed rifles...... Hell, if you were on life support you would be Tube Fed......

[big shrek]

Originally Posted by willshoum

Whats up with people not liking tube fed rifles...... Hell, if you were on life support you would be Tube Fed......

Most folks don't have or don't know how to properly use tube speed loaders, like the Spee-D-Loader.

I made my speed loaders out of old aluminium arrows at first...then after seeing a guy at the range with a Spee-D, ended up buying one...
altho the cool factor with the arrow speed loaders makes me drag 'em out occasionally

You grip the rifle in one hand & whip out the inner mag tube and hold it under your arm or between yer knees, back pocket...
whatever is most comfy for you...
Then you put the Spee-D-Loader up to the mouth of the mag and dump a load of 18 rounds (or whatever yer 60 is) into it...
then you replace the mag tube. Its THAT fast.

Heck, most folks fumble more with box mags...lol

The Spee-D-Loader runs about $25, and holds 8 chambers of 19 rounds each,
or you can get smaller sizes...8 chambers of 15-rounds for the New 60's...

Once you've practiced with it a bit, you get ugly fast
Enough to beat a lot of folks at an Appleseed!!