Any ideas for a new .22 rimfire?

I picked up a Mossberg 702 Plinkster at Walmart for $107.00 the other day. I put a 4x32 scope on it and the UGT tactical bipod. I am thinking about changing the scope to 3-9x32 for increased clarity. This is a fine shooter with Federal: 22lr, 36 grain, copper plated HP, 1260/125 #1GT749. Could not ask for anything more reliable.

 

Marlin, Savage and Ruger all make very affordable 22 rifles that would suit your needs perfectly. i think you are on the right track with the option of a 22 for range target practice, as you can buy a bulk box of 500 or more for usually less than $20. you a few friends could shoot for quit a while on that.

my 22 rifle is an older Marlin M60 semi auto with a tube magazine. i bought mine used for about $70 and refinished it and put a 3-9x40 Simmons scope on it i already had. the only thing i bought for it were some scope rings, sandpaper, and swivel studs. i still have less than $100 in the rifle and it shoots great. it's hard to wear out a rimfire, so another alternative is to look for a good used one at the gun stores or pawnshops. sometimes they can be bought for real cheap.

 

Marlin and Savage are more accurate out of the box. Marlin makes a tube fed gun that would be perfect for you, from the sounds of it.

 

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/index.php/cPath/36_323/Marlin/
This will give you an idea of what is out there and some real world prices.

 

I know you said bolt gun but this Marlin is tough to beat!

Marlin 22LR AUTO TUBE $160 delivered

 

I know you stated you want a tube fed bolt action 22, but I do believe the auto Ruger 10/22 magazines fit flush with the bottom of the rifle. They are VERY popular, come in half a dozen flavors, and are very modifiable.

What do you mean by ‘accurate’? Do you want to hit a bouncing tin can over and over or do you want to put ten rounds through one hole? I don’t think you’re going to find ‘accurate’ and inexpensive in the same firearm, I know, I looked.

I ended up with a bolt action Savage Mk II as the best straight out of the box bang for the buck accuracy, but it has a magazine that interferes with my support hand. I haven’t figured out the best way to hold it yet. I think more money gets you better rifles, but with diminishing returns.

What kind of shooting do you want to do? How far is your range?

 

This is a link to the Marlin rifle below: http://www.marlinfirearms.com/Firearms/xt/XT22.asp

"This is the new line of 22 caliber rimfire rifles from Marlin. Perfect for target practice and small game, these bolt-action 22s are reliable, accurate and fun to shoot. They come in several different models, with 4 or 7-shot clip magazines or 12-shot tube magazines; synthetic, hardwood or laminated stocks; ramp sights, hood sights or fiber-optic sights. All of them have Marlin innovations such as the Pro-Fire® Adjustable Trigger and Micro-Groove® rifling. The XT-22 series comes chambered in 22 Short, 22 Long, 22 Long Rifle or 22 Winchester Magnum Rifle (WMR)."

 

the M60 because of the Marlin Micro Grooved barrel is pretty dang accurate. normaly i would say a bolt action rifle is a little more accurate than a semi auto, but in most 22 rifles, unless you want to step up to match grade ammo, i don't think you will see that big a difference. accuracy has a price. if you had an unlimited budget and wanted to put all the shots into one hole at 100 yards, then you buy an expensive target rifle and match grade ammo and go practicing. price wise for what you want, the Marlin, the Savage or even the Ruger should fit your needs.

 

I think on an auto, some of a round's energy gets 'siphoned off' operating the action. On a bolt, it all goes to pushing the bullet. I'm not sure how much this affects the accuracy of the bullet or if an auto has a diminished recoil (not that there's much recoil to speak of on a .22lr). Heck, I'm not sure about any of the above at all. I'm just guessing here.

 

Tube fed and bolt action... I'm not familiar with such.

However, you can get tube fed and lever action.

http://www.marlinfirearms.com/Firearms/22Rifle/Golden39A.asp

 

Marlin's newer XT22 series has either a box magazine or tube magazine option on their bolt action rimfires.

 

Cool. Hadn't noticed those before.

 

they also come in 22WMR, tube or box magazine. i have my eye on a 22WMR with the box magazine and heavy barrel right now! i have a spot that has been missing it's 22 magnum for way too long! stainless steel with a MSRP of $326. comes in a synthetic stock, but a Boyd's laminated stock in nutmeg would look really good.

 

22 win mag. I don't have one of those yet. Hmmmm.

 

Scott, the price isn't bad. the one i want has a MSRP of $326, so i figure i can probably get it from my LGS for less than $300. even with tax, a new stock from Boyd's and a scope and rings, i should come out for less than $500 for all of it.