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.22LR Rifle
Slow_Hand
Member Posts: 2,835
I've never owned a .22LR rifle but I shot my share of them at carnivals, feasts, fairs, etc. over the years. I'm not into hunting or competitive shooting but I do enjoy plinking out at the range. Can anyone recommend a simple, straightforward, decent quality and affordable .22LR rifle that's very easy to maintain, clean, service, load, etc.? One that doesn't balk at inexpensive ammo? I'm not into scopes, accessorizing, or customizing. Basically, I want to shoot it right out of the box, with preferrably 10 rounds - or more? - loaded in it at a time and no need for additional accessories. A smaller rifle would probably be more enjoyable to hold and shoot in a walled lane at the range and easier to store/carry for plinking purposes. Much appreciated.
Comments
I got this grooved match 69 with Lyman peep sights on auction for $275.00.
Brian
You didn't say, Semi auto, pump or bolt, so I would reccomend finding a good used model 69 Winchester. They can be found in very good condition for $250.00-$300.00. The later 69s also had grooved receivers that facilitated mounting a scope easily. They generally come equiped with a 5 shot mag, but 10 shot mags can be found. An excellent shooting classic that will hold or increase it's value.
I got this grooved match 69 with Lyman peep sights on auction for $275.00.
I would shoot it well before buying a new .22. Old is good.
Happy plinking![:)]
So forget the 10/22 that will take another $600 to get right.
Wundudnee, how come you did not tell me about that 69 Winchester?
Edit -
It holds 16 rounds of 22LR ... you can also shoot shorts and longs!
? otherwise, you'll find an excuse.
I got this Henry at Walmart for $212 out the door ... accurate and feeds everything!
Edit -
It holds 16 rounds of 22LR ... you can also shoot shorts and longs!
That Henry looks like it could have nice wood...or is that some kind of faux finish job?
Is there any advantage/disadvantage to the Marlin 60's brass tube feed versus the Ruger 10/22's magazine? Is one type of rifle better or is it a non-issue?
More people shoot themselves accidently with tube fed .22s than all others combined or "why the marlin 60 is a deathtrap"
First of all, its easy for the a round to get hung up in the tube if the spring sticks, tube gets too dirty eye. unloaded gun becomes loaded without shooter realizing it.
Second, a lot of people dont stay clear of the muzzle while they are loading the tube.
I don't do such dangerous things and I'm extra safe when handling any gun, so these things relative to a tube fed dont really bother me much. I own a marlin 60 and Mod. 39 and I shoot them safely all the time.
However I do not think i would give a tube fed rifle to a novice until I was certain they had excellent gun handling/safety skills.
I've not modified it in any other way (yet) and I'm very happy with it. It eats the cheapest .22 rimfire ammo just fine (Federal Champion High Velocity) which costs me $9.00 for 550 rounds.
The great news that I've discovered is, if you need a part, there's a jillion of them out there.
Tube fed lever guns and tube fed pump rifles have been hear for a long time ... I think they are here to stay!
Anybody else heard of this?[?][?][?][?]
I've been shooting tube fed lever guns for a l-o-n-g time, I've never heard of anyone getting shot because of a rifle being tube fed! I don't know whether to thank you for the heads up or if you are pulling my leg.
Tube fed lever guns and tube fed pump rifles have been hear for a long time ... I think they are here to stay!
Anybody else heard of this?[?][?][?][?]
That was just Hugh, he has a funny way of lubing the tubes. Don
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=49027188
[8D][8D][8D]
actually I got one of those for a lady friend of mine (mostly as a joke) but its a nice little rifle.
Marlin tube holds 14, Ruger mag holds 10.
My favorite is the Ruger, never had a bit of trouble with it shoots excellent didn't have to spend a dime as others will have you believe to make it shoot.
I have been shooting tube fed .22s since I was a beginner in the late 50's and have not yet managed to miss a cartridge or shoot myself. I must be as safe with my as my buddy Hugh is with his.
Is this REALLY a problem?
I have seen a round get stuck in the tube of a lever gun after many cycles to prove it was empty. Instead it proved there was one round left. It went through the floor. I hate when that happens.
Jeff
Jeff
Apart from excellent reliability, one advantage of the tube feed, is that you can get high capacity but yet be exempt from state "high cap" rules. (This is an issue in MA). Most "no high cap" states exempt tube fed .22s specifically, or indirectly because tube feeds are not "detachable" magazines. It doesn't apply to the Marlin 60, but in general tube feeds will let you load .22 shorts and longs in addition to LRs, and in any order and the gun will still function.
With respect to Hugh's comment about tube fed .22s causing the most self-shootings, that's probably because tube fed .22 rifles are literally the most popular guns in the USA. So OF COURSE being far and away the most popular gun in the USA, and the one being in the hands of the most inexperienced shooters, these are going to be related to the most accidents.
That's a statistical fluke not unlike saying that Budweiser beer is responsible for the most drunk-driving incidents.
If the Model 60s tube fed design were inherently dangerous that would have become apparent in the last 45 years after literally 11,000,000 Marlin 60s rolled off the assembly line!
The possibility of a round getting hung up in the tube is not fantasy however, it has happened and its something that was addressed by many gunmakers when they put a red mark on the follower so it would be easy to spot the follower and to confirm the rifle was unloaded.
As for pointing the rifle at yourself when loading it. I have no trouble staying clear of the muzzle, but I've seen a lot of people point the muzzle at themselves or put their hand over the muzzle while they are loading tube fed rifles.
There is no doubt that guns such as bolt actions and clip fed etc. do not have these exact same problems, they can all be loaded from rear while shooting prone or from a rest etc. I'm not saying the tube fed guns are unsafe, just that you have to be aware of any and all characteristics of your weapon that might prove critical in maintaining safety, espeically if you are teaching someone else.
cheap and reliable and very fun
Both also break down for easy stoage and transport. Ive owned both for a while now and dont really have anything negative to say about them.
that can be customized and further acurised in literaly thousands of configurisations.And be done very economicaly. I can think of no other rifle of any kind that could do that as well as the Ruger 10/22.
Jeff
My experience with semi-autos is with old ones that probably were worn out and/or desperately in need of major stripping and cleaning. Maybe that contributes to my enjoyment of lever guns![:D][:D]
This is such good sense, it bears repeating!
I'm not saying the tube fed guns are unsafe, just that you have to be aware of any and all characteristics of your weapon that might prove critical in maintaining safety, espeically if you are teaching someone else.