.22 rifle for hunting

[vtunderground]

I'll be bringing in a little bit of extra income this month, and kinda got the idea in my head that I could use a new .22 rifle. I really don't have anything in particular in mind... I do know that I'd be happy with either a semi-auto or a bolt action, with a removable mag (I don't like tubular magazines), and it needs to be accurate enough to take head shots on squirrels. I don't mind doing a little trigger work, but I'm not interested in having to swap in a new barrel & a dozen other aftermarket parts just to get any kind of accuracy. I guess I'm really just looking for something well-made, reliable, and accurate right out of the box.

Any suggestions (preferebly based on first-hand experience)?

 

[drizzle]

Well, I'm happy with my Ruger 10/22 with a modest scope. I bought it used that way and all I shoot is paper but it makes very nice groups.

Added:BTW, if you do get a 10/22, don't waste your time and money on the banana mags. You can carry a lot of standard 10 round rotary mags in a large jacket pocket and they are much more reliable than the aftermarket bananas.

 

[gorn]

I own a bunch of .22 rifles. My favorite is the 10-22 for all around fun. For Ruger quality and better accuracy you may want the bolt action version, the 77-22. I love mine and headshots on squirels aka VC (Varmit Cong) is not a problem.

 

[springnr]

CZ452

 

[270winchester]

I have a Marlin 795, 120 bucks from Big 5. It's very accurate out of the box(more so than all the 10/22 I have had, 1 inch or so at 50 yards).

The Ruger 10/22s can be great guns when properly tuned but I have lost my interest in them

the Savage bolt 22s are great also with its accu-trig. I used one for a while and it was uber accurate, they run about 180-200 dollars.

I don't buy Rugers anymore because of Bill Ruger's beliefs that civilians should not own magazines with more than 10 round magazines and his effort to advocate gun control to please the LEO community.

 

[cy]

Please consider a nice adult air rifle like a Beeman R9 or R1.

no problems taking out squirels, rabbits, starlings, rats, etc out to 35-50 yards depending on how much you practice.

main difference is you get to shoot an air rifle a lot more often without fear of over-penatration. we all could use more practice. shooting skills picked up with air rifles transfers across to firearms.

started shooting air rifles seriously to gain skills for deer hunting. my favorite deer hunting rig is a custom Weatherby .270 with a Unertl scope.

I've fired off 3,000+ pellets in the last 30 days...

really have gotten into off-hand or unsupported shooting. here's a 10 shot group with custom stocked Beeman R1 .22 at 20 yards. target is 2in dia.

 

[Grubbster]

Thompson Center Classic. . No need for modifications. Nice from the box.

 

[imfrogman]

Forget a .22 & go with a .17 hmr. Will knock the socks off a .22 & has range well over 100 yds. I have a Winchester 94-17 & an Old HEnry, both lever actions & can easily hit turtles & squirrels at 100tds with iron sights. Winchester might be a little hard to find these days & poeple want too much for them thinking they will be collector items, but the Old Henrys are readily available. I have 4 different .22's, and a .22 mag, I haven't shot any of them since I got the .17's

 

[Sharpdogs]

The CZ452 seems to get rave reviews. I had two Ruger 10/22s and wound up selling one. They are great to customize but I hate that the slide does not stay open on the last shot. Take a look at the lever action Marlin 39A. It's a blast to shoot and a classic.

 

[cy]

unless you live in an isolated area. I'd be worried about shooting a 2,500 fps round pointed in the air. no question, it'd be plenty accurate.

for most, over-penatration can be major concern when shooting upwards. that's when magmum air rifles have a solid advantage.

Forget a .22 & go with a .17 hmr. Will knock the socks off a .22 & has range well over 100 yds. I have a Winchester 94-17 & an Old HEnry, both lever actions & can easily hit turtles & squirrels at 100tds with iron sights. Winchester might be a little hard to find these days & poeple want too much for them thinking they will be collector items, but the Old Henrys are readily available. I have 4 different .22's, and a .22 mag, I haven't shot any of them since I got the .17's

 

[leukos]

unless you live in an isolated area. I'd be worried about shooting a 2,500 fps round pointed in the air. no question, it'd be plenty accurate.

for most, over-penatration can be major concern when shooting upwards. that's when magmum air rifles have a solid advantage.

For safety reasons, I still think a shotgun is a better hunting choice for any shooting upwards. I limit my use of a .22 to rabbits, rodents, and varmits in soft soil. Rifles just have too far of a range for shooting up into trees.

 

[Illum]

depending on what you plan to shoot, anything higher than varmits and ducks....a .22 is a pretty light gun to hunt with..

 

[powernoodle]

For plenty of good reading on .22's see www.rimfirecentral.com .

Sad to admit, but I have a pair of 10/22s that have never been fired. Too many toys, too little time. At rimfirecentral you'll see how those folks jazz up their .22's with fancy stocks, bull barrels, new internals for smooth operation and increased accuracy, big scopes, etc. Seems like fun stuff for those who are into it. Plus, in the process you become proficient at taking small game if the need ever arises.

peace

 

[MoonRise]

Head-shots on squirrels depends a bit on the range you have in mind now, doesn't it?

IMHO, the combo of .22LR ballistics and rifle/shooter accuracy will generally limit the .22LR to 50-75 yds hunting range. Note that I'm NOT saying that you can't shoot a .22LR farther than 75 yds. Also remember that the max range of a .22LR is measured in MILES, beware of launching that projectile up into the air at an angle.

www.rimfirecentral.com :thumbsup:

Maybe you are thinking up in a different realm than a $100-$200 .22LR? How about a http://www.kimberamerica.com/rifles/kimber1722/

 

[cy]

PN, that's the problem with regular firearms. got a gun safe full of em..
it's takes a lot of time to either go out to the firing range and/or drive out to hunting grounds.

where'as adult air rifles can be safely used in your backyard and/or inside 10 meter range.

it's so bad, purchased a membership at a nice firing range last year. I've gone out a total of two trips. VS setting up my own range at home. I've shot in excess of 3,000 pellets in the last 30 days.

When you shoot a few thousand rounds, you can't help but gain skills.
needless to say, I'll be bringing home some venison this fall

 

[Macaw]

Anshutz: A true heirloom quality firearm.

 

[cy]

yep, it's hard to beat German workmanship for target rifles.

same for FWB...

here's my FWB 601 10 meter rifle. this exact model was used to win olympics a few years back.

Anshutz: A true heirloom quality firearm.

 

[tm3]

cy, i want some of your toys!

if you want to hit a squirrel in the head, you will need accurate sighting and good trigger control. good trigger and low price don't usually go together on .22 rifles. budget for a good scope and mount as part of the package. practice brings it all together into the result you want.

thumbs up to the idea of a precision air rifle like the R9, R7, R1, etc. my #1 choice. great triggers, cheap practice, lots of fun, pellets have plenty of wallop for a head shot out to 50 yards or so but lose steam quickly after that.

for a .22, lower cost i'd go with the T/C contender single shot. the trigger can be worked to be pretty darn good. i used to compete with a T/C .22 pistol with a great trigger.

for more money, thumbs up on the kimber. great rifle. beautiful stocks. almost too pretty to hunt with.

for the ultimate .22, imo, anschutz. perfect triggers out of the box.

if bringing home the bacon is more important than the challenge factor, use a shotgun.

 

[toos]

.20 cal Blue Streak Benjamin-Sheridan air rifle, great rifle for squirrels. Ruger 10/22 is a great rimfire. My favorite rimfire rifle is my single shot H&R .17 HMR rimfire. Shoots like a laser. Use the Hornady VMAX hollow point. If it hits something, it stops without going any further.

 

[powernoodle]

use a shotgun.

Thats pretty good advice, as most of God's creatures give up when they are full of buckshot. But if used on a squirrel at short range, that poor little ground rat would pretty much be vaporized with not much left for the stew pot.

peace