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Post by dovehunter on Oct 23, 2015 18:37:25 GMT -5
I saw a new CZ .22 rifle in the latest American Hunter magazine. It was the model 455 Thumbhole Varmint Fluted. As the name suggests, it had a laminated thumbhole stock and a fluted (heavy)20.5" batrel. I have personally always loved thumbhole stocks though I am not particularly enamored of the fluted barrels. This was a beautiful gun however and the author said it shot great with all ammunition he tested. I can believe it was a good shooter if it's anything like my CZ 452. I thought the suggested retail price of $549 was a little steep but this is obviously a nice gun and I would certainly consider it if I was in the market for a nice .22. About the only things I didn't like about was the fluted barrel, a personal affectation, and the backwards working safety. However, since I have a CZ .22 I am used to the safety. If you're in the market for a nice .22 you might consider this one.
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Post by Purebred Redneck on Oct 26, 2015 19:46:48 GMT -5
I was looking around the internets this past weekend just seeing who is making what. I came to the conclusion a good quality bolt 22 is hard to find unless you want to spend a fortune.
Savage rifles shoot good, but certainly have a cheapness to them they aren't going to fix after all these years. Marlin's name is so tarnished I'm not sure I'd go running straight to them. Ruger used to be $400 and their price has skyrocketed into crazy. Now they have the American which people are saying is pretty decent (the stock doesn't fit me). Then you have the CZ
I might be missing a few (browning Tbolt and other higher end models)
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Post by dovehunter on Oct 27, 2015 8:47:53 GMT -5
Back in the 70's Savage made a nice .22 that looked good and shot great: the m65. It has the look and feel of a big game rifle. I have the m65M which is the .22 WMR variant. It is a tack driver with which I have shot groundhogs as far away as 190 yds. believe it or not. If you can run across a clean used one you might want to consider it. I love mine.
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Post by Purebred Redneck on Oct 27, 2015 20:17:09 GMT -5
Yeah, Savage doesn't make their 22's anymore - Lakefield Arms of Canada does. I want to like the new models, but there are a few flimsy things I don't trust like the safety and magazine release.
I agree, a more vintage rifle may be the better choice
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Post by Jack on Oct 28, 2015 9:28:53 GMT -5
Back when I was in high school, I killed a couple truckloads of woodchucks with a Winchester model 69A 22 bolt action - still have it. A buddy of mine had a Browning T Bolt, and that was a beautiful rifle. I believe the current T bolt is a new design, but it looks very similar. I haven't seen the CZ's. Ruger has a bunch of 10-22 variants out now. IMO, the 10-22 is a fine rifle. Never owned or shot a 77-22, but it's a really good looking rifle. A lot of the .22's that are made for a price point, I don't care for.
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Post by dovehunter on Oct 28, 2015 9:42:09 GMT -5
I had forgotten the 10-22. They are indeed good,well-made, attractive and accurate rifles. They are probably the best value on the market now for well-made reasonably priced .22 rifle. My son has had his now for probably 25 yrs. and has never had an issue with it. There's no telling how many squirrels he's shot with it.
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Post by Purebred Redneck on Oct 28, 2015 22:11:09 GMT -5
I had forgotten the 10-22. They are indeed good,well-made, attractive and accurate rifles. They are probably the best value on the market now for well-made reasonably priced .22 rifle. My son has had his now for probably 25 yrs. and has never had an issue with it. There's no telling how many squirrels he's shot with it. This is the same argument we've been having for 15 years What I don't like about the Ruger is their price point. In the last 10 years, they have increased the price of their 10/22 rifle 50%. They upped their 77/22 line 60%. Now they have created the American which they market as a bargain when it's still considerably more expensive than their counterparts. Savage and Marlin - you are only 0-20% rise in the last 10 years. You can still get a Marlin 60 out the door at the big box sports stores and internet for $175 all day every day. That's pretty much $100 cheaper than the 10/22. Now I'll agree if triggers are important to people (which they have been lately), the Ruger is the longer term better option; though additional moneys would have to be put in for the accessories to get you there. For those who don't care about triggers, 100 bucks is a 100 bucks. A bull barrel Marlin with an adjustable trigger can be had for $240 out the door. The Ruger American, $325. I still think Marlin bolt action rimfires are still the best value of any other rimfire on the market.
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Post by dovehunter on Oct 29, 2015 9:56:00 GMT -5
Heh, I don't have anything against Marlin. My first gun was a Marlin model 989, which was the clip-fed version of the model 60 you mentioned. I got it for Christmas when I was 15 and still have and shoot it over 50 yrs. later. That's one I would never get rid of. It is certainly on par with my son's 10-22 in looks, accuracy, and handling. I personally would not have bought the model 60 because I don't like tubular magazines on anything but lever actions. I guess "discussions" over the best .22 rifles is kind of like Ford vs. Chevy, blonds vs. brunettes, etc. If I could have any .22 I wanted and price was no object I would probably choose one of the old Savage-Anshutz model 64s. They were extremely accurate, beautifully made and finished, and great handling guns. They still bring a premium price around here when one rarely hits the market.
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Post by Jack on Oct 29, 2015 15:08:12 GMT -5
I'm not one way or the other about Marlins, but, I think they still make the 39A. That is a quality rifle in every way. I'm not sure I wanna know the price of a new one these days. . .
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Post by Purebred Redneck on Oct 29, 2015 20:40:50 GMT -5
I am actually mighty tempted to sell my 60 and get a 10/22 just to upgrade the trigger. It's difficult to hit a squirrel at 50-60 yards with such a heavy trigger (which is the same problem with the factory 10/22, but it can be fixed).
That being said however, I'm not out hunting near as much as I used to so I don't even need that rifle at all now.
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Post by Jack on Oct 30, 2015 9:33:32 GMT -5
If you get a 10/22, get the sporter model - it doesn't have the barrel band that the carbine does. IMO, the barrel band is the worst feature on the basic 10-22. The barrel band doesn't help accuracy at all. Mine shot better after I relieved the barrel band around the barrel - my barrel band doesn't touch the barrel at all.
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Post by dovehunter on Oct 30, 2015 10:02:30 GMT -5
Regarding the Marlin 39A, my son inherited a Mountie from my dad. You wouldn't believe the number of offers he's had to buy it. He wouldn't sell it for anything because it was his granddad's. Of course he's like that with anything, particularly guns. The Mountie is definitely a well-made and (at least his is) accurate gun.
Regarding the 10-22 barrel band we've never noticed any problems with accuracy on my son's gun. It shoots as tight groups at 50yds. as any we have with the exception of maybe my CZ452 and my Mauser sporter. Maybe ignorance truly is bliss.
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Post by Jack on Oct 30, 2015 16:34:08 GMT -5
Dovehunter, try that 10-22 with the barrel band off sometime- might shoot even better. I inherited a 39A, too. The one I have is a rifle, not a carbine (24 inch barrel). Mine doesn't have the gold trigger the newer ones do. Dates to 1955 or '56. Very well made gun and quite accurate.
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