Best older 22WMR (Magnum) rifle to buy?

[ted76]

BTC had a decent Marlin lever action in 22 mag at the Dundalk show last weekend.

 

[JBinDC]

some day I would like a 22 WMR and the one I have my eye on is the Ruger 77/22.

Thanks, you are not the first to mention that one. I hear they are rare though, no?

 

[JBinDC]

I'm partial to my CZ 452 with mannlicher stock.

If I end up buying newer, I've seen how pretty some of the CZ bolt guns can be. They often have nice wood.

 

[JBinDC]

I lost my Marlin 882 22WMR in a fire this year. It was a great shooter.

I was very happy to replace it with a Mossberg 640 KD "The Chuckster" 22WMR. The only negative is trying to find original mags for it. But there is a Savage magazine that fits it.

Looks decent - mags hard to come by? Microgrooved? First gun i shot was a Marlin Model 60 and it was crazy acurate.

 

[JBinDC]

Marlin 25 series (box mag guns) or the tube fed guns. I fired a few of the 25 models and they all shot very well.

OK cool, but what's the diff between that and the other Marlin mentioned? Older? Pre-microgrooved maybe? Better wood?

 

[JBinDC]

I like that semi auto they were making in Turkey or somewhere....the really futuristic looking one. Forgetting the name now.. ETA EAA Bullpup. But not an older gun.

Henry makes a really nice 22 Magnum rifle in lever actions.

Yeah, heard more bad than good on 22WMR's in SSeA.Must be hard to tune spring rates.

Henry Frontier in 22 Mag is on radar for right price, and if I go newer.

 

[JBinDC]

IF you are ok with bolts, there are plenty to be had. The 22 Mag round has been a problem for semi auto. I forget exactly why. But very few semi autos are available for that round.

Ruger made a 10/22 for 22 mag. Good luck finding one, I hear their owners don't part with them unless they die.....

I've actually seen the infamous 10/22Mag, but I've heard same - unreliable and damned hard to find mags for.

Bolts and levers are the target for me.

 

[JBinDC]

Savage mod 24 over and under .22 mag/20 ga.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqbHuKsdndc

Now that is a neat looking combo. Wonder if you can get it in 410/22WMR. Perfect rabbit gun! Nice potential companion for my S&W Governor too.

 

[JBinDC]

Whichever Savage or Marlin you stumble accross in decent shape at acceptable price .

Here, that's likely the game plan whatever ma be suggested here. I love gun show or pawn shop deals!

 

[JBinDC]

This part got me ... :loll:

I recently got a Browning T-bolt in 22 Mag that was a lot of fun at the range, and probably shoots better than I do.

They are available in Walnut, Maple, and Synthetic stocks. Mine is Maple, and is a really light weight rifle. I have a thread on it here ...

https://www.mdshooters.com/showthread.php?t=202707

Last post has a deal that may still be in effect (I can't check from my current location).

I know you were asking for old, but the newer T-bolts, especially with wood stocks have a similar appeal to me that older rifles with wood and blued steel do. Good luck!

Wow! That might be the ticket if I go newer! Love the mag - reminds me of the Tandemcross double 10/22 magazines. That wood really sets off the contrast of the blued steel! Pretty rifle dude!

I almost jumped on a Browning BL22 at the Dundalk show, and would have if the aforementioned Henry want $200 cheaper. Browning's are nice all around and more heirloom worthy than say Marlins IMO. Thanks for info on the T-bolt. Never seen one and I do like unique guns.

 

[JBinDC]

Winchester 9422M

Havemt had a Winchester Lever yet, so ill have to add this to the list to look out for. Thanks!

 

[JBinDC]

I got a Marlin Model 783 in 22WMR tube fed and is very nice wood stock bolt action gun from a member on here. Very accurate gun and fun as hell to shoot.

Interesting- almost like a bolt version of the Model 60, yes?

 

[JBinDC]

Marlin XT22MR. I have one of these and it's accurate as hell. Sharp looking rifle with stainless barrel. I prefer the tube mag.

Nice, so is this just a stainless 783?

 

[JBinDC]

CZ452/455 bolt
CZ512 auto
Ruger 77/22 while you can still get em

Great list are the Ruger's being discontinued?

 

[Abuck]

Yes, Ac-Kro-Gruv is what they call their rifling. These are noted to be one of the most accurate 22 mag rifles ever made.

The Savage mags are a stock item at a lot of online vendors. Some need a little fitting.

I've seen several forums with Chuckster threads, here is a good one with a lot of relevant info. There are others if you search around.
http://www.thefirearmsforum.com/threads/mossberg-640k-chuckster-22-magnum.33042/

The BKL offset rings are recommended for mounting a scope, that's what I went with. They will fire with the bolt not closed all the way. The plastic doesn't like harsh solvents. Not the best of triggers, but still good enough to be a fine shooting rifle. Those are the known issues other than no more factory Mossberg mags for them. They were not a deal breaker for me, as the one I found was in great condition.

 

[JBinDC]

Shocked no one has mentioned the Remington 597 yet. I have one with a bull barrel and laminate stock and with the Hornady V-Max rounds; it's like shooting a laser beam.

Yeah, in not a big fan of laminated stocks - reliable action though, yeah?

 

[JBinDC]

I have a Ruger 77/17 with SS bull barrel and laminated stock. Great accuracy, fit and finish. I'd look for one of those.

My 9417 is a beautiful rifle. Tube fed gets old after a while.

I had a 597. One day while shooting with my son, it misfed and the round went off. It blew the magazine down with enough force to bruise my palm and blew the lever off the bolt. I'm really glad it was me shooting and not my 6 year old son. He had shot the previous magazine.

I realize the OP is about a 22 wmr. The .17 hmr is a necked down .22wmr. Very similar rifles/actions.

Yeah, I once almost popped on a Henry lever in 17HMR that was a pawn shop find - but dude was looking for retail on pricing. Those holes seem damned hard to see at 100yds when I try to glass folks shooting them at the 100yd rane at AGC. Plus I have a stockpile of 22WMR I'd like to use. If my PMR30 came in 17HMR, I would have kept it - perfect poor mans FN 5.7.

 

[JBinDC]

Not an "older" 22 WMR, but curious on any early reviews on the Savage A22 WMR?

I've been watching that one on reviews, and so far its reviews seem positive,well, so long as you use that expensive and rare A22 specific ammo. Blah to that requirement. No wood either I don't think, at least none I've seen in the flesh.

 

[JBinDC]

BTC had a decent Marlin lever action in 22 mag at the Dundalk show last weekend.

? Really? How's I miss that. Dangit. Was it an older model?

 

[balttigger]

Yeah, in not a big fan of laminated stocks - reliable action though, yeah?

Disregard. Apparently Remington no longer makes the 597 in 22 WMR.