Thread: .22lr budget - will I regret buying cheap?

So I'm looking for a simple .22lr 2nd hand rifle with a scope on it. I'm buying one so I can get more accurate without spending a bunch on .223 ammo.

I made the mistake of blasting through three boxes of ammo thinking it'd be cheaper to just have one rifle and practice with that. Turns out I'm not that good a shot and this quickly made zero sense financially....

I've got $350 earmarked and have found a few suitable 2nd hand .22lrs at Guncity. One is a JW15 and has a VX1 Leupold scope on it, which appeals to me.

If I'm only shooting out to 50m for target practice, don't intend to go bunny busting, and want something that'll make me shoot better is this a good option? Or am I going to regret not waiting longer, saving more, and getting something better quality?

I don't want to buy a dud rifle and then never get better because I can't tell if it's shooting poorly or me.

Generally jws are ok but theres always the gamble youll get the lemon. Ive had one of each.

Whilst you can shoot small groups with inexpensive rifles and optics, IMO it's a roll of the dice buying a JW15. Most of the older ones are decent enough. Some of the newer ones are rather poor.

I don't know that you'll find a significantly better package for $350. Not from GC anyway. Someone one here might have something else 2nd, 3rd, or 10th hand.

If you were to handle an Annie, CZ457, Bergara, or a Tikka, or look through any nicer scopes, you'd realise what you were missing out on straight away. So maybe don't do that to yourself.

Only thing I'd suggest is to try and get yourself a scope with adjustable parallax. A lot of cheapies are fixed at ~100yd and it becomes very noticeable the further inside of that you're shooting.

If you want to practice shooting with a 22lr you need to get one that is accurate.

Whats the point otherwise? youll always produce shit groups and never know if its you or the rifle (probably both). And will not see if you are improving.

https://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co....%24490-109859/

Or you could get a good on right here on the forum @pickled_puck ...

yes you will regret buying cheap Gillies suggestion a good one wait keep saving and before ya know it the right one will come up

Vx1 is worth more than $200 second hand so go for it and see how you get on.worst case scenario,resell rifle n keep scope. As much as I dislike gun shitty I would but that....but do due diligence on scope n rifle first.

The can't tell if it's rifle or you is easy fix. Get known good shot to try it.

Depends what you consider cheap

That 452 that's on here would be a good buy. JW15s are ok but if you want a nice trigger you'll have to tune it.

Originally Posted by pickled_puck

So I'm looking for a simple .22lr 2nd hand rifle with a scope on it. I'm buying one so I can get more accurate without spending a bunch on .223 ammo.

I made the mistake of blasting through three boxes of ammo thinking it'd be cheaper to just have one rifle and practice with that. Turns out I'm not that good a shot and this quickly made zero sense financially....

I've got $350 earmarked and have found a few suitable 2nd hand .22lrs at Guncity. One is a JW15 and has a VX1 Leupold scope on it, which appeals to me.

If I'm only shooting out to 50m for target practice, don't intend to go bunny busting, and want something that'll make me shoot better is this a good option? Or am I going to regret not waiting longer, saving more, and getting something better quality?

I don't want to buy a dud rifle and then never get better because I can't tell if it's shooting poorly or me.

GC state that their second hand firearms have a 6 month warranty. Should be enough time to tell.

Originally Posted by Gillie

https://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co....%24490-109859/

Or you could get a good on right here on the forum @pickled_puck ...

Thanks for putting me onto this Gillie.
Messaged him now, looks right up my alley.

Yep see you've been headed in right direction. Was going to add in similar vein, that you are better off with something like these.


https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/marketpl...ing/5129051662

Which it turns out is the same rifle.

That or a Stirling 14p
https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/marketpl...ing/5122304318

Originally Posted by pickled_puck

So I'm looking for a simple .22lr 2nd hand rifle with a scope on it. I'm buying one so I can get more accurate without spending a bunch on .223 ammo.

I made the mistake of blasting through three boxes of ammo thinking it'd be cheaper to just have one rifle and practice with that. Turns out I'm not that good a shot and this quickly made zero sense financially....

I've got $350 earmarked and have found a few suitable 2nd hand .22lrs at Guncity. One is a JW15 and has a VX1 Leupold scope on it, which appeals to me.

If I'm only shooting out to 50m for target practice, don't intend to go bunny busting, and want something that'll make me shoot better is this a good option? Or am I going to regret not waiting longer, saving more, and getting something better quality?

I don't want to buy a dud rifle and then never get better because I can't tell if it's shooting poorly or me.

If I could do it again, I would have waited to save a bit more.
I started with only plinking in mind, and now the bug has bitten, I’m paying more to upgrade now.

You're on the right track, a good .22LR is a hell of a practice tool and will improve your shooting with your CF significantly if you use it regularly from both bench and field shooting positions. . However you want an accurate .22LR that enables accurate shooting so you can tell where the error is coming from and if you are progressing. Ideally you want a bolt action that operates well, flawless feeding, and extraction. A clean crisp trigger without creep, ability to mount a scope low and secure. Accuracy potential of ~12 mm at 50 meters with good std velocity (target) ammunition or hollow point subs.

While we all want cheap, it's often to look at this in terms of the bigger picture of what you need and getting the best value. I'd look at Anschutz, CZ, Brno, Tikka T1 (particularly if your CF is a T3), possibly Savage or Marlin if you can get a decent trigger and also consider some of the older European e.g. Voere, Krico and or US/Aust made rifles such as Winchester, Sportco and Remington. Do a little research, ask questions. Lots of RF shooters are on this forum. I've also seen Stirling's shoot very well, but many have been trashed...

10/22 older version with alloy trigger guard etc. gat a trigger job done on it. 2 turns off the return spring if you want to shoot subs.
problem solved