Thread: .22lr rifles when did it become ok that they were all just crap?

Originally Posted by Makros

Been looking for a new .22lr preferably a semi.
Happy to pay a bit of coin but not extreme amounts.

But when did it become ok that all of the general models on the market were just rubbish?
Ruger 10/22 - Rubbish trigger as per normal, sloppy fit and finish. Shouldn't be as expensive as they are if you want something more than plastic blue.
CZ 512 - Absolutely horrible and worse than the 10/22 foreend rattled when shook creepy heavy trigger (the 10/22 was better) an that magazine is awful. WTF CZ! Absolutely huge disappointment for a ~$800 .22lr (and i''d be happy paying more for a .22lr).
Marlin's all look, feel and function like cheap rubbish, I know their reputation for accuracy but I don't care - another pile of crap.
CZ's bolt actions don't deserve the praise they get fit and finish is average, wood is crap quality and are over priced in my opinion for what they are.
Other bolt actions are barely worth mentioning, savage may as well use sand for lubricant feels the same, ditto marlin bolts.

I am not prepared to pay the asking price for what amounts to rubbish standards and quality just because the rifles are .22lr and not a centerfire.

The worse thing is I was hopeful reading reviews online about several models and the reviewers say they are good, I say the are dropping their standards to accept rubbish because it is a rimfire and not a centerfire. I use my .22lr more than any other rifle, I expect the same performance, finish, and standard of fit that I expect out of my centerfires.

Are there options for someone that actually gives a shit about .22lr quality? Most of all I want value for my dollar which I don't see in the $1200+ .22lr bolt actions and certainly not for the absolute crap below that price point. I liked the feel of the Sako Finnfire but seriously it is not a $1800 rifle, upgrade an average action with a nice stock and better finish doesn't amount to charging twice as much as your competition.
Maybe I am picky but you should be I think.

If you want centrefire quality then pay centrefire prices. It seems clear that you value looks and finish over function.

I have a SS marlin 795 and it functions flawlessly and is more accurate than I can shoot. I couldn't care less what the finish is like when it performs the way it does, and the finish isn't terrible. It certainly isn't "rubbish" or a "pile of crap" as you call it, I've owned a few now and all functioned flawlessly so i'm guessing by your comment that you've never seriously used one.
I also have a Norinco EM332 and it functions flawlessly.

One good bolt and one good semi, I spent as much money as I needed to to get good accurate .22s, any more money spent would've been wasted. I think the my pair of .22s owes me less than $700.

If i was going to drop some serious coin on a .22 i think id go for a nea ar15 dedicated .22lr but in saying that my 70 s 10/22 still does me well

Here you go problem solved

https://touch.trademe.co.nz/listing/view/832449675

iv also had a zastava cz99 easily the best 22 ive owned that was brand new all my one needed was a trigger smooth and find what ammo it liked and that was it

the stats I saw were 10/22 over 5million sold and model 60 over 11 million sold

Most people look down on the 22lr , and as such MOST are willing to pay very little for one , so thats mainly why they are cheap and not well designed or made .

I would look out for a very good 2nd hand rifle , like the Annie 54 or a Sako P94S Finnfire , at approx 1.5k , new your only option is a new Annie 54 from deadeye dicks for just over 2k , and thats good when they use to be 3k .

The Volqs are OK , again look for a 2nd hand one , and go for the Steel actioned one ie SS and not Aluminium .

Or the Weiranchs at 1.3k new .

Me , I have a soft spot for Annie 54s and P94S , of the 2 , the Sako is a little lighter , for hunting with , and barrel changes are easier , basically a allen key & a headspace guage .

Cheers Chris

My 2c worth is if you are hell bent on a semi - then buy a cheap Ruger 10/22 and then add the aftermarket replacement part as required (the Tony Kidd stuff) to bring it up to the top standard - This is what the guys use for inter-club but its not cheap. An entire Kidd would be somewhere around 1600 - 2k I'm thinking from when I enquired 6 months ago. The best thing about this is you could just swap the receiver and trigger if you are happy with the barrel and stock it comes with... or replace as you have funds or parts are available... becomes a pretty good project gun as you can add on the mods as required.

Here's the details for Darin from the Tony Kidd site.
International Sales

Other than that your best opportunity for good 22lr is a bolt action. CZ probably pound for pound the best with a trigger job/ replacement made then Anshutz 64 action models than top of the heap a 54 action. (depending on its history etc) being a lefty the CZ was the choice for me.

You guys just don't get it! The Ruger 10/22 does NOT need any aftermarket parts to make it a 100% reliable and accurate rifle. It just needs lees than 1 hours work on the factory parts to get the job done. The 10/22 after-market parts are for people with more money than brains! I was one of the first professional shooters in NZ to use the 10/22 (1966) and I have been tuning them since then. I have fitted new factory barrels to 10/22's that have done in excess of 100,000 rounds and they are still giving good service with professional shooters. Maybe I should offer pre-tuned new wood/blue 10/22's to the NZ market (with 50 metre test targets) for $500 and make a killing!

Originally Posted by gundoc

Maybe I should offer pre-tuned new wood/blue 10/22's to the NZ market (with 50 metre test targets) for $500 and make a killing!

You know, thats actually not a bad idea!

Originally Posted by gundoc

You guys just don't get it! The Ruger 10/22 does NOT need any aftermarket parts to make it a 100% reliable and accurate rifle. It just needs lees than 1 hours work on the factory parts to get the job done. The 10/22 after-market parts are for people with more money than brains! I was one of the first professional shooters in NZ to use the 10/22 (1966) and I have been tuning them since then. I have fitted new factory barrels to 10/22's that have done in excess of 100,000 rounds and they are still giving good service with professional shooters. Maybe I should offer pre-tuned new wood/blue 10/22's to the NZ market (with 50 metre test targets) for $500 and make a killing!

People 'learning' all they know from the internet and confusing that with first hand experience is the problem here I think @gundoc ...

Originally Posted by Shamus

People 'learning' all they know from the internet and confusing that with first hand experience is the problem here I think @gundoc ...

There is nothing wrong with doing a bit of homework on the internet. You can tap into the knowledge of many thousands of people world wide. That is what this site is about; more than one opinion. I researched world wide on the internet and found that people that own both Ruger and Marlin semis would generally take the Marlin for a hunt as it was more far more accurate and reliable out of the box and with 10 minutes work the trigger could me made much better. They kept the Ruger for plinking and blinging.

There is a very good reason the Marlin has out sold the Ruger world wide, it is really just in NZ that the Ruger has a bigger following. There is also a reason there are so few after market parts for the Marlin (doesn't need them) and so many for the Ruger (does).

Originally Posted by gundoc

You guys just don't get it! The Ruger 10/22 does NOT need any aftermarket parts to make it a 100% reliable and accurate rifle. It just needs lees than 1 hours work on the factory parts to get the job done. The 10/22 after-market parts are for people with more money than brains! I was one of the first professional shooters in NZ to use the 10/22 (1966) and I have been tuning them since then. I have fitted new factory barrels to 10/22's that have done in excess of 100,000 rounds and they are still giving good service with professional shooters. Maybe I should offer pre-tuned new wood/blue 10/22's to the NZ market (with 50 metre test targets) for $500 and make a killing!

If you could do it you would make a killing.

May be I should have bolded the most important words in my posts top line ... " AS REQUIRED

The best thing is actually, you have options e.g. trigger or trigger work to get it to exactly what you want a super light trigger well you can do that, new barrel or action you can do that- but rest assured once you start it becomes a bit of a arms race and hence I added Darins details and at the end of the day comes down to peoples preferences out there.

YES ,

I will , BUY one .

Just to add another aspect to this discussion of accuracy , and not the original topic of rimfire quality .
A number of times I've been asked to help someone at the gun club to sort out a problem .22 .
After the initial check of the basics - mounts , crown , trigger adjustment if its an option , then multiple ammo changes , the biggest hindrance to consistent accuracy is the cheap arse scopes that gunshops sell to customers with the advice that it will be fine on a .22 , but in the same breathe advise it would be no good on a Centerfire .
Parallax is a major problem with many scopes ( not just cheap ones either ) when used at .22 distances .
It can be overcome in a limited way if your aware of it and use a absolutely consistent gun hold and sight picture .
But even that can just leave you chasing your tail .
Everyone blames the rifle , but a large component of the problems can be the cheap Hong Kong Phooey Optics and Beer Can alloy mounts .

Ken