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

@mudgripz Let me know when you've done a review and test of the Ruger American I would be very interested in your perceptions if you get to have a look at one.

Very true Makros. The difference in a bit of hand finishing and selecting a nice stock shouldn't be much.

I'm a tight arse and like to spend the least to do the best I can. Also like the odd occasion at the range where someone comes over to see what out shot their pride and joy, and they find it was a heap of junk that looks a heap of junk. The annoying thing is I bought this as the kids gun.

It has most certainly been an interesting thread.
I may well have to look closer at rimfires, I've always been a " buy a reasonable one and use it " bloke, however even my own earlier post about the Marlin 39a made me think there is a little more to them .
Howa make one, well thats certainly a good idea.

Mak - I think you've nailed it in the comment "something that may not be perfect but adequate and well matched for what I will do with it." Some of these rifles are quite humble but by heavens they are deadly at what they do. Give some thought to a marlin 795 which with an action polish, Mcarbo spring set to lower trigger to 3.5lbs, and a Boyds stock - can become an accurate wee shooter with real charm. Scroll down this rfc thread past the Boyds evolution 60 to the 795 in Target Hunter stock in Royal Jacaranda. Not near Weihrauch quality but a little carbine with real character.

Boyds target hunter stocks for 60/795s - RimfireCentral.com Forums

Ken - usually stick to hunting rounds for sporter rifle tests, though also some basic solids eg std vel CCI and Winchester Expert black packet. Have used at times SK, Lapua, Eley Club/Match/Tenex, Fiocchi Match/Supermatch but generally find there will be a hunting round they like. Can often be high velocity. I pop good scope on the wee rifles, run them through 8-15 types of ammo, then drill into preferred ammos. Mexican yeollow packet Aguila superextra of few years ago (almost identical to Fiocchi HV blue packet) would easily pop 0.5s and 0.6s at 100m in the EM332. That was overall the most accurate sporter round but not best in all rifles.

Very accurate sub 0.5" shooters (not just one occasional group which is meaningless) at 50m include: CZ, Brno, Norincos Em332/JW27/JW15, Marlins 980/925, and Marlin semiautos 795 and 60,Weihrauch HW 60 J. Consistently most accurate at 100m = Norinco Em332; most accurate at 50m = Marlin 60DL.

Other good performers 0.5 - 0.7" : Toz 78 (fine wee rifle for kiwi conditions), Winchester 9422, Savage Mk 2, and the excellent ruger 10/22 model 96 lever action - best of the rugers and a top hunter etc etc.

Originally Posted by Makros

Certainly has made for some interesting reading and have been fervently looking around and have seen a few things on trademe etc. Re the EM332 - not at that price.
Have been swinging around to the CZ452 actually have used a Brno Mod 1 a lot and owned a Jw-15 for some time - it started to give trouble with inconsistent accuracy after about 1500 rounds went from extremely accurate to shocking and the zero moved around. Think it was the stock in the end that let it down and was the cause. Should have just relieved the barrel channel and probably would of fixed it but sold it on. Wanted a semi-auto but really I don't think I will be happy with one.
Like the Anschutz and Weihrauch but a: No shops around here have one to look and test for fit. b: for the weihrauch hog back stock should be obsolete these days with the predominance of optics. The CZ I know is a good fit/stock size, maybe get the barrel cut to 16" (what the other 6 inches are there for is anyone's guess on a .22lr).

A Model 60 DLX would be nice but a tube mag just doesn't fit my needs.

I have the cz 455 that came with the .22lr and 17hmr barrel.
I only swapped the barrels once and then sold the 17 barrel.
if the 22 wont do it i grab the 22-250.
I do like the quality of the wood and the finish of engineering but would put the lithgow above it if you dont mind the synthetic stock.
I didnt have any issues with the switch barrel system which seemed to work well but i cant be bothered re zeroing after barrel swaps.
Thats my 2 cents worth anyway!

Originally Posted by gundoc

The two most common semi-autos that gave problems were the Marlin (misfiring, loose barrel, magazine problems) and the Sterling M20 (broken firing pins, incorrect assembly, loose/missing ejectors). All .22 semi-autos need periodic cleaning to remove powder residue, and some are worse than others in this regard (the 10/22 not being one of them). The worst thing that an owner can do with a .22 semi-auto is put oil in it. This acts as a magnet for dust and firing residue. The full tune on a Ruger 10/22 (2.5 lb crisp trigger pull, refit barrel, tune for subs, supply and fit buffer pin) should not cost any more than $60 from any competent gunsmith. It was a job I happily did for $50 and made good money as it takes about 30-40 minutes, and still under 1 hour if you include a threading job.

Is this tune up a common job? I think this is what I'll do to mine even if it costs more than that.


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For the money, if you want a high grade, well finished rifle I think the Weihrauch HW 60 J is a great buy. The hog back butt stock doesn't slope down too much compared to some others with hog back butts. I have a beautiful, very accurate Brno Model 1 that I use for rabbits but I really liked the Weihrauch I saw at Reloaders a while back. I had to control my emotions, take several deep breaths and walk out of the store.

The Weihrauch HW 66 Production has the American style straight stock and you should be able to order one through the NZ distributor.
Weihrauch Sport - match and hunting

Originally Posted by anderset20

Is this tune up a common job? I think this is what I'll do to mine even if it costs more than that.


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The difficult part will be finding a gunsmith of @gundoc's abilities. Most will at most just replace barrels on a 10/22 and that is all they are interested in as far as rimfire is concerned. Gundoc still has a very enviable reputation around here. I'm still miffed at finding he had retired when I wanted some work done.

Dont get a 10/22 they said. You'll have to spend extra money on it they said

Get a marlin and buy a new stock and new spring then polish the action instead...


Haha righto

Originally Posted by Toby

Dont get a 10/22 they said. You'll have to spend extra money on it they said

Get a marlin and buy a new stock and new spring then polish the action instead...


Haha righto

Cheeky little bugger. I found that a free floppy spring and 10 minutes worked just as well.

About the only thing that I didnt like with the 10/22 was the trigger. My marlin has a shit trigger so does the other marlin oh and the magtec and both winchesters feel like shit as well. Shit triggers all round

Never stopped me killing whatever I pointed them at. Said it before and I'll say it again you dont need holes touching in paper to kill shit. Its literally that simple.


Bit off topic sorry. I'll let you get back to finding a nice .22 now

Originally Posted by Toby

Dont get a 10/22 they said. You'll have to spend extra money on it they said

Get a marlin and buy a new stock and new spring then polish the action instead...


Haha righto

Actually lol'd!

I have a 795 and love it, expect nothing fancy from it bar good groups and doesn't fail me, after I fixed MY fuck up of bending the ejector she cycles mint. Just brought a sako quad so will have a mint bolt action to compare it to, my jw15 is a laser beam,

wise man once said "to each his own".

Perhaps I should clarify - you can pop new stock on them and do some polishing with your wee marlin if you choose. The difference is that you don't have to - they shoot very well out of the box.

The main disadvantage with semi autos are their triggers and that's why I'll take a bolt action any day over a semi. The two stage trigger on my old Brno Model 1 is set to about 1lb and it makes it much easier for head shots. The trigger on my Brno 581 auto is crap in comparison and that's why I seldom use it for rabbit shooting. Sure, you can buy a $400 plus Timney trigger for your 10/22 but what I've seen most owners of those rifles don't want to do that.

Originally Posted by gadgetman

The difficult part will be finding a gunsmith of @gundoc's abilities. Most will at most just replace barrels on a 10/22 and that is all they are interested in as far as rimfire is concerned. Gundoc still has a very enviable reputation around here. I'm still miffed at finding he had retired when I wanted some work done.

I still keep my hand in for selected jobs/customers provided you are not in too much of a hurry (yeah, yeah! I can hear you saying 'So what's new?'). PM me if you have a need.