Thread: Best .22 value for money?

The Marlin 22s of the Remington ownership era (known as Remlins) were not nearly as good eg model XT-22. They could give problems. Earlier Marlin bolts like models 25/925/880 series/980 series were better made.

Still some mags around but yes you have to wait for them. They will get harder to find.

Greetings All,
Almost any .22 RF will shoot well given decent sights and trigger. There are half a dozen here at the moment of which half are favourites. My 10-22 sporter, bought new over 50 years ago, has been shot heaps on running boar target where the 10 shot mags are really handy and still are. It has also shot rabbits, hares and one goat and currently has a cheap 2-7 scope. An old Winchester Model 69 was used for entry level target shooting with its Lyman 8 power scope until it was displaced by a Savage MkII with a heavy barrel, thumbhole stock and a Leupold VXII 4-12 AO scope. It comes down to what you are going to use it for and more inportantly what you like. More money will get you a nicer rifle but even the cheaper second hand ones will do the job.
Regards Grandpamac.

My $200 jw15 shot just as well as my Brno.

Why do you want "value for money" ?
If you've got a max budget, say what it is and work within that (accounting for some good mounts, a scope, perhaps a suppressor, sling and some cleaning equipment). If you've got a specific need like target competition, 70m head shot rabbits, shortenability for children then that will determine what you have to get.
If your budget and future use of the rifle are a bit uncertain, you've got an interesting problem, which the forum is only too happy to help you with ...

My own limited experience is that above the JW 15 the diminishing return curve flattens over a lot (like when I carelessly hammer on a 4" nail). For those who have one, the moral is: paint the magazine a bright colour so you can find it in the dark and know which is yours. Yes, everyone has one and it was their first rifle and they still use it a lot.

I would bring up the EM-332 but the dearth of magazines is a real problem.
Whatever you decide on, a fixed magazine (tube or floor plate) has some real benefits. Otherwise, affordable and readily available factory replacements or aftermarket magazines is a real plus.

Originally Posted by Bol Tackshin

I would bring up the EM-332 but the dearth of magazines is a real problem.
Whatever you decide on, a fixed magazine (tube or floor plate) has some real benefits. Otherwise, affordable and readily available factory replacements or aftermarket magazines is a real plus.

I have a mint EM with two mags I would sell. The reason I would sell it is because it accelerates subsonic ammo and turns it into supers. The chamber is standard ( I got Gunworks to gauge it) so it must be the 'gain twist' and taper in the bore.
Re loosing detachable mags, a fishing swivel clip and a cable tie on the trigger guard allows the mag to be popped out and refilled with no chance of loosing it

I dont think there is much "special" about EM322's after owing two of them - they are not a great hunting rifle with many ammo brands being difficult to chamber with heavy bolt closure due to the supposed match chamber. Both the two I've had were only medium accurate (and both were tested throughly tested with a wire range of ammos including match grade) . Either of an secondhand Annie 1415/1416 or Brno (both $600 -800) or a Lithgow LA101 ($800 -1000) will be more likey to give real accuracy, have parts available and a decent stock. Cheers

There's this, which looks pretty sweet:
https://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co....le-22-a-84969/

Originally Posted by frape787

What do you think is the best value for money for .22?

Preferably bolt action and 10 round mags.
Going after usual small game; rabbits, hares, possums.

CZ457 synthetic stock version, under 900 bucks, threaded, can buy 10shot mag, good trigger and accuracy, modernised classic design and workmanship, great brand reputation and resell value.

Had a couple of Em332s. Great wee rifle for the price then - paid $247 for first including 3-9x Huntsman. It was not the most accurate sporter 22LR for me at 50m - probably 0.35" or so best average - and its the consecutive group average that matters. But at 100m it was/is the champ. Would shoot 0.5" groups at 100 with 2-3 ammos (Aguila Superextra HV, PMC Match etc), and had best four consecutive (3 shot) groups average at 100 of 0.68" - all groups under 1". I haven't found another 22LR sporter to come close.

Reason I sold mine was it required a warmer after barrel cooled, and would commonly put that first warmer like an inch high and to left at 50m. That didn't suit my hunting accuracy needs. Still a fine wee rifle though.

Norinco JW15A is excellent value for money when it comes to accuracy. I have owned higher end 22s like CZ and Weihrauch, but did not find them to be practically more accurate than the Norinco at 4x the price.
The Norinco does have some flaws depending on your style of shooting.
- Safety is back to front like the older CZs. Extremely stiff to the point that it's almost unusable.
- My Norinco refused to take any CCI ammo. It would jam every single time. Winchester ammo on the other hand worked perfectly so I stuck to that. So you can say it's picky with ammo.
- Trigger was heavy and creepy out of the box. Although there are plenty of online tutorials to improve it. I made mine very light and crisp. When I sold it on Trademe the buyer wrote me a positive review on how nice the trigger is. So DIY can be done and you wouldn't be to worried of messing things up like with an expensive rifle.
I actually never experienced any problems with the magazine.

Because Im old school, look for a good second hand Brno. Cant go wrong, always had and always will have a reputation for accuracy and quality. Look no further

Originally Posted by Bos

Because Im old school, look for a good second hand Brno. Cant go wrong, always had and always will have a reputation for accuracy and quality. Look no further

I have one that I bought new 87-88 with a Tasco on it.
Very good to use offhand, still do muttons in the small paddocks around the yards.
Have bought an old single shot for in the yards.
I have shot this in only once check with the odd boresight but that's about it.
I have really only used Winchester Power Point or Fiocchi.
Did have a Stirling semi Model 20 before that and it was a shooter, shot countless possums and rabbits before taking kids shooting and didn't want them all excited with another up the spout.
If @Dundee have experienced the same with the bolt actions I am not surprised if as good as the semi.
A lot off us were in such a hurry to get into "big" rifles we still have the .22s we started with.
But there you have two to look at the Brno and Stirling not saying others aren't good I haven't used them.

TOZ. Cheap, accurate, light and reliable. Way better trigger than any standard 10-22. Only downsides are a heavy bolt, there seems to be a magazine availability issue and second hand price has crept up over the years.

I've only owned a .22lr Stirling 14p before I got a few more guns and rifles. But before I got mine used the old mans 5 shot brno bolt action it was bloody accurate till the sling broke while I was cycling to a hunting block in the 80s.
Grabbed my old stirling out today for a bit of a tune up.

Its only got a 4x32 nikko stirling original scope on it.
Backed the quad up and put two rounds through it before clicking a few adjustments.

Dead eye deer now.

No bag or tripod just took the three shots leaning over the front of the quad before it was bang! on!
Now the target has an eye!