Thread: Best value bolt .22 besides Norinco....

MAB (then in Auckland) did the original shorties (mmmm spelling) I think for Sportways. As @GravelBen posted, they were barrel ported Savage Mark IIs with a full overbarrel suppressors. The porting would "strip" the velocity of HV ammo down to subs level. If you wanted to use HV ammo at its design velocity that was not an option.

thankyou for explanation guys....so guess with subsonics it would run even slower again??? my boy was loving using it and shot more than one wallaby with it if guys on centrefire werent quick enough lol.

I bought a Marlin XT 22 years ago, it was an absolute dog of a thing, really indicative of the state Marlin was in at the time. With some amature kitchen gunsmithing, to fix the ejector and tidy up the trigger, it became great.

There are stacks of random old 22's available that can be had fairly cheap and shoot really well. This thread actually reminded me of the new Toz bolt and semis that came out a decade or so ago. Was interested in trying one.

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

thankyou for explanation guys....so guess with subsonics it would run even slower again??? my boy was loving using it and shot more than one wallaby with it if guys on centrefire werent quick enough lol.

Yip they will be even slower. I had one for a while and it was fun, but I sold it and kept a regular (non-ported) suppressed Savage Mk2 so I could have the option of subsonic or supersonic for different situations.

I've used a few different 22s over the years - Savage, Marlin, CZ, Ruger, Norinco, maybe others I've forgotten. Savage have the best factory trigger of the ones I tried by a country mile, and were generally the most accurate of those particular rifles too (but of course you get variation between examples of each brand too).

Mmm.. did a range test and review on the later model Toz 78-01 bolt action few years back.

Fine little bolt for NZ conditions. Quite accurate - round 0.7" groups at 50m - cycled well, and came with four magazines for about $400 then. Later available overseas as Winchester Wildcat. Good little unit - pity its no longer available.

I don't even know if it is really a "lottery" with the JW15s. Sure some are rougher than others but with a bit of very simple fettling all of the examples I have seen have been more than adequate for the general plinking/small game that they were brought for.

Including my own which was shortened and bedded in a reshaped stock including new crown. All work done by the backyard bodger (tm)/(me).

Always going to be a better option out there if you have $.

Although sounds like you got a good deal and I hope you enjoy it.

Agreed - I think alot of bods pass a general comment after owning one JW15 example, or hearing of same. That's fair enough but not the general picture. To date we've probably done two dozen for people - chopped them to 16", recrowned them, polished action and tweaked trigger. Only takes an hour or so. All but one were very good shooters - some superb. All but one averagedwell under 1" for series of groups at 50m, most would shoot under 0.5" for 5 shot groups at best, and the best one (gadgetman's - for which he paid about $100) shoots 0.3" groups. The worst JW15 averaged a fraction over 1" - which is better than the best of 5-6 Ruger 10/22s we've had.

Keep the mags clean and lubed, trial ammos till you get one that shoots well and cycles well, and you have a deadly and effective little hunter. One of my favorites. Powerpoint and Fiocchi often good for HV. Must do another one - and keep it this time... they keep walking!!

What we've found is avoid JWs from GC - alot were very poor quality - and avoid those stamped 'Polytech'.

Mine (older Norinco) loves CCI Subs for what I need and to some degree the PowerPoint Standard Velocity.

I am led to believe that the Polytech marked ones are a newer run on worn tooling. But I am almost always wrong.

I thought my JW-15 was a dog, then I tried CCI subs through it and not bad at around 1" at 50m.

I'm not rubbishing the Norinco's, but I'm no DIY rifle handyman And knowing me; would probably balls up a re-crowning etc!

The cheapest Norinco I could find was $299 online, and $349 in-store. Then you factor in getting the $299 one couriered here ($60-ish?); and to be honest; wouldn't ask the local shop to receive a rifle I'd bought from another store.

Many of the used .22's for sale were dearer than the new Savage which I think was a bargain at $359. Every review seemed to give them high marks. If I didn't see the Savage I would have asked what was available in the buy/sell forum here.

That's a good choice. Have had several Savages - the Mark II is their basic entry level 22LR and quite a good wee shooter. Mine would pop around 0.7s at best at 50m and that's pretty good. Would sometimes not cycle on full magazine but overall a good little bunny shooter. Their dearer model rimfires are very nice...

@mudgripz There are a lot "better" .22s out there than the MkII but I just wanted a cheap plinker for rabbits and spotlighting. I hardly ever shoot a rabbit beyond about 50m as I'm usually going for headshots so as not to ruin the meat. And to be honest; I've always been a "good reliable tool" sorta person rather than someone who wants anything too flash. I'd probably cry if I had a lovely walnut stocked rimfire and scratched on a bit of number 8 wire when spotlighting! And being a clumsy bugger; it's what I'd do!

I'm happy with an entry level 22 as long as it does the job And with a busted ankle and in plaster for another 2-weeks (and the docs said no deer hunting for abut 6-months on it ) ; rabbits are going to be about it for a while!

@bumblefoot $349 for a brand new MkII is a very good deal, I sold my 12 year old MkII stainless/synth for $450 second hand a few months ago! (with a Nikko 6x36 scope on it).

I still have a MkII BTVS which is the laminate thumbhole stock model, a bit heavier but very nice handling.

@GravelBen Yeah i thought it was too good to turn down. Most of the used rifles on TM were about the same price or sometimes more than new price! Then there was the hassle of getting them here.....

Yes Bumble - my idea too - I don't go for expensive, beautifully finished 22lrs. I do have some delightful rimfires go through the closet at times but generally don't keep them as I don't want to mark them up.

That's where the good sharp little worker 22s like JWs, Marlin, Savage, Toz etc are ideal. They will do the job.. You won't lose on that deal.