Thread: Best value for money .22 on the market?

Wanting to get a .22 this weekend, just for hares and rabbits and possums. I just want something not too flash that does the job reliably and safely.
I'm looking at a norinco package for 350 (rifle, scope, suppressor, bag). I've been told these are fairly reliable and hardy but can have a sticky bolt action and trigger to start with, at least until worn in.
Also looking at the Hatsan Escort .22 package. This one sounds pretty new on the market so I can't find out much about it but the reviews that I can find are fairly mixed. 400 for the rifle, scope, suppressor and bag etc.
The Marlin XT-22MR package also looks pretty good, 500 for rifle scope and suppressor. I've been recommended marlin as a reliable gun but not sure if I want to spend that much.
Also been offered a Mossberg recall model .22 with a very sticky action for 300.

If anyone knows much about these models (good/bad experiences with them) please let me know 👍

Get a second hand Marlin

Norinco JW15s are very hit or miss (excuse the pun). They have poor quality control. Some are great and others are shit. You won't know which type you got until after you shoot it.

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Originally Posted by stretch

Norinco JW15s are very hit or miss (excuse the pun). They have poor quality control. Some are great and others are shit. You won't know which type you got until after you shoot it.

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One way of removing some of the risk is look for a wooden stocked one and make sure it is not branded "polytech". These were the worst of them. If you can find one, a JW27 was one of the better JWs around. I would not suggest the package deal. But rather get a better scope and suppressor for a few bucks more. Marlins are worth the extra coin.
@mudgripz would be the one to listen to. Him or @gadgetman

As said, Norincos can be good but variable quality and often pretty rough actions, they smooth out a bit with use. I'd probably go second hand Marlin or Savage - both accurate and reliable (Marlin probably have slightly better accuracy rep but both are good), Savage the best factory trigger you'll find in a lower priced 22.

Best value for money is easily a used CZ or Brno, whilst they aren't an Anschutz they are mighty fine rifles capable of great accuracy.
But just because they are good value, they may not be in your price range.

A friend of mine had a synthetic stock Marlin xt something in 22lr and it was not a particularly nice rifle, also have a mate with a 22 mag marlin and whilst the rifle is accurate it has a wandering zero which he can't get on top of. I think Savage rimfires have a better reputation than the equivalent Marlin.

Second hand is always a good option as it allows you a better deal or lower price to try something and if you don't like it or want to up grade you will either break even when you sell again or loose a lot less.

Originally Posted by Tommy

Get a second hand Marlin

This.

The Marlins have gone down hill a bit since Remington bought the company and shifted production to their own dodgy Remington factory. They have the usual heavy 'anti lawsuit' trigger the American companies favour, but that can be sorted with about 10 minutes and a pen spring.

I got a ruger american
synthetic, very accurate, pretty ok trigger out of the box.
Kept it over an old mk2 brno.....

Also an ISSC SPA, walther barrel, loooong pull trigger, hangs on third to last cartridge in the mag..... which reminds me, the ruger uses the same rotary mag as their semi-a .22..

Get a stirling, @Dundee has one typical farmers bike rifle but is killed a few, look at the what little pests thread.
The escort and jw are copies the brno no 2 which was probably one o the best 22 bolts on the market.
If the quality of their shotguns is anything to go by, the escort should be an outstandingly good buy.

Zastava is worth a look very underrated

Depending on how much of a hurry you are in, I have a new Norinco in the wooden stock, threaded and ready for sale. I could do the rifle bare for $250 plus freight.

I would add that regardless of hat you buy, or what your budget is, you will probably find 2nd hand deals better value. I say probably because not all will be. Some rifles are second hand because the owner is wanting exactly what you are after and cannot get it from their current rifle. As mentioned, if you can afford a second hand CZ or Brno, these are great rifles, as well as older second hand Marlins.Another one to grab if you ever find one is a EM332. Made by Norinco but is a much higher standard and quality control and very sought after.

older 10/22 (metal trigger group). get a trigger job done on it and you will have no issues. i dont like the new ones with the plastic trigger mech, i got one for my father in law and my 20 year old one outshoots it constantly

There's a fella selling a cz 22 on here. For 350 bucks. Much better than the new ones I reckon


I have a jw15. Doesn't seem very accurate my one but I am new to shooting. And I haven't experimented with different ammo. I would have personally gone for something else if I could have.

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Originally Posted by Russian 22.

There's a fella selling a cz 22 on here. For 350 bucks. Much better than the new ones I reckon

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Link?

Originally Posted by capey

Wanting to get a .22 this weekend, just for hares and rabbits and possums. I just want something not too flash that does the job reliably and safely.
I'm looking at a norinco package for 350 (rifle, scope, suppressor, bag). I've been told these are fairly reliable and hardy but can have a sticky bolt action and trigger to start with, at least until worn in.
Also looking at the Hatsan Escort .22 package. This one sounds pretty new on the market so I can't find out much about it but the reviews that I can find are fairly mixed. 400 for the rifle, scope, suppressor and bag etc.
The Marlin XT-22MR package also looks pretty good, 500 for rifle scope and suppressor. I've been recommended marlin as a reliable gun but not sure if I want to spend that much.
Also been offered a Mossberg recall model .22 with a very sticky action for 300.

If anyone knows much about these models (good/bad experiences with them) please let me know 👍

In terms of reliability and safety I think all current mainstream offerings are more than good enough. I have not heard of any modern 22 have any such issues.

Unless you live on a farm and has shooting opportunity everyday, I don't think you should buy cheap just because you only want to shoot "hares and rabbits and possums". For city dwellers, time and travel costs of small game shooting are more expensive than the gun, so it is actually a bad deal to spent very little on a gun that is not pleasant to shoot and misses often.

Mainstream offerings are pretty predictable in terms of price and performance. The more you pay the better they get. This is not to say you cannot get an accurate rifle for low cost, you can but you stand higher chance of not getting one when you pay less.

CZ 452/455 is generally considered good value because they have high level of refinement similar to higher end rifles (for example, hand lapped barrels, decent and easily/cheaply upgradable trigger) and they are reasonably OK price at around 700~800 brand new.

WEIHRAUCH HW66 is considered good value because it offers similar performance to Anschutz 17xx line but for 30% less money.

If 500 is my budget today I either would get a secondhand CZ 452 scout and a cheap 4 power scope to get started, then gradually upgrade the scope and the stock. Or find a good deal on second Ruger 10/22 and gradually upgrade the trigger.

22LR rifle I would not buy brand new: Ruger 10/22 standard, any Henry lever action, any Norince JW line, Browning, anything Russian or Filipino.