Thread: A bit of .22 advice

Hi guys, looking for some advice on a new .22. I've currently got a 10/22 that I've spent a fair bit on over the years and really like the rifle, but it's of course a semi, and I only hunt with bolt rifles. I'll likely look to trade it once I settle on another option. Seems like the better option is to switch to a bolt .22 just for practice purposes if anything else. I've read a few reviews of some of the bolt .22's out there but pretty open to options. Currently looking at some of the CZ and Anschutz on TM because I want something with a hunting rifle "feel" to it. Are there any other good options out there to look at?

Primary concerns are: hunting rifle "feel", rabbit capable to 100m, must be bolt action, must be able to accept modern optics. I'm a heckler for quality and open to synthetic options but like a crisp trigger and anything that rattles is a no go.

Stick with your options listed above, wont go wrong with either.

Cheers dogmatix. Any thoughts on a year or date range to look for? Are the older rifles as good as the newer models?

My vote would be for a good Brno / CZ either model 2 or 2e American - don't bother with the 455 most people have to mod them to get them shoot as well as the earlier ones listed. A good one will be around 800 ish. Don't bother with the switch barrel ones I think they are still to be time proven.

Being second hand don't be scared to ask for a shoot to check performance like all second hand rifles there's lemons out there! But equally there's some absolute steals.

If you're going to get a anshutz get a model 51 action repeater ( or single shot if you're that way inclined) they're pricey for a good one. Again shoot first if possible there's some decidedly citrus flavoured ones out there that have had plenty of owners! If you're a lefty like me a 1416 is around 1250 for a couple good ones I've been offered but there's no real difference with the later action between it and a good CZ in my opinion.

Cz is my vote (for a new rifle) never really liked anschutz sporters unless they have the match action i find the standard sporter action quite clunky
Cant to wrong with brno model 2 or 1 model 1 is the more desirable out of the two

Remember cz isn't brno and id go for an older original brno over a cz

Few more to consider - Weihrauch HW 60 J in 22LR - delightful rifle. Also if it ever appears Norinco Em332 - nice match action and super accurate at 100m. And one or two of the Remingtons - 541 and 581 - excellent 22s. Accuracy of some basic anschutz models good but not outstanding. CZ and Brno fine rifles.

I'm the opposite of carpet diem, love my cz455 22lr subsonics out to 50m couple of screws and swap the barrel to a 17her dealing to bunnies at 150m

Originally Posted by 223nut

I'm the opposite of carpet diem, love my cz455 22lr subsonics out to 50m couple of screws and swap the barrel to a 17her dealing to bunnies at 150m

Doesn't that entail adjusting the sights as well? A friend has a sako quad, beautiful to shoot and accurate but keeps the 22 and 17 barrels in the closet and it wears the 22 mag full time because he got sick of forgetting to adjust re adjust the scope.

Originally Posted by Marty Henry

Doesn't that entail adjusting the sights as well? A friend has a sako quad, beautiful to shoot and accurate but keeps the 22 and 17 barrels in the closet and it wears the 22 mag full time because he got sick of forgetting to adjust re adjust the scope.

Is does involve adjusting scope but once you learn the different points of impact it's easy enough to sort out and fire a couple of shots to confirm. Rimfire ammo is always cheap, even more when the 308 is $70 a box of 20

Originally Posted by Marty Henry

Doesn't that entail adjusting the sights as well? A friend has a sako quad, beautiful to shoot and accurate but keeps the 22 and 17 barrels in the closet and it wears the 22 mag full time because he got sick of forgetting to adjust re adjust the scope.

what I would probably do is hit the range with all barrels and work out exactly how much and where to adjust for each barrel
once that's done you could change barrels and adjust scope as part of the barrel change process without firing a shot

99% of my shooting is done with a semi, nothing better for bunnies as usually when one keels over another one pops its head up

Im also looking at changing my 10/22 for a cz452. Its going to cost around 600 to do the swap over. I have a vx1 on the ruger which i plan to swap to the CZ,once i get the funds.

I'm a fan of the old Brno's. They're beautifully made. My 1950 Model 1 with Eley standard will group into .25" for five shots at 50m. With CCI hunting subs it'll do around .5" at the same range. Of my two 1957 Model 2's one will match the Model 1 and the other very slightly larger (5/8") groups. My 1959 Brno 581 Auto will do around .6" with Mini-Mags however the trigger, like most semi auto's, is not the best and that's after extensive trigger work. That's the downside of a semi, the all day heavy triggers.

The Weihrauch HW 60 J .22LR mentioned by mudgripz is an extremely well made rifle and I've never seen or heard of one that wasn't very accurate. The only thing that has stopped me from buying one is the large size and weight and the beautiful wood which most of them seem to have. I'd somehow damage the woodwork while hunting and that would be upsetting. Still, if you want a full size rifle that more or less duplicates a centrefire then the Weihrauch would be hard to beat.

ive got an annie it will out shoot me easily one you dont hear much about is the zastava also known as a winchester wild cat and remington rebadge it as well i had one that was a nice rifle with quality feel to it as well and shot well to

Originally Posted by northdude

ive got an annie it will out shoot me easily one you dont hear much about is the zastava also known as a winchester wild cat and remington rebadge it as well i had one that was a nice rifle with quality feel to it as well and shot well to

Yes there is Zastava and they make rather good 22s, but the Winchester wildcat is not a Zastava. The Winchester WildcatI is actually a Toz 78. Winchester did not even bother to get them without Toz stamped in the receiver. They just had their name stamped on the other side by Toz. I would have mentioned Toz earlier but we have sold out of the bolt action for now, and the 78 does not come up very much on trade me second hand . The Toz 17s do but they are circa mid 70s and not really what the OP wants. (Unless he is looking for an accurate 22 that he cannot get magazines for...)
I have a Toz 78 myself and they are very accurate. If one is available then it it well worth looking at. It will be sometime before we get more in but it will happen.