.22lr Rifle Advice

[Space Monkey]

Okay so the warm season has finally arrived, at my local shooting range during winter months they only keep the indoor pistol area open, but now tha the summer is finally here they opened the outdoor 50 metres rifle range.

Due to noise complaints by neighbours they only allow 22lr rifles and carbines chambered in pistol calibers.

Now I've been wanting a rifle for quite a while, the only .22s I've tried were a Marlin 60 and a Ruger 10/22, both had a plastic stock and felt cheap in the hands, they shot fine but didn't feel that great.

Also a lot of people have told me that it's best to start with a bolt-action so to learn the proper way to shoot a rifle.

I'm not so sure I want a bolt-action though, I really like the Henry Golden Boy which is a lever action rifle, also over here there was a firearm company named "Jager" that used to make AR 15, AK and Galil clones in .22 back in the seventies and there's still lots of them going around for relatively cheap.

So basically what I'm asking is, would you buy a lever action rifle in .22 or should I just wait and get one in a bigger caliber? Also would you get something like an AR clone in .22 just for plinking?

Or should I listen to the older guys at the range and just go for a boring bolt-action, which might be less exciting but will allow me to learn the proper basics of rifle shooting?

Opinions please...

BTW that's the Jager I was talking about:

http://www.frontlinearmory.com/forsale/jager/jager1.jpg

[DJ Meaty Cheeks]

I'd stay away from the Marlin, heard too many bad things about them.

[Space Monkey]

I'd stay away from the Marlin, heard too many bad things about them.

Yeah I know the one I tried wasn't that good, I mean it shot okay but it felt low quality and cheap.

[reggie_love]

I can't speak to their semi-autos, but Marlin knows their lever actions. I have my dad's old 39D and it shoots really well. The only problem is a lever action .22 always seems... toylike, or something to me. They always make them so small and cowboy-like that I feel like I'm shooting bottles at a county fair.

If you want a bolt-action check out CZ's line of .22 rifles. They're pretty badass.

Honestly though, just go with what you want. Gun people are all kind of biased as to what they think you should get, it's really up to what feels best to you.

[Groundhog whacka]

There are a pile or 22LR guns out there to choose from. It just depends what you really want. Many manufacturers make a dedicated 22LR AR-15 upper. I have a V-22 made by CZ but the price went through the roof on those.
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b50/Groundhogwhacka/0105091210.jpg
Plus paying almost $1000 for a 22LR seems kind of silly. I already had an AR so I could justify the expense. Plus when I bought it(the upper) I had $275 in the upper and two extra mags.

I think a lever 22 would be a fun plinker but I don't like the idea enough that I have bought one yet. My next 22 rifle purchase would be a 10/22 that would decked out target(not tacticool) style, or a CZ bolt gun.

Personally I have never had a problem with Marlin 22's. My dad has two that shoot great and are reliable. Marlin's bolt rimfires shoot pretty damn well too.

Just do your homework and try to fondle as many as you can to see what feels right to you.

[blue_monday]

a 10/22 or a marlin would be my recommendations. For plinking i like the 10/22 cause it's easier to change a mag than reload a tube, but for hunting i like the marlin. I'm a big fan of the micro-groove barrels.

[Space Monkey]

Thanks for the advice guys, I don't really know yet I'll keep on looking.

[JustAnotherAsshole]

When in doubt about .22s, go with the Ruger.

http://www.impactguns.com/store/media/ruger/ruger_1022rb.jpg

[Fattydeersteak]

The Ruger 10/22 may feel cheap, but it is a fantastic rifle that you cannot go wrong with. One added plus, is that there are so many modifications for it. Scopes, 30 round magazines, the list goes on.

If you like lever actions, my father has a Browning BL-22 that I would recommend to anyone.