The .22 LR is a great starter rifle for new gun enthusiasts and is still a staple for veteran firearm aficionados.
It’s a great general-purpose rifle for pleasure shooting, hunting, and home defense.
.22 LR Ammunition is affordable and easy to find. Plus, the caliber’s small size, especially when compared to the size of a rifle, makes it manageable for even small shooters.
Because .22 rifles are so popular, every manufacturer makes at least one.
Many make several. So with the market so flooded with .22 LR rifles, how do you know which one is right for you?
That’s where this list comes in. We’ve assembled a list of .22 LR rifles that are among our favorites for a variety of shooting activities.
So if you’ve wanted to add a .22 to your gun safe, keep reading…
Best .22 LR Rifles
1. Marlin Model 60
Having been in continuous production for almost 60 years (though it’s now made by Remington) and is, according to the manufacturer, the most popular firearm of its kind in the world.
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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The Model 60 features a hardwood stock with a walnut finish, full pistol grip, and a Mar-Shield finish.
It also has a brass inner magazine tube with a 14-shot capacity. If you can find one manufactured before 1968, you can expect an 18 round capacity.
The Model 60 is self-loading with right-side ejection (sorry, lefties), a straight blowback design, and both manual and automatic “last-shot” bolt hold-open.
Above the trigger is the cross-bolt safety, easily accessible for even small-handed shooters.
Another high point is a 19-inch micro-groove barrel. The 16 shallow grooves and quality crown make the rifle very accurate.
Some shooters have complained that the gun is slow to reload. But the high capacity and corrosion resistance of the brass magazine help counterbalance this flaw.
In addition, there’s an adjustable rear sight and open front sight, plus grooving in the receiver for mounting a scope.
2. Henry AR-7 Survival Rifle
This rifle was originally designed in 1959 for use by the United States Air Force but is now a favorite among civilians for all the same reasons it was popular with military pilots.
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The AR-7 Survival Rifle is lightweight (only 3.5 pounds), reliable, and compact.
It’s also highly portable thanks to its ability to be disassembled and has all parts of the rifle stored in the impact-resistant and water-resistant stock.
While the full length of the assembled gun is 35-inches, the AR-7 Survival Rifle is only 16-inches long when all components are stowed.
That’s small enough to fit in almost any backpack or the cargo area of even small planes and boats.
Assembly is also incredibly easy. All you have to do is attach the receiver to the stock, insert the barrel, and tighten the nut. No tools are needed.
The hardy stock is made of durable ABS plastic with a rubber buttplate pad.
Its 16-inch barrel is comprised of a steel liner surrounded by a composite housing, while the receiver is cast from aluminum.
The entire rifle is Teflon coated. Like all Henry firearms, the AR-7 Survival Rifle is made in the United States.
The rifle features an adjustable peep rear sight and fixed-blade front sight and has a ⅜-inch grooved receiver for scopability.
Plus…it shoots pretty nicely.
The AR-7 Survival Rifle comes with two 8-round magazines. Its low capacity is a disadvantage for this rifle, but two mags certainly help make up for it, as does the rifle’s excellent portability.
See our full review here.
3. Ruger 10/22 Takedown
Ruger claims that the 10/22 Series is the most popular .22 series in the world.
If you look at the Ruger 10/22’s outstanding reputation for durability and reliability, Ruger’s claim isn’t at all surprising.
Today, however, we want to specifically focus on the 10/22 Takedown.
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It’s similar to the Henry Survival Rifle AR-7 in that it can also be taken apart and reassembled with incredible ease and convenience.
However, instead of storing within its own stock, the Ruger 10/22 Takedown comes with a backpack-style storage case in which it can be stowed.
In addition to the rifle, the case has room for ammunition and accessories.
This gives the Takedown the same storage convenience as the Henry Survival AR-7, but it’s not as protected from moisture or impact unless you store it in a different case.
On the other hand, the 10/22 Takedown has a higher capacity, with a removable 10-round magazine.
Some reviewers also claim that the Takedown is more reliable, though both rifles are highly dependable.
The Ruger 10/22 Takedown is available in two barrel lengths, an 18.5-inch barrel and a 16.62-inch barrel ($350).
The 18.5-inch barrel option features a brushed aluminum receiver designed to look like stainless steel.
While the 16.62-inch barrel option has a black alloy receiver. Both are heavier than the Henry AR-7 with the 18.5-inch barrel option weighing 4.67 pounds, while the 16.62-inch barrel option weighs in at 4.3 pounds.
Regardless of length, the threaded rifle is precision rifled and cold hammer forged. Both length options have a black synthetic stock.
The Ruger 10/22 Takedown also features a positive, push-button, cross-bolt manual safety, and a combination scope base adapter for both Weaver-style and .22 tip-off scope mounts.
And like other 10/22 models…there’s an awesome amount of upgrades.
If the takedown isn’t your style, then check out the 10/22 Charger.
Coming in at just 17 inches overall, the Charger is full of features worthy of consideration. Plus, you can apply all those aforementioned upgrades.
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John did a review on the 10/22 Charger so be sure to check that out below or read up on it here.
What’s your take on the Ruger?
4. CZ-455 American
One of the newest in the CZ-455 lineup, the American is a follow-up to another great .22 rifle, the CZ-452.
Though the 455 American doesn’t have the long history of the Marlin Model 60 or the collapsibility of the Henry AR-7 Survival Rifle or Ruger 10/22 Takedown, it is rather neat.
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The CZ-455 American’s interchangeable barrel system allows you to shoot several calibers for the price of a single rifle.
While the rifle may not have the stowability of the Henry AR-7 Survival Rifle or Ruger 10/22 Takedown, it saves space by fulfilling the purposes of multiple rifles in one.
Barrels are easy to switch out, using twin set screws to fix the barrel into the frame.
Furthermore, actions can be swapped between any CZ-455 stock, not just among models from the American series for even greater interchangeability.
The stock is American-style constructed from Turkish walnut and is designed for use with telescopic sights via an 11mm dovetail rail along the top of the receiver.
It also features an adjustable trigger mechanism and two-position safety.
The CZ-455 American is one of the larger guns on this list with an overall length of 38.2-inches and weight at 5.85 pounds.
5. Smith & Wesson M&P 15-22 Sport
Lacking the more classic look that most of our other rifles possess, the M&P 15-22 stands out from the other .22 rifles on this list because of its AR styling.
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However, the M&P 15-22 Sport is considerably more lightweight than an actual AR. It weighs only 4.8 pounds, because of its use of polymer, rather than aluminum. It also sports a proprietary 25-round magazine ($22).
Other than its badass appearance, one advantage of the AR styling is that the M&P 15-22 Sport features a 10-inches handguard that incorporates Magpul’s M-LOK system.
This allows M&P 15-22 Sport rifle owners to customize their rifle with any M-LOK compatible accessories without removing the handguard.
M&P 15-22 Sport rifle owners are also able to mount Picatinny rails for even further accommodation of accessories. One 2-inch rail is included with purchase.
In short, the M&P 15-22 Sport is compatible with most standard AR-15 components and accessories.
Additionally, the M&P 15-22 Sport features Magpul MBUS sights, a six-position CAR stock, and a functional charging handle.
The rifle has a two-position receiver mounted safety lever, as well as a shell deflector.
Ultimately, the M&P 15-22 Sport is a great firearm either for training shooters new to the AR world or just for those who want an alternatively styled or particularly accessory-friendly .22 rifle.
6. Browning 22 Semi-Auto Rifle
The Browning 22 Semi-Auto is a classically styled SA-22 — another takedown rifle, disassembling into two parts, the buttstock/receiver and forearm/barrel.
A mounted scope is able to stay in place when the rifle is disassembled, saving shooters time and energy by eliminating the need to re-zero the sight.
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The one downside here is that the SA-22 neither self-stows nor includes a carrying case, so you may need to purchase a case separately.
The SA-22 features a stock and forearm made from checkered American walnut with a glossy finish as well as a blued steel receiver and trigger mechanism.
The 19.25-inch barrel is precision rifled and drilled to accept a scope mount, though the receiver is not.
The rifle has a gold bead front sight and adjustable folding leaf rear sight.
And unlike other rifles on this list, the Browning SA-22 has a bottom brass ejection, making it a great choice for lefties and ambidextrous shooters.
7. Henry Golden Boy
We are big fans of Henry’s rifles, mainly because they just work.
The Golden Boy is no exception. This lever-action rifle went through several hundred rounds with us with no failures. Not to mention it’s just a fun plinking rifle.
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It’s worth noting, it feels a little front-heavy, but the rest of its ergonomics are pretty comfortable.
The Golden Boy weighs in at 6.75 pounds with an overall length of 38.5-inches. (Barrel sits at 20-inches.)
You can get a rail adapter for this one to mount your favorite optics. We found the installation of the adapter to be pretty easy…but it took two tries to get our scope mounted properly.
While we finally made it work, to be honest, it kinda ruined that old-school-cool vibe of the Golden Boy.
All in all, though, the Golden Boy is a solid lever-action option for those that like a classy look rifle.
You can check out Eric’s recent review of the Golden Boy for more (and more detailed) info.
8. Ruger Charger
Rounding out our list is the Ruger 10/22 Charger. It’s basically a chopped-down 10/22 made into a pistol.
It’s a fun choice for plinking at the range or keeping in a bag or backpack.
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Personally, we love it just because it’s fun!
It measures just under 20-inches and its folding pistol brace makes it extremely easy to pack away.
We also like the fact that it’s easy to suppress…and c’mon, who doesn’t want to toss a can onto a little plinker
Overall, this gun could easily take care of pesky varmints in your yard or pack up for an easy day at the range. Either way, you won’t be disappointed.
Love AR pistols? Check out more recs in our Best AR Pistol roundup.
Conclusion
From Henry to Smith & Wesson to Ruger, these are some tried and true workhorses from some of the best gun manufacturers in the industry.
With a range of offerings, we hope we’ve helped you narrow down the choices to find the perfect .22 LR rifle for you.
What’s your favorite .22 LR rifle? Let us know in the comments below. For more .22 LR goodness, check out our list of the Best .22 LR Pistols and our Favorite .22 LR Ammo.
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i got 3 22 lr rifels savage 64 ,10/22 take down ,henry ar7 2 22 lr pistols gsg 1911 ruger sr22 love them all
Any collection of carbines should include the outstanding Sig 522 Classic
Recently we got my wife a Savage Mark II Minimalist with a vortex scope, I loved it so much I went back 2 weeks later and got one for myself in green laminated wood for $329ish. Excellent, accurate rifle.
I also have a Henry Classic H001 lever action and she has the MP15 22. All excellent rifles, lots of fun. Great list, might have to get one or two on it.
Literally picking up green minimalist today! Good to hear!
Biden 2024
No
I've got a 40yr old 10/22 scoped that still shoots a dime at 50yds and I just built a new 10/22 with the Arch Angel stock and carbon fiber bull barrel with a 2moa red dot that is on the money, Next is going to be the Henry AR-7 for backpacking. Also have a Ruger Mark II government pistol and a Ruger 22/45 stainless with 6-1/2" bull barrel both are deadly accurate.
Mark's one of them forward thinkers gonna save the planet by eating GMO mass produced Monsanto saturated veggies and spare all the critters by letting them overpopulate and starve to death while they devestate his precious vegetable gardens on over tilled land that's destroyed the eco system "God" created.
The Remington Nylon 66 is a great survival .22 rifle. On the other hand Denny Crane, a trained Marine sniper favors the Henry AR-7.
I do not think you should be teaching people that it is alright to be killing prairie dogs, rabbits and squirrels. Not good killing little animals. I think killing paper targets or something like that is a good way to teach children all animals have a purpose here. God Bless.
What you think Mark does not apply to many shooters. You stick with paper and those who shoot varmit pests can carry on. How about you keep “woke” on your range.
Rabbits and other small animals fill our freezer. Paper and cans are for practice
See your way out of the conversation
I have 3 22LR rifles: 1) Winchester model 61 2) CZ 452 3) Henry AR7. I keep the Henry in my car. The Winchester was given to my wife by her father. He acquired it from a hotel that had a shooting gallery in the basement. I had to replace the cartridge cutoff block because the the many thousands of rounds fired had worn the bore in the block so much that the rim of a cartridge would pass by the cutoff lever. Load the magazine and cycle the action & every cartridge in the magazine except for the one picked up by the elevator would come out the bottom of the receiver. I replaced the worn parts & had to hand fit the cartridge cutoff lever. This included filling the tab that rides in a slot in the receiver. Installing the lever, reassembling the rifle, loading the magazine and cycling the action. If it jammed I disassembled then repeated the filing, etc. until it cycled smoothly. The CZ 452 is my silhouette rifle. It is a tack driver equivalent to Winchester & Remington rifles costing twice as much. The CZ 455 is an upgraded version of the CZ 452.
My only experience with the Marlin model 60 was fixing my brother in law's rifle that jammed. I traced the issue to the piano wire ejector that was bent. How that happened he didn't know. Using wire for the ejector is my only grip about the model 60.
My H&K 416 .22. But I love my Remington Octagon .22 Model 61 from my Dad & the Old Reliable .10/22.
I have a Ruger 10/22 rifle, a Ruger 10/22 Takedown, along with a Henry AR7 and a Henry Golden Boy and my favorite as the Henry AR 7. I don't know if it is the weight or what but just absolutely love it. My 2nd choice would be the Golden Boy.
I have had my 22 ruger for 4 years and it has never failed me it such a fun and reliable gun I would definitely recommend one to anyone that wants a fun accurate reliable gun
I have a Marlin model 60, a Henry model H001, a Winchester Model 190 and several Ruger 10/22 all fine and fun shooting rifles.
You dorks list the 10/22 charger TWICE in the same list!!! Durrrr, wtf???!!!
I've got to say, I've been impressed with my CMMG Bravo .22LR Adaptor for the AR 15. It functions flawlessly, has acceptable accuracy, and as I have cut back on the guns I own, it frees up space in my safe.
I grew up with an old Remington Nylon 66 my dad bought for me in 68' or 69,' Lost that gun and several others in a house fire in the 90s, but it was a fun shooting little gun.
I also have the Bravo .22lr conversion I change out between my AR15 long and short barreled ARs I have. Ironically to your post, once had the opportunity as a teen to shoot my 1st. rifle was a Remington 66. Thinking back I didn't what the rifle was only to remember it had white diamonds on it. So I did a search to learn that it was a Remington 66. What a sweet shooter!
A friend of mine use archery shafts (damaged and too short to make arrows) to speed load his tubular magazine(s). Put a permanent plug in one end and a removable plug in the other, put the right quantity of cartridges for one reload in bullet first so they can be dumped down the magazine tube rim first with the follower taken totally out of the tube. A cheap children's quiver can hold a lot of quick reloads. Note: take the magazine follower out somewhere it might not be retrievable if you drop it.
Good old Model 74 from 1950
Best 22 cal semi auto rifle that I ever shot was a Remington Speed Master Model 552. Bought new around 1975 but recently stolen during a break-in at our farm. Extremely accurate and durable even after probably 10,000 rounds shot. Unfortunately Remington is bankrupt and this model is no longer made.
I love the old Cooey model 60's and 64's. Deadly accurate and we'll built.
The best 22 rifle is the Tactical Solutions X ring VR. This is a hugely upgraded Ruger 10/22. Fantastic!
How about the Sig 522 or the GSG STG 44!
My grandfather's (now mine) Remington speedmaster. I recently picked up Rossi RS 22.
Just for the aftermarket I like the Ruger 10/22. It's the most customizable rifle in the list.
The rifle on the list I would change is the Henry golden boy, and replace it with the plain jane Henry...why pay more to have the same thing...? our's has been flawless since we got it, and when we inevitably scuff it up it won't hurt our feelings...we also have a similar Rossi, which might be a smidgen more accurate, but that is small potatos...
I have Golden boy, it's beautiful . That's why I paid more .
Way back when I was a teenager, I had a Winchester model 190 with a cheap 4x scope. It was a blast for plinking at the river. After that, I didn't own a .22 for 40+ yrs. A couple of years ago I bought a Thompson T/CR22 with thumbhole stock. I have to have a pistol style grip due to a wrist fusion. Really like this rifle. Put a SigSauer 3-9x40 scope on, and I like how the Thompson mags hold the bolt open after last round fired. It will also accept Ruger mags but they don't hold the bolt back.
Also enjoy the info on this site.
I own a Golden Boy and that thing is super fun to shoot!
The Golden Boy is a classic.
I know I will probably take some heat over this addition to favorite the 22 LR list. I recently purchased 2 Savage Model 64 semi auto rifles. You can buy these for less than $150 and can be found in a variety of stock options. Mine are black polymer stocks, nothing fancy but also cheap enough to experiment with camo paint. Reviews you will read on this model you will likely find saying how bad they are. Complaints are anywhere from misfires to being inaccurate and having a bad trigger pull. This easily solved with replacing the sping with a lighter one from your local hardware store, huge upgrade for a couple of bucks. We have shot hundreds of rounds in every variety of brand and round or hollow point with no problems.
The 2 I have are solid shooters and accurate with inexpensive red dot optics. You do have to add a picatinny rail to do this, mine slid on the dovetail. The iron sights on them though may leave something to be desired. While one was fine the other we couldn't get it zeroed in to where we wanted it. My son's rifle on a 50 yard range was a tack driver. He kept making comments he didn't see where his last shots were going. When checking the target they were hitting previous shots in the 3 shot groups. Now me on the other hand shooting the same rifle my groups were 3/4 to an inch at the same distance. As always it comes down to who's shooting it. But the Savage 64 should not be overlooked especially considering the price at less than $150.
I have a Model 64 myself, and I agree they are excellent shooters, and an unbeatable value! Very accurate out of the box (actually better than either of my 10/22 rifles), and they feed reliably as well. Biggest complaint is that I don't like working the action, which takes a bit of finger strength and dexterity, and recommend an extended bolt release to make it easier. But the bottom line is that it shoots great and doesn't cost much. Perfect rabbit/squirrel gun.
The best .22 in my opinion is the Marlin 39A...and I own 3 of the 6 above.
Not for nothing but a Ruger takedown hasn’t been $350 for about 5 years. Even clicking that link, it takes you to the website where it’s listed for $439.
Savage Mark II heavy fluted barrel should be on the list. IMO
Cannot argue with any of these. There's nothing like a .22LR rifle for if no other reason than to say you own one. I've got an old scoped Rem 550-2 and 2 AR-7s. So much fun I'm constantly on the lookout for the grumpy police to say I'm having far too much fun.
Having owned 4 of the 6 rifles, I can say this article is spot on. The Marlin 60 was my first .22, great gun but a pain to disassemble, clean and reassemble, especially compare to the Ruger 10/22! Love the AR7 and my M&P-22 eats almost everything as long as it does not get super dirty and gunked up.
i own 9 22 rifles, one of my favs is the 22 L/R henry, oxtegon barrel EvilRoy, edition.
Vudoo V-22. Bolt action. 1 m.o.a. out to 100 yards all day w/ match ammo
The Browning is awesome gun. Uncommon.
I'm surprised it shows on a list like this. Old used ones run twice the price of new. I'm using mine in Steel Challenge with good success. While I can't nudge the top two or three overall shooters out of place yet, I'm on their heels. On one quick stage; Smoke and Hope, I was first though. How cool is it that it was designed by Browning in 1914 - the same year he designed the 50BMG
How about less expensive .22 rifles, such as the Mossberg 802. It does not have all the bells and whistles but it is a nice one
Have marlin 989 but cannot find magazines
I have a model 981 T marlin. I really like this rifle. but i wish it were a semi automatic with tube magazine. my 981T is bolt action with a Tasco scope and it has a tube magazine,cant imagine owning any other rifle that i would enjoy shooting more than the Marlin.
My favorite 22 rifle is my own AR-15 using the CMMG Bravo conversion bolt assembly. Lot's of cheap training rounds sent downrange using exactly the same stock, trigger, and optics platform. With the CMMG Bravo, I've actually increased my the number of practice rounds during the ammo shortage. It's like having obtained an extra AR for $200.
The rifles you have chosen are all good and except for the Browning, have all been compared to the Lithgow Arms LA101, by a number of reviewers. The rifle speaks for itself. All the rifles above are the usual easy (lazy) pick without having to look too far. Try one,then compare to the others. It will easily make your list.
Lost me on ".22LR ammunition is affordable and easy to find".
Luckygunner.com
Marlin went out of business and stopped filling orders. Ruger bought them but has not started production.
remington now owns marlin and is still mfg. them.
Ruger bought marlin
Ruger bought Marlin . Remington as it was went kaputz .
Marlin is now owned by Ruger
Remington went kaputz
The cz 455 is cool the you could buy in .22 Lr then buy other calibers like.22wmr or the .17hmr I always liked the cz 457in 17hornet any way liked your article take care
I have an AR7, love it.
I think the Browning is a classy, beautiful, effective and accurate. It's my next acquisition, preferably an older, Belgian model, to match my BAR .30-06 and A5 shotgun.
I have 22–A 270BAR–sweet 16. All Browning. Love them all. Got them when I was 16. I’m 77. Wouldn’t get rid of any of them.
Hope you the best on your looking.
Hey that CZ455 it a beautiful gun.I had my way with one at the local gun shop but only had 300bucks in my pocket so couldnt grab it. But i went home and looked online and found a clone of this one i believe? Its a Hatsan and looks a lot like this one.In any case it is a CZ clone by Hatsan and a beautiful gun. I purchased it online from PSA for about 213.99.....it didnt have any spare barrels but did come with two steel 10rd mags.....that i was shocked about i have heard of only cheap plastic mags ,coming with it so i feel lucky.Although once again i havnt fired it yet or even have it at home. In my state of New Jersey the bluest of all they wont even allow a bolt gun to have a Brake which it came with. It didnt mention that in the ad and no pics in the add had one on it...? So in any case as soon as i get the new comp for it in a few days i can take it to my FFL have them put it on and most likely tap and pin it on ......:>/ I pray i can get out of this state ASAP!
Nice selection. However, my policy / position is that a first time shooter should start with a single shot bolt action. This will (1) greatly reduce the chance for an unintentional discharge as is very easy with a semi auto and (2) help train the new shooter to always keep the muzzle pointed up and down range since reloading is required between shots. When reloading the weapon for the next shot it is very easy to forget muzzle control. Since the weapon is empty the instructor has time to explain and correct any unsafe acts.
Concur. I recently purchased a Cricket Precision for my grand-daughter. I appreciate the safety factor while still being able to instruct solid shooting skills. And it's a great little rifle.
Agreed. I've been teaching my special needs daughter how to shoot. She's been learning on a Daisy 880. She's really enjoying it, so at some point I'll let her try our 22 pistol. I'll load the mag a round at a time for the very reasons you listed.
I agree with your concept but it's easy enough to load only 1 round into a magazine when new shooters are getting started and increase the number of rounds as their skill improves.
I'll stick with my Marlin 70 Papoose thank you.
Absolutely love my older 15-22 great gun easy to train your kiddos with.
My favorite is still a .22LR Ted Williams (purchased from Sears) that was my fathers/grandfathers. I have plinked and hunted small game with it for 40+ years and it was used rabbit hunting well before my time. I taught my kids to shoot with it as well. It's rock solid and if I miss, it's not the gun. Take care of your tools and they'll take care of you!
I have one as welland love it but the trigger on mine is so stiff now I can barely pull it. Do you have any advice??
Looking for ammo for Italian Carcano carbine M91. Any help?
You're off by a couple of decades on the change of magazine size in the Marlin Model 60. It was 17+1 until 1989 or 1990, when it was reduced to 14+1. I bought mine new in 1990, and it is 17+1. They added the last shot bolt hold-open in 1985, so if you buy one made in that 4-5 year period, you'll get the 18-round capacity and have the bolt hold-open function.
Browning BL22.
I have been purchasing the new Thompson 22 that is very similar to the Ruger. These guns are lower cost and come with much better components. I have 2 normal ones and 1 bull barrel with wood thumbhole stock and I am actually using this one in competition. Considering it is probably $1000 cheaper than the other 22's I'm up against, I have no complaints. Switched out the trigger assembly and cleaned up the stock under the barrel and now it shoots absolutely lights out!! Couldn't be happier!
Of all my rifles and pistols in varios calibers and styles, .22 lr is and has always been my favorite.
A retailer near me had a Rossi semi auto on sale for $89 (the price of nice dinner and drinks)...so of course I signed up. Whats really awesome is that in WA state its considered an assault weapon, so there's a redundant record check and an arbitrary waiting period that's taken over two weeks to pass. All the tin cans and plastic bottles in my back yard are super relieved that Ive had my cool down period and that they have been saved...or have they?
My uncle's browning was the first rifle i ever shot and remains my favorite...such a solid compact precise thing with a great trigger and a very slick little action. Definitely will get one of my own.
Least favorite was an 80's era AR7. There was a famous DJ of the same era, Jam Master J. The AR7 should have been similarly named.
I'll take my Winchester model 190 .22 I bought in 1968. Dead accurate, easy to load and very reliable. Just have to remember or warn anyone on the right, as it ejects from that side.
I have a 270 bought about the same time and still love it.
Hi, I have a doubt. Dry firing damage the Marlin 60? Nobody say: YES or NO. The manual of Marlin 60 do not mentioned the issue. The manual of Ruger 10/22 say: no problem.
The Thompson/Center TCR 22 is a fantastic rifle. They took the Ruger 10/22 and did all the basic mods you wanted done to it: magpul stock, easy mag release, bolt hold open, fiber optic front sight, rails. I love it.
My mom bought my dad a Marlin Model 60 for their first anniversary in 1970. I inherited it when my dad passed away in 2006. Prior to that, I had a Marlin Pappoose, basically what you would get if you crossed a Model 60 with the Ruger 10/22 Takedown. Both Marlins have been excellent guns, being both accurate and reliable.
My experience with the AR-7, however, is not so great. My brother bought one around the same time I bought my Pappose, and to be honest, I wasn't terribly impressed with it -- and I really wanted to be, as I had admired the design since I was a kid. His AR-7 jammed frequently and wasn't consistent with shot placement. To be fair, I believe several manufacturers have made the AR-7 over the years, and some have been better than others. Therefore, my brother's AR-7 might not be representative of the Henry AR-7.
Agree these are the best reasonably-priced 22LR rifles. But have you tried or tested any of the more expensive/custom 22s out there? I have fired a Kidd 22 (a Ruger 10/22 design) with their custom 2-stage trigger and there really is a big difference. A big difference in price, too.
The best .22 rifle of all time - the Marlin 39A. Just sayin’.
My little Cooey 39 is still picking off center group targets after 60 years. What a great Christmas present that was...kind of like Ralphy !
I have the MOSS-BERG 715T. It is accurate and trouble free. In my area it is $100 cheaper than the S&W MP 15-22. I recommend the 715T over S&W, if you desire a tactical look. Comes with 4 rails, and the side one's and bottom rail are removable.
I just got a Henry "Evil Roy" heirloom octagon barrel 22 and I could not be happier.
Have not had the opportunity to shoot a GB, but the 9422xtr is my lever action of choice. I have several Marlin 60's and 10/22s but my favorite is the Marlin 795 appleseed. Not many mods available, but out of the box best, most accurate shooter of the bunch and has mag capacity similar to the 10/22
Evidently this article was written before the Winchester Wildcat came out. It in a league of it's own. Light weight, accurate and a breeze to clean.
Browning BL-22 deserves attention, as the easiest way to experience the short, snappy lever throw and moving trigger that differentiates Browning's BLRs from Henry and etc levers.
I can't believe you ranked the Marlin 60 ahead of the Ruger 10/22. I've owned both of them, the 10/22 wins hands down. For reliability, ease of maintenance, upgrade ability, accuracy, you can't beat the 10/22
The list is not in order of rank, just in order of presentation :D
Marlin 60 is hands down a better gun than the 10/22. I have both as well. Ruger has a terrible trigger as is super picky on ammo.
Love the Browning have owned one for over 45 years. So sexy looking,feeling,great shooting light nimble and just different.A little expensive but very nice!
Does the CZ-455 American with a Suppressor Ready Barrel include the suppressor? If not, what is the cost of the suppressor?
That would depend on the suppressor that you buy plus the $200 tax stamp and the 6-13 month wait to get it.
I bought a Marlin 39A Golden Mountie lever action .22LR in 1966, and is as accurate today as in 1966. BTW, Annie Okley shot this type Marlin in her show.
HK 416 is fantastic! A little lighter than the S&W M&P 15-22 but solidly built like a .223! I put a Cvlife 4x32 Compact Scope and purchased two Colt 30rd magazines. A can’t miss for me and I’ve gotten a few impressed looks ... only other rifle I would consider adding to my arsenal would be the Henry AR-7.
I completely agree with you on this one! Mine arrived a few days ago. I took it out to the range, slapped on a red dot, zeroed it, and it shot like a dream the entire time!
Take a look at TNW's Aero Survival rifle before you grab the Henry. It's even available in .22.
No Tippmann M4-22?
CZ has moved on from the Model 455 to the Model 457. I greatly lust after a Brno Model 2 (predecessor of the CZ bolt-action .22s). There are some from Zdenek "Denny" Jakubec's estate on sale at J&G Sales.
Great article Megan. Now I have to get approval to purchase one of these from my better half. I have a old winchester single shot bolt from my dad. Can barely see the rifling in it anymore.
Back in 1969 I traded a flight jacket for an Armalite AR-7 that I loved. This year I bought a Henry AR-7 that I will replace with a bag of marbles and a slingshot. I tried six different brands and types of ammo, different mags, ran it clean and not-so-clean and finally decided its a very poor attempt by Henry to recapture the magic of the original, reliable, SURVIVAL rifle.
Really??? I've owned 3, one older one and two new ones. I tried several times to kill em and they ran EVERYTHING I put through em!! Did you contact Henry or just say f@ck it??
I bought the Henry AR-7 a few years back and put more than five hundred rounds through it. It wouldn’t shoot ten in a row without a miss fire. I love my lever action carbine but the AR-7 is a poor excuse for a Henry Rifle.
Get a set of scales and check your ammunition , I shoot competition matches and I have to weigh my ammunition
Don't forget about the Marlin 93 it's a great short light wait 22 that shoots 1 inch gripping at 80 yards head shots on all small game with ease cci stingers are great in them and 10/22 as well
Nothing better than a SA.22 Browning period- easy disassemble/ assemble/ clean, , lightest -22 ive ever carried and when 14-40 , could hit a squirrel
Open sites sitting still routinely at 35-45 yards- longest shot, every inch of 75 yards! It’ a 1953 Belgium made Browning I’ve had since 14- I’ve owned 3 of the makes of guns on this list- 2nd best to me would be a Remington Speedmaster, then the -22 Marlin
i love mine too, it didn't show up here except in an ad, ruger acts like the 10/22 was the first two piece 22 rifle, i got mine fifty years ago, belgium made. you have to work on the ruger to make it accurate.
Marlin model 70pss "Papoose".
The advantage this rifle has over the AR7;
Both front and rear sights are attached to the barrel on the Marlin.
The AR7 has the rear sight on the receiver and front on the barrel.
Marlin is better made.
I like, and own, 3 Henry rifles.
They are superb.
But the Marlin Papoose whips the AR7 for accuracy and quality every day of the week and twice on Sunday.
I will agree with you. Mine is not stainless but has performed perfect other than OLD school Butler Creek plastic mags (1990-ish), hopefully they've fixed some of that crap. I prefer factory metal magazines since. Henry?...I would love one of their lever actions for sure, small or big bore.
Ruger Precision 22. It's a tack driver.
good artical however you missed the boat on your choices. the smith & wesson ar15 in 22 is not legal in new york state and may not be elsewhere. and you missed the marlin 39 its been around for almost a century is take down and theyre almost indestructable maybee thats why theyve been aoun for so long and they just plain feel so good in your hands.
Leave New York then haha. Come on down to Texas!
Love my Henry Golden Boy, but my most useful .22 (tool) in the rural area where I live is still my Ruger single 6.
I have the CZ with a four power Leupold and consistently shoot 1/2 “ groups at 50 yards. Nuff said.
The Browning 22 lever action is the sweets 22 I have ever fired. Smooth lever throw with the whole lever and trigger traveling together no pinched fingers on rapid fire.
Ruger Precision?
The Keystone 722 is one of the most accurate .22 LR rifles for the money, especially the Varmint and Precision Trainer variants. Although taboo, it's common to see reports of it outperforming a CZ. If you choose a brand to feel accepted by the rimfire community, you overlooked the Keystone.
The tikka t1a is taking the CZ crown away on the rimfire boards
If my three-shot group is wider than 3/4" at 100 yards with my Tikka T1x, I get irritated because I know it was my fault. Awesome rifle.
You really need to check out a Marlin 39A! It is the Cadillac of .22 leverguns. Ignoring it and mentioning the Henry is bordering on sacrilegious! There's a reason it's been in production since 1891! I enjoyed the article other than the 39A snub.
Obviously you were talking about the best for the least amount of money foe a 22 made in the year 2020. The browning and the CZ are 2 dandy's for the money in 2020. I like this read, thanks Megan.
Personally I like the Nylon 66, not sure why there was no honorable mention, especially with resale values so high
Great choice! I regret passing on a $100 Nylon 66 because money was a bit tight one month.
You don't have the Remington 597 on this list. For me it is as good as the Marlin has been.
Personally, I’d take the remmy five nine seven over most of these but you did get number 2 right.
AR S&W MP 15-22 is so fun to shoot and mine is a tack driver boy. I hav3 the 50 round barrel too with Leupold scope. Varmits stand no chance!!!
Where can I get one of those 'ten round magazines' ?, and, how do I attach it to my Auto 22's buttstock tube feed [like the one in your pictures] ? ;-)
I came here to see if anyone else was going to mention this! Thank you sir!
How much does the browning sa-22 weigh?
5.2 pounds
where can I buy extra magazines for the Browning SA .22 ? Thanks
Browning 22LR feeds through the stock, there is no magazine!
The SA .22 has a 10 round tubular magazine feeding through the buttstock. No extra mags are needed, since the integrated tube mag doesn’t detach. To get a replacement magazine tube and plunger, contact Browning or independent parts suppliers.
like my customized rugers 10/22 s just picked up old 1946 Remington target master 510 restoring it to glory .reminds me sako growing up in finland shooting many sguirels with single action.cant wait to go range with that ,,
How about Anschutz?
Great if you're a benchrest shooter or planning to ski in a biathlon. I think this article is targeted more at plinkers.
Great if you're a benchrest shooter or planning to ski in a biathlon. I think this article is targeted more at plinkers.
The Savage 64F is a great .22 and very accurate. They can be had for $110.00 to about $130.00. Lots of reviews on YouTube.
+1
The Savage Model 64 push-in bolt is sort of a pain to use, but the accuracy is incredible at that price. It really does shoot more accurately out of the box than any of my other 22LR rifles. Nothing competes with the Model 64 at its super-low price point, making it the best 22 rifle for shooters on a limited budget.
This list should be updated with TCR22
It will be ;)
Hard to beat the 10/22. Mods are readily available.....you can turn this thing into almost anything you want. Although the Marlin Model 60 would be my 2nd choice.
I have a CZ 455 stainless with synthetic stock I think it's the best all-around squirrel gun out there for the money toped with a Leupold 3 to 9 by 40 vx-2 it's really sweet
So...the Browning SA comes with two 10 round magazines...really? If the writer had bothered to actually handle the rifle in question, they would have noted the rifle has a tube magazine which is loaded thru a recess in the plastic buttpad of the stock.
I was going to mention that also, I have one. The rounds are actually loaded thru the hole on the right side of the stock.
The Browning comment makes one wonder how qualified the writer is on this subject. Anyone familiar with the Browning knows it has tub mag.
Exactly, annd holds one in the barrel also, makes 11 in all...
How do you have your cover picture be a Crickett and then not mention it?
There are so many great .22 rifles from great manufacturers and they all could never be included in a single list of any reasonable length. You would at least have to break them down into some type of sub categories such as action etc..
The Ruger Precison Rimfire is my favorite .22. At around $400 it has an excellent cost/performance ratio. It loves the CCI Mini-Mag RN and will tightly group at 100 yards. You can afford a lot of ammo and fun for .08/round or less. I won't comment on all-around because I exclusively target shoot. But i also have a Ruger 10/22 non take-down. It's a lot of fun for $200. Throw a Nikon BDC scope on it for another $100 and you can do a lot.
I was looking at the Ruger Precision Rimfire, but then I found out that Tikka is coming out with the T1x - basically the T3x but in .22 LR or .17 HMR. First the Tikka, then a Ruger!
I love my RPR. Makes for great practice when I'm not taking it's Savage 10BA big brother to long distance.
I love my American Rimfire. Very accurate and fun to use with the BX mags.
The CZ USA 455 American is the one that sells the fastest from what I know. I also know a dealer with 12 Ruger 10-22 s in Pink and has not sold one in half a year!
I have a 10/22 they are junk i bought a Thompson center tcr22 today to try out
I got to agree with you I have a Ruger 10/22 and it jams all the time. Looking for a good bolt action,
Hummm...the most widely sold and owned .22 in the world...and You, and the guy before you intimate they are junk?
Gotta wonder...is it the gun... or you and the ammo you chose?
I recently got back into shooting. I now own 2 rifles: a Ruger 10/22 TALO M-1 Carbine model and a Henry Frontier edition 20" Octagonal barrel (it's essentially a Golden Boy without the Brass accents). The Ruger is loads of fun to shoot and super accurate, I go shooting with my nephew, former Marine. He owns a SCAR and a Winchester 1894. But you know which rifle he wants to shoot the most? That Henry. It's always the favorite. I think because all men who grew up watching John Wayne or Clint Eastwood have a cowboy fantasy.
Stay with my monster 46b wins every time.
My dad's old Marlin Lever Action Model 39A is still my favorite.. So worn now I can hardly read the engraving.
bought the cmmg .22 drop in conversion for one of my extra AR I have. works great if kept oiled and clean. sighted in at 50 yrds. and I can switch it back with ease.. will not work with a drop in trigger.had the ruger 10/22. it was the same. keep it oiled and clean. it was ammo picky
Marlin 60 best for the money
I love my lever guns also
Browning bl22
Winchester 9422m
Yup, those lever guns are FUN!
I'm a 10/22 fan.I have the 50th annv. edition. I also have an AR-7.. I bought it for the novelty of it, at my age I'm not not doing any hiking or camping. Mostly just target shooting..
Very cool, Bill!
I've shot a Marlin 60 for over 40 years and would buy another today if it wear ou (not likely).. It is very accurate for an inexpensive rifle and is especially handy on small game and varmints. Eastern Diamondbacks and gray squirrels are especially susceptible to its accuracy.. I have to mention that the gun is a hoot to shoot when it comes to plain old plinking and ammo doesn't break the bank..
Nice, Mike!