Need more rimfire help

[VaRandy]

I am a serious benchrest guy but have not had anything to do with rimfire in 40 years or so! Grandsons showing serious interest in learning to shoot with one 15 and one 12. I have a Mossbert Huckster in .22 magnum without a scope that works and a barreled action for a Marlin .22 rebarreled to .17. I don't trust the .17 until I can try it out. It misfired with my son many years ago and cracked the stock, locked up to action, etc. I suspect it was bad ammo because I know they had many failures right after the .17 came out. I have a 2.5 to 7 Weaver like new to put on something.

Part of my decision is do I want a .17, .22, or .22 Magnum as a first rifle for two boys.I don;t even know the price difference nowadays nor whether the .22 availability problem is solved.

I am considering getting a CZ American 455 or a Savage stainless, both Bolt actions because the goal is to prepare them for a great life inheriting my precision bolt weapons. Accuracy is very important in this decision.

Is a CZ worth the extra money and is the amount of plastic with the Savage too much.

So questions are caliber, most accurate .22 for the money, and availability. thanx

Next stop for them is my Cooper Model 21 in .17 MkIV.

 

[onelastshot]

Two youngsters shooting will go through a lot of ammo. Do yourself a favor and pick up a CZ in 22LR. They'll get all the experience they need and ammunition won't break the bank.

 

[linekin]

I agree with onelastshot. Get them a .22.
I've had the CZ 452, 455, & a Savage with a laminated stock but not the ss barrel. The CZ's are gone but not because of any issues. They were better than average shooting rifles. The Savage is as well. I don't think you'd go wrong with any of them.
Another to consider is the Ruger American. I have no experience with them other than handling one our club just auctioned off. I don't care for all the plastic either but did like the fact it was modular in the butt meaning you could change the LOP. I saw a youngster being able to grow into it. From what I've read they're relatively accurate too.

Keith

 

[Brians356]

Whatever you do, don't buy a 22 Mag unless you have a big stash of ammo. Even if you do find some, prepare for sticker shock. 22 LR is the way to go for youngsters, but beware of ricochets.
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[USMCDOC]

I agree with onelastshot. Get them a .22.
I've had the CZ 452, 455, & a Savage with a laminated stock but not the ss barrel. The CZ's are gone but not because of any issues. They were better than average shooting rifles. The Savage is as well. I don't think you'd go wrong with any of them.
Another to consider is the Ruger American. I have no experience with them other than handling one our club just auctioned off. I don't care for all the plastic either but did like the fact it was modular in the butt meaning you could change the LOP. I saw a youngster being able to grow into it. From what I've read they're relatively accurate too.

Keith

recently saw a thread or article where someone had taken one of those Ruger American 22's and made a very nice benchrest rifle out of it.. i liked what he did with it!

 

[Brians356]

recently saw a thread or article where someone had taken one of those Ruger American 22's and made a very nice benchrest rifle out of it.. i liked what he did with it!

If you find that article, would you mind posting a link here?
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[USMCDOC]

If you find that article, would you mind posting a link here?
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Yes,, will do so.. i see if i can..

 

[USMCDOC]

If you find that article, would you mind posting a link here?
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Brian,

i have to apologize, it isn't a 22lr.. but rather a 223, here is the link to the thread that i was referring to.

http://benchrest.com/showthread.php?96897-223-Benchrest-rifle-build-with-lots-off-pictures

Still a neat idea

 

[Brians356]

Brian,

i have to apologize, it isn't a 22lr.. but rather a 223,

Not to worry, that's more to my liking anyway! Thanks.
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[USMCDOC]

Not to worry, that's more to my liking anyway! Thanks.
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You're welcome sir!

 

[drover]

22 l.r. is the correct answer.

Why - plinking grade and even low grade target ammo 22 ammo costs less. I am starting to see some of the lower grade 22 ammo for around the $3.50 per box mark, $5.00 per box will get you into the lower grade standard velocity ammo. The cheapest 17 HMR ammo I have seen recently was on sale at $11.99 per box plus shipping, to me that is a significant difference for plinking costs.

As a benchrest shooter you well know that it is all about trigger time, with the 22 you can have a lot of trigger time at not too much cost.

Something else to consider is where you will be shooting, if you are shooting in a populated area the lower noise level of the 22 is not nearly offensive to some folks as the louder 17 HMR may be.

AS far as rifle, CZ. I have never seen one that did not shoot exceptionally well, although I am sure someone will show up to tell about the exception. I have owned CZ 452s in both 22 and 17 HMR and they always shot well for me, I have read some bad reports about the 455 CZ but have no experience with them and do not know anyone who owns one. My current CZ 452 in 22 l.r. shoots nearly as weill as my Cooper 57M which says a lot for the CZ.

drover

 

[Brians356]

Also, with a 22 LR you can choose to shoot sub-sonic LR or CB short, etc. if a muzzle blast is a problem, and they can be very accurate. A friend (now departed) culled ground squirrels in his orchard using sub-sonic LRs in a scoped Marlin lever action and it was surprisingly accurate and quieter than a high-powered air rifle. The first time I fired it I thought it had misfired, all I noticed was the "tunk" of the trigger mechanism.
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[ckaberna]

CZ is nice. May want to consider the Remington 77/22 as well. Some have the "matte grey" stainless which looks great in the laminated stock IMHO.

 

[Tommie]

May want to consider the Remington 77/22 as well.

I think you mean "Ruger"

 

[ckaberna]

Yes sorry, I was looking at some remington cartridges and must have been thinking about them while I was typing. Thanks for catching that.
I have 3 of those things .17, .22 & .22 magnum all shoot excellent once I replaced the triggers not BR excellent but shoot a squirrel in the head excellent.

 

[Brians356]

I've got the 77/22 in 22 Magnum, it's my can't-miss squirrel slayer out to 150 yards. I won't go into the field without it.

Anyone with a 77/22 should consider sending it to Connecticut Precision for accurizing, he does great work and for not much $$. The package includes a target re-crown, machining the slop out of the two-piece bolt, trigger job, and adjust headspace to match your preferred rimfire ammo. My group sizes shrank 50% after he did my 77/22. I also floated the barrel and glass bedded the action myself.
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[TheOtherZilla]

CZ is nice. May want to consider the Remington 77/22 as well. Some have the "matte grey" stainless which looks great in the laminated stock IMHO.

I have a CZ 455. Nice thing is barrels are only like $140 or so including a magazine. Mine is in 22 MAG, and 17 HMR..

 

[hogpatrol]

A vote here for a CZ 452 or if you can find one a 453, either one in .22LR. I am not a fan of the switch barrels and in my opinion, the 455s are not as well made as the 452/453s.

If you want a myriad of recommendations on rimfires, Rimfire Central is a decent website with tons of info on them.

http://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/

 

[Sparky570]

I love my 455 varmint,,

 

[Wild Willy]

22lr is the only way to go especially if accuracy is your goal. In my opinion it is one of the most inherently accurate cartridges ever produced. I like older stuff and have found that there are used Remingtons, Mossbergs, etc that are "target" models that can be had for less than the price of a CZ.