Accurize my hunting 22lr

[Joseph112830]

I have a Ducks Unlimited Marlin 25N that I have hunted and practiced with for at least 10,000 rounds. I would like to accurize this rifle. I am thinking I would like a new barrel, the action trued, and possibly a new trigger. Who can do the gunsmithing, and what barrel should I use?

Joe

 

[drover]

Not to denigrate your dreams but you need to consider what you are thinking of doing.

The Marlin 25N is a good inexpensive "plinker" that is in reality about a $200 rifle. What you are considering doing would cost at a minimum $500 and probably closer to $800 and in the end it would still be a $200 rifle. Consider having it glass-bedded and the trigger reworked by a gunsmith, even that will cost somewhere between $100 - $200 depending on the gunsmith.

Enjoy your Marlin for what it is and if you are seriously wanting a more accurate rifle then spend the money on one ready to go out of the box. Something such as an Anschutz or Cooper, they will outshoot most shooters and retain their value. They can be found for just a bit more than you would be spending on re-working your Marlin.

drover

 

[JRS]

Rimfirecentral.com is a good place for your question.

 

[savagedasher]

Accuracy with a 22 is all about ammo choice .
Larry

 

[snowpro440]

That can be an expensive game too , as match ammo is not cheap . Then till you find out what the gun likes and getting a few thousand rounds of the same lot number can be a chore.

 

[Joseph112830]

Thank you for your reply, Drover. I didn't know the cost of all the work necessary and I appreciate your time and information. I have looked at Cooper and Anschutz. I don't remember the Cooper I looked at and can't get to their website at this time, but the Anschutz 1712 silhouette sported has the trigger I want. I know Cooper does guarantee 1/4" group at 50 yards, and I would be pleased to own another one of their rifles. If you had to choose between a Cooper and Anschutz which would you choose?

 

[Joseph112830]

Thank you to everyone else who commented as well.

 

[Fotheringill]

I agree with Drover. A Norinco is not a CZ and a CZ is not a Cooper and a Cooper is not an Anschutz 54 round or square action rifle.

Without any intention of a flame war or shouting match, you can add and change things on a 10/22 and it is still going to be the same basic rifle dressed up.

 

[JRS]

If you can afford the Annie, buy it!

 

[swd]

Thank you for your reply, Drover. I didn't know the cost of all the work necessary and I appreciate your time and information. I have looked at Cooper and Anschutz. I don't remember the Cooper I looked at and can't get to their website at this time, but the Anschutz 1712 silhouette sported has the trigger I want. I know Cooper does guarantee 1/4" group at 50 yards, and I would be pleased to own another one of their rifles. If you had to choose between a Cooper and Anschutz which would you choose?

Anschutz builds Olympic level rifles, Cooper builds very nice hunting rifles...

 

[Shaggy357]

I have a couple of 10/22s that have fired 1.0" groups at 200. My original 10/22 would do 1/2" groups at 50 all day long with about anything you fed it and true 1/2" at 100 with the right ammo....went to he!! in the handbasket past 100....My favorite is an early 10/22 with 24" PacNor fluted bull barrel, extended stock, and excellent trigger job. I have killed squirrels and rock chucks past 200 several times with it.

You just need to buy what you want, and glean the most out of it. The options are endless.

Steve

 

[drover]

Thank you for your reply, Drover. I didn't know the cost of all the work necessary and I appreciate your time and information. I have looked at Cooper and Anschutz. I don't remember the Cooper I looked at and can't get to their website at this time, but the Anschutz 1712 silhouette sported has the trigger I want. I know Cooper does guarantee 1/4" group at 50 yards, and I would be pleased to own another one of their rifles. If you had to choose between a Cooper and Anschutz which would you choose?

That is a hard question. I have owned numerous Anschutz, both 64 and 54 actioned, and also in both sporter and match configuration. I have owned 64's that have shot as well as 54's, even with the lighter receiver and slower lock time of the 64 they can be amazingly accurate. The Cooper sporters I have owned have shot equally as well as any Anschutz sporter I have owned, so for me the accuracy has been pretty much a toss-up.

From a dollars and cents standpoint an Anschutz 64 actioned sporter is usually capable of as much accuracy as most shooters are capable of in a hunting (sporter) 22. And they can be found for under a $1000 for a nice one.
An Anschutz 1710/1712 sporter will cost twice as much and so will a Cooper unless you are lucky enough to stumble onto a deal on one.

I personally prefer the Cooper for the aesthetics of it, to my eye the Anschutz sporter stocks just don't look quite right, but that is very subjective. I also like that the Cooper is U.S. made and is keeping U.S. citizens employed and keeping the money in the U.S.

I have sold my Anschutz and have used a Cooper for the last 10 years but in all honesty any of the rifles I have mentioned would work for my rimfire needs. If you can find some examples to handle it would make your task much easier.

If I wanted the best "bang for the buck" I would probably go with something like this for a sporter hunting rifle.
https://www.gunsamerica.com/998260544/Anschutz-Modell-1415-1416-22LR.htm

drover

 

[Joseph112830]

Thank you again for your reply. My thoughts are very similar to yours but I haven't owned either rifles yet. I want either the 1712 or a Cooper not only for the accuracy claims, but because both rifles have minimum trigger pull weights off 1.7 to 1.5 pounds, respectively. I'm a bolt gun guy, and a avid squirrel hunter.

 

[JRS]

If you are looking for both accuracy and hunting, look no further than Clark Custom Guns. They build a phenomenal Ruger 10/22

 

[drover]

Thank you again for your reply. My thoughts are very similar to yours but I haven't owned either rifles yet. I want either the 1712 or a Cooper not only for the accuracy claims, but because both rifles have minimum trigger pull weights off 1.7 to 1.5 pounds, respectively. I'm a bolt gun guy, and a avid squirrel hunter.

You are welcome. Hope you find what you are looking for.

drover

 

[Doc Highwall]

To get the best out of a 22 you really need to do a torque test. Here is a link to a video that mirrors the same results I have had with many 22's. I will not shoot a 22 in competition that I have not done a torque test, and will not shoot one without a barrel tuner either. Do yourself a favor and at least do the torque test, and you will become a believer.

 

[Tim s]

To get the best out of a 22 you really need to do a torque test. Here is a link to a video that mirrors the same results I have had with many 22's. I will not shoot a 22 in competition that I have not done a torque test, and will not shoot one without a barrel tuner either. Do yourself a favor and at least do the torque test, and you will become a believer.

To get the best out of a 22 you really need to do a torque test. Here is a link to a video that mirrors the same results I have had with many 22's. I will not shoot a 22 in competition that I have not done a torque test, and will not shoot one without a barrel tuner either. Do yourself a favor and at least do the torque test, and you will become a believer.

Guy is testing torque but using zero wind flags........he's wasting your time and his ammo.
If you have a properly bedded gun, especially a competition rifle, set it at 30 in lbs and your done. Those groups this guy shot between 20 in lbs and 40 in lbs show absolutely nothing that I can see.

 

[1066]

I have a couple of 10/22s that have fired 1.0" groups at 200. My original 10/22 would do 1/2" groups at 50 all day long with about anything you fed it and true 1/2" at 100 with the right ammo
Steve

That's really good shooting with a 10/22. How about pictures of some of these groups?

How about something easy like three five shot groups at 100 yards on the same sheet of paper, all under an inch.

 

[Doc Highwall]

I use wind flags when I do the torque tests, and I have different rifles that shoot best at different torques. One shoots best at 22 in-lbs., another likes 32.5 in- lbs. another likes 45 in-lbs. and another likes 65 in-lbs. With a wood stock do not go over 40 in- lbs, with aluminum pillars or bedding block you can go up to 65 in-lbs.

 

[10/22AppleCreekShooter]

I have a souped up Ruger 10/22 that can shoot with a lot of even good bolt gun 22's and probably out shoot some with custom barrels.