Who is the current "King of the .22s?"

[The Soup Nazi]

I was shooting my S&W Model 41 today and had a discussion with the rangemaster and we both came to the consensus that the Model 41 is one hell of a target pistol. He then recommended the Winchester Model 52 to me since it was once known as the "King of .22s." The only problem is that like many good guns of days past, they just don't make them anymore. Barring the fortune of finding a used one for sale, does anyone have recommendations for a good .22lr bolt action rifle suitable for smallbore competition?

[Chaos47]

King of 22LR bolt action?
Gonna go with Anschutz and CZ

[Steve_In_29]

The CZs are VERY nice rifles

[Chaos47]

Oh yea and in before someone says 10/22

[Merc1138]

Originally Posted by Chaos47

Oh yea and in before someone says 10/22

10/22? LOL The pig that people put lipstick on maybe, definitely no king(hell, the only ruger part involved in my 10/22 is the magazines).

I'd suggest the OP go take a look at rimfirecentral.com, because outside of the monthly rimfire match here, everything is 10/22, marlin 795, a bunch of tacticool 22's, and the oddball conversation that's about an actual target rifle.

Not that there's anything wrong with tacticool(I have one), the 795(have one of those too), or the 10/22(well, they suck from the factory anyway), but RFC would be a better place to do some research.

[defcon]

Marlin 60!

[CSACANNONEER]

My old Mossbergs (42A and 44US) shoot as well as my Anshultz does. Shop the used racks at your LGSs and you'll probably find a great deal on a great shooter!

[olhunter]

Originally Posted by defcon

Marlin 60!

Originally Posted by Chaos47

Oh yea and in before someone says 10/22

Guess you guys missed the part about bolt-action.

So anyway....here's my list.

Hard to beat the Kimber 'rusty' at CMP for a pure target rifle. Single shot.

http://www.odcmp.com/Sales/22targetsurplus.htm

After that.....The Mossbergs that CSA mentioned, a Remington 510/511/512 (Single shot, magazine, tube), or the CZ 452.

If single shot is ok with what you want to do, I'd pick the Kimber. After that, I'd get the Mossberg 44US or the Remington 512-P (peep sight).

[defcon]

ah yes i did. my bad.

I have a Marlin XT-22 and a Savage MKII F. I prefer my XT-22

[Jeepers]

my old rem 511 scoremaster is still a straight shooter

[desertexplore]

Ruger 10/22- King of the .22!

[Izzy43]

In the $1000-$2000 range an Anchutz or Remington 40X. Forget about a CZ or expecially a 10/22 competing with either of those rifles. You will not ever see a 10/22 or CZ on the bench doing serious competition. All serious, professional small bore competition is ruled by custom builds, all bolt action costing over $5000.

[BRANCHER]

Anschutz 54 action. Buy once and be done. And Yes this is the King!

However CZ 452 is nearly as accurate for 99% of the people and 1/4 of the cost.
Winchester Model 52 is a very accurate rifle too.
And I have both 54s and CZ (and some BRNOs as well)
Even have a Anschutz Exemplar pistol.

And you are doing good with the Smith 41. Great Gun.

[GreggieBoy]

Originally Posted by CSACANNONEER

My old Mossbergs (42A and 44US) shoot as well as my Anshultz does.

Learned formally on the 44US. My mentor, SgtMaj Mason, passed away earlier this month, reminding me of the special meaning the Mossberg had for me. That great Marine taught me how to compete against the shooters using match quality Winchesters using a Mossberg.

[sholling]

How much money have you got . If money is no object then for full blown competition the answer is a 54 action Anschutz in whatever style stock floats your boat. If you're on a $1k plus budget then the answer is Anschutz's budget minded 64 action target rifles like the 64 MPR or 64s Benchrest. I have a 64 MPR and it's bloody accurate but they have kinda weak ejection and get absolutely zero support from the company. You pay your money and you're on your own.



64 MPR top, 64S Benchrest bottom.

If you want something a bit more reasonably priced then look at a CZ455 American or Varmint. Unless you get a lemon it will be nearly as accurate as an Anschutz, more accurate than most shooters, and less than half the money but may need a bit of trigger work.

Or you can buy a Kidd Supergrade and have a seriously accurate semiautomatic.


My Anschutz 64 MPR.

[CWDraco]

Savage MKII, since I just bought one.

[Thefeeder]

Pistols....High standard Trophy, Victor (old ones)

Rifle .....Anschutz 54

[Chaos47]

Originally Posted by olhunter

Guess you guys missed the part about bolt-action.

So anyway....here's my list.

Hard to beat the Kimber 'rusty' at CMP for a pure target rifle. Single shot.

http://www.odcmp.com/Sales/22targetsurplus.htm

After that.....The Mossbergs that CSA mentioned, a Remington 510/511/512 (Single shot, magazine, tube), or the CZ 452.

If single shot is ok with what you want to do, I'd pick the Kimber. After that, I'd get the Mossberg 44US or the Remington 512-P (peep sight).

I didn't miss anything.
My list is the first reply to the thread, Anschutz and CZ.

Guess, you should read my second post again.

Originally Posted by Chaos47

Oh yea and in before someone says 10/22

I was saying undoubtedly someone would say the 10/22...
Which someone actually did do...
Also the should have been a clue...

[Furncliff]

Soup, it depends on how competitive you want to be, how good the competition is, and what your budget is.

My CZ's are way more accurate than any off the shelf, un-molested rifle. Expect to pay $350-550 depending on model. There seems to be very little difference in accuracy between models. Although the ultra lux with it's super long barrel has an advantage for shooting with iron sights.

Mine is set up with Brno Standard Target Sights.


Brno... this is another Czech made rifle that merged with CZ about 50 years ago. The two that seem to showup the most are the model 1 and model 4. Jump on these if you find one, they will give the Anshutz rifles a run and still be less expensive.

This a #4 with Brno Sights.

There are aftermarket stocks for the CZ's and Brno's. This is my Brno #1 in a Klinsky stock. I really like these stocks, good adjustments and very comfortable. I'm convinced I shoot this rifle better than with the sporter stock it came with.





The gold standard is Anshutz, expensive but probably the best without getting into a custom.

[Izzy43]

Originally Posted by sholling

How much money have you got . If money is no object then for full blown competition the answer is a 54 action Anschutz in whatever style stock floats your boat. If you're on a $1k plus budget then the answer is Anschutz's budget minded 64 action target rifles like the 64 MPR or 64s Benchrest. I have a 64 MPR and it's bloody accurate but they have kinda weak ejection and get absolutely zero support from the company. You pay your money and you're on your own.



64 MPR top, 64S Benchrest bottom.

If you want something a bit more reasonably priced then look at a CZ455 American or Varmint. Unless you get a lemon it will be nearly as accurate as an Anschutz, more accurate than most shooters, and less than half the money but may need a bit of trigger work.

Or you can buy a Kidd Supergrade and have a seriously accurate semiautomatic.


My Anschutz 64 MPR.

I had the pleasure of meeting Sholling at our local range and the additional pleasure of shooting his Anschutz 64 MPR with the Weaver T-24 scope. First shot was wildly off as the 64 has a set trigger and then releases @ 4 oz, wasn't prepared for that. After that every shot was center bullseye @ 50yds. Amazing rifle. I should sell a few of mine and buy one and never look back.

[desertexplore]

Originally Posted by Chaos47

I didn't miss anything.
My list is the first reply to the thread, Anschutz and CZ.

Guess, you should read my second post again.



I was saying undoubtedly someone would say the 10/22...
Which someone actually did do...
Also the should have been a clue...

Haha, I am thinking overall history and sales.

[Chaos47]

Originally Posted by desertexplore

Haha, I am thinking overall history and sales.

Sorry even if we are going to talk about semiautos the Marlin 60 destroys all other semiautos in the "history and sales" category.

[superbarnie]

Savage MKII.

[Merc1138]

Originally Posted by Chaos47

Sorry even if we are going to talk about semiautos the Marlin 60 destroys all other semiautos in the "history and sales" category.

I've always wondered why people think the 10/22 is somehow the "king" regarding sales, when the marlin 60 has sold double.

[sholling]

Originally Posted by Merc1138

I've always wondered why people think the 10/22 is somehow the "king" regarding sales, when the marlin 60 has sold double.

I think it has more to do with accuracy potential. The 60 is a sweet rifle and very accurate out of the box but a 10/22 can be tuned to be competitive with all but the very top layer of bolt action rifles. Now it may be possible to do the same with a Marlin but I just haven't seen one.

[Chaos47]

Sure its the king of customization but definitely not the king of sales or history.

But we should get back on topic, hah.

[tanakasan]

Originally Posted by sholling

My Anschutz 64 MPR.

Wow, that's a pretty piece! <drool>

Robert

[Merc1138]

Originally Posted by Chaos47

But we should get back on topic, hah.

Well fine then. Here's my obligatory "it's the best because I have one"

"rusty" Kimber 82g

Of course the day that I find myself being able to outshoot it, I'll drop the cash on an anschutz.

[The Soup Nazi]

Hmm. The reason I ask is that I'm looking into joining Princeton's rifle team and they compete in a collegiate league against military academies and the other Ivy League schools in the mid-Atlantic region in smallbore rifle. Their team captain this year is actually a US Olympic shooter, but she's unfortunately graduating this year.

I'm thinking the CZ might be a good entry gun for me to develop in that discipline.

[Chaos47]

If that is your intentions then it may be a good idea contact the team and ask them for input on what they use and suggest you get.

http://www.princeton.edu/campusrec/s...iptions/rifle/

Rifle

The rifle team is a member of the MAC League who competes with 21 colleges and universities. Visit the Rifle Club website for more details.

Club Hours:
5:15pm daily

The season is September through February. We are a gender equality sport. Experience is desired, but not necessary. We will train. For more information, contact the captain, Sandra Fong smfong @ princeton.edu

I put the spaces between the @ symbol as I didn't want it to be a hotlink, so remove those..

[beerman]

I've got an H&R model 12 US that will light matches at 50 yds. Never shot an Anschutz,but I'd like to.

[sholling]

Originally Posted by The Soup Nazi

Hmm. The reason I ask is that I'm looking into joining Princeton's rifle team and they compete in a collegiate league against military academies and the other Ivy League schools in the mid-Atlantic region in smallbore rifle. Their team captain this year is actually a US Olympic shooter, but she's unfortunately graduating this year.

I'm thinking the CZ might be a good entry gun for me to develop in that discipline.

I would call and ask them what they recommend and use. For a good very accurate inexpensive rifle to develop your skills it's hard to beat a CZ. Be sure to ask what style of shooting that they do because you'll want to match the stock style of the rifle and the type of optics to the type of shooting. If it's aperture sights then that's Izzy43's thing and he can probably help. Plan on spending a $100 or so on collecting a verity of match ammo to see what it likes best and then ton of money on feeding it that ammo while you refine your skills.

[Lead Waster]

How rusty are the rusty lumbers? That "may have heavy rust in the barrel" I'd a bit off putting!

[Merc1138]

Originally Posted by Lead Waster

How rusty are the rusty lumbers? That "may have heavy rust in the barrel" I'd a bit off putting!

They might have rust on the cocking screw on the bolt. 99% of them don't have rust at all, what they DO have is an annoying preservative that looks like orange speckles all over everything that after handling it for a couple minutes turns your skin yellow.

Then there's also the scratches in the stock from, what do they call him... "Private Slingblade". The story is that the US Army had 20,000 of them sitting brand new in the box in a warehouse, and when they did inventory and checked serial numbers they just cut the bags open with boxcutters. It's not a big deal. CMP calls them rusty with the warning, because they weren't "mint" and the original batch included "rusty" and mint condition rifles, with the "rusty" being non-exchangeable(because of the scratch).

Now while complete disassembling it and cleaning it to remove that yellow crap was a PITA, but the metal(on mine, and plenty of others that people have posted pics of in the kimber section over at RFC) has been perfect(with mine having an extremely faint hairline scratch in the bluing from the boxcutter).

http://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums...splay.php?f=19

You should also keep in mind that it is a single shot, and it's also heavy as ****. Not a rifle to just carry around the campsite plinking at tin cans.

[Dattebayo]

For a bolt action rifle, there is no better .22LR than the Anshultz. There is a reason why every recent Olympics, all the competitors shoot and win with Anshultz. Their fit and finish is second to none and currently the best in the world.

CZ-USA rifles are amazing and awesome shooters. They are a great economic buy, performing like rifles double to triple their costs, but at the end of the day, no $500 mass produced rifle will ever meet the final product of an Anshultz.

At the end of the day, it doesn't matter if you are shooting a $200 rifle or a $5000 one, if you suck at shooting, the outcome will still be the same. But history and track record proves Anshultz is king.

[Izzy43]

Well, that just about says it all. Great Post.

[RandyD]

Originally Posted by The Soup Nazi

Hmm. The reason I ask is that I'm looking into joining Princeton's rifle team and they compete in a collegiate league against military academies and the other Ivy League schools in the mid-Atlantic region in smallbore rifle. Their team captain this year is actually a US Olympic shooter, but she's unfortunately graduating this year.

I'm thinking the CZ might be a good entry gun for me to develop in that discipline.

Smallbore competition is a small community of shooters and the shooting is truly focused on precision. I started shooting smallbore competitions in high school in the mid 70's. My first competition rifle was a Winchester model 52. You still see them in competitions, and they are excellent rifles. However, just look at what the Olympic competitors use and you will not find a Win. 52 used by any of them. My suggestion is to talk to the team members and get recommendations from them. I use an Anschutz 2013, with a fully adjustable aluminum stock, and they are the most common rifles used in Olympic smallbore competition.

BTW, I too shoot a S&W 41. You obviously like accurate and quality firearms.

[dfletcher]

Originally Posted by The Soup Nazi

I was shooting my S&W Model 41 today and had a discussion with the rangemaster and we both came to the consensus that the Model 41 is one hell of a target pistol. He then recommended the Winchester Model 52 to me since it was once known as the "King of .22s." The only problem is that like many good guns of days past, they just don't make them anymore. Barring the fortune of finding a used one for sale, does anyone have recommendations for a good .22lr bolt action rifle suitable for smallbore competition?

During the early 90's Browning made a resissue of the Winchester 52 B. It's an excellent rifle, I grabbedone (with mounts) at the Reno Cabelas during the Vov 12 show. It cost under $500.00, I suspect someone at Cabelas didn't quite know what they had, or the seller didn't know at put a very low price on it. The trigger is excellent, nice wood and excellent overall quality.

Overall it would be my choice for "King of the 22s" although I don't know that it's the most accurate. I have a 1941 made Winchester 75 and it's just as accurate, my Savage and a few CZ 452/455s are nearly as accurate. But the 52 does get the most "oohs and ahhs" at the range.

[santamonica9]

op - your asking about s&w 41? that is a match shooting .22lr pistol (I LOVE MINE) if your looking for a rifle... CZ, anshutz, or as others have stated look through your LGS used racks, I've found some really great gems hidden good luck

[Yoteman]

Well if price is a portion of the consideration then I'll stick with my NS-522. Unfortunately no longer available here but a damn good buy when they were. Best .22 bargain I ever got at $200.00 delivered and fee'd.

NS522 Info