Its not what you want to hear, but frankly I'm of the opinion that semi-automatic .22s make a lousy choice for beginners... They're mechanically more complicated and less reliable than single-shots or even bolt-action repeaters. That means that you're more likely to have stoppages, stove-pipes jams, and failures to feed. Additionally, and this is the biggie for me, semi-automatics will automatically load a round from the magazine until the magazine is empty. With a younger/inexperienced shooter that increases the chances of an "unloaded" gun going off and a bullet going somewhere it shouldn't because Jr. had his finger on the trigger... And then there's the fact that the quick follow-up shot semi-automatics offer means its harder to impress upon the new shooter the importance of making the first shot count. Personally I'm of the opinion that a nice single-shot is the best option for a beginner since he/she has to manually load each round so there's never any doubt about whether the gun is loaded. Additionally single-shots (though this applies to all bolt-actions and other manual repeaters) can digest pretty much any ammunition and are far less likely to jam, fail to feed, or experience mechanical problems... Finally because you only have one shot, it forces you to slow down and make that shot count. As for the gun recommendation... A lot depends on whether you want a new gun or whether a used rifle is what you want. Marlin and Savage both make new .22s bolt-actions that retail for less than $200. Savage has the Mk 1 single-shot and the Mk II repeater (the Stevens 300 is basically a MkII without the accu-trigger). Marlin has the model 925 and maybe the model 980S. There's also the Marlin 15YN, but I'm not sure what they retail for these days... Of those 5 guns, I'd say that the Savage's are probably a bit better since they come with the rimfire version of Savage's AccuTrigger which lets you dial the trigger in exactly as you want. That said none of those guns are a booby prize. They'll all shoot better than most of the people pulling the trigger. You just need to decide what one fits you best If you don't mind a used firearm, there's a lot of options available. These range from classics like the Winchester model 67 and Remington 514 to trade guns like the Ranger series sold by Sears back in the 40s, 50s, and 60s... From about 1930 to the present literally millions of good quality .22 bolt-guns have been made which have never had corrosively primed ammunition go down their barrels. As a result the odds are that even if a used bolt-gun looks a bit dinged, the barrel will be sound since it takes well over 50,000 rounds to wear out a barrel with copper jacketed rounds. (With lead rounds you're looking at more like 250,000 rounds.) So long as the barrel's good and the gun is mechanically sound (it locks up tight and the trigger, safety, etc... works) any of these old guns would be a fine option. And many of them will retail for $100 to $150... I can't be more specific since its impossible to know what's sitting in your local gun store's used rack...
Get a CZ BRNO 22 model 2 Deluxe. This is the standard that ALL other 22 rifles are judged by. I have one and most of my mates also have one. You can put 10 shots into a 5/8" circle at 50 Deluxe with it.
EDIT: I can see your point MM but I'd pay a little more than $100....all mine I got for around $150....I don't want to pay to much but I'll be using them alot so I get what I really want :D
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I just cant imagine paying anything over $ 100.00 for a 22 unless I was some target ace shooter or some thin.......seems silly to me.
Its not what you want to hear, but frankly I'm of the opinion that semi-automatic .22s make a lousy choice for beginners... They're mechanically more complicated and less reliable than single-shots or even bolt-action repeaters. That means that you're more likely to have stoppages, stove-pipes jams, and failures to feed. Additionally, and this is the biggie for me, semi-automatics will automatically load a round from the magazine until the magazine is empty. With a younger/inexperienced shooter that increases the chances of an "unloaded" gun going off and a bullet going somewhere it shouldn't because Jr. had his finger on the trigger... And then there's the fact that the quick follow-up shot semi-automatics offer means its harder to impress upon the new shooter the importance of making the first shot count. Personally I'm of the opinion that a nice single-shot is the best option for a beginner since he/she has to manually load each round so there's never any doubt about whether the gun is loaded. Additionally single-shots (though this applies to all bolt-actions and other manual repeaters) can digest pretty much any ammunition and are far less likely to jam, fail to feed, or experience mechanical problems... Finally because you only have one shot, it forces you to slow down and make that shot count. As for the gun recommendation... A lot depends on whether you want a new gun or whether a used rifle is what you want. Marlin and Savage both make new .22s bolt-actions that retail for less than $200. Savage has the Mk 1 single-shot and the Mk II repeater (the Stevens 300 is basically a MkII without the accu-trigger). Marlin has the model 925 and maybe the model 980S. There's also the Marlin 15YN, but I'm not sure what they retail for these days... Of those 5 guns, I'd say that the Savage's are probably a bit better since they come with the rimfire version of Savage's AccuTrigger which lets you dial the trigger in exactly as you want. That said none of those guns are a booby prize. They'll all shoot better than most of the people pulling the trigger. You just need to decide what one fits you best If you don't mind a used firearm, there's a lot of options available. These range from classics like the Winchester model 67 and Remington 514 to trade guns like the Ranger series sold by Sears back in the 40s, 50s, and 60s... From about 1930 to the present literally millions of good quality .22 bolt-guns have been made which have never had corrosively primed ammunition go down their barrels. As a result the odds are that even if a used bolt-gun looks a bit dinged, the barrel will be sound since it takes well over 50,000 rounds to wear out a barrel with copper jacketed rounds. (With lead rounds you're looking at more like 250,000 rounds.) So long as the barrel's good and the gun is mechanically sound (it locks up tight and the trigger, safety, etc... works) any of these old guns would be a fine option. And many of them will retail for $100 to $150... I can't be more specific since its impossible to know what's sitting in your local gun store's used rack...
Get a CZ BRNO 22 model 2 Deluxe. This is the standard that ALL other 22 rifles are judged by. I have one and most of my mates also have one. You can put 10 shots into a 5/8" circle at 50 Deluxe with it.
Savage makes some real good bolt .22's
Check out the Mark II Version Here
http://savagearms.com/firearms/finder/
And the Stevens Version Here
http://savagearms.com/firearms/finder/
EDIT: I can see your point MM but I'd pay a little more than $100....all mine I got for around $150....I don't want to pay to much but I'll be using them alot so I get what I really want :D
Savage with Winchester or Remington coming in close.
ruger 22.. but why wouldnt you get a 223 if ur willing to spend that amount of money?