22 is my favorite caliber

[Mistered]

SO, for all you 22 collectors/hobbyists, is it fair to ask what your FAVORITE 22 Rifle is?

Well thats hard to say but if I DO buy the 9422 Trapper I'll have it and a Marlin Golden 39A - so I'll have to say both of them!

[Mags]

Since I only have one .22 rifle, I guess it would by default have to be my favorite .22 rifle. A Rossi G22.

Likewise with my .22 revolver, a 1947 S&W K22 (pre 17).

[jstanfield103]

That's an interesting question and one we have debated on another site. Out of the 4 major brands of 22lr levers it is really, really hard to rank them. All of them have favorite things I like and all are fun to shoot and shoot a little different. I love all my 22 levers. But if forced to rank them it would be in this way.

1. Browning BL-22, I have a 1980 model that I bought used and that thing was worn in so well and the 30 degree lever throw is just wonderful. My favorite rifle of them all. All so my ugliest rifle. No bluing left someone used it as a truck gun for years. But a great shooter. I have two of these rifles, the new one is very stiff on the trigger which is one complaint that most people have with the Browning's. Must take a long break in like the 1980 model

2. Winchester 9422 XTR, 1978 model, Beautifully well made and quality rifle. Not a flaw when Winchester made these rifles, held nothing back on quality. Smooth and quick action and a great shooter.

3. Marlin 39M 1955 model, This rifle is absolutely tied with the Winchester on quality and likeability. Heavy great shooting rifle, very accurate shooting, and quality is number one also. The only reason I rank it below the Winchester is the action is clunky compared to the Winchester. But it is a quality action and operates correctly just different in feel and operation. When taking a rifle out I have a hard time picking between the Winchester and Marlin. But the Marlin gets the nod for having the receiver predrilled for Williams FA39 peep sights.

4. Henry SGR,2018 model. Great shooter, very accurate and beautifully made. Very smooth action, like the Winchester. Two reasons that it ranks below the Winchester and Marlin is that the take down is a lot harder. The materials, in my opinion used on this rifle and I have no proof, are not as quality made. For example the barrel seems that the steel used is softer than the other manufactures. The receiver is not steel like the others. Browning has some not steel in the inner receiver but a heavy steel outer. I would pay the price increase for a all steel Henry like the steel big bore they make.

That is the way I rank the lever 22's. If I had to get rid of them all except one, that would be tuff but I would keep my Marlin 39M as the one that I would keep.

[North Country Gal]

Don't really have an individual model favorite. I enjoy variety too much for that. Have to say, though, when the dust clears and I settle in to what I shoot the most, when it comes to 22 LR guns, it's bolt actions and our single shots. In fact, the same can be said for our centerfire rifles, too. Accuracy, great triggers and performance are the main features I want in a rifle, as well as simplicity of function and design.

Being able to cycle an action for fast follow up shots is fun, plus I do like the romance and history of lever guns, but these are not features I really need for my shooting. Yes, it's fun to put on my cowgirl hat, sometimes, and shoot a lever or even a pump gun. I'll even go way out, now and then, with a semi-auto. When it's time to push myself and do my best work, though, it's time for a bolt gun or a single shot and our collection reflect this. No offense to all you lever gun lovers - I get why you like them, I really do - but for me, bolt guns and single shots are my home base. Typically, about 90% of our rifle collection.

[rwortman]

I have a Henry 22 WMR that might be as accurate as a bolt action, my Ruger 10-22 pictured on another thread, likewise my new SW22 pistol. I also have a Dan Wesson .22 revolver like the one pictured below. That's not mine but mine is just like it. If it's not the best shooting 22 revolver ever made, it is certainly in the top 3. I loved the way it looks but it's too heavy with too much weight forward for me to shoot it well. For me, that's revolvers in general, even though I own too more for other reasons. So I have 4 rimfire guns, I don't have more than one of anything else. I am not a collector and I don't shop for used guns much. I would say my most accurate and easiest to shoot rifle is my CZ527 bolt gun in .223/5.56 with the set trigger. It is, strictly speaking the same caliber as a 22 rimfire but a rather different best. I also have a .22 pellet rifle. I also have a bolt action rifle in .270. I don't have a large gun rack. 5 rifles,(2 lever, 2 bolt, 1 semiauto) a pellet rifle and a O/U shotgun. I have lusted after a nice .22LR bolt action gun for a while but can't seem to get myself to plunk down the cash.

[Blackdog]

I really like my .22s, but I have a 25-20 that gets a lot of my attention. It shoots like a .22 magnum, has about the same recoil. Is reloadable and best of all it fits me well.

[tractortad]

SO, for all you 22 collectors/hobbyists, is it fair to ask what your FAVORITE 22 Rifle is?

We have about 30 rifles in 22LR - bolt actions, levers, semi-auto's, pumps made by Browning, Colt, CZ, Henry, Marlin, Ruger, Savage, and Winchester. If I had to pick one, it would probably be the 2003 Marlin 39AS - not the smoothest action, but it is a well-made full size beast of a 22LR - to me it's just the most classic 22LR ever made...

Marlin 39AS.JPG

[ESquared]

SO, for all you 22 collectors/hobbyists, is it fair to ask what your FAVORITE 22 Rifle is?

We have about 30 rifles in 22LR - bolt actions, levers, semi-auto's, pumps made by Browning, Colt, CZ, Henry, Marlin, Ruger, Savage, and Winchester. If I had to pick one, it would probably be the 2003 Marlin 39AS - not the smoothest action, but it is a well-made full size beast of a 22LR - to me it's just the most classic 22LR ever made...
Marlin 39AS.JPG

Beast is right! What is that, a 24" barrel? Beautiful rifle, could double for one that's twice the caliber!

[dddrees]

Shame, shame, shame, steeling my title. LOL

My love or like for 22s has to do with limited recoil (arthritic hands) and cost. Oh and joy of being able to fire more and more often (cost) I do tend to fire more handguns than rifle though. The outdoor range I go to has a separate pistol range with moving targets where I don’t have to wait on others to cease fire if I want to replace my target. Not many go to that side and it muffles the larger calibers a bit as well being on that side.

Anyway I’m often there earlier and long after someone firing a larger and more costly caliber typically will be. Here again it just comes down to taking my time and being able to fire more guns and more ammo while I am there.

I owned a bb gun as a teenager and I am retired military and I didn’t own any firearm until about two and half years ago. I have a few 9mms and 357s but the 22s by far are the larger part of the guns that I own. Henry Golden Boy, Winchester 9422, a Remington 121, and a Ruger 10/22 take down. Also a Air Arms Pro Sport 22 pellet rifle for backyard use. 2 S&W 41s because the first one was too sweet and I was hooked. A S&W 617, a Ruger GP100 22, a Ruger Single Ten, 2 Single Six’s, a Bearcat, and a Ruger SP101 22. All fun with the exception of the SP101 which I’ll try switching out springs one of these days.

22s are just loads of fun.

[RanchRoper]

My local hardware store just got a couple of Henry .22's in stock. SGC short carbine with large loop lever, and the Frontier octagon. Nice looking rifles. Both .22LR by the looks of it. Around $450 Canadian.