Your favorite, bestest, gotta have 22 rifle

[Vaquero]

Some great 22s, folks.

Love those old Marlins, Vaquero. Not sure if I've ever seen an 89c. Been keeping an eye out for a 25N. Great old bolt gun.

Marine, you can never go wrong with a CZ.

Kaboomer, those are some of my favorites, too.

Thanks NCG, I'd never heard of or seen one before that day. When working out of town I look for gun and pawn shops, and we'll visit them during a lunch break or on the way home. That particular day, we were bs'ing with the owner and I told him I liked Marlins, and he said I have one here in the back that I've been thinking about taking home myself. He went and got it and after looking it over I asked what he'd take for it. Best I remember it was like$125 otd because of the missing mag. I said sold. It shoots the CCI sv ammo quite well.

As to the 25N, it really shines with the reg. CCI stuff. I also have it's twin a 25NM which is the 22 mag version, both born in 1995, but not close in production and pretty accurate in it's on right.


RP

[Vaquero]

The 25N & 25NM, with the pair of single-sixes.

20221025_133855.jpg

RP

[North Country Gal]

Thanks for sharing. I gotta find one of those Marlin 25Ns. I've heard so much about them over the years.

[BigAl52]

I know one thing about CZ you can pretty well bet that if you are buying one it will be right from the start. Im not so sure anymore about some of the other gun mfgs.

[daytime dave]

For me, it has to be my Browning T-bolt. It had been delivered to my favorite gun shop less than a half an hour before I walked in. They said it was on order for almost 2 years. I liked it and bought a nice scope. Once I got it home and sighted in, it is a winner. If I do my part, at 50 yds with bulk ammunition, the group will be touching each other. I haven't tried with good ammunition.

[JEBar]

for me, the choice is simple .... the best is a late 1930's vintage Remington Model 12 pump 22LR/L/S .... it belonged to my grandfather and is the most accurate 22 I've ever fired .... decades ago (and yes I have multiple witnesses) I hit a quarter at 100 yards .... No, I couldn't see a quarter at that distance back then and I still can't ... the shiny new quarter was placed in a red clay bank and the sun's reflection could be seen .. ... it ain't particular about what you feed it but really likes CCI Mini Mags

[North Country Gal]

Dave I'm also a fan of T bolts. I've had two of the new ones with the rotary mag. Loved that t-bolt action and accuracy. Working that action was a blast.

With my old arthritic hands, though, I fumbled with that rotary mag design. Having to hold that wheel while loading when I was having a bad day with my hands was just too much. The old Ruger 10/22 rotary mag I could do, though, because there was no wheel to hold while loading. Yeah, really a minor thing, overall, but sometimes it is the little things.

Then I found an original Belgium T2. Problem solved. Just uses an old fashioned non-rotary mag.

By the way, if you ever decide to go with a replacement trigger, let me know before you buy aftermarket. I still have a Jard trigger for the new T bolts that I was using. It can be very tricky to get set right, but it will drop the pull weight down under 2 pounds.

[North Country Gal]

Al, your Remington reminds me of my 20s vintage Marlin 38 pump I rescued, but your Remington is much more famous, of course. I think it's a shame that so many shooters have missed out on these old 22 pump guns from Remington, Winchester, Savage and Marlin. They really do provide a unique 22 rifle shooting experience. Love my 22 lever rifles, but these old pumps are smoother and faster to shoot.

[North Country Gal]

Have to add some more.

When I was much younger, one of my favorite places to hunt fox squirrels was in the hills along the Platte river in eastern Nebraska. And those were hills. Lots of up and down walking, but some of those bur oak and walnut groves with a corn field here and there were great places to hunt. I usually carried a handgun to keep things light, but here's a rifle I wish I had, back then. Just couldn't squeeze one into the budget, though.



Yeah, it's a light, but very accurate Belgium Browning SA 22 auto wearing a small vintage Browning 4x scope made by Redfield. What a terrific little rifle this would have been to carry in those hills. I have a few of these, now. These little Brownings are in a class of their own.

[Luv the lever]

Buddy had a pump 22 I liked, wish I had it today. Fun as my 22revolver and 10/22 are the favorite would have to be the Golden Boy. I know, it’s gaudy and heavy with a slippery butt, it just rocks. It has a Skinner peep on it and I am crazy about keeping it clean, it comes to the range with a towel to set it on.

[Mags]

My grandad had a octagon barreled .22lr single shot. I don't remember the make. He had me sit in his orchard and shoot birds with .22 shot to keep them from eating the fruit. I think he did it to keep me out from under foot. Worked for me. Win-Win for both of us.

[BigAl52]

Dave I'm also a fan of T bolts. I've had two of the new ones with the rotary mag. Loved that t-bolt action and accuracy. Working that action was a blast.

With my old arthritic hands, though, I fumbled with that rotary mag design. Having to hold that wheel while loading when I was having a bad day with my hands was just too much. The old Ruger 10/22 rotary mag I could do, though, because there was no wheel to hold while loading. Yeah, really a minor thing, overall, but sometimes it is the little things.

Then I found an original Belgium T2. Problem solved. Just uses an old fashioned non-rotary mag.

By the way, if you ever decide to go with a replacement trigger, let me know before you buy aftermarket. I still have a Jard trigger for the new T bolts that I was using. It can be very tricky to get set right, but it will drop the pull weight down under 2 pounds.

NCG
I have one of these for 10/22 magazines it takes a little practice with it to get the hang of it but once you do it works great

https://www.amazon.com/Magazine-Speedlo ... B0BLGC9BM3

[Hatchdog]

My grandad had an octagon barreled .22lr single shot. I don't remember the make. He had me sit in his orchard and shoot birds with .22 shot to keep them from eating the fruit. I think he did it to keep me out from under foot. Worked for me. Win-Win for both of us.

That’s an awesome grandpa for sure!

[North Country Gal]

Thanks for the tip, Al. I'm using something similar to load my Kimber 9mm mags. These gadgets help a bunch.

[Bill.68]

Not a classic or particularly valuable or rare but it just has something goin on that makes me drool everytime I see one. The CZ457 American is just a beautiful little rifle that I really need to add to my meager rimfire collection. If I do lay my grubby little paws on one you best bet it will be in 22WMR.

[ditchparrot]

Of all the guns I own, this Remington 514 single-shot has -- by far -- the most sentimental value to me. It was given to me when I was 4 years old by a man called "Pinky" who worked for my father. Pinky passed away at some point not long after that.

This gun was the very foundation for my lifelong love of traditional firearms. I still shoot it frequently and I'll never willingly part with it. I actually plan to be buried with it if my daughter has no objections, which she won't.

It's accurate as hell. It's dispatched a wide variety of critters -- some for table fare and some for other purposes, such as keeping them from destroying my buddy's alfalfa crops. It's never had to visit a gunsmith in my 57 years of ownership. It'll never be re-blued and the wood will never be refinished -- it stays like it is.

It has no serial number, which was the case for 514s from 1947-53. At some point, on some forum, I encountered a guy who's an authority on them and owns 30. I described the tool marks and he was able to determine that it left the factory in '53.

Honestly, I wouldn't take $10,000 for it. The money would not make up for the heartache of no longer having this rifle.

Rem_514.jpg

[North Country Gal]

Great old Remington single shot. I've always had a soft spot for those old bolt action 22 single shots.

[Ranger2020]

Gotta admit, my favorite 22 is the Springfield 87A that I got from my dad before he passed. It was his squirrel gun. Old enough that it has no vin#. Also known as a Gill Gun. Right behind is my Henry 001. Just love the look of it, the smoothness of it, and the accuracy. #3 is a recent purchase. I bought a S&W M&P 15-22. My son and I took it to the range this past Monday and got the sights dialed in. Also a fun shooter.

[North Country Gal]

The 87A is a rimfire I've always wanted to try. Just haven't run across one for sale. Thanks for sharing.

[BrokenolMarine]

Revisited this post, and rereading thru the threads reminded me of my great grandmother who lived alone well into her eighties. I'd spend a week with her most summers, and there were favorite things.

Freshly made blackberry cobbler with vanilla ice cream.

A huge round hooked patterned rug in her living room to drive my Hot Wheels cars on in the evenings.

An ancient 22 single shot that sat by the back door leading to her back porch. The porch overlooked her garden, and we'd sit there and watch, the 22 across her lap, she'd snipe the varmints and birds that dared to invade it, as we enjoyed the "air." She loaded it with 22 shorts. Cheaper, quiet, all she needed at that short range. She rarely missed.

She took pleasure in her simple home, her garden, her "things." She took care of them, and told me on every visit. "If you take care of your things, they will be there to take care of you."