This upcoming season id like to finally go small game hunting. I’d like a good 22 that is light enough to hump around all day, accurate enough to bag a squirrel or rabbit at 50 yards, and preferably has a threaded barrel as I have an AAC Pilot 2. Hunting with cans is illegal in Florida so the threaded barrel isn’t a necessity.
I had a 10/22 but went the “tacticool” route with a heavy ass barrel, stock, bipod etc. What is a good bolt gun for this and what kind of optics work well for what I’m trying to do? (I know nothing about optics other than aimpoints and tactical NFs and S&Bs)
Anschütz are damn nice rifles. Have a friend who had one in .22WMR and from his back door racked up over 200 squirrels over the course of a couple years and was taking those shots at closer to 100 meters over 50. That said, Savage does make a pretty damn accurate rifle, picked up a M64 in trade and it is more accurate stock than my stock 10/22s in my opinion.
Suppose it comes down to your budget and if you want a semi or bolt action.
For threaded barrel, look at Savage FVSR. Accurate enough for its price-point, and light. For a step-up in quality, look at the CZ-455 and get one in threaded barrel. The threads are different (European), so a CZ will need a thread adapter.
I have two CZ452 Scouts for my kids. They are sweet shooters. If I didn’t love my remington speedmaster so much I’d for sure have a grown up CZ of my own.
I have a Cooper M57 that is consistently the most accurate rim fire rifle I’ve ever used including an Anschutz 1903 that I used to have access to. The Anschutz sporters are very good though, can’t go wrong with one. Another good rifle is a Weatherby MK XII which is an Anschutz barreled action in a Weatherby stock. Going a bit lower in price any of the CZ rimfires are excellent, and Savage also makes an accurate rifle.
I have a CZ 452 American with 3X9 Leupold which is quite accurate. Also a Ruger 1022 with a trigger job and Nikon EFR3X9 AO which gets the job done on squirrels. Try different brands of ammo in either to find your most accurate load and have fun.
The part about trying a variety of ammo is quite a challenge now with the shortage.
If you are looking for a premium priced rifle the go with a Cooper although they are almost too beautiful for a “working” gun such as a squirrel rifle. Go to the Cooper website, they are awesome.
Edit: replaced 1022 Bushnell with a Nikon EFR 3X9x40 AO and really like it.
I am a big fan of marlins as well. my 60 is a tack driver. My Marlin 880sq will shot sub 1.5 moa 5 shot groups at 200 yards and I know it can do better.
I shot a friends Ruger American Rimfire that really shot good groups, one ragged 5 shot hole at 25 yards…plenty accurate and the price is good. Uses the same mags as your 10-22.
But most .22s today will kill small game to 50 yards…trick will be to find what ammo best shoots from your particular rifle.
The CZ 452/ 455 series of rifles are absolute tack drivers. I own both and would recommend the 452, but either works.
The scoped 455 American I own shoots dime sized groups at 60 yards with CCI mini-mag hps.
However, I agree that the Savage and Marlin rifles are good value, but the CZs are just made with old fashioned craftsmanship rarely seen anymore.
A quality 3X9 scope should be fine for hunting, both Leupold and Nikon make rimfire models. I use a Leupold VII 3X9 Centerfire on my 455 and works well from 10 yards to 100.
Thanks for all of the info guys. I should have mentioned this in the OP but its going to come down to price as well. While I’d love the “best”, I don’t want to drop $1,000 into a gun I’ll use twice a year.
I’ll start looking at the CZs. I have felt the Savage FSVR and it is a little heavy for what I want. I never considered Anschutz, so I’ll look at those too.
Some time ago I found a .22 bolt action Charles Daley on the used rifle rack. very accurate gun I believe made by Zastava.
Come with very nice easily adjustable irons, nice stock and a decent trigger. I paid $175 for it and put a Burris Timberline scope on it and I’m very happy with it.
Another thought would be to get a beater 10-22 from a pawn shop and build it up from there. Nice potential, fun gun and lots of aftermarket stuff to get all of the potential accuracy out of it.
I have one that’s become a bit of an obsession, Houge Stock, Brownells Bull Barrel with a Nikon 3-9 variable scope with a BDC and a Burris fast fire mounted at an 8 O’Clock position.
Heavy for a squirrel gun but having both scopes you can shoot from 10 to 100 yds pretty fast with hold over/under and no sope adjustment.
Go scour the pawn shops for an early Remington bolt action 22 rifle. The Models, 510, 511, 512 and 514.
Some have 6 shot mags, some are tube fed, some are single shots. All have thick and long barrels, wood stocks and great triggers. Most have grooved receivers ready for rings and a scope. All are also VERY accurate.
I have a 1950s Remington 511 with a 3x9x32 Simmons on Millet steel rings. The rifle ran me maybe 100 bucks at a pawn shop and give me dime sized groups at 50yds.
Skip the 10-22 and other semis with their terrible triggers. Skip the 300-400 dollar newer 22 bolt guns…grab one of these Remingtons and put a scope on it and go drop squirrels like mad.
