My next buys will be a 22LR and 22WMR - which ones?

[briannmilewis]

I started my boys off shooting centerfire and they had no time in rimfire. That was a mistake. My boys never had the experience of burning a lot of ammo for very few buck with a 22LR. We could certainly got out shooting more often with the 22LR.

An important consideration is that I am a lefty and my boys are righties.

While the H&R 22 Hornet is cheap to shoot if you reload, it still pails in comparison to the cost of your basic bulk 22LR, and the cheap 22WMR are right in there with the Hornet reload cost.

For about $130 each I can buy H&R Sportsters.

For about $130 I can buy a Savage semi-auto or bolt 22LR, and pay $210 for 22WMR bolt.

For about $250 I can buy a Henry 22 (I had one for 4 years and loved it), and pay $375 for a Henry 22WMR.

What say you and why?

[wreckhog]

I love my .22 Mag Sportster (pictured with a 30-06 Ultra Comp for size comparison) for plinking and carrying. It is my poor man's version of a .22 Hornet Superlight....lol. A bit more thump than a .22LR.

I have a .22LR Versa Pack, but for .22LR I like my 10/22. I do use my VP to slowly use up crappy Fed bulk ammo that won't feed in my 10/22 (it prefers Rem Subsonics at $30/brick). The VP is is also fun with Super Colibris. Outdoors, the hammer hitting is louder than the muzzle blast. Ie, quieter than an air rifle. Not tried them indoors.

Just got a Savage .17MHR. Ammo is being recalled, so prices on the guns have gotten better. Unfired so far.

Would love to try a .17Mach2 Sportster. It is on the wish list.

[zoner]

i,ve got a 22lr sportster...bought it new,came with synthetic stocks....i put pallet wood(painted camo) stocks on it,a remington front ramp with insert and hood,and a WGRS peep on the reciever. Light weight,perfectly balanced with the wood stocks,a great little rifle to carry around....wish my 357 felt like that

[LaOtto222]

For plinking and just plain fun shooting , get a 22 LR. I have a couple 22 Mags and while they are fun to shoot, it ain't cheap shooting compared to a 22 LR. You already have a 22 Hornet for any thing that calls for more punch, so the 22 LR is very cheap to shoot in comparison. If you get a Sportster, you can send in the frame at a later date for 22 Mag or 17 HMR barrels - If you desire. Good Luck and Good Shooting

[spruce]

If it were me (and it's not!) I would stick with the .22LR.  Ammo is cheaper than .22 Mag - a rough estimate is you can buy about 5 times as much .22LR verses .22 Mag (hard to say exactly as prices are all over the place right now).

Another thing to consider is that with rifles like the sportster or the Henry you can start them out with youth size buttstocks and as they grow you can easily replace them with adult size buttstocks quite economically.

I started out with a single shot .22 and a single shot shotgun and I think it made me a better marksman and a better hunter.  When you only have one shot it gives you more incentive to master the basics!

Good luck - whatever you get them they will remember the rest of their lives!

[teddy12b]

I'm torn on the topic, because I have both a 22mag and 22LR.  I bought my 22mag 11 years ago for groundhogs.  At the time ammo wasn't much more for it than a 22LR.  Now adays it's a different story.  My 22mag ammo I use is $13 per 50 so it's up there with everything else. 

I'd stick with the 22LR for teaching kids how to shoot.  If you just want to let them blast away and get that out of their systems I'd say get a 10-22.  If you want them to learn to precisely place shots I'd consider one of those savage bolt action 22's with a scope.  The H&R rifles are nice, but for the same money there are tons of options out there for 22's. 

I'd like to know what you finally decide on.

[fr3db3ar]

I am a fan of both CZ and Savage.  Both are great shooting guns right out of the box for accuracy potential.  LR will be cheaper to plink with...WMR will of course be more powerful.  LR is plenty for rabbits and squirrels out to 50yds or so....WMR for bigger stuff @ longer ranges

[45-70.gov]

22 lr.....forget the mag

ruger  10/22   cheapest  one  let  them  buy  accessory stock barrel  clips etc

some times  an  auto  is not  good for new shooters  tho
but nothing  is more fun than  making a can '' dance''

we  just  got  the ruger charger pistol [10/22]

a few months back i got a savage
stainless thumbhole laminant bull barrel  accutrigger
seems  real accurate  it close range  no  long range  shots yet
2 sling studs  for sling and bi-pod
its  a little  heavy  my  only complaint 

[bigvarmnt]

I have sportster in 22lr 22mag and 17HMR. The lr don't shoot too bad. Bought several brands of 22 mag and HMR, not impressed. If you don't shoot squirrel or small things close I wouldn't waste the money. If you want to let them burn up ammo than get a semi auto 22 lr, they WILL have fun. You can load quite a few Hornet rounds for what you spend on the guns and mag ammo and it will do better. I would suggest you find a 357 barrel or buy a new 357 and/or 44mag and all have some fun. Can even get a scatergun barrel for it. Good Luck!   

[myarmor]

If they are into Tinkering and would be interested in building a rifle in the future, a 10/22 is an excellent choice. Their are so many extras out there it just blows the mind. I am not degrading the 22 Sporster by any means, but with a cartridge like a 22 you want a fast second shot because it's fun and cheap to tear into a can/paper/ trimming the trees even and see your last bullet cut and where you want the next to go.
But I personally like a good bolt action for a 22, I have more control and I like them the best.




-Aaron

[briannmilewis]

I appreciate the detailed and varied replies.

It seems that our 22 Hornet obviates the need for the 22WMR. Who said "need" has anything to do with gun purchases?

If that is the case, and I was going to spend a total of $270 at least on one of each cheap alternatives, I may as well get the Henry 22 for about $250, as I had 4 years experience with it, shooting ground squirrels every day spring to fall, for one hour, and it never let me down.

It fed every 22CB, 22S and 22 LR I tried, and with a 2x7 scope was really accurate to 75yds on those tiny little 13 line ground squirrels. I practiced on soda cans at 75 yards, as they are the same size as the adult squirrel. It holds 26 22CB or 22S in the tube magazine and can be fired fast.

Gave the Henry to a friend of mine when I moved from rural Michigan to metro MO. He got cancer and sold off everything he could to pay medical bills - while I thought it was a pity, I figured in the grand scheme of things he needed money for medical treatment more than I needed a rifle.

The problem is, I have handled a CZ 22LR, that was a big mistake. However, the price tag of $470 will keep me away from one of those. $200 can buy an awful lot of 22 ammo.

Then again, $120 buys an awful lot of 22 ammo too, if I bought a cheap Savage or H&R Sportster compared to the Henry...hmm, see how this process gets all jumbled up and changes in my mind the more I think about it...I will have to give the Henry idea more thought...

I do agree with single shot aiding in the development of my boys abilities, they are very good with the single-shot Hornet and were from the outset, and they do not waste ammo, they are very aware of the ammo resource they have for each range outing.  

If you have not posted and have more ideas or criticisms of my leanings here, please, keep it going. It is always easier to change my mind or firm up my decision before I have committed a cent to the project!

[JerryKo]

I have a handi 22 hornet and have thought alot about needing a 22mag.  But the hornet is more functional.  I had single shot 22's for plinking with my Dad while he worked on the bigger calibers and a box of 50 went too fast. So I believe a 22lr auto would burn them up even faster...
My son's vp 22lr is very accurate.  I know the versa packs are not made any more but if you find one better buy it.  Personally I'd go with a cheaper 22 and use the saved money for ammo.  Like the others stated the singles do seem to "teach" better aim.  My oldest shoots much better with his single shot 22 then when he is spraying the range with the 22 buckmark semi pistol...lol.

Jerry

[Westbound]

I own 2 22lr rifles.  One belonged to my great grandfather and it's a Marlin single shot bolt.  I can't remember the model number, but it was made in the 50s or 60s.
The other is a Marlin 60 that I picked up at a pawn shop for $75.  There's nothing pretty about it, but it works.  It shoots as well as any Ruger 10/22 that I've shot, and luckily it prefers cheap Federal ammo.  I don't know how many squirrels and cottontails have fallen to it.  In all honestly, most 22 rifles seem to be accurate enough for small game and plinking.  I would just get the rifles that you like, find out what ammo the guns like and go have a blast!

[Skunk]

I know they they are little more expensive Brian, but I'd still get the CZ. You can get the awesome 452 Special Military Training rifle for around $350 out the door at most places. It's just like the Lux except it has a really nice beechwood stock instead of the walnut. It comes with really nice iron sights. I know one place selling them for $334 and free shipping.

[MS Mule]

A CZ 452 would be a great chioce.  Check out www.rimfirecentral.com for more information.

[briannmilewis]

Here are the results of distilling the feedback from you all.

I have no choice but to work within a tight budget.
I will not buy a semi-auto in order to promote marksmanship and less waste of ammunition by my boys.
I will not buy a right-hand bolt for my boys as I would be the one making a compromise (It's my money).
I will not buy a Henry lever-action as it is not the best use of $250.
I will not buy a 22 WMR as the 22 Hornet makes it redundant.

Conclusion: I will buy a Handi 22 Sportster ($135) and a wood-stocked Left-Hand Savage 22 Bolt ($180) for a total of $315 from Wally World. By doing this, all three of us can be shooting at any given time and we do not have any type of rifle duplicated. The Handi can be fed 22 CB, S, L and LR, which makes them very versatile, the Savage bolt uses 22LR only. My boys can make the bolt "compromise" until they save up for and buy their own rifles.

My Wish List is updated to include a Left-Hand CZ 22 Bolt Lux ($470).

[JerryKo]

Sound decision!  Good luck with the purchases!

Jerry