Guidance please!

[Rangergabriel]

I want to purchase a rifle for target practicing.

I prefer bolt actions yet leaning towards a combination of semi and bolt action sets.

From my research 22lr seams to be the best options. Yet is there a caliber that is as cheap as the 22lr yet more power and perhaps better for home defence, yet i already have a 22lr nine shot revolver and a 9mm semi auto handgun.

I have done some research both online and at gun shops.

Is there anything i should change about these setups and which would provide the most fun.

$800 New
Both with ss barrels 20" and 22"
Ruger 10/22 and Ruger American

Price yet tbd
Ruger 10/22 and Ruger 77/22

$425 used
Ruger 10/22 and winchester 67

$500 new
Marlin 60 and marlin xt-22

I had a savage arms years ago and never liked the rifle. Don't want savage rifles.

Some recommend Mossberg too yet what Mossberg bolt action would complement this semi?

$300
Mossberg 715T.

I'm leaning towards the 10/22 because of all the customizations that i can do to it at later time.

Also should i jump on the used ruger 10/22 at my local gun shop selling for 200? Or wait?

[sealocan]

I recommend you start with the Ruger 10/22 and unless you have a group of people or a family to shoot with (or want to slow down you're shooting speed ) hold off buying the bolt action rifle and prepare to throw a few of those extra dollars into a nice scope and some accessories for the 1022 (after you shoot it and decide what it needs.)

My main reason to go with the Ruger over the Marlin 60 is there are so many accessories (top-end and junk) but plenty of everything from custom triggers, extended magazine releases, peep sights etc...etc.

And your question about inexpensive ammo has already been answered by yourself...

.22 long rifle is going to be the cheapest rimfire.
And 9mm is probably always going to be the cheapest centerfire ammunition (your home defense pistol is in 9mm so you might want to think about a 9mm carbine someday, for fun and a little more knockdown power than the 22.)

Ruger has recently announced a new rifle / carbine that's very similar to the Ruger 10/22 but it's in 9mm and takes Glock magazines as well as Ruger magazines.

But those are just my thoughts and two cents.

[sealocan]

Should you buy the used Ruger 10/22 for $200?

That depends on a lot of things but mainly on condition. The earlier model 10/22 s had a little bit more metal, like the trigger guard area, and some people favor those.

And you want to thoroughly examine it. There are lots of videos on YouTube on how to buy a any used rifle, pistol or shotgun.

And let me say something that I think other people might disagree with but of all the used guns I look closest for wear and tear on any .22 caliber firearms because if they're older they've lived through their lifetime when lots of 22 ammo was cheap and readily available. People back then just shot their .22 every week for fun so there is a higher possibility that they were used a lot like high-mileage a lot. And you don't usually see the same Uber high-mileage / high round count with centerfire cartridges, Unless it's been used by a police force or military branch.

It also depends on the area where you live if there are lots of gun stores who have sales 10/22 do occasionally come up for sale in the just over $200 range.

[Rangergabriel]

Thank you sealocan. Would you go for the used 10/22 or the new carbine.

[pennys dad]

Used isn't bad. Most of the firearms I purchase are from a Calguns "for sale".
I like Calguns used over new because you will generally get extras from the buy.
Also, i agree with sealocan build up your 10/22 you can spend a few bucks on a 10/22 build

[newbie1234]

If you like bolt action then, new release, 2018

https://ruger.com/products/precisionRifle/models.html

https://www.riflegear.com/p-9046-ruger-precision-rimfire-rifle-22lr-18.aspx

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tYofOektTg

[sealocan]

Thank you sealocan. Would you go for the used 10/22 or the new carbine.

If it was me...

I would look around / call around to all the gun stores in my area and get the price of a brand new 10/22 (maybe even the takedown model if I have the extra money).And I think I would even go with a stainless steel model this time, as the 10-22s I've had in the past we're all of a blued finish on the metal.
Which like all blue finishes on any blued guns you have to watch out for saltwater, condensation, sweat off your hands, etc.
(I've always been lucky with just a little bit of preventative maintenance but I've seen friends rifles rust and it wasn't pretty and made him pretty depressed.)

And as I mentioned before if you have a bunch of gun stores local to you, one of them is eventually likely to have a sale on the Ruger 10/22 as it's a very popular rifle.

Then I would compare those prices to the $200 being asked for the used gun and it's condition currently. A lot of people like the older models and I'm one of them but it wouldn't bother me buying a new version of the 10/22 either. It's a tried-and-tested design.

I've had a Ruger 10/22 eat thousands and thousands of rounds of all types of 22 ammunition and never developed any problems but I was would still want to open up and look at the action for wear and tear or at the very least get a flashlight to look inside the receiver as much as you can) and make sure the barrel still had strong rifling.
It should be fine because that model is well known for taking lots of use without developing issues.

Sometimes it's real nice to own a new item though because if any problems develop Ruger is the type of company that will stand behind it and make it right and if the price difference wasn't that much, which I don't think it would be I'd probably go with a new Ruger 10/22 Carbine ( a stainless and takedown model if I could afford it) as soon as I could find one on sale or a decent price.

Of course if you say all that logically and politely to the gun store with the Ruger for $200 they'll probably drop their price down to $175 ( I doubt they paid more than $85 bucks for it. Sadly people needing money go into gun stores all the time and sell their guns for pennies on the dollar because they need the money right that minute . I don't blame the gun stores because they have overhead and rent to pay it's just the reality.)
then you have to rethink the whole situation.

You could even try running a "want to buy" advertisement posting for free right here in the Calguns Marketplace. I know lots of people who have gotten good deals that way and right in their neighborhood.

Man, Voice to Text sure allows me to ramble on. Hopefully it helps in some way.

[Rangergabriel]

Yes it does help sealocan, and stainless steal(ss) is my preferred choice!

[joe47]

You said in your original post that you prefered bolt actions, so why not start with a bolt action if it's for target practice. Start with a CZ 452 or 455 and you won't need another bolt action unless it's a serious bench gun.

[Rangergabriel]

After checking other gun dealers a new 10/22 would be 259.99. The used 10/22 in person looks brand new hardly fired. And I have just purchased it. Will be proud owner in 11 days.

Thank you for your help.
Now to look into a stainless steel barrel and custom stock.

After seeing in person a used fully modded 10/22 carbine Kidd build, i am now leaning towards it. Instead of the archangel g36 build

[longrange1]

the kidds are nice and im not trying to sway your decision in any way just giving you my personal experience with a kidd super grade and a CZ455 because i owned both only a few months ago.

long story short i sold the kidd and kept the CZ455 after shooting over a 1000 rounds through both side by side...the kidd was accurate just not consistently so...the CZ455 was accurate and consistent.

the CZ is in new york getting an east coast pimp job and is guaranteed to come back shooting in the .2s at 50yds.

what ever you choose to do the 22s are a blast to shoot for fun and in comps.

[sealocan]

Congratulations on your Ruger 10/22 purchase!
America's favorite .22 caliber semi-auto rifle.

This is just my opinion but I always shoot a rifle for a while first, at least one or two range trips, before I decide what exactly it needs.. upgraded trigger, peep sights ( I think Williams and tech sights make some nice types), buttstock extensions, extended magazine release lever, bipods, scopes, red dots and other types of optics...etc.
( I've left Ruger 10/22s completely stock and was never disappointed by them.)

(If you're tight on money there's really not that much rush to buy some things when the factory version is working okay for you for now.)

And I noticed the recommendation for a CZ bolt gun ( which is a fine brand and a good choice ) but my money-saving thinking on this is go with a centerfire more powerful cartridge instead of a .22 if you're going with a bolt gun.

The logic being that .22, being the cheapest ammo, allows you to throw more lead downrange and that matches up to a semi-auto ( and it's pew-pew-pew fun),
whereas a bolt gun slows you down, makes you concentrate, practice breathing and trigger control...etc. and since all of these things slow down your shooting it "logically" means you can spend more per shot = so go with a bigger than .22 rimfire caliber.

I'd say a .223 or bigger depending if you were ever planning on going hunting.

The relative simplicity of a bolt gun and the ability to accurately use a wide variety of cartridges are some reasons why it's a better choice for hunting and other long-range applications than a semi-auto.

[Rangergabriel]

Thank you all for your help.