Best entry-level bolt-action .22 rifle?

[Hollow Grind]

My son wants one of these for his 14th birthday, and I know nothing about these types of guns. I saw a Marlin that looked nice, but again, I'm pretty much clueless. I want to spend $300 max. Any thoughts you all can share would be greatly appreciated.

[slik556]

I would say for $300.00 you could get a fairly nice bolt action 22lr.. Do a google search for bolt action .22 and look around and get an idea of price ranges and models. I have an old mossberg 340bb that I got used for $50.00 and it is a very nice and accurate rifle. Marlin makes some nice bolt 22 rifles for less then your price point.. buuuuut if you added a few bucks more you could get a CZ, say a 452. Look around and you can find some nice deals on a lot of different bolt 22's.

Good luck on the search and have fun!

[IrishPirate]

Mossberg 802 Plinkster


OR

Savage MKII FSS



Plinkster comes without muzzlebrake and scope if you don't want them......just threw up the pic with the most features

[evolution1974]

HG,

What does your son plan on doing with the rifle (plinking, hunting or paper punching)? Does he want a wood or synthetic stock? Does the price you have listed include the cost of a scope? Does he want irons sight?

For the price you listed Marlin and Savage have some nice ones that would fit your budget.

Personally, I would put my money on a CZ which can be had for $300-$500, depending on the model. Take a look at the CZ 452 Scout or the CZ 452 Trainer. These models come with a birch stock instead of Turkish Walnut which keeps the price down. Hurry tho because their prices have been rising and they are in the process of switch from the 452 (proven) to the 455 (unproven). Check out CZUSA.com for more info.

Here are my CZ 452's, the bottom is the Scout. The top is a pic of the Lux model with Turkish Walnut. The Trainer is the same as the Lux except it has a birch stock. Good luck with your purchase, I'm sure your son will be happy with anything he gets from you.

[pennys dad]

man for $300 bones you can get alot in a .22 bolt rifle. Marlins are always great, CZ's are excellent, Savage cant go wrong and so on. My first was a Marlin. I would say go to a local gun shop with a good selection, if your here in SoCal, Turners is usually pretty good, Fowlers has an excellent new and used selection, OMG Bass Pro has a great selection. Keep in mind a few things, a cleaning kit, rifle case, ammo box, maybe 2 or 3 additional mags, lastly make sure the rifle has either a pict rail of drilled and tapped for a scope mount for later optics. Enjoy, I loved my first and even today consider .22lr my caliber of choice. My son he likes Ak's

[Sailormilan2]

Zastava Z5s are good solid rifles.

[Hollow Grind]

Thanks for all of the replies so far, people! The boy isn't going to do any hunting, just targets so far, probably up at Lytle Creek.

He likes black, so I'm guessing a synthetic stock, blued or parkerized is the way to go, as he wasn't keen on the stainless look. Me personally, I'm digging the CZ! My handgun is a P-01, so I'm biased.

Great advice on buying a rifle that can accept optics down the road. I'll probably get the gun, a cleaning kit and case for the present. I think adding those things into the mix I'll be looking at Savage and Marlin.

[glockman19]

Marlin 981t. around $150. Agood starter .22lr Bolt rifle.

[not-fishing]

Look at new but check out used.

My youngest son's (when he was 12 yrs) first rifle was a used BRNO (CZ) that he paid for.

I put a scope on it but for the last year he shoots it without scope to work on his shooting technique.

[PatriotnMore]

I have to agree on the CZ. do yourself a favor and take a good look at them before you buy.

HG,

What does your son plan on doing with the rifle (plinking, hunting or paper punching)? Does he want a wood or synthetic stock? Does the price you have listed include the cost of a scope? Does he want irons sight?

For the price you listed Marlin and Savage have some nice ones that would fit your budget.

Personally, I would put my money on a CZ which can be had for $300-$500, depending on the model. Take a look at the CZ 452 Scout or the CZ 452 Trainer. These models come with a birch stock instead of Turkish Walnut which keeps the price down. Hurry tho because their prices have been rising and they are in the process of switch from the 452 (proven) to the 455 (unproven). Check out CZUSA.com for more info.

Here are my CZ 452's, the bottom is the Scout. The top is a pic of the Lux model with Turkish Walnut. The Trainer is the same as the Lux except it has a birch stock. Good luck with your purchase, I'm sure your son will be happy with anything he gets from you.

[22popnsplat]

HG,

What does your son plan on doing with the rifle (plinking, hunting or paper punching)? Does he want a wood or synthetic stock? Does the price you have listed include the cost of a scope? Does he want irons sight?

For the price you listed Marlin and Savage have some nice ones that would fit your budget.

Personally, I would put my money on a CZ which can be had for $300-$500, depending on the model. Take a look at the CZ 452 Scout or the CZ 452 Trainer. These models come with a birch stock instead of Turkish Walnut which keeps the price down. Hurry tho because their prices have been rising and they are in the process of switch from the 452 (proven) to the 455 (unproven). Check out CZUSA.com for more info.

Here are my CZ 452's, the bottom is the Scout. The top is a pic of the Lux model with Turkish Walnut. The Trainer is the same as the Lux except it has a birch stock. Good luck with your purchase, I'm sure your son will be happy with anything he gets from you.

I have to agree with the suggestion of a CZ ,I have one and it shoots pretty well . Buy a good quality 22 and it can be tresured for a lifetime . I have put together a small collection of quality vintage rimfire rifles and enjoy them very much .

[RimfireJim]

I like CZs, too - have two 452s plus a CZ-75B - but I think you might have a hard time getting one for $300 max. List price on the Trainer is $401; list on the Silhouette (black synthetic with blued metal) is $463 and you have to add a scope and rings to that. I know street price can be less than list, but I don't think it is that much less. A Marlin will easily fit your budget.

[CalNRA]

Marlin 981t. around $150. Agood starter .22lr Bolt rifle.

yep.

Although these days 150 dollar 981t's are hard to come by. They are closer to 200 in shops when new.

[dfletcher]

I have quite a few CZs including the 452 full stock and the target model. One thing to be aware of with the CZ is rings & mags. CZ absolutely screws you on both, they are greatly overpriced and the groove on the 452 receiver is 11mm not the standard 3/8" type. Most 3/8" will work on it though, just be aware some may not. I think I have some Millett engraved on my 452 Mannlicher.

CZ does make a plastic stock model version of their 452.

There are plenty of older 22s - Remington 500 series and the Winchester 69, 72 - that will do very well also. I've got a 1941 made Winchester 75 with Redfield peep & globe sights and out to about 100 yds it does every bit as well as a scoped 22. I'm getting older but my eyes are managing to stay young, I'd say that's a requirement for shooting with iron sights.

[evolution1974]

I like CZs, too - have two 452s plus a CZ-75B - but I think you might have a hard time getting one for $300 max. List price on the Trainer is $401; list on the Silhouette (black synthetic with blued metal) is $463 and you have to add a scope and rings to that. I know street price can be less than list, but I don't think it is that much less. A Marlin will easily fit your budget.

The CZ Scout lists at $290 with some online retailers but with transfer fees and shipping it would be around $365. I did get lucky and picked up my brand new CZ Scout locally for $260 plus tax and DROS which put me at $315 OTD. The CZ Scout has iron sights and can be scoped. The CZ Scout is a youth rifle and was purchased for my nephew to use. It has a shorter length of pull but I have no problem with it and I'm 5'8". The irons sights on the CZ Scout are not as good as the CZ Trainer sights but when I scope the CZ Scout it is one of my most accurate rimfires. The CZ Scout has an adjustable triger and is made as well as its big brothers. I hope this helps.