Need help selecting a .22lr rifle

[BigFatGuy]

My wife has never really enjoyed shooting (paper targets, indoor ranges, etc...).

Until today. Using her dad's 25+ year old Ruger .22 rifle to shoot clay pigeons scattered around the ground of a 150' shooting range was a lot of fun for her, especially when she was hitting the 150' ones with iron sights!

So, naturally, I have a task to find a .22lr rifle, and I'm hoping you can all help based on my desired features list. there's a lot of .22 rifles out there, and I'd be a fool not to ask for advice from experts like yourselves.

Basically, I'm looking for a .22lr rifle with:
adjustable stock (she's 5'5", I'm 6'6")
scope mount (picatinny or weaver)
10 rd removable magazine (loading a tube mag is kind of a pain)
semi-automatic

it would also be great if it had iron sights, better if they were adjustable or could be used with a scope mounted.

and if it costs less then $300 I'll be an incredibly happy man.

I realize nobody can tell me "what rifle is the best", but at least I can cut down the size of my search field, and then take it from there. Since this is Ruger sale week at Turners, there is a bit of time pressure. ;-)

[Subotai]

Just bought my daughter a 10/22 at Turners, and I ordered some tech sights to replace the regular iron sights. I'm seeing lots of aftermarket stocks. 10/22's are customizable to your heart's content.

[Gnome]

I'm pretty sure everyone here is gonna point you toward a Ruger 10/22. Cheap (On sale at Turner's Outdoorsman), highly customizable, cheap, on sale at Turner's, customizable, and fun to shoot.

[G-forceJunkie]

I dont think your going to find an acceptably adjustable stock on a .22. But the good news is .22's are cheap, get one for you and the wife and customizes accordingly. I think 10/22's are on sale at Turners this week for $199.

[r3dn3ck]

Pick one. Seriously... a marlin, a blah blah, a wah wah it's all the same. We all recommend 10/22's because they're among the first guns we typically ever owned or fired and a shocking, almost disturbing number of us still have that first 10/22 and it still prints tight groups. If we'd all started with Marlin 60's we'd probably all still recommend 10/22's though because they at least have a detachable magazine.

Truth be told I like tube fed guns better because they hold more bullets. The next .22 I'll own though will be a 10/22.

[sholling]

I dont think your going to find an acceptably adjustable stock on a .22. But the good news is .22's are cheap, get one for you and the wife and customizes accordingly. I think 10/22's are on sale at Turners this week for $199.

^This^

Get a 10/22 for her and another for you and then you can customize them to your heart's content.

Stocks
Accessories
Barrels

[BigFatGuy]

Thanks guys, Ruger it is.

Just to be clear, even if a particular 10/22 model doesn't come with a scope mount (like the two on sale for $199 at Turners), it will still accept an after-market mount, yes? (I assume there's some kind of mounting points on the receiver?)

[D-rock]

all the 10/22 models come with a scope mount and the receiver is drilled and taped

[BigFatGuy]

all the 10/22 models come with a scope mount and the receiver is drilled and taped

Good to know... I got thrown off because the Ruger website lists it for some and not for others.

Thanks for the advice, all!

[chillincody]

10/22 or mossberg tactical 22 it comes with all you want 6 postion stock scope mount and 10 round mags buy them new for $258 i have one and it is fun lil 22

[chillincody]

http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=mossberg+tactical+22&hl=en&prmd=imvns&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&ix=sea&ion=1&biw=1024&bih=499&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=16721528183306196933&sa=X&ei=hHtBT4uMMsTi2QXEtZ2yCA&ved=0CFsQ8wIwAA

[Hilldweller]

To adjustable stocks, scopes, 10 rd mags, and all that other new wave stuff I say "poo poo" !!
In the old days you bought a rifle and learned how to shoot it. Iron sights baby! No 20 power scope to help you get "up close and personal". No 10 rounds to fire off as quickly as you can pull the trigger. You either had a bolt action or pump action .22. Shoot, pump, reacquire the target and shoot again.

Personally I preferred the pump .22's like the Winchester model 62. We used to have contests in the desert (when you could shoot there...remember that?) using kitchen matches. 25 yards, matches stuck in the sand. Shoot and light the match, then break the stick before moving on to the next one.

Great fun. So if you're thinking of getting a "real" .22, get a pump action Winchester model 62 made around 1932.

Speaking of which, you won't believe this but I just happen to have one for sale ! PM me for details !

just funnin guys. Any .22 is a great plinker and fun for all.

[shadow65]

Get an AR lower, a dedicated upper. You will have everything you need. Down the road you can put a 5.56 upper on it also.
Two rifles in one.
Dave N

[icenix]

Can't beat a Ruger!

[JNunez23]

Agree, the 10/22 is going to be awesome for her. I'm getting my g/f one sometime in between the week when Turners might not be swamped.

Anyway, rifle has a ton of aftermarket parts, plus you can buy her a different stock and maybe both of you can get usage out of the gun. The stock's are interchangeable and takes minutes to swap out.

Just a thought..Good luck.

( Nice avatar picture btw )