Why buy the .22?

[Blue Ridge Reef]

After you get your rifle, you should really look into a .22 pistol. I have 6 or 7 now, and look as forward to shooting those as I do my Vbob. Ruger and Browning make excellent ones. The aftermarket bug is a nasty one, though. I have pistol versions of RP55's 10/22. But you'll never regret getting into them.

[sholling]

Get the Marlin 795. Excellent accuracy and fun shooter. Do not get a 10-22. At some point you will see a sweet aftermarket part for it and give in to temptation. It then becomes an obsession like gambling. Sooner or later you will get to the point where the only factory part on the rifle is the receiver. Mine is like that and for the money I have put into it could have bought an AR.

10/22s an obsession? No way, not me, I'm not obsessed with building 10/22s.

Half the fun is taking a fun little 2-3 MOA plinker and turning it into a sub-MOA tack driver. The other half is making little teeny tiny groups with them.

BTW this isn't my entire collection.

[Eljay]

True, but I've seen some of those small "8 year olds" on the rifle range act a lot safer than some of the idiot adults there who aren't under child supervision.

Agreed. Interestingly enough that just reinforces the rifle versus handgun thing - you see a little kid with some rifle that's almost as big as them, they're not exactly going to pick it up and start swinging it around, or at least not very fast. A little .22 handgun, I'd be more concerned...

[JCM]

It's safer. There's a lot less of that "Look, I hit it" and then turning to the side and muzzle sweeping everybody. At Chabot you're supposed to be 8 to shoot rifles and 12 to shoot handguns just to throw some numbers out. (Although I've seen some awfully small "8 year olds" on the rifle range).

Cool.

I think I'm pretty much decided... except now I'm thinking I should just step up to the 10/22 instead of the 795.

Decisions, decisions

[CmpsdNoMore]

Either will do just as well as a starter rifle. Don't listen to those bashing other rifles because they don't prefer them. Go to some stores (or call) and try getting your hands on a bunch of models to find out what you like.

Like I mentioned before, I LOVE the .22 rifle I got for $100 (Mossberg 702). I'm actually going to take my 10/22 that's setup for target shooting (heavy target barrel, scope, hogue stock) and make it more like the original carbine version with iron sights.
Why? Because simple can be the best!

After dropping around $600 into my 10/22 I realized I get the most enjoyment out of something SIMPLE that challenges my shooting.

[Meplat]

If you're only going to buy one .22 it should be a 10/22. Can't be beat. 795 doesn't hold a candle to it. Get one and love it!

The only advantage the 10-22 has is all the bells and whistles you can bankrupt yourself with. The Marlin guns are all tack drivers. Some 10-22's are also, but there are a lot of so-so 10-22s and a substantial number of real stinkers. Accuracy is much more consistent with the Marlin guns.

[Meplat]

Good thread... I'm about to decide on a Marlin 795 with Turner's holiday pricing....

To teach kids about shooting though, does it make a difference on handgun vs rifle? That's kind of how I'm justifying the purchase to the wife. Personally I'd like to add a rifle to my collection since I already have 3 handguns.

You cant top a Marlin .22. But the Crickett;

http://www.crickett.com/shop_by_brand.php?manufacturers_id=27

Is a good trainer.

[Meplat]

Has nothing to do with fanboy, it's a better gun times 10.

In some circles it is a more prestigious gun X-10. But having owned, and still owning, both Marlins and 10-22's forever. I got my first Marlin 51 years ago. I can tell you the 10-22 is not a better gun. That 50 year old marlin will shoot rings around any 10-22 in the safe. It may be a good feeling when your range buddies ooo and ahhhh over your tricked out 10-22 that cost as much as a good AR, but you can get the same feeling cheaper with Viagra.

Only accurate rifles are interesting.

[sholling]

In some circles it is a more prestigious gun X-10. But having owned, and still owning, both Marlins and 10-22's forever. I got my first Marlin 51 years ago. I can tell you the 10-22 is not a better gun. That 50 year old marlin will shoot rings around any 10-22 in the safe.

I own 5 or 6 10/22s and agree with you. Right out of the box a 10/22 is typical of Bill Ruger's philosophy of rugged enough to last a lifetime but just accurate enough to do the job. In Bill Ruger's mind 2-3 MOA was plenty good enough for plinking or putting a rabbit on the dinner table. Marlin Model 39A and 60 rifles are deadly accurate right out of the box and I really want a Model 70PSS and maybe a 39A someday.

It may be a good feeling when your range buddies ooo and ahhhh over your tricked out 10-22 that cost as much as a good AR

That tricked out 10/22 might cost as much as a AR but if done well will bring a sense of accomplishment and give hyper accurate bolt actions a run for their money. But it's all in good fun and educational. Anybody can buy an accurate rifle but taking a plinker and turning it into a sub-MOA tack driver is an accomplishment.

Only accurate rifles are interesting.

So very-very true.

Bottom line I agree that the OP should buy the rifle that fits his budget and floats his boat. If that's a Ruger - great. If that's a Marlin - great. If that's a Savage - Great. The main thing is to shoot the heck out of it.

[Sunday]

I grew up with guns. I am 59 and I will have to say quality 22s are fun to shoot.

[paul0660]

it's a better gun times 10.

You did not say out of the box, so your post is not the silly post for December winner.

[MountainHardwear]

I have to warn you thou. It starts with just ONE.
a 10/22 then you have to have the Pistol, like a Buckmark or Walther,
You might get the .22 conversion for your 1911 or Glock next,
Then you can't like with out the Tacticool AR or Pimp'd 10/22

Warning I speak from experience, 3 10/22's, 3 Pistols and an AR in .22 on its way. Sure Iv got other calibers but what can i say they just follow me home, I swear...

[SwiftWiz]

My next one will be a .22, but the question is...rifle or pistol?

[IrishPirate]

550rds < $20


The .22 will kill a man just as dead as any other caliber.

There are more creatures to hunt with a .22 than to hunt with a .308

[Sunwolf]

Most of all,the .22 is quiet.