looking for squirrel .22lr
i am currently shopping for a .22 to use for squirrel hunting, and i was looking for advice. it has to be bolt action. I am currently thinking of either a savage .22 or the ruger m77 .22. i have shot both but i didnt really get a chance to test the accuracy of the savage to see if it was sufficient. ( i like a quarter size group at 50 yds with 5 shots) i am sure the ruger will be that accurate but it is almost 3 times the price of the savage. any ideas or feedback from anyone who used the savage
thanx
thanx
0
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the saveg guns of any sort have always felt "cheap" to me, but the generally have excellent accuracy out of the box, and should do what you want. with either, you will need to find out what kind of ammo they like. buy a dozen boxes of assorted types and see what give the best groups. most of mine do well with the rem standard target ammo with the blue print.
rich0 -
the saveg guns of any sort have always felt "cheap" to me, but the generally have excellent accuracy out of the box, and should do what you want. with either, you will need to find out what kind of ammo they like. buy a dozen boxes of assorted types and see what give the best groups. most of mine do well with the rem standard target ammo with the blue print.
rich0 -
I agree, I never liked the cheap feeling of savage rimfire bolt rifles.
If you can afford one, don't pass up a Ruger, its a great gun. If you can't then look into the alternative of a marlin 880SQ, a nice bull barrel .22.
But my #1 choice would be to keep an eye out on gunbroker for an old Mossberg 46
If I'm wrong please correct me, I won't be offended.
The sound of a 12 gauge pump clears a house fatser than Rosie O eats a Big Mac !0 -
for rimfire rifles under $300.00 marlin is the way to go. there microgroove rifling is match accuratte with most .22 ammo, and they are reliable. get the heavy or bull barrel if you can. the wieght penalty is made up for in terms of tack driving one hole accurracy. top it off with a nice scope and you will be sending squirrels to heaven by the truck load.
What other dungeon is so dark as ones own heart, what jailer so inexorable as ones own mind.0 -
I'd say concider a quality air rifle. I hava a PCP .22 that is definatly in the quarter size groups at 50 yards. (One hole 8 shot group at 40 yards) (15.3 gr pellet @ 925 fps) The additional practice in the back yard has yeilded improving scores in all my shooting and given me a new way to enjoy precision shooting. I also have a .22 CO2 pistol that will do the same, on small game. Bad news is both are $300 and above. 0 -
I sell twice as many of Marlin's 880's as Ruger's '77, but then the Ruger is twice the cost of the Marlin. I'll go out on a limb here and tell you that my Personal choice is the CZ-452 Varmint rifle. I prefer it to both of the others. The quality is there and the price point is between the Marlin and the Ruger. Take a look at the CZ line and I think you'll like what you see. The Savage MK-II line has never impressed me but people do buy them due to the low price. Most folks usually come back later to up grade. I've fired them and the accuracy is more than acceptable.
"Trust me, I know what I'm doing!"
Mark T. Christian0 -
Look at CZ. I have a Cz bolt action 22 and it is pretty accurate. Accurate enough to pick off a bottle cap with a 6 power scope at 100yards. Once sited in my grouping was roughly in the diamiter of a silver dollar. The gun is good quality to. My dad had to get a Ruger 10/22 w/ bull barrel and is still trying to compete with my brother and i. if you consider a 10/22 Ruger is the way to go. Good luck.
Pain heals, chicks dig scars, glory lasts forever.0 -
The Savages and the Marlins will compete very favorably(and win most of the time) with the high dollar 22's until you get to the Anshutzs' and the Match caliber guns like 40-XRF. For a good accurate 22 to squirrel hunt with go with Savage or Marlin! I've owned them both and shot many more and they perform. I didn't mention the CZ's as were mentioned in earlier posts because I have no experience with them at all. The other two I feel confident in!! GHD 0 -
hey thanx for the posts, AND KEEP THEM COMING. i have looked at many brands from and anschutz to the marlin and savage. the reason i narrowed it down to what i did is i didnt like the 2 position safety on the bolt. the kimber and cz both have that and i dont like the idea right now of that or i would probably own a cz right now. i like the safety beside the barrel like on the savage and anschutz or the 3 position of the ruger which tucks in nicely in full safe mode. and it is less easily caught on clothing or other gear. i am still considering the marlin, but i dont like the heavy barrel to carry around, i have a tendency to have a trek into the area i hunt, and while weight isnt a big factor, bull barrels are a little to heavy. the hunting law around here is it cant be a semi auto to hunt with so only please only suggestions that have an action to them. i do have a 12 guage already to use, but want the challenge of a .22 for squirrel. thank you for your suggestions, and it seems so far my concern on savage accuracy isnt warrented..j.. but keep the replies coming or suggestions
steve aka sharkman88100 -
I know you said you wanted a bolt action but I have a Thompson
Center 22 Classic that will shoot with any 22 that I have ever
owned.Very light weight but has that big rifle feel.Mine is topped
with a 3-9 Leupold compact and provided a lot of gravy for me last
season. Red Dog0 -
Sorry sharkman, I didnt notice that you could not use a semi-
auto. Red Dog0 -
We bought my son a Savage Mark II bolt action .22 for 8th grade graduation. For the money, it is a very nice rifle. The stock may be a little less than top quality, but the gun shoots great, and is very reliable. I would not be the least concerned with these rifles. Dan 0 -
my friend had a .22 ruger, great little gun. i don't think you could go wrong with one. 0 -
I'd go with either marlin or savage Because: I like to keep my high dollar guns looking good,and in a hunting situation your likely to damage your gun - Scratches etc. While I wouldnt call the Ruger m77 in .22 a high dollar gun,why pay extra just so it looks prettier than a marlin? Any of the major brands .22 rifles will suffice for squirrel hunting. 0 -
You asked for advice,so here. A 22 is a 22 is a 22.
Untill you go to trade up or sell it to buy the next gun. Then and only then will you know what you bought to begin with.0
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