What .22 rifle should I get?

Can't really go wrong with the 10/22 especially as a starter gun. I've owned one for 6 years and it has been nothing but reliable. No it isn't a very high dollar, top of the line gun; I work at a farm store in the sporting goods department and we sell the wood stock 10/22 for $220 and it comes with a lock and the base for mounting a scope which several of the .22 rifles we carry do not come with. Also is a very customizeable gun. It's a semi automatic so it's fun for plinking and has a 10 round rotary box clip.

Another option could be the Marlin model 60. With my experience with it I've noticed that it tends to jam but not terribly frequently. Don't take that as it being a bad gun though, my friend owns one and says it has worked great for him. The Model 60 is tube fed (instead of a clip you load the ammo in a tube beneath the barrel) and it is also a semi automatic.

Those two are our biggest sellers due to their reputations and affordability. Hope this helps!

BTW I don't know what this Jack Of Some Trades guy is talking about as far as the price for a heavy barrel. We sell our 10/22 wood stock with a heavy barrel for $280... just sayin

When talking about firearms, "best" is a descriptor that is rarely accurate.

The 10/22 is one of the better consumer-grade .22LR rifles. It's one of the easiest .22LR rifles to find upgrade parts for, so that you can do anything from accurizing it all the way to making it look like a super-tacticool sniper toy. I'd suggest you don't modify it. Adding a bunch of junk won't make it any better, and the parts needed to make it more accurate would probably cost more than a new gun.

There are other .22LR rifles that are just as good for a lower cost, though. The Marlin 60 ($200 at most) is a fine beginner's rifle, is tube-fed, and is generally more accurate than a 10/22. The Savage 64 is even less expensive ($150) and has quite adequate accuracy. Compare those prices to the 10/22 at $250. Personally, I would choose the Marlin or the Savage.

EDIT: What "jack of some trades" is saying about the 10/22 is false. He apparently got a lemon, or else doesn't know how to properly care for a 10/22.

The Ruger 10/22 is great. My first rifle was a Winchester .22 pump rifle. I would grab that over my Ruger any day. Much more accurate and a heck of a lot more fun to shoot!

Sounds like you've already decided on a Ruger 10/22 and are merely looking for validation for your decision.

Well, here it is: The 10/22 is an excellent choice and remains a top seller for Ruger becuase so many people love it.

Including me.

Next question.

August has it right the 10-22 is a good gun but if you wanna get a great 1 i got a S&W 15-22 that just plain ol out shoots all of the guns that ppl mention in here but they are kinda spendy and the factory sights get no respect from me but with some after market sights or a scope its dam hard to beat

The Ruger 10/22 are good 22's, but I am sure they are not the best. For the price, you can't go wrong with one.

D icks Sporting Goods has the 10/22 for $179 for Christmas. At that price, they can't be beat. Mine have been extremely reliable and hold roughly 1" groups at 50 yards with cheap Blazer ammo. It's just a good general purpose .22 auto with a ton of aftermarket accessories available.

I would recommend a Ruger 10/22. That is what I got my oldest son for Christmas when he was 10. It worked for him.

Ruger 10?22 is probably the WORST rifle i've ever bought.

it cost more than my other 22's but it can't shoot anywhere as good. it jams it misfires, just loaded with problems even after two sent back to factory for repairs could not solve!

without putting serious investment into the gun, or more or less building a 10/22 from aftermarket parts, they don't shoot as accurate or reliability as a inexpensive bolt action like Marlin 925, XT-22 or Savage Mark II.

the average 10/22 shoots about 6 MOA. it's terrible.

swap in a bull barrel that costs $200 (total investment in gun now $450) it will shoot about 4 MOA.

swap stocks so the barrel's free-floating - $100 (total investment is now $550) it will shoot about 2 MOA

install new trigger group that works better- $200 (total investment is now $750) it will just barely make 1 MOA.

Compare to my Marlin 925, shoots about 1 MOA out of box. gun = $160.

Savage Mark II does the same, for $190.

10/22 is just BAD.

A Ruger 10/22 is a great gun and fits just what your describing you want to do with it. For a first gun I also recomend a Marlin model 81TS. Its a bolt action tube magazine. Safe to learn with and good accuracy too.