Cheap quality Semi .22LR's

[HunterDave]

I like my Ruger 10/22 but I need another semi .22lr as a backup.

I don't have much time to search reviews so of these two which would you buy:

Savage 64 FXP.....or.....Remington 597

[Ehgun]

Check out a Marlin 795...cheap, accurate and uses a detachable mag.

[glen moa]

I have the savage 64 and I like it. Use round nose ammo and it cycles great.

[Justfishin73]

597 solid unit

[Pioneer2]

Marlin 60 tube fed.

[obsessed1]

The rem 597 is a decent gun. No plastic parts. Detach mags.

[Tom Pullings]

64 is an old Cooey design. Dead reliable.

[Donkey Oatey]

Love my 597. Haven't had any feeding issues with it at all. Good and accurate. For a budget basement gun I have zero complaints.

[nast70]

I have the Marlin as well. Have 2 10rd clips. Kids have a blast with them plinking.
I did have an issue jamming for a period. I think it was the ammo. New boxes since and no issues.

[Dean2]

Why not just get another 10/22. On sale they are pretty cheap and you already like the one you have. That way you can share mags and other parts. The 10/22 is very easy to resell, some of the others, not so much.

[fordtruckin]

I have a savage 64. Pretty decent gun and very accurate for less than $175 I paid. Put a 4x weaver on it and can put 10 rounds into a dime easy.

[spurly]

RIA
10-22 clone, but cheaper

[HunterDave]

Originally Posted by Dean2

Why not just get another 10/22. On sale they are pretty cheap and you already like the one you have. That way you can share mags and other parts. The 10/22 is very easy to resell, some of the others, not so much.

This would make sense most times. I need a .22 to dispatch critters caught in footholds and the rifles will be in separate locations. The el cheapo will be used and abused. It's complicated but lets just say that I don't mind wrecking the el cheapo and keeping the 10/22 as a good rifle.

[Scottmisfits]

If you get the 597, the 10/22 will switch roles to the cheapo in short order. At least mine did.

[Dean2]

Originally Posted by HunterDave

This would make sense most times. I need a .22 to dispatch critters caught in footholds and the rifles will be in separate locations. The el cheapo will be used and abused. It's complicated but lets just say that I don't mind wrecking the el cheapo and keeping the 10/22 as a good rifle.

For rough use in snow, ATVs etc on a trap line I would probably switch to a mag fed bolt gun with a synthetic stock. Savage or Marlin would fit the bill nicely. Lot less likely to give you feeding issues and you aren't immediately hot again after dispatching an animal in a trap. Don't recall ever needing two quick shots to dispatch anything and it saves jacking a live round out after every dispatch. Just my 2 cents, take it for what its worth..

[mooseknuckle]

I know the 25rnd clips for ruger were outlawed. Are the banana 30rnd ones for the 597 still legal? The butler creek ones fit some hand guns and that was the "excuse" to ban if im not mistaken?

[Redneck 7]

597 in any model, sold my 10-22 after I bought a 597 and how much better it operated. I use my HB a lot! Plus 30 round mags work great, in the clear plastic.

[obsessed1]

I use a TC hot shot for dispatching. Something like a rascal or such would be great as well. Extremely light and short. Simple and hardy. Carry a bunch of bullets in your pocket. Load one at a time and discharge one at a time. No unloading when getting back on the sled and you doht have to continually unload after each dispatch for safety.

[Hawkeye]

I have always thought the 10-22 was overrated!
I had a 597 and it shot well.
Good luck with your decision.

[Cdub77]

Originally Posted by mooseknuckle

I know the 25rnd clips for ruger were outlawed. Are the banana 30rnd ones for the 597 still legal? The butler creek ones fit some hand guns and that was the "excuse" to ban if im not mistaken?

Ya the 30rd 597 are still legal. SpectreBallistics just released a 10/22 adapter so you can use the 597 Mags in it and get around the stupid ban on the BX mags. Although they say the black 597 mags are no good and only recommend using the clear ones or the aftermarket Promag branded ones.

For what its worth my first 22 was a SR22 (10/22 in a factory tactical stock) Got fed up with the mag limit, and how picky it was on ammo. Had someone make me a good offer on it so I sold it and picked up a GSG-15 and a savage A22 to replace it. I like both guns better than the ruger.

[fordtruckin]

I just reread your requirements so a Henry Lever gun is probably out of the question. I would think one would be perfect but probably not what you want to beat up.

[HunterDave]

I drove into the city and bought the Savage A22 that Justfishin73 mentioned was on sale at Cabelas. Total $314 minus a $50 rebate. Includes a Weaver scope and an extra 25 rd mag.

[dogslayer403]

597 i have one vtr in 22lr one in 22wmr both run great definitely less picky and more accurate than my 10/22
The 22lr is the least picky semi auto rimfire ive ever owned even cycles subsonics flawless

[6.5 shooter]

Originally Posted by Dean2

Why not just get another 10/22. On sale they are pretty cheap and you already like the one you have. That way you can share mags and other parts. The 10/22 is very easy to resell, some of the others, not so much.

I agree

[Groundhogger]

Marlin 795 (mag fed) or Marlin 60 (tube fed). The only semi I own IS a 795, to me...has allot more going for it than all semis even close to it's price range.

I'm looking forward to handling the new Thompson T/CR22. I've owned a 10/22, never had such an inaccurate, over-hyped piece of junk. The trigger was a tug of war, even off a rest/scoped...@ 40 yards, a pop can was relatively safe. The 795 could shoot circles around it for 1/3 the price, had better features like last-shot bolt hold-open, better charging handle, etc. Trigger was better than my 10/22, but I upgraded anyway.

[KegRiver]

For a trapline tool, I liked my old single shot Cooey. It was short, light, tough, cheap, and reliable.


Dispatching animals was always a one shot deal. Never ever did I need a second shot.
I also took a lot of squirrel, grouse and beaver with that little rifle. The best part though was it cost me the mighty sum of $25.00
These days one would more likely have to lay out at least $75.00 for one.

And it wouldn't be shiny or smooth, but who cares. A trap line tool won't stay pretty for long if it is actually used as intended.

I have one semi .22. A model 552 Remington. It came to me as a failed bubba project. Converted to a pump by some unknown rocket scientist that didn't understand that there are internal parts critical for pump operation that are not standard in the auto.

The plan was to repair it as a pump. which the owner believed it to be.
Thus far I have put around $200.00 worth of parts into a $120.00 gun and although it does function as an auto now, there is more to do to make it right.

Working on that rifle has convinced me to never use an auto as a knock about. They are too sensitive to dirt, wear and parts failure.
And with Remington's, bubba fixes.

[gloszz]

Originally Posted by HunterDave

I like my Ruger 10/22 but I need another semi .22lr as a backup.

I don't have much time to search reviews so of these two which would you buy:

Savage 64 FXP.....or.....Remington 597

If wholesale still existed, I would recommend the Rock Island Armory 10/22 which is a knock off, of the ruger that I got for $120. Other than that I can recommend a savage or marlin?