We don’t give much thought to the best 22LR rifles on the market, because we tend to like bigger and sexier guns. Yes, we’re childish and we like gunporn.
But the truth is that most novice shooters start out with one, because it’s the cheapest training you can buy. By the time you have plinked through 1000 rounds of ammo, a cheap .22 LR will have paid for itself.
You also don’t need an AR-15 for every hunt and it will make a big mess of a squirrel. So if you’re hunting varmints, rabbits, squirrels, possums and all that jazz, then 22LR rifles can be the best option.
Rats? Get the Best 22LR Rifles, or a Cat…
If you have got rats and want to get rid of them the old-school way, then this could work. Well, you could go full tactical on them with the very best 22 handguns for sale. Alternatively, I’m told cats work well.
But that’s your call. If you go full silent assassin with two suppressed pistols, it could be a messed up kind of firearms fun…
Massive Variety on Sale
You can have an old-school Henry AR-7 Survival Rifle, a Henry Golden Boy Wild West lever or a cutting edge Tactical Solutions with a threaded barrel that is suppressor ready. You can even have an AR-style semi-automatic.
So what are the top gun deals and the best 22LR rifles? Here are our picks.
The Best 22LR Rifle in 2023
1. Ruger 10/22
- Price: $299.99
- Barrel Length: 18.5″
- Total Length: 37″
- Weight: 5lb
- Capacity: 10+1
We can’t deny the best selling Ruger its rightful place at the top of the 22 LR list. This is America’s favorite rifle and has been basically forever.
Although anything other than the base versions are getting eye wateringly expensive these days.
Sturm, Ruger & co introduced the rimfire Ruger 10/22 carbine in 1964 and it is now one of the most famous rifles of all time and one of the best-sellers.
It weighs just 5lb, is a brilliant design and Sturm Ruger has sold millions of these for a reason.
Check out more of the best Ruger rifles here.
Aftermarket Mags For Big Capacity
The rotary magazine holds a solid 10+1, but you can get an aftermarket add-on Ruger mag that takes 25+1 rounds. That is a seriously extended magazine.
The classic Ruger 10/22 takedown and one-piece has evolved into a model line, too. Choose from tactical, backpacker Ruger 10/22 takedown and even a sniper. The Ruger 10/22 Takedown is very popular with campers who love a little small game hunting.
Now the engineering has improved to the point you can split your trusty rifle apart and stow it in a backpack, without thinking if it will go back together. When the apocalypse comes, apparently that’s going to be the difference between life and death.
If you’re looking for something a bit more modern and radical than the Ruger 10/22 Takedown or the Ruger 10/22 Carbine, then we do love the rimfire Ruger 10/22 Tactical . It’s cheap. fun and it’s basically the same underneath. Get your22LR rifles here.
Check out more Ruger 10/22 for sale here.
2. Walther Hammerli TAC R1C
- Price: $400.99
- Barrel: 16.1 inch
- Weight: 5.62lb
- Capacity: 20+1
This isn’t the ultimate 22LR AR-15 platform, but the semi-automatic Walther Hammerli TAC R1C might just be the best balance of price and performance.
This all-metal rifle is generally considered a cut above the plastic efforts from S&W and Mossberg.
You might see it on sale as an Umarex, a Walther or a Hammerli. Hammerli is a prestigious Swiss manufacturer with heritage and prestige to call upon.
Umarex owns Walther, which is one of the top rated brands in this caliber thanks to cold hammer-forged barrels of the highest quality. Walther gets 22 shooting better than most and has a string of smash hits on its hands.
The Walther’s all-metal construction extends to the handguard. So you aren’t handling cheap plastic and the gun comes with a proper weight to it. At 5.6lb, you can buy much lighter AR-15s than this.
A Massively Popular AR style
This is one of the most popular guns on sale at our favorite gunbroker, Sportsman’s Guide. The online user reviews are exceptional and it’s one of the great training semi-autos.
Everything from the five-position adjustable stock to the barrel that comes with a 1×28 thread for the best 22 Long Rifle suppressor. Live out your operator fantasies or just practise drills in relative peace and quiet. The choice is yours.
3. Henry AR-7 Survival Rifle
- Price: $329.99
- Barrel: 18.5″
- Total Length: 37″
- Weight: 4.67lb
- Capacity: 10+1
These are an oddity
Basically, the Henry classic lever has become a part of firearms folklore and is a legend among hardened survivalists, 22LR rifles and new shooters alike.
Everything packs in to the stock that is even designed to float if you drop it in a river, it weighs just 2.5lb and you get 8+1 rounds. A basic fixed front sight and notch rear all help, a bit. It’s maybe not the best, but the survival AR-7 is one of the most practical here.
A ‘Just in Case’ Hiking Accessory
Everybody should probably have one of these 22LR rifles, because if you’re going hiking and maybe want to pick off birds or bunnies for your dinner, then it’s an ideal ‘just in case’ rifle.
This is the legendary Survival AR-7 and absolutely everybody should own one. Get yours today.
4. Savage Mark II FSS
- Price: $280.99
- Barrel: 20 inch barrel
- Total Length: 39.75 inch
- Weight: 6lb
- Capacity: 10+1
Do you just want a cheap rifle? If you just want to start shooting, or maybe you want a great 22LR for a child then the Savage Mark II FSS is pretty much perfect.
The Savage Mk2 FV is a great little gun with a button-rifled, heavy carbon steel reinforced barrel for a surprising long range accuracy in this price range.
The AccuTrigger system also protects against accidental discharges and also offers a crisp and clean break. There’s a rugged,plastic stock and not much else apart from that.
But at this price, seriously, what more did you want? These American rimfire rifles have a great heavy barrel, are accurate and easy to strip. Again, it’s all there…
5. Tanfoglio Appeal
- Price: $438.99
- Barrel: 18 inch
- Weight: 4.8lb
- Capacity: 10+1
You might not be quite sure what the Tanfoglio Appeal is, but you know you want it right? That can be enough.
This company wreaked havoc with some of the best 9mm handguns on the market today, some of the best carry weapons in a range of calibers. Most have now dropped off the map, with the designs turning up as Rock Island Armory MAPP Series pistols and more. It’s odd, but not unheard of.
Now this oddity has entered the 22 world, and it’s awesome. If there’s a lesson to be learnt from the pistols, it is buy it while you can.
The synthetic bullpup stock is relatively flimsy. But then this is a 22. So it can be. There’s a solid pistol grip in there, a sturdy rail for optics or red dots and this just looks a lot of fun. As long as you get the right gun deals, go for it.
6. Winchester Wildcat
- Price: $299.99
- Barrel: 18 inch
- Weight: 4lb
The Winchester Wildcat often gets overlooked in the best of lists, and that’s a shame, because it’s a lot of fun to shoot.
It’s a smart design, with an ambidextrous skeletonized stock, partial rail and fully adjustable ghost ring rear sight and fiber optic front sight give you all the options you need.
The Winchester Wildcat 22 Long Rifle is well made, clever and won’t break the bank. You need one…
7. Smith & Wesson M&P 15 22 Sport MOE SL 22LR
- Price: $449.99
- Barrel length: 16″
- Total Length: 33.75″
- Weight: 5.5lb
- Capacity: 25+1
We like the AR look and feel of the S&W M&P 15 22 Sport. It’s a perfect training gun for shooting sorts and mor serious stuff, for that precise reason, and it’s not one you have to get used to.
Treat it like an AR-15 and it will plink cheap ammo all day long. Even the two-stage trigger is designed to mimic the heavier AR-15 rifle with a two-pound pull and a 5lb break. That’s good for drills.
You even get proper iron sights to practise with and the rear sight folds down to fit a red dot or optic. As a practise tool, the Smith & Wesson might be the best gun here. It gets top rated reviews everywhere.
The S&W M&P15 22 Sport is a surprisingly good substitute for an AR-15 in your hands, even though the barrel is 18 inches. The whole gun is 32.5 inches collapsed, or 37.5 inches fully extended. So the Smith & Wesson M&P15 22 Sport is an AR-15 lite. That’s good for new shooters.
The mag holds 25 rounds, plus one in the chamber, so you can fire off the shots if you’re after a fast-moving critter.
Long Range Accuracy Favors the Bolt
The Smith and Wesson M&P15 22 Sport isn’t as accurate as some here, so if you want
As a practice gun, though, running drills or simply plinking at the range to get your eye in, we think this M&P15 22 Sport is arguably the best 22 out there with an AR-15 layout. Before you get into high quality custom 22 rifles on this list and serious money.
Is this the best you can buy? At this price, we think the S&W M&P15 22 Sport has to be one of them. Certainly it could be the best tactical 22 in the United States. If that’s even a thing…
8. Tikka T1x
- Price: $649.99
- Barrel: 20
- Overall Length: 39.6 inch
- Weight: 6.4lb
- Capacity: 10+1
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We have a lot of love for Tikka round these parts. The Finnish firearms manufacturer has created some true greats, including our favorite sniper.
The Tikka T1x MTR 22 Long rifle is not a cheap firearm by any stretch of the imagination. In fact it’s very expensive, but then you get that legendary accuracy and a cross-over profile barrel that gives heavy barrel benefits without much additional weight.
Seriously, the Tikka is a great choice for sport shooting, too, and this tack driver might rocket up to the podium soon.
9. Rock Island Armory TM22
- Price: $302.99
- Barrel: 18 inch
- Total: 38.5 inch
- Weight: 6.5lb
- Capacity: 16+1
The Rock Island Armory TM22 is also out there with Armscor branding. Either one will do you proud.
We are really warming to Rock Island Armory products, especially the double stack 1911 45 ACP pistols.
Now this is a decent AR-22 rifle that will be fun at the range and cheaper to run than the full size AR-15 rifles. It’s a new shooter we truly love more than we should.
It is not trying to be a true AR-15 copy, this is sleker and simpler. Of course there are pros and cons, and you might prefer another one, but for us the pros win and it’s a great rifle.
10. Henry Repeating Arms Golden Boy Lever Action Rimfire Rifle
- Price: $594.99
- Barrel: 20 inch
- Total: 38.5 inch
- Weight: 6.75lb
- Capacity: 16+1
Henry Repeating Arms Golden Boy lever action rifles are an American institution and some of the best 22LR rifles for that simple fact. Also, they are fun to shoot.
This is the kind of blued steel that used to be given as a rite of passage to young boys out in the country so they could learn to shoot in style. The Henry Golden Boy is still a great gift and honestly you might just want one of these Henry classic rifles for shooting targets.
These 22LR rifles have become a nostalgia piece, and rightly so. If you have the money to splash out on childhood memories, then you can get the grown up version of your old Golden Boy now.
Get lever actions with everything from a complete walnut stock to a gold trimmed gun. It’s all good.
11. Mossberg 715t Tactical Flat Top
- Price: $329.99
- Barrel length: 16.25 inch
- Total Length: 33-36.75 inch
- Capacity: 25+1
- Weight: 5.2lb
We like the Smith and Wesson more as a semi-automatic rifle, but the 715T tactical rifle does come at an awfully compelling price point. It’s on sale right now, is the only thing, and we don’t know how long it’s going to last.
This is an evolution of the legendary Mossberg 702 Plinkster, and it’s another AR-15 platform.
The handguard is a little less free float and Mil-spec and the detachable magazine isn’t ready for war. But then it should go all day at the shooting range.
Do that instead of taking your regular AR-15 and the optics ready 715t Tactical flat top semi-automatic rifle will have paid for itself with cheap ammunition. So it will pretty much cost you money not to buy one and this is one of the best 22 LR rifles if you want an AR layout.
12. Ruger Precision Rimfire Rifle
- Price: $531.99
- Action: Bolt
- Barrel length: 18″
- Total Length: 35″”-38.5″
- Weight: 6.8lb
- Capacity: 10+1/15+1
This optics ready Ruger Precision rifle does come with a price premium. But there’s a good reason to spend the extra money on this bolt action rifle.
The big brother, Ruger Enhanced Precision is one of the finest you’ll find for the money. You can get it chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor and ring steel at 1200 yards with that version of the Ruger.
Or novice shooters can scale everything down, and use the 22 Long Rifle. It’s more a target shooting specialist, but you could hunt kind of hunt with it. Sort of. Clocktower type pest control hunting anyway…
And the Ruger is fun in a very different way. You can learn long distance shooting fundamentals at this price point.
Long Distance Precision Shooter
It’s a supremely accurate chassis for this price range. Like the Creedmoor, you will find you can really stretch the range with this and you can learn about the impact of the wind and drop-off on a simpler scale.
The adjustable stock will blow your mind for a while too. As will the parts and accessories you can buy.
You can order yours in a bewildering wide variety of calibers. Have a look here for some options for your Precision rifle, from .17 HMR to 338 Lapua,
13. Christensen Arms Ranger
- Price: $749.99
- Action: Bolt
- Barrel length: 18 inch
- Weight: 5.1lb
- Capacity: 10+1
If you love precision shooting and looking good at the same time, well the Christensen Arms Ranger might just be the gun deals you have been looking for.
The 18 inch barrel is a lightweight carbon fiber wrapped steel tube that cuts weight and allegedly increases rigidity and accuracy. The cost definitely goes up with Carbon fiber, but that’s not the only trick tech on the Christensen Arms Ranger bolt action rifle.
The company uses advanced materials to trim the ounces and pounds. The final weight of 5.1lb with an 18 inch barrel and sturdy engineering throughout is no mean feat. And we like this carbon-steel barrel a lot.
If you’re a dedicated 22 shooter into shooting sports or serious about small game hunting, these tack drivers could be a long term investment. Or the start of another joyous money pit. There are pros and cons…
14. Anschutz 1761 D HB
- Price: $1,850.00
- Action: Bolt
- Barrel Length: 20 inch
- Total Length: 37.7 inch
- Weight: 6.3lb
- Capacity: 5+1
If money just doesn’t matter and you want the very best 22 LR you can find, well you should probably take a look at Anschutz.
This wood stock effort isn’t even close to the most expensive one you can find. It’s more of an entry-level effort. You can easily spend upwards of $3,500 on an Anschutz rifle and they aren’t for novices. This is a shooting sports legend.
Are they that good? Yes, is the simple answer. If this gun for sale was just a touch cheaper then we might have given it the overall win.
Let’s be honest this won’t be your first. If you just love 22 rifles, though, and plenty of people do, you might find yourself gravitating towards serious weapons like this.
It comes with a single stage 5098 match trigger that owners claim is worth the price of admission on its own. You can adjust the length of pull, and the pull weight of this adjustable trigger, natch. That long bolt throw makes this feel like a bigger firearm in the hands, too, and the bolt itself is easy to find with gloves on.
Add the 20 inch barrel that gives you velocity and accuracy and it’s easy to see why this has turned into a firm favorite with serious shooters. You can get left-handed versions of this hunting rifle, too, of course, and it’s hard to beat in any form.
Get Proper Optics, Scope is Best
The Anschutz is drilled and tapped for a proper scope mount, a solid Match 64 action with a cam cocking system, a claw extractor and a sliding lateral safety.
You can get a classic layout with a turkish walnut stock right through to a lightweight sniper rifle for professional biathlon competitors. We kind of like the hardwood stock and even the serial number means something here.
It’s the best gun
15. ATI GSG-16 22LR Rifle
- Price: $369.99
- Barrel length: 16.25 inch
- Total Length: 36 inch
- Weight: 5lb
- Capacity: 22+1
The first incarnation of the ATI GSG-16 22LR semi-auto rifles looked too much like the HK MP5 SMG home defense icon and Heckler & Koch got the legal heavies involved. I mean you didn’t have to check the serial number to be sure, but apparently HK still weren’t satisfied.
This is round two, a 22LR rifle that looks just different enough, while clearly aping the style of the 9mm sub-machine gun legend. Is this really a training rifle? Maybe. A bit.
You will either love the long faux silencer or you won’t and it is a novelty gun if we’re honest. The CZ, for instance,is technically better and yet doesn’t offer anything spectacularly different.
ATI Make Next Generation 22 Long Rifle Firearms
ATI specialize in tribute acts and the Sig Sauer Mosquito 22 Long Rifle copy is one of the best 22 pistols for sale in 2023. This feels like a bit of a novelty gun in a way, because it isn’t a faithful recreation, at all. If you love the MP5 and don’t want to pay more than $2,600 for the civilian 9mm SMG from HK, the HK SP5K, then this could be an option.
The stock does collapse and there isn’t really much more to say. It’s a solid homage, a tribute act. They’re never going to win anything, but they can put a smile on your face.
16. Mossberg Blaze
- Price: $215.99
- Barrel length: 16.5 inch
- Overall Length: 35.75 inch
- Weight: 3.5lb
- Capacity: 26
Sometimes you want your semi auto 22 Long Rifle to look like an AK-47. You just do.
You can say it’s one of the great training semi autos. Or just a great plinking rifle.
At 3.5lb this is light.
The Mossberg Blaze 22 Long Rifle comes with adjustable sights, an adjustable length of pull and great user reviews. Parts and accessories won’t be that hard to find either due to largely standard internals.
And if you like American 22LR rifles, then you’ll already be mashing the buy it now button, screaming shut up and take my money. We get it…
Get Cheap 22 Ammo Online
Do you want the cheapest deals on the best 22LR ammo for your semi auto or bolt rimfire rifle?
Get 5000 rounds of the best 22 LR rifles ammo for less than $150. Most gun safes have lots of spare 22LR ammo for 22LR rifles. You should have some too.
You can also check these great links for the best 22LR ammo on the market, at the best possible prices. Your accurate 22LR rifles deserve the best.
- Sportsman’s Guide – Cheap deals on 22LR ammo.
- Sportsman’s Warehouse – Great bulk deals on 22 ammunition.
- Palmetto State Armory – A mountain of 22 LR ammo for you to buy online, great customer service.
17. Chiappa Firearms Little Badger
- Price: $252.99
- Barrel length: 16.5 inch barrel
- Overall Length: 32 inch
- Weight: 3.5lb
- Capacity: 1
Single shots maybe don’t get the respect they deserve round here, but we’re about to make amends with a frankly giddy tribute to the Chiappa Firearms Little Badger.
This pure and basic with a wireframe, a 2.9lb weight and one of the simplest mechanisms out there. The hammer is the safety, it’s a single shot rifle, and this is an ideal starter toy if you want to get people into guns.
Because the Little Badger is cute, fun even, and nobody could really be intimidated by this thing. The one shot, snap open, reload process means you think about each shot. And nobody is going to panic and mag dump their Little Badger as people scatter in all directions.
Considering the weight, you get a surprising amount of tactical gear. There’s a Picatinny rail up top, and another down low so you could add tactical gear. You can put a sling on it, break it down and throw it in a backpack or simply let it hang loose in your hand. This weight is nothing, and that’s the beauty of this gun.
Of course, this single action, single-shot rifle is, quite literally, a one-trick pony. So there are pros and cons. It gets blasted into the weeds by the modern guns on everything except weight and simplicity.
It is beautifully simple engineering, too, and works perfectly left handed.
18. Tactical Solutions X-Ring VR
- Price: $1,225.99
- Barrel length: 16.5″
- Total Length: 34.75″
- Weight: 4.6lb
- Capacity: 10+1
The company made its name with upgraded barrels for the Ruger 10/22. Now it has gone a few steps further and created an almost custom rifle for reasonable money. It is just way more accurate if you want to push the bounds when it comes to distance.
So if you like shooting targets you need binoculars for, then take a look at the X-Ring Takedown model. You can break it down for easy transport in a backpack. But it costs a lot of money and it’s a tack driver.
Quality on a Budget
This is a custom gun, absolutely. It is high price, high spec, but you can find gun deals. These are also brilliant bolt action guns and every bit as advanced as bigger caliber hunters. At the shooting range, this bolt action rimfire rifle is a legend. We have loved it for years, as you can see it was one of our first ever posts.
Where to buy Them
These are some of the finest 22 Long Rifle barrels in the firearms industry and that has blossomed into an awesome line of hunting and target rifles. But these cold hammer forged barrel options are a little specialist for some mainstream online gun stores in the USA.
So which
- TS Parts & accessories for Ruger 10/22, magazines and more at Brownells.
- Buy from specialist manufacturers at Guns.com.
19. Henry Repeating Arms Lever-Action Rifle
- Price: $399.99
- Barrel length: 16.125″
- Total: 34″
- Weight: 4.5lb
- Capacity: 12+1
Live out your Wild West fantasies with dirt cheap ammunition and an old-school lever gun for sale that will just put a smile on your face every time you pop that large-loop lever.
This Henry is a fun gun, a rimfire rifle with
We love that traditional feel too and it’s a great choice for that reason alone. it’s a different kind of good 22 LR rifle.
This weighs in at 4.5lb, you get 12 rounds between reloads and you’ll feel like a low budget Clint Eastwood.
There aren’t many true legends here, but the Henry lever-action rifle is one of them. It’s not the most accurate here, it won’t be the most tactical, but you will it. And really, that’s all that matters at the end of the day.
Henry also offer other options. You want something real different? How’s about a pump action 22 LR?
We love the pump action 22 LR, if only for the novelty value. It’s more of a backyard plinker than a shooting range tool, but that’s fine too.
20. Magnum Lite Speedshot 22LR Rifles
- Price: $834.99
- Barrel length: 17″
- Total Length: 35.5″
- Weight: 4.5lb
- Capacity: 10+1
Magnum Research, yes the Desert Eagle people, have made a stunning, futuristic looking piece of engineering art here.
It’s a stripped down long gun that looks like a shrunken tactical shotgun. You can also get sportsmen’s frames, thumbhole stocks and other options that give you different optics, scope mounts and layouts. A red dot could be perfect.
They are mostly high price,
Sporter Looks Insane
Some of the others look like the real match-grade target shooters those weird cross country skiers have on their backs at the Winter Olympics. They kind of are.
This one gets the same duty of care, so put a proper optic on this Magnum Research and you have a real potent machine on your hands.
Tactical Gear For You
It is an accurate 22LR rifle, machined from aircraft-grade aluminum and weighing in at 4.5lb. It comes with a proper Picatinny rail, a pistol grip and a threaded barrel that is suppressor-ready. It’s a super accurate precision rifle and comes with a blended steel and graphite barrel.
Do you need any of this? Hell no, but then when did you ever need guns? You want them, and this. That’s good enough for us.
21. CZ 457
- Price: $549.99
- Barrel: 16.1″
- Total Length: 39.5″
- Weight: 8lb
- Capacity: 5+1
The CZ 457 American is hardly ground-breaking. But it is well finished, the user reviews online say it’s worth every penny of its substantial price tag. And it certainly stands out from the crowd.
Is that enough to justify this tack driver in your collection? Possibly…
You can buy a 457 in every flavor, from the toned down wood stock to this. The thumbhole stock, wood laminate finish and more just combine to make this a far more attractive proposition than it may other wise have been. I like this one a little more than I should.
For more 22 bolt action rifle choices, check this post.
22. Savage Arms 64 FSS
- Price: $176.99
- Barrel: 21″
- Total Length: 40″
- Weight: 5.5lb
- Capacity: 10+1
If you’re looking for a cheap 22, then this Savage Arms is your Huckleberry. Well, it’s one of them.
It’s a simple gun that can handle everything from target shooting to hunting small game. It takes a detachable 10-round mag and you can order a bigger one, a matte black finish and a camo version.
The Mark 2 is a simple weapon, which is what you might actually want. Not everybody wants the full bore AR-15, lever or game hunting experience.
You get a blued barrel, a black synthetic stock and it’s all pretty basic stuff. It’s drilled and tapped for scope mounts, but there is no rail.
But at this price, it’s great for young shooters and people that just want to practise without spending a fortune on rimfire rifles.
23. Browning Buck Mark Target
- Price: $649.99
- Barrel: 18.38″
- Total Length: 34″
- Weight: 5.38lb
- Capacity: 10+1
It kind of looks like a World War II Ruger pistol that has been fitted with an aftermarket stock and a comedy long barrel. In reality, the core is the Browning Buck Mark pistol that features on the list of the best 22 pistols.
There is no denying the unique styling catches the eye with the Browning Buck Mark Target. It’s almost a custom rifle, for almost mainstream money and it’s so fun to shoot.
One of the Most Accurate
The long-range accuracy of the Browning Buck Mark pistol is legendary and it is one of the best 22 LR rifles on sale. A longer barrel and a sporter style stock transform give new life to that exceptional pistol.
If you’re looking to get serious about your range shooting with 22 rifles and don’t want to spend Anschutz money, the Browning Buck Mark Target is a great budget alternative to a full precision chassis rifle for competitive shooting. The gun reviews all basically say that one same thing.
Inevitably, this is relatively lightweight, with an alloy receiver and the iconic cutout sporter stock. But then it isn’t as light as some others here, and probably it isn’t quite as light as you’d think. It is user adjustable too and mounting a scope goes without saying.
No matter, the Browning Buck Mark Target is a great shooting competition, target practise and range plinking rifle. Buy one. Get more shots on target. Then love it.
24. Thompson Center Line T/CR22
- Price: $358.99
- Barrel: 17 inch
- Total Length: 35 inch
- Capacity: 10+1
- Weight: 4.4lb
The Thompson Center Line T/CR22 is so light that it’s a perfect gift for a child.
It isn’t the most advanced here, but the Thompson Center Line has stellar user reviews. In fact regular shooters often prefer their Thompson Center Line with its innovative autoloading bolt system to the more lauded best overall Ruger.
Among hardcore enthusiasts and preppers, this simple gun with a rotary magazine has achieved cult status. It’s one of the approved guns, knives and tools that you’ll find on pretty much every apocalyptic nut’s website. It’s cheap, more durable than the Energizer bunny and actual owners love theirs.
So yeah, get one of these 22 rifles and see. It’s surprisingly good for target shooting too. Master this training rifle, then move on to the full size rifles with more serious ammo.
25. Ruger American Rimfire
- Price: $319.99
- Barrel: 18
- Overall Length: 35.75 inch
- Weight: 5.38lb
- Capacity: 10+1
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The Ruger American rimfire is another staple that this great country grew up with.
You can get a Ruger Compact with a shorter barrel, Talo special editions and more.
This is the standard and it comes with a recoil reducing buttstock pad. Also, you get an Alexander Henry fore end and one of the best 22 LR rifles that we all remember.
The synthetic stock has changed, the layout has evolved ever so slightly. But really this is the childhood rifle we all remember..
You could order the Mossy Oak camo American Predator instead. Check out the full line here. There’s lots, from real wood through to a precision rifle stock etc.
This rifle is another one that comes in just about every caliber. So you know it has been tested well beyond the limits of the 22 round and scaled down for simplicity and cost effectiveness. get a good rifle scope up top and this is a serious tool for wildlife management and wilderness survival.
26. Remington 597
- Price: $179.99
- Barrel: 20″
- Total Length: 40″
- Weight: 5.5lb
- Capacity: 10+1
Remington has taken a bit of a beating, PR wise, in recent years,. But the simple fact is this Remington model is one of the great firearms and it comes with some neat touches.
The 20 inch steel barrel is great for velocity and accuracy and you also get twin guide rails that Remington says gives you better stability, reliability and long-range accuracy. This autoloading 22 LR system is the greatest breakthough in 35 years, according to Remington. And well that makes it a fact…
It’s a 10-round weapon with a simple laminate stock that is a great starter gun, although it does weigh 5.5lb. The black polymer stock is cheap, but then this is a great rifle you don’t need to coddle.
27. Marlin XT-22
- Price: $379.99
- Barrel: 20″
- Total Length: 40″
- Weight: 5.5lb
- Capacity: 10+1
The new Marlin XT-22 is expensive right now, but that’s the only reason it isn’t much higher. When prices come down, these bolt action will feature more heavily.
When a Ruger is much cheaper, though, these Marlin Firearms 22LR rifles are staying down here.
28. Keystone Sporting Arms Crickett
- Price: $161.99
- Barrel: 16″
- Total Length: 40″
- Weight: 3.9lb
- Capacity: 1
The Keystone Sporting Arms Crickett is a one shot bolt 22LR that is aimed at teaching kids gun safety and basic technique. They are basic bolt action rifles that won’t break the bank for young shooters.
Keystone Sporting Arms has a whole range of precision chasssis rifle inspired offerings, and sporter stocks. But they’re all variations on a very simple theme. A one shot rifle that helps new shooters. You’re never too young to learn the basics of competitive shooting and target shooting either, are you?
And some discontinued classics
Some of the best 22 LR rifles, bolt action rifles, lever action rifles, have gone out of existence since this list started. The usual rule is that we delete them, but we love these weird little guns just too much for that. Plus, people still search for them on Google, so we both lose if I hit delete on these 22 rifles when you think about it…
29. Mossberg 464 SPX
- Price: $299.97
- Barrel: 18″
- Total Length: 35.5″
- Weight: 6lb
- Capacity: 14+1
It’s a fantastic mash-up of a tactical shotgun, a Wild West rifle chambered in 22LR and a modern-day tactical shotgun, kind of. The Mossberg 464 SPX has something for everybody and it’s a novelty that you could learn to love.
That adjustable buttstock has six separate positions, so if you can’t get comfortable then you are the problem.
This reimagined, futuristic lever gun that looks like it could be one of a dying breed of pump actions, comes with a muzzle brake. Obviously you need with a savage beast like this /s.
The recoil is next to nothing, the plastic stock soaks up any tremors and you could fire this gun all day with no ill effects.
Now it really isn’t a must-have and long-range accuracy won’t be the tightest here. It’s a luxury, a
30. Walther H&K G36 22 LR
- Price: $547.99
- Action: Semi-auto
- Barrel: 18.1″
- Total Length: 37.8″
- Weight: 6.74lb
- Capacity: 25+1
It’s magnificent isn’t it? This is the same basic form that the German military held at their side throughout the 90s and are now totally overengineered but maybe the best 22 LR rifles. The gun reviews everywhere lament its passing.
The full fat H&K G36 was chambered in 5.56 x 45. Now you can get the same great rifle, kind of, in a more accessible high quality semi auto 22 LR.
You can have an awesome looking rifle, though, which comes with a high-set optic rail for scope mounting and a folding stock that means you can run your 22 LR rifle as a pistol. Pretty cool huh? Even the cross bolt manual safety feels kinda right.
Walther is a 22LR specialist that knows a button rifled barrel when it sees one, in the handgun sector as well. You will find some stunning guns that are actually 22 recreations of the classics, from the likes of the H&K36 to the best selling Colt 1911. This was one of their finest hours and one of the finest 22 rifles here.
31. Uzi Carbine 22LR
- Price: $534.99
- Action: Semi Auto
- Barrel: 17.9″
- Total Length: 26.1″
- Weight: 7.6lb
- Capacity: 20+1
You are either grinning like a psycho at the matte black finish Walther Uzi Carbine 22LR or shaking your head in disgust. There probably won’t be much of a middling reaction. It doesn’t really matter now anyway, because this novelty has been discontinued.
We couldn’t bear to delete it from our permanent records. even as some kind of gun safety apocryphal tale.
It’s an odd looking thing, totally overbarrelled even though the 17.9″ barrel is largely disguised as an oversized suppressor. It also comes with a folding stock, which is pretty cool, and it really does look sort of like an Uzi. This is not a precision rifle, but it is a rifle.
You get a grip safety, which is a pretty nice touch, and it’s a Walther so look past the aesthetics and you do get a solid and reasonably accurate rifle.
What game can you hunt with a good 22 LR rifle?
Ethical hunters won’t really go much bigger than rats, birds, small ducks and squirrels. But this can become a way of life as you clamber through the humid forest canopy that is your local derelict field. This is hunting on a micro scale and it comes with its own weird satisfaction.
Groundhogs, Coyotes and small wild hogs are technically within the remit of the 22 LR, but we prefer an AR-15 at the very least for those encounters. Get gun deals here.
Great Starter Guns
The unique skillset, low cost of entry and accessibility means it’s a popular starter rifle. It also means there’s a booming industry supplying the 22 LR specialist hunters with 22 LR suppressors, game calls, knives, tools and other specialist equipment aimed at the backyard hunter.
When big game is a squirrel, you can have fun dressed in wild camo on the porch, eating Hot Pockets with the best 22 LR rifles.
You could also buy a single action Ruger Mark IV for buttons and get going with a 22 pistol. The Ruger Mark 4 is truly exceptional, especially the Lite.
22 scopes are largely more popular than red dots, as the magnification helps when you’re trying to eye-shot a squirrel, which sounds slightly psychopathic when we see it in print and yet here we are. Game calls, camo clothing, suppressors and more sound nicer than squirrel murder…
But where are the best places for 22 LR rifles, parts, accessories and upgrades? Fix your 22LR rimfire rifle here.
What About the Best Concealed Carry Pistol?
If you’re looking for a CCW handgun and local gun laws allow it, then we got carry options for you too. Boy howdee…
The Springfield Armory Hellcat has taken the micro compact 9mm world by storm. That is our top tip and the Springfield Armory Hellcat with a red dot sight on top is the recipe for success.
Some people prefer a Ruger LCP Max, or a S&W M&P Shield, but the Springfield Armory Hellcat is a great option too, Glock 43x and Sig P365 in all its forms are currently fighting for the top spot. If you want to stick with 22 Long Rifle ammo. a Glock G44 is a great little pistol firing the same stuff as the best 22 LR Rifles.
Check these lists for a variety of the best concealed carry handgun options before you buy a gun online.
- 9mm Sub-Compact Handguns for CCW, including S&W M&P
- Sub Compact 1911 45 ACP pistols For Sale.
- The best Micro-compact 9mm pistols on sale.
Best Stores for parts & accessories
Here is our list of the best gun stores for parts, hunting gear, survival gear etc.
- Brownells – Precision barrels, trigger kits, spare mags and 22 LR suppressors, lights, lasers optics, scopes and more. Gun cleaning kits, knives, tools, a rotary magazine, red/green dot optic, range gear, survival gear, everything. Gift cards, too, if you’re a lazy shopper.
- Sportsman’s Guide – Awesome hunting accessories for small, medium and big game hunters. Lights, lasers and accessories too. Knives, tools, gun cleaning kits, outdoor cooking, pants, shorts, a rotary magazine, whatever you need. Great gift card scheme too.
- Guns.com – Don’t need customer service? Save money with this online marketplace on guns, optics, scopes and ammo. Maybe gun cleaning accessories and a red/green dot optic. Great gun deals and a rotary magazine.
- Palmetto State Armory – The best deals on 22 rifles, ammo and parts. Palmetto State Armory is one of the bets gun stores online. Shop Palmetto State Armory now. Daily discounts and free shipping.
Consider Air if Gun Laws Prohibit a 22LR
Air guns have come on in leaps and bounds. So if you can’t have 22 firearms, handguns, rifles etc, then check out pure air force. You can find 50 Cal air guns that shoot arrows these days, in this post here.
People use a wide range of BB guns for big game hunting and home defense, and black powder guns. I mean we wouldn’t recommend black powder honestly. But it happens around the world where Second Amendment rights aren’t really a thing.
These are rifles that won’t break the bank and shouldn’t break the law.
New York is one of those places that a BB gun is basically all you’re allowed. I mean New York gun laws aren’t quite that bad yet, but they are getting there. So if you live in New York, California, or a few other places, maybe consider moving to Texas?
But while you can, get a good 22 lr rifle too, and look out for free shipping.
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Hi Nick.what gun better gsg 16 or HK416.Thanks
For the money, and the fun, probably the GSG. It’s a nice little package, but you can’t go wrong with either one. That’s probably less helpful than it’s intended to be!
Nick, I am thinking about going into rimfire steel compitition but cant decide on my long gun. Im set with my pistol, so Im half way there. Any suggestions? Btw great article.
Thank you! And if you’re a beginner I’d stick with the classics. The Browning Buckmark if you want to spend a little more, or a Ruger 10/22 or Mossberg Plinkster if you’re doing it on a tight budget.
If you’re just starting out, inevitably there’s a lot more to come from you than the gun anyway. Always bear that in mind when you’re getting big ideas with your budget! But if you want to go nuts, Tactical Solutions seem to offer the most rifle this side of custom gun money. Hope that helps!
What is the rifle in the very first picture with the stainless steel barrel and synthetic stock semi auto with scope
It’s an old Tactical Solutions X-Ring rifle. The current line-up is here on their site. https://tacticalsol.com/Products.aspx?CAT=13297 I just liked that old picture and never wanted to change it. It’s a pretty great looking rifle!
CZ at 22? Your off by 21 on that call.