Thread: Need some opinions on a couple of guns

I would agree with gravelben on this.

As a rimfire hobbyist I like buying/testing the full range of sporter 22s. I like the CZs - darn good rifles - but they are not the only good option. There are many very efficient hunter 22s which do the job well, and from testing a huge number on the range I can confirm many makes/models will match and/or outshoot the CZs on the bench.

Marlin 925/980SS great wee workers - especially chopped. Toz 78, Savage, Norinco, Zastava all capable - especially when you spend an hour or two to finesse action/trigger. And crazy as it may seem one of my favourite wee hunters for precision accuracy and ideal size/weight balance is a 16" chopped and action polished Norinco JW15 shorty. We've done maybe 15-20 JW15 action/barrel jobs on them now and almost all will pop under 0.5" at best at 50m. Deadly wee units with ideal size for truck or field.

This is a Marlin 925 somebody has on trademe. Good sound wee rifle and very accurate - my last one touched 0.3"s for 5 shot groups at 50m. Its one example of an inexpensive setup ideal for for people wanting to get into bunny shooting:

Marlin 925 22lr + Leupold QRW Rings! | Trade Me

Models/makes of common sporters that have performed well for me on the bench:

* Norinco EM332 - champ at longer ranges with best four group average of 0.6" at 100m.
* JW15 - usually sub half inch at 50m and occasionally into the 0.3"s. A chop to 16" and polished action makes the ideal hunter
* CZ/Brno - very nice units with no real weaknesses,. Good value at $500 or so secondhand as noted above. Usually 0.4s at 50m.
* Marlin 60 semiautos - best of the semiautos - several shooting down to 1/4" groups at 50 and averaqing close to that. DLs and DLXs lovely wee rifles.
* Marlin 925/980 bolt action - sound, basic, reliable, feed well, quite well made and v accurate - down to 0.3" at 50m.
* Ruger model 96 lever - best of the 10/22 variants. No weaknesses - great wee hunter - 0.7s at 50m.
* Toz 78 - good value package with the 4 mags etc. Benefits from an hour or to polishing. Good sound unit for NZ conditions. 0.7s.
* Savage Mk 2 - basic, quite good accuracy, good trigger, mine popped 0.7 at 50m
* Marlin 795 - basic, sound, benefits from a little polishing to action and trigger. Very accurate and reliable with right ammos and cleaning regimen. 0.4s at 50m. Marlins have very good rimfire barrels.
* Winchester 94/22 - mmmmmmmmmm.....