Thread: First rifle - .22 Bolt vs Semi questions

Single shot .22 bolt.

You will take your time with shots and learn well.

Yes good thought 40mm the only down side is most were very budget models and the triggers can range from okay to really bloody awfull not what one wants for target quality

Originally Posted by Barry the hunter

well many on here are pushing the norincos but for real results at targets you cannot beat pedigree barrel trigger and good optics - and then range time - is a norinco really going to be a target rifle or just a reasonably accurate ( well some of them ) hunting rifle - I would sooner see him go second hand anshutz sako or similar go on guys spend his money

Yip, fair call. They won't win at Nationals, don't have break like glass triggers, don't have smoothed and honed mating surfaces, and not as nice as dedicated target rifles.But for starting out, so long as it's a good one, they punch well above their price point, which allows you to splash out on optics, buy/try many different kinds of ammo, develop a sequence/ rhythm of firing for consistency, and not be afraid of getting it dirty.
OP never said what type of target. Is it plinking at paper or competition. When chasing the odd bunny, I know I'd prefer to take out the JW on a wet or dusty day/night not to being worried about my investment, plus being half the weight, and possible larger mag capacity, so can go further for longer.
Horses for courses

I want a Remington 541s then a Volquartson then a Steyr Zephery then an Anshutz if I achieve even one of those next few years doing well

Depending on when you go to the handloaders range If I’m free I could bring down a Ruger 10/22, Marlin papoose, Norinco JW-15, Winchester 9422 lever action to try. Yes you can shoot supervised all good.

I reckon pick up a Norinco or similar bolt action second hand. There are some real bargains out there now. If you buy second hand you should be able to get your money back more or less when you sell it if you change your mind. Youll lose a lot if you sell a new rifle. I change my mind on what I want all the time so I speak from experience haha. For example for rabbit shooting If you want to push the range out 17HMRs are awesome.

Originally Posted by longshot

It's because it's in the same price range as the Citadel Trakr, that the OP has tabled as what he is looking at. Mine shoots well, I know of others that don't. It's luck of the dice buying new, but 2nd hand means you get to see the lie of the dice before putting money down.

In truth if the Norinco here is a good shooter it will still likely be well under the Citadel price point....The citadel price point may even be able to include a scope and rings as it will need to use one to find out if it is accurate. I have not tried it out yet and I dont know much about its previous life apart from that its previous owner has passed...(older gent)

Originally Posted by Barry the hunter

and scopes on package deals all to often models they cant sell - there was a nice 22 on here recently Wairarapa I think Brno

It is worth noting that some of those package deals are used as upsell options to get you to spend more....

I got a real good deal on 3 identical very good scopes because they were underrated and 'didn't sell'. They were Nikko Diamond 3-9x40s. They came fitted with a new Howa package (same wholesaler) and buyers were "upgrading to loopy VX1s...That particular store was charging full whack for the VX1 scope, saying the Nikkos were junk, and "giving " them the rings in the package deal. The Nikko Diamond scopes involved were the earlier ones that were made in Japan and had Japanese glass. These were Nikkos Premium offering - I think, easily on par with the VX1 in the 2010s.....I mentioned to the fellow behind the counter that the price label was wrong on the diamonds as he had them priced at the same level as the Gold crown / mount masters...(around $160 each...) He foolishly said make and offer - I offered $300 for all 3 and he even more foolishly said Done.....They ended up on these 3....I could practise on the 22LR and 223 for cheap shooting but could pick up the 308 and do the same ....

Thanks for all the advice, really appreciate it. The CZ seems to be a solid option, will go have a look at some to get a look and feel.

I own three 22lr bolt actions. A bruno#2 a norinco jw15 and a Russian toz. The norinco is nicest to use,trigger like breaking glass and it's very....very accurate. The Bruno is nice,but no better than norinco....and the toz....well it's Russian agricultural BUT it's cock on closing bolt so a old fashioned fella like myself can appreciate it for that it nothing else...what's the trigger like??? Ummm well it's loooooooong pull before it goes off but usable. Every man should own a 22lr. They are just so handy when you need a handy thing.

Originally Posted by Sh3eep

Thanks for all the advice, really appreciate it. The CZ seems to be a solid option, will go have a look at some to get a look and feel.

A mate of mine was in the same boat as you about two years ago. I talked him through the options, based on what he wanted to do (learn to shoot + pest control on his lifestyle block). In the end he settled on a CZ 457. We ended up finding a Redfield 2-7 scope for it, and fitted it with some talley rings. It was a nice tidy little rifle, I was suitably impressed, and wouldn't hesitate to buy one if I was in the market for another .22

It had a nice trigger too, he was hitting small targets at 100yd in the first 45 minutes of being at the range.

Originally Posted by bjp

Yeah, if you can save a few $$ while still getting a good rifle, put the extra into the optics, won't be regretted.

This is always a really interesting debate. I had a conversation with a guy who refused to use anything less than 12X magnification on a 22, he said he wants to be able to see the rabbits eyeball close up. But I think of 22LR as a close range calibre if used for killing things, ethical shots on anything bigger than a rabbit is limited to 50m or so. The trajectory of 22LR is not very flat at any kind of range, I feel that an expensive scope on 22LR just means a lot of dialing and not much shooting. I've got 2 10/22s, one with a red dot, one with aperture on the reciever, I don't see any requirement for optics at all for farm pest control work.

As for the semi vs bolt action, people seem to forget that having a semi auto does not mean you need to pull the trigger constantly! Treat it like a more dangerous bolt action, and take time to line up the second shot. But it does give the potential for faster shooting if required. When I was using the E cat for pest control I was not emptying 30rd mags all at once very often, and then only on close range goats with a very short shooting window before they disappeared into bush.

Yes indeed you don't need to keep pulling trigger and can treat it like a more dangerous bolt action......but only if you actually already KNOW how to handle said bolt action.sometimes slower and more simple is best. I learnt on single shot rifle and shotgun and I believe it taught me some valuable lessons,like getting closer if you can ,take any rest available and a marginal shot that misses sees game get away,so do the above,the quick second shot as it moves isn't an option so you don't rely on it. Mindset really.

Longshot is right about the Citadel Trakr
but i wanted a pistol grip chassis ,have built up two rifles out of these but changed the barrels
one has a Volquartsen fast twist 1:8 22 lr just right for the 60grain Aguila ss heavies
the other just done has the 17 M 2 barrel fitted
if you remove the trigger spring and cut one leg off really clean out the grease around the sear [holds fine dust ] the trigger becomes not 1/2 bad UNIT [ im used to Timney's or above ]
also fitted a vertical custom grip VTP Printed . this brings the trigger in close for short hands
have a hard time getting my turn behind the G. Kids

Just found this photo

Originally Posted by Ben Waimata

This is always a really interesting debate. I had a conversation with a guy who refused to use anything less than 12X magnification on a 22, he said he wants to be able to see the rabbits eyeball close up. But I think of 22LR as a close range calibre if used for killing things, ethical shots on anything bigger than a rabbit is limited to 50m or so. The trajectory of 22LR is not very flat at any kind of range, I feel that an expensive scope on 22LR just means a lot of dialing and not much shooting. I've got 2 10/22s, one with a red dot, one with aperture on the reciever, I don't see any requirement for optics at all for farm pest control work.

As for the semi vs bolt action, people seem to forget that having a semi auto does not mean you need to pull the trigger constantly! Treat it like a more dangerous bolt action, and take time to line up the second shot. But it does give the potential for faster shooting if required. When I was using the E cat for pest control I was not emptying 30rd mags all at once very often, and then only on close range goats with a very short shooting window before they disappeared into bush.

I tend to think more and more these days, that the 'spend more on optics' rule of thumb is becoming less and less relevant. I have seen several repetitions of the statement in the last 12 months but I also saw it in a magazine in the early 1990's. Scopes / Rifles have changed significantly since that time in terms of quality. I find it hard to believe that the ratio has stayed the same.
I run a couple of cheaper end Burris scopes, they are less than half the cost of the rifles they are on, and the rifles they live on aren't high end either. I don't find any problem with either of them. Granted I am not using them at the extreme margins of hunting, but they work for everything I ask of them.

I do give the idea more weight in deer stalking, but for shooting rabbits, I don't think there is much a Vx3 can do that a droptine cannot.