No American .22's

[longbow62]

I don't understand whats so hard about producing a high quality American made .22 at a reasonable price. You would think someone could fill the niche. I think it's a real shame none of the American makers can produce something on par with CZs price and accuracy. Coopers to me are way over priced. For that kind of money you can buy an Anschutz.

[JDBraddy]

If there was demand for them, someone would be making them. I had to order my CZ and my Anschutz over the internet, because no gun stores in a city of 2 million people carry either brand. This is because only a very small handfull of people will buy them. Most shooters want a cheap .22 to plink and blow a thousand rounds downrange as fast as they can pull the trigger. They don't care if they hit anything. That's why AR conversions, Marlins and 10/22's are so popular. It's the same thing with ammo, I see shooters everyday that come out with a Marlin or Ruger semi and a couple bricks of Remington or Winchester bulk ammo, who send several hundred rounds down range, and wonder why they can't shoot groups like mine. I usually ask to see their gun, load it up with Eley team or Wolf MT, shoot a nice group with it, hand it back to them with whatever's left in the box, and tell them where to order it and how much it costs. A week or two later, I'll see them again blasting away with whatever happened to be on sale at Walmart. People keep buying the cheapest crap they can find, and ignoring the good stuff, so that's what the manufacturers are making and selling them.

[cedestech]

What he said....

While not on par with Annies, Savage is making some really nice guns at decent price points, same range as the CZ's and same average quality/accuracy.

[DavidABQ]

I'm not sure I can add much except that Ruger does make a nice .22 bolt gun but the cost is more than a CZ. I had a choice between the CZ455 American I bought and a Ruger 77/22; the Ruger was approximately $225 more than my CZ. I am all in favor of buying American products and I would have LOVED to own that Ruger, it was just too expensive. Competitively priced and it would be sitting in my gun safe now.

I agree with the previous posters here; if there was a demand for well built/ adult .22s then more American companies would build them.

[malinois]

The problem is the mind set...most people freak out when you tell them what you spent on a 22...comments like you spent that much on a what !!!! a 22. thats a kids gun. It even works its way into big bore too with, you are shooting that !!!..or its not big enough...why dont you shoot a real caliber...unfortunatly it is what it is...some forks think a 22 is a kids gun and unless it blows you flat when you squeeze the trigger it is not a real gun.

[Innocent]

Have yet to see a 77/22 hold a group like a CZ and I've seen a few that have been tricked out/upgraded with 'target' barrels etc.

Not that the 77/22 isn't pretty, and fairly good groups with high dollar overseas ammo, but still not what a CZ can do, straight out of the box.

Mary

[malinois]

Those Rugers are good shooters, I shot one way back when too....and like was stated before alot of stores dont carry the more expensive ones because for the most part they will sit on the shelf for a long time....target grade 22 are a very small market..appreciated by only a few.

[longbow62]

I agree somewhat that most shooters won't spend $2,000.00 on a .22LR. I myself cannot justify it at the moment, but I don't think remington was having trouble selling 504's or the 541's before that. The 504 was a flop because it had flaws. Ruger has been making the 77/22 a long time so they do sell despite the lack luster accuracy. The accuracy being why I don't own one. Savage should come out with an updated .22 action. I don't care for the Savage or Marlin actions. They seem primitive and crude even when compared to the CZ.

I have had a Savage/Anschutz 164 sporter and a 1712 that I sold several years ago. Huge mistake selling the 1712 as now the price has gotten out of my reach. Currently shooting a tricked out CZ 452 Varmint, which is fine shooter.

redhot by coyotegod62, on Flickr

[Jerry G]

by malinois on Thu Jun 28, 2012 9:06 pm

The problem is the mind set...most people freak out when you tell them what you spent on a 22...comments like you spent that much on a what !!!! a 22. thats a kids gun. It even works its way into big bore too with, you are shooting that !!!..or its not big enough...why dont you shoot a real caliber...unfortunatly it is what it is...some forks think a 22 is a kids gun and unless it blows you flat when you squeeze the trigger it is not a real gun.

That is true and the same guys have two $10k snow machines and 2 15K quads. Go figure.

[JDBraddy]

I agree somewhat that most shooters won't spend $2,000.00 on a .22LR. I myself cannot justify it at the moment, but I don't think remington was having trouble selling 504's or the 541's before that.

Remington did have problems selling the 541's, that's why a good used one is so hard to find. That's why the Rem 40X, Win 52, Rem 37, H&R model 12, have all gone the way of the dodo! Hell, Browning and Winchester can't even sell the Win 52b sporter reproductions.

[Innocent]

But the Browning and WIn 52 repros are Jap, actually not bad rifles once you get the trigger worked out.

Mary

[AddictedToSB]

I have had a Savage/Anschutz 164 sporter and a 1712 that I sold several years ago. Huge mistake selling the 1712 as now the price has gotten out of my reach. Currently shooting a tricked out CZ 452 Varmint, which is fine shooter.

Longbow62 - What stock is that? Nessika Bay?

[longbow62]

Well to those that have said it's the mindset, and yes I do agree with you the big names are'nt going to sell a lot of high dollar .22 rifles. My problem is they don't try to put out a rifle in the 400-500 dollar range equal to a CZ. I have almost pulled the trigger on a 77/22 and 504 but did not because I did not want to have to buy after market barrels upping the price even higher. The CZ 452/455 American and Varmint are very nice quality rifles at a great price point.

I went a little over board with my 452 Varmint having Steve Wooster make a stock and bed my barreled action in it. I have not shot the gun a lot yet, but have shot sub 1" inch groups with it at 100 meters. I certainly can't call it a sub inch gun at 100 meters or even a 1" inch rifle until I can do some serious testing and replicate groups that size at will.

[kevinbear]

22 rifles and I might add 22 shooters are not taken seriously in the U.S., more than once I've mentioned to another shooter from outside the silhouette or BR50 community that I'm going to a 22 tournament and I get the nose in the air attitude. One of the clubs I belong to is dominated by ex-military guys who believe 22's are exclusively kids guns, they spend crazy amounts of money on tactical guns that they shoot off the bench a couple of times a summer. If I'm going to shoot a particular gun alot I have no problem laying down big money for one.
I have a theory that most gun people like guns more than the actual act of shooting, caliber matters when your an armchair enthusiast bragging to the boys hence the lack of interest in quality 22lr guns.

[Jason]

Get those guys out for a little shooting fun. Have a competition shooting at target at 100 meters standing up. They can use their uber highpower rifles and you can use your wimpy little 22lr rifle. They'll have an advantage since 100 meters is a really long shot with a kid gun like a 22lr rifle. Shoot at a 6" circle, 20 shots in 10 minutes, 5 points for each shot in the circle. Loser buys lunch/dinner/beverage/etc. Simple game, simple scoring.