I'm looking for some input on a new 22 for squirrel hunting. I have my grandfather's old 22 that has a 5 shot clip but I was looking for a new one. Something that is fun to shoot and versitile as well. I am a fan of my older Ruger m77 rifle but any input would be great on a gun that won't break the bank.

The CZ in all it's forms has nothing but high praise on the world wide Web

For sheer fun I think a retro A1 AR build with 22lr innards would be cool.

Ruger 10/22.

CZ is the only way I'll go for a rimfire anymore. Excellent accuracy with most everything you feed them.

not sure what a versatile .22 is. These rifles would be considered accurate with almost no extra work.
cz452 if you can find one. American or varminter. Rem. 541s is another shooter. Anshutz makes some good one too.
your grandfathers .22 might be a dandy. What is it?

CZ 452 training rifle and cci stingers
shoot one hole groups and will bust a tree rat's punkin every time i do my part.

Marlin model 60 semi auto.

Yep...I bought one years ago. Liked it so much I bought a spare.

I have two myself.

X3 - great rifles.

Maybe just too pretty to carry in the woods but I have a 10/22 like this on my wish list...

No need for a spare. 10/22s never die. Got one that's spent all it's life in either a dog box or stuffed under a truck seat. Personally think it handles like a crooked 2x4 but it hits what it's pointed at and won't die.

ADC, that's her minus the scope. Plus a terminal case of road rash.

Everyone has to have a Ruger 10/22. Its like not having a pocket knife or a fishing pole.

CZ 455 American with 3x9x40 Nikon Buckmaster scope.

My troops in Alaska gave me a 10-22 as a going away gift back in 1990. Best little 22 I've ever owned except for an old Remington my dad gave me with a bullet hole in the stock.

Look for an older Marlin 39A or 39T. Both are very fine rifles and supremely accurate. The T model is a takedown model, has a carbine length barrel, and a straight stock. Mine has killed thousands of raccoons when Coon hunting and countless everything else. Put a Leupold 2-7 scope on it and you are set for life, or until you lose or loan it, or it gets stolen.

Next choice would be a Ruger 77/22.

Next choice would be a Ruger 10/22.

Ruger 10-22. There's one in my truck right now that has lived in every truck I've owned for about 35 years. Well, that ain't exactly right,
the guts of it has. Over the years, it has acquired a Volquartzen trigger, a Shaw lightweight barrel, and an Archeangel adjustable
stock. Has a small kill light on the left side of the barrel and a good but not real expensive 3x9 scope on it. It is is fast, light, and very accurate. Plus, if you like to trick a gun out, there are many after-market options available, including Ruger's new drop-in trigger.
I have no idea how many rounds my grandsons and I have put thru it, nor how many animals it has taken thru the years, but it is a
bunch. If I could keep only one of my guns, at my age (70), and the part of the country where I live, it would be the one. And yes,
I have a new, pretty tactical model put back, but it don't get to go out much. I know the CZ' s are excellent, accurate rifles, but this one shoots better than I can hit, anyway. It has always been a little bit partial to CCI ammo, which seems to shoot cleaner than most of the
others. I think a new 10-22 with a entry level scope can be found for around $250.

I agree with Willy's top 3 picks, just in reverse order.

I've owned my ruger 10/22 for 20+ years. Put a lightweight barrel and stock. Just last year I replaced the ejector and bolt spring.. Thousands and thousands of rounds still going strong used trapping/hunting.
The parts availability and after market offering will always be there for the Ruger 10/22 and Huge selection.

I have a CZ and agree,they are super accurate.

I recently was looking for an auto-loader and got this Tactical Solutions,X Ring rifle.It is their version of the 1022,weighs 5 1/2 lbs with Leupold scope,uses 1022 magazines,has a 2.5# trigger,16" barrel and is super accurate.It costs more than a CZ or 1022,but less than most souped up 1022's.It's definitely the best .22 I've owned.

Looks like it has a Hogue over-molded stock and a Green Mtn barrel. Fine looking gun that I've heard/read some good things about.

My grandfather's rifle is a h&r 865 plainsman. It is a good rifle and I do take it on the line with me but I'm looking for a auto loading rifle now. I had a Sears 22 with the tube magazine ( much like the marlin ) when I was a kid but it is my mother's and she won't let me have it yet. So I'm looking for a great user and by the sounds of most the 10/22 is the way to go. Now to get permission from the wife. Thank you all for your input

Have several 22s. the 10-22 is about the best you can get for the money. I keep mine in the truck year round and never a problem. Great gun.

Oh boy

lol just tell her you bought it for her to learn with

i just ask for forgiveness after the fact

im a 10 22 fan. have one I bought used from a guy close to 30 years ago. tenant that owed him money left it in a closet. needed a clip. no scope or sling. thing still shoots good. looks like it was in a cement mixer for a few days but functions great. been in dog boxes on many coon hunts and probably a half million miles behind a pickup seat or three. a guy could spend more money but I seriously doubt you would be able to shoot more rabbits squirrels trapped fur or treed coons. I doubt it would hold up to use any better either

Browning BLR if you want to look like you didn’t buy it a wal mart with all the other townies. No scope. It’s got a short stroke and deadly on squirrels. Killed one the other day, as it fell the one beside it thrower his paws up, backed down the tree and climbed in my game bag.

A new in the box gun or a new to you used gun?I've got a savage .22/410 over and under that I love for squirrels.For a rifle I'm pretty partial to the old Remington nylon 66.

CZ

Cant believe we have a squirrel gun post without many pictures early season 28 gauge Wing master when leaves are heavy then when leaves start to fall Rem 552 speedmaster with my original scope I bought it with from lawn mowing money in early 70s, when trees are bare Marlin 39 AS with open sights and the hood removed. This year gonna try muzzle loader squirrels with the 32 and 36. Squirrels may be my favorite game.

I have that one ADC ...awesome shooter too!

Lots of gun makers have put out some fine 22 rifles over the years. I need to find an older 10-22 and a CZ to add to the collection haven't heard a bad thing about either of them. Glad to hear the CZ will shoot stingers well I came into few thousand of them real cheap a few years ago and don't own a gun that shoots them well. So need to start searching for one so I can shoot them up.

Here you go RHuff. Winchester model 67 and a Remington rolling block model 6. Both still shoot "minute of squirrel".

That Remington rolling block looks interesting.
I have a Stevens little scout 14 1\2 that looks identical.

I've got a 67 that's killed untold numbers of squirrel coon rabbit pretty much any game that cross crossed paths with me when I was 6 to 10 my first hunting rifle!good shoting rifle!
Colt

Remington 541T or 541S or a Kimber

Op-them ruger 77s are though my uncle had an older 1 it was a great rifle! I had a marlin 25 that was a really good shooter packed it for prolly 10 yrs shot and handled great especially for the 125 brand new dad bought it for when he upgraded me from my single shot. My current favorite is a cz 452 I bought after i got outta high school it cut the same hole outta the box open sights it's been a great rifle. I'm not a fan of synthetic but my uncle bought a ruger American and it shoot very good. He loves it I just don't like that type of gun!
Colt

Beautiful rifles Danny Clifton

I guess I'm weird. I would get a Henry. I bought one awhile back and I have never owned a more accurate .22 and it is a blast to shoot. I also have a Remington Nylon 66 and a Ruger 10/22 that see little action these days.

I had a marlin 39a in the late 60's killed a lot of squirrels with open sights, I'll always regret letting that gun get away, still kicking myself.

You don't have to rub it in.

It is a Tactical Solution's own barrel.It's also threaded for a suppressor.The stock is Hogue.It has a built in Picatinny rail and a plug in the rear of the receiver so it can be cleaned from the rear.


A couple,100 yd ground squirrels.

I really cant tell you how many .22's I have. My most accurate is a Springfield Model 15 single shot. I hunt with my Marlin 39a often, but my favorite one to hunt with is a 10/22. I have one that stays in the truck all the time, and a "good" one that I hunt with.

The 2.5lb trigger taximan has would be a benefit. I've redone every trigger I've owned. Especially the .22s are way too hard (anti lawsuit junk is my guess). The newer 1022s make it hard to re work (more plastic parts I was told) to get it light enough. So just go with a drop in trigger assembly that is readily available for the 1022. That is one nice thing about the 1022s...tons of options if you really want to tinker with it.

The last Henry .22 I held up to my face didn't line up with the sights at all. I actually had to raise my face off the butt of the stock to see through the sights.

And I have a spare 1022 for variety: one with a scope and one with hi viz sights. Sometimes you feel like a nut...sometimes you don't.

Any of these will do the job.

10-22s with many mods will shoot better than I can make them shoot.

The hand guns are very accurate also.

Ruger now has a BX trigger which is an improvement over the standard.The TacSol rifles come with either the Ruger BX trigger or TacSol's own trigger,which is a little better than the BX.


I calculated the cost of a 1022,new trigger,barrel and stock and the TacSol was cheaper,had more features and was finished.The only thing I don't have,is tree squirrels!I sure miss them.I could have a lot of fun,hunting them with this gun.I plan to start hunting red squirrels soon,for bait.It's the best I can do.I envy those that have gray and fox squirrels.

I have been using either the double magazine connectors or the tri-mags.This is basically two or three,factory Ruger,10 rd,1022 mags connected.They don't hang as low as the 25 rd mags and may be more reliable.



Something for 1022 owners to think about.

Wow. I didn't expect this much info on such a subject. You all take your squirrel hunting seriously. Lol. I had a chat with the wife this am when I took her for breakfast and she didn't say no. Haha. Looks like my search is on. Thank you all.

X2
Mines a 67A

Bought a 10-22 years ago an loved it. Some pos stole it out of my truck one night. Since then a friend had a wreck that totaled his truck an sold me the 10-22 for 50$ that was in The truck during wreck. Was thrown out as truck rolled,front sight broke off,scope destroyed. Put new rings an scope on an been a tree rat Slayer for years. It sets in closet now. I bought an integrally suppressed 10-22 4 years ago an seemed to lost all interest in my 22s that make noise

it depends what your looking for

you mentioned your wife not saying no , well you haven't given her a number yet either so I will go budget to less budget

most any old use Marlin bolt action 22 rifle will put out a squirrels eye at 25 yards if you can do your part , I picked one up for 100 dollars used it is a favorite of mine.

the Marlin 795 is a semi auto decent shooter about 150-160 dollars they shoot well for the cost and a versitile gun it is the same gun as the marlin M60 but takes detachable 10 round magazines

for a new bolt gun Savage MKII there are F and FV versions , the MKII-FV is a heavy barrel with adjustable trigger and weaver scope mounts factory installed for about 215 new , the standard barrel model F should be about 190 and have some iron sights. I like it when we are at the range and a horse fly lands on the white target , the FV with optic will splatter horse flies if you have a steady rest.


the Ruger 10/22 is a very versatile gun a base model will run about 225-250 do not bother with the take down model they don't shoot as well as the regular , they have play between the barrel and receiver on the take down. they shoot decent out of the box , and the sky is the limit on upgrades , when you look for replacement triggers it isn't a matter of this one or that one it is which one of 4 drop ins and 7 where you send your trigger in to be reworked . there are guys with 2K dollar 10/22s and others who are still shooting them stock out of the box.

the 10/22 is a great trainer and is one of the go to rifles for project Appleseed with decent ammo they can most all shoot decent , some with a few upgrades shoot great.

CZ are very nice , but more money 400-450 dollars some up around 500



if you like irons look at Tech sights they are available for most of the models I listed , I think they really fit wall on the 10/22 and marlin 795 , they replicate M16A1 sights so much better than the stock sights on most 22s longer sight radius , the gun stays light easy to carry , add a GI web sling and go to an Appleseed and learn how to use it , I guaranty you come home a better shooter than you left.

Had sum fried treerat smothered in gravy last night....yum

I have several 22’s. My go to for squirrels is a 10/22 that started out bone stock, but over the years I have upgraded about everything. Just because I like to tinker. ER Shaw barrel, Boyd’s stock, stripped the painted receiver and polished, newest addition is a Kidd trigger. I purchased a CZ 455 late last year and am still finding out which ammo it likes best. I have a few Henry’s and the craftsmanship is great and they are fun guns to shoot.

Accuracy from my bone stock 10/22 before upgrades vs CZ 455. The CZ was a winner, but my 10/22 post upgrades is the hands down winner.





My all time favorite is an Ithaca 49. Although not the most accurate, it was my first gun in my youth. My drunk uncle sold it, but I acquired another one a few years ago that was in rough shape. I polished the receiver and refinished the stock. I relive my youth ever time I carry it on the trapline.

Flint hill. I haven't had that before but sure sounds good to me. I went out looking for some squirrels on Sunday but I didn't see any. Kinda weird cause just aday or two ago they were like snow flakes in winter around here but just like that they were gone.

Garymc , that's a sweet squirrel gun you have. My grandfather's 22 rifle is my trap line gun cause like yours it's not the most accurate for squirrel hunting.

LOVE those old Ithaca 49s!