Sorry, but it is a SEMI-auto.

Common slang and I stand corrected. How many FULLY automatic 22’s are there to differentiate from?

I dislike handling ammunition could be the XXL hands and fingers and I would have to take my gloves off even more.

I want it very easy to clean

durable

easy to work on , I want to do all my own work and have parts easily available.

the Best is probably the Ruger 10/22 in my opinion , very little it can't be adapted to do

tools to work on it are a punch , standard screw diver bits , 5/32 hex bit , a torque wrench is nice but not required.

reasonably short and easy handling
quite accurate
decently easy to work on
very durable
if there was a short coming it probably has a fix.


my trap line rifle has been a Marlin bolt action , but recently built another 10/22 from parts I picked up here and there. it will probably spend some time doing that duty

if there is a down side to the 10/22 the fat magazines don't fit well in a pocket comfortably

they could before covid be had for 229.99 at fleet farm for the plain birch stock model so not high cost really either.

the one I pieced together I think I have 135 in it and honestly could have done it for a little less but I bought the ruger screws for the barrel , stock and the ruger pins for the action had I just gotten hex head 1/4-28 screws from the hardware store and fit pins from the hardware store I could have saved about 3 dollars on each screw and each pin 3 screws and 2 pins or about 15 dollars less but I would have had to cut each screw to the right length and I just wanted to put it together after waiting to get it all for a while.
3.99 each adds up

ruger 10/22 got mine in 1975 still have it going to give it to my grandson

Ruger M-96 just because I own one

Henry lever action with 22 shorts is what were using this season,,nylon 66 is the best made and most dependable 22 ever made imo

If I carry a rifle a lot of times it’s a Thompson Center Hot Shot

Common slang and I stand corrected. How many FULLY automatic 22’s are there to differentiate from?
[/quote]
I knew what you meant, I replied as a joke. Should have put a smiley face after my post.....

I read the thread title and exclaimed out loud "Nylon 66"! A half dozen-or-so of you beat me to it. But that's my post. Wish I still had mine, I know right where it is. In 150' of salt water. Bring them back in stainless and I'll bet they'd sell.

The best .22 rifle I ever trapping used was an old Winchester single shot. I bought it for $5 and cannot remember where. It had an ancient sling that I reinforced with electrical tape. The thing that held the bolt in was worn down.
I had a much nicer rifle but was enamored with the beater. That rifle was incredibly accurate with no scope of course. I shot about 3 bricks threw it in the summer. Cut blades of grass off. During squirrel season it was amazing. My grandfather used it and was impressed.
I have tried to remember what happened to it if I sold it or what.

The nicest little trapline .22 rifle is my coon hunting rifle. Marlin 39TDS. It is a little straight stocked lever action carbine. It is easy to carry hanging below my shoulder so it does not catch on brush, holds a bunch of ammo, is safe when leaving the action empty or with a spent cartridge, and is supremely accurate.
I bought that carbine new and we named it “Judy’s gun”. Judy was the best coonhound I ever owned. She was amazing to watch and hear when she unraveled a track. We named it Judy’s gun because whenever we took Judy hunting we knew that she would tree a coon so we better have her gun along. That model goes for absolutely crazy prices to collectors, even before the run on guns.

I had a 66 in the 70's and sold it. Talk about dumb.

WS

Love my 66!

Had a 66 when I was a kid, great gun. I think dad has it now.
Have a 10/22 and a cricket now. Love both of them.

Had a marlin semi for awhile...was worst cycling semi I ever used.
Rugar is well made.

Not sure why they don't make the Nylon 66 again must be some marketing reason. I see them used at times $350 -$475 and you don't see many talk about a survival gun.

What is it that specifically makes the Nylon 66 or 77 a good 22lr ?


not the lack of small parts or the ease to take it apart

the bolt moving in a nylon chase , low friction and reliable cycling would be my guess. I only have held one once it was a confiscated one used for hunters education that I was helping with.

Have had my 10/22 since ‘72
When my boys were young and still at home they bought a 50 round clip. They went through a brick of shells in a couple hours. They were hard on that gun but it still shoots great.

If I was regulated to a 22 rifle on my trapline, I'd have a savage mark II bolt action. Pull trigger and it's a "dead" weapon and no need to cycle until you arrive at next critter. One of the reasons I went away from my buckmark was that it was "live" until you made it safe/empty. With the BM once dispatch complete, I would remove mag, cycle to clear chamber, and put bullet back in mag, reinsert mag. It is easier with the RR to keep on an empty or "dead" cylinder even though I have to load 2x more (5 vs 10). I just like a weapon that is "one and done" when you are trying to get critters out of traps quick before the area is soaked.

Nothing. A Nylon 66 is a POS. The stocks crack or break and that is the "frame" that holds all of the internal parts in place. Take one apart once and by the time you put it back together your fingers will look like you were sacking barn cats all day.

For its time, i.e. 70s when I used one, it cycled well and was a trapline and squirrel/rabbit machine for me

Yes ruger 10/22 is way better today, but when I was a kid in 70s and early 80s the 66 i had was a just really great reliable gun for me. I'd take my 10/22 over it any day. But, I have a lot of cheapo marlins and other Remington semi autos that were not great guns back in the day and that 66 outshines those other guns.

The best for me would be an old 52 winchester, sporter preferred, but wouldn't turn down a target.