Good question

I'm not so sure it has to be any of those things. I've got a old cooey 22 that I learned how to shoot with as a youngster that was my dad's and it will be passed on down when the time comes along with his husqvarna 30-06 and Parker Hale 243. If I were to venture a guess I'd say the op is just starting a gun collection and would rather buy quality then quantity. Imo a heirloom firearm should have some history and experience. New guns just take a while longer to get the stories and tales but with use it will come.

He wants a nice gun to hand down and be used a lot by generations to come. A cheap gun ain't that. Sure I got a few sentimental guns passed down by my dad, brother etc... but they set in the safe and don't get used because I have better options. He wants one they will love to use as well as the sentimental value. At least that is what I gathered from his two threads on it.

T Bolt Browning

On CZs.
25 years ago or so those became available here in SW Missouri, and they were relatively cheap. The dollar was strong and I guess Czechoslovakia's hyverna or kopek or whatever it is money was not, so they were a good deal.
Anyway, me and all my pals bought them. CZ Trainer, Varmint, American, Silhouette and the shorter youth model with the shorter barrel and stock. We bought them all between us. What we found out was that not one model shot any better than the other. They all shot very well. I ended up with 3 for my self and thought that was too many so I sold one.
One I didn't get but wish I would have was that shorter youth model. It was/is just as accurate as the others. The stock is maybe a bit too short for an adult. A buddy of mine that bought one said that for squirrel hunting that short stock paid off when shooting up into a tree on a squirrel. If I had it to over again and just wanting a hunting rifle I would buy the youth model and either make/fabricate a stock extension for it or maybe get a one of those drop fit Boyds or Richards Micro Fit stocks for it. And it has iron sights too so if your scope takes a dump you can take it off and still have iron sights.
American is sweet, I have one, but I wish it had iron sight on it. And for .22 ammo you only need 16" for the 22 round to be as fast as it's going to get. The round is just dieseling after that.
I'm going to bed.

CZ anything wasn't available in the US until the fall of the Iron curtain since they were on the other side. And when it did they were cheap because they were broke and the US dollar was the next best thing to gold.

I still kick myself for passing on a CZ-75 that I could've bought in West Germany for 200 brought home as a GI avoiding the 100% tax others were paying to bring them in from Canada and sold it for twice what I had in it.

Browni g T bol!t

This.

I appreciate everyone's post and especially 160s offer.

My dad has a 10/22, it's beat to, well it's beat up but its my dad's. Someday hopefully in the distant future I will likely inherit it and I hope to use it often. It's special to me because for the last 40+ years it was his and I remember him using it.

I have a beretta 391 and a weatherby mark v, these are my guns, I use them almost exclusively and I hold them both in high esteem. They aren't particularly fancy but they're mine and hopefully because of that and due to the build quality someday my kids and grandkids will want them.

A good heirloom and a good hunting rife is the CZ with a Boyd adjustable Stock. Get the threaded barrel. I have an assortment of 22 lr and non are as accurate as the CZ.

True heirloom, how about one of these.

Remington nylon 12

BTW, there was magazine fed version the model 11. And a lever action model 76.

Its to bad winchester and remington went tits up. Both have made some truly fine firearms. When I was a kid I didnt really know anybody with what we call a lot of guns today. Most families had 4-5 . A few had twice that. Cheap guns were what sold best. Remington started stamping parts and reduced their cost a bunch. Winchester had to do the same to compete. a look at the remington stock trigger on a 700 and it should not surprise anybody its prone to failure. Guns today have plastic stocks. Like the classic cars of the 50-60's I would be looking at something built in the days of craftmanship. I know plastic stocks are quality. They just got no heart.

I admit I've never cared for these.

Someone previously mentioned they like shorter barrels in .22 from a performance standpoint, I can agree with that but I enjoy how quiet the long barrels are.

When it comes to accuracy can a older, high quality .22 keep up with the modern offerings?

yes

The Winchester 52 could. As well as the Anshutz. Remington had a few. CZ of all years held a good reputation even if fit and finish wasn't.

I've always liked the nylons though I must admit I'd probably stash it away for light use only as replacement parts are getting scarce.

I still regret letting one get away.

BTW, someone needs to bring back a modern remake of the nylon. Those things had an almost perfect form and function in a light 22.

Love that plastic gun have three.

CZ I had one of the trainers. I has great open sights and is able to mount a scope to. I gave it to my brother. I now have a 452 FS. Same great sights and a good scope. It shoots great. If I miss it is my fault. Get the Lux model if you want something a little fancier to hand down. I'm going to give my 452 to my boy. I'm sure it will outlast both of us. I shot two squirrels over 180 yards off with it one day. both head shots from and rest. I got an AHKA sling to fit the European sling mounts. It has rubber stitching on the bottom - won't slip off your shoulder. You'll have to find the right rings for it. I found a Meopta scope that had European rings with it that happened to fit it. This scope has a range finder in it that just happens to be the size of a squirrel so far shots are more fun. I also have a custom 527 in 19 Badger that is amazingly accurate. Good rifles.

an heirloom doesn't need to be fancy or expensive , well made is good

in my family the only gun was a M37 12ga , it was well used , it was grandpas only gun for 61 years it did everything needed at the farm if it was ideal or not.

my uncle has it now.

it didn't even have the original barrel a different uncle now passed borrowed it to go rabbit hunting when he was younger and got a muzzle full of snow and ruptured the end of the barrel and had to buy a replacement.

the best heirlooms are the ones you use that fit your need

if you want it to be an heirloom , keeping it serviceable a long time is necessary. quality can get you part way there but springs even quality have a life span.

The 52 is hands down the greatest 22 of all time in imo.