without spending a TON of money for a custom rig, what out-of-the-box .22 has best reputation for minute-of-squirrel head accuracy?

Oh man are you going to get a ton of differing opinions on this but i'll throw my hat in the ring as a right out of the box one of the best shooters i've seen was the ruger 77/22.

Savage mkii with accu trigger.

Savage precision rifle

Consistently accurate .22 rifles CZ 427 series. I've never seen a bad one

My 77/22 is a very good shooter also

Ruger out of production CZ currently made

My vote for savage, incredible how accurate they out of the box.

Kimber model 82. Clackamas Made

https://theolddeerhunters.com/kimber-82/

Not cheap though.

Henry AccuBolt, most accurate .22 out fo the box I have ever shot

Savage is my go to cheap gun. Had rhe same old semi auto 62 for 25 years. Amazing accuracy first gun I bought myself when I was 18. $89 @ wal mart. Needless to day there is no blue left on it the plastic stock is scratches up butt plate and front sight is broken. Head shot the last squirrel I shot at with it.

It does wear a Leopold vx3 I 3 x 10 worth 5 time what I paid for the rifle


Any savage I have shot shot well beyond its price point.

Stepping up cz 455 is one heck of a shooter and in wood a very fine looking rifle.

Out of the five I own, the Remington 541-S Custom Sporter is by far the most accurate. They stopped making them forty years ago. Good used ones go for $700.00-$1,500.

Second most accurate is my Savage Stevens Model 34. They haven't made them in about fifty years I think. It's been a while since I bought a new .22 rifle.

CZ are very good. They are a little over 500$ and have decent walnut stock and handle good.

Anschutz can be gotten cheap

A10-22 with a Timney trigger is pretty darn accurate. Mine will shoot a 10-round magazine into less than 1/2” at 50 yards. My scope is 2X7 Leupold. Need more magnification to see bullet holes beyond 50 yards.

Online reports speak highly of the Lithgow.

But as said Ruger puts good barrels on their guns.

CZ has somewhat of a cult following as well.

I’ve had a Savage Mark II BTVS and a BV. Both shot great. If you like a thumbhole and good cheek weld go with the BTVS.

I owned 2 Marlin 70s for a semi-auto I had zero complaints. Shot 10000s of rounds through them before they finally just wore out.

I’ve got a old mossberg tube fed bolt action shoots dime groups at 50 yards

I think any of the 3-500 dollar 22s will shoot minute of squirrel at 50 yards. Just need to decide first if you want a lever gun, semi, bolt or single shot. Ammo makes a BIG difference. I like CCI AR copper plated. No clue why they call them AR. Have a shadow picture of one on the box, but every 22 I own shoots them to decent groups.