Best 22 bolt action hunting rifle ever made?

[dovehunter]

Wow this is like asking what is better blonds or brunettes, Fords or Chevrolets, etc. - it is going to be so subjective. Oh well, with that having been said, I will cast my vote for the Anshutz. I don't remember the model number of the one I am thinking about but, at the time, it was being imported by Savage and sold as a Savage-Anshutz. I had a chance to buy one in virtually out-of-the-box condition for $75 and didn't do it. A deal like that comes along once in a lifetime.

[Pre-64]

Dovehunter, You took the words right out of my mouth. That Anshultz was the first thing that came to mind. other than that, CZ is putting out a darn good rimfire these days.

[dovehunter]

Originally Posted by dovehunter

Wow this is like asking what is better blonds or brunettes, Fords or Chevrolets, etc. - it is going to be so subjective. Oh well, with that having been said, I will cast my vote for the Anshutz. I don't remember the model number of the one I am thinking about but, at the time, it was being imported by Savage and sold as a Savage-Anshutz. I had a chance to buy one in virtually out-of-the-box condition for $75 and didn't do it. A deal like that comes along once in a lifetime.

I clean forgot to mention my own most accurate .22. It's a Mauser that my father-in-law liberated from the Germans. It's a single-shot sporter with about a 26" heavy (and I do mean heavy) barrel. The bluing was perfect and I refinished the stock (looked to be European light-colored walnut) since it had a few dings in it. Once I got it finished and mounted a 4X scope on it, it would shoot 5-shot ragged one-hole groups at 50-yds. It is one heck of a squirrel gun but I swear it must weigh more than a 98K. It is probably the most accurate gun I own - rimfire or centerfire.

[Gil Martin]

The Remington Models 581 and 582 are terrific rifles. All the best...
Gil

[George Foster]

Gil,

I fully agree with you. I have two 581's and they are very accurate and I wish they still produced them.

[fortune]

Originally Posted by dovehunter

Wow this is like asking what is better blonds or brunettes, Fords or Chevrolets, etc. - it is going to be so subjective.

Best 22 bolt action hunting rifle ever made?
In regard to what?
Accuracy?
Construction?
Reliability?
Balance?
Wood?
Quality of materials?
Appearance of weapon?
There isn't a best anything. The variables are so great that no one thing will be everything to everyone all the time.
And that doesn’t take variables of ammunition into account.
I have an Anschutz target rifle that shoots one hole groups using Eley Club but cant hit a barn door with Remington.
I’ve seen an old Russian Vostok that had a stock like a floor board that had a barrel on it that would not have been out of place accuracy wise in an Olympic final.
There is no such thing as best ever made.
There’s a lot of very good ones though.

[270man]

fortune,

Right on with your post! Wish we could all burn these comments into our brains once and for all. I compete in SB silhouette and am often asked what is the best rifle. I usually tell them to pick any decent rifle, experiment with different ammo and put a good scope on it. We see good scores from competitors using Ruger 10/22s, Savage MKIVs, Rem 581s, Rem 541-S/Ts, CZ452s and of course various Anschutz models. Target or hunting. It is all the same.

The same goes for centerfire hunting rifles. Gun writers tend to spin stories about their successful hunts and often imply that only certain brand of rifle in a certain caliber would have worked for their particular quarry. Makes me so ill that I go back to reading Jack O'Connor's stories.

270man