Question:
first .22 tactical rifle?
Jon Nguyen
2013-12-26 14:28:38 UTC
Hi guys I'm looking to buy a reliable and mid range .22 tactical rifle.
I have shot 226, m9, m4.

I really like the sw mp15 22lr..
What are your opinions on what rifle I should choose?
Thank you
Ten answers:
Fatefinger
2013-12-26 14:40:06 UTC
There is no such thing as a tactical .22. If they claim it is it is 'tacticool'.
thinkingblade
2013-12-28 10:18:33 UTC
So, among other things, I run a little knife business and the term "tactical" is a badly overused term with very little meaning other then that something is black and has a military sort of look to it. It's unfortunate because it paints legitimate gear used by professionals which is high quality and of specific design. But the short version is that you can call just about anything you like tactical.



So let's talk .22 rifles for a minute. August makes the best case for the ”why pay more then $250 for a .22" crowd. Let me make the opposite case.



I'll start by answering your question, among the AR style .22 rifles the S&W is arguably the best and most similar to an M4. Handling accessories, etc. All will be the same as a full up rifle so if you want to practice on the cheap only getting a .22 upper for your AR is closer.



There are other simulators that I like if you just want military style and in that expanded group I like the GSG 5 and the Sig 522. I've shot all of them and they are accurate, reliable and fun guns to shoot.



Which ultimately is the case for spending a bit more on a .22. I shoot far more .22 rifle than I do my AR. Mostly because I live in an urban area so outdoor ranges are harder to get to and most of my shooting, even if I have a rifle with me includes pistol shooting so 100 yard ranges just aren't often the most fun. I've shot about all of the budget .22 rifles and have a Marlin Papoose. However I like shooting my CZ512 better than a stock 10/22. Same with my Winchester 9422. Given that I only have so much time to shoot I really don't buy guns that I don't really enjoy shooting.



So to bring a long answer to an end, if you like the AR style I would recommend the S&W over the other options. Having an AR style .22 is a cheap way to practice with an AR to get proficient and if you aren't married to the AR style I think the GSG 5 is excellent as is the SIG 522.



Thinkingblade
august
2013-12-27 03:43:27 UTC
Please read my answer very carefully. I want to help you the best I can. To that end, I am going to say some things that may come across as harsh or possibly even insulting. They are NOT directed toward you! (Well, unless you identify with what I'm saying, in which case I cannot be responsible for how you respond.)



There's no such thing as a "tactical" .22LR. Even the rifle "METROPOLIS1" describes is not "tactical," any more than a standard handgun is a tactical handgun.



All "tactical" is... is a BUZZWORD. It's a word used by gun and accessory and clothing manufacturers to separate fools from their money more quickly.



Because manufacturers know that "tactical" sells junk. Take a $3 Chinese knife, slap the word "tactical" on the box, and you can sell it for $25. Take a $5 flashlight, call it "tactical," and you can sell it for $50. Paint a regular toothbrush black, call it a tactical toothbrush, and you can market it to the mall ninjas for $12.



Because some idiot, somewhere, will pay that much.



So let's discuss .22LR rifles. First, let's discuss their uses in the hands of someone who is not in any military or other armed service:



1) Target practice.

2) Competition-level shooting.

3) Small game/small varmint hunting.

4) Plinking, which is a form of target practice but in an informal setting and usually with nonstandard targets such as tin cans.



I cannot think of another appropriate use for any rimfire rifle. If I missed any, I'm sure someone will correct me. Notice that three out of the four uses are TARGET shooting of some sort. Nowhere is there a listing for room clearing, home defense, shooting out lights as you run across a compound yard... Nothing "tactical."



Now, let's discuss .22LR rifles and how they're priced.



1) There are the bare-bones .22LR rifles that don't cost much. These are the meat of the .22LR market. Almost everyone owns one. Ruger 10/22, Savage 64, Marlin 60, Marlin 795, Mossberg 702 Plinkster, Remington 597, Savage Mark II, etc. Less than $250; most are significantly less.



2) High-priced competition rifles. Single-shot or repeater bolt-action rifles that are used in competitions like the biathlon; expensive, sometimes thousands of dollars, but are designed for exacting specifications suitable for whatever competition they're for. Way out of the scope of what you want.



3) Mid-cost .22LR rifles. The CZ rifles are a prime example of this. So are the Henry .22LR lever action rifles, and the Marlin 39A. To me, these don't really appeal. $500 or so spent on a .22LR is excessive to me; other people disagree. If you want to spend more than $250 on a .22LR though, this is where I'd recommend you go.



4) The "tactical" style .22LRs, such as the various .22LR AR-type rifles and the Mossberg 715T. These are what I think you're looking for, and I'm about to tell you why they aren't worth the investment.



Specifically, the "tactical" style .22LRs are overpriced, in my opinion. That's because most are either the same internals as a cheaper rifle (the Mossberg 715T is basically a Mossberg 702 Plinkster with a bunch of plastic junk festooned on it), or they are no serious improvement over a less expensive rifle.



The S&W M&P15-22 is not a bad rifle... except when you see the price tag. The MSRP for those rifles is $500! The street price would probably be around $400, but still... $400 for a .22LR? It better be one incredibly fine, incredibly accurate rifle for that sort of price. And while I love S&W as a whole, the M&P15-22 is going to be no more accurate than any of the entry-level .22LRs like the Savage 64, Marlin 60, or Ruger 10/22. In fact, I would trust the Marlin 60 to be more accurate.



The Mossberg 715T, as I mentioned, is basically a Mossberg 702 Plinkster action shoved into a plastic frame that vaguely resembles an AR-15. Guess what? I saw a Mossberg 702 Plinkster for $109 a month or two ago. The 715T costs about $250-$300. Almost THREE TIMES THE PRICE.



Do you see where this is going? The word "tactical" is just a word... but it's a word that marketers know will inflate prices. Don't buy a "tactical" .22LR. Not only because there's no such thing, but because you'll pay way more than the gun is actually worth.



Because a fancied-up .22LR semi-auto is still a semi-auto .22LR.
METROPOLIS1
2013-12-26 18:26:00 UTC
There is some misinformation here......



Yes there are "tactical" .22 rifles..... NO they are not one of those nonsense rifles that looks like a wannabe AR15 = Think MP15 and a couple of others......



First of all --- Those .22 rifles that look like an AR15 are NOT tactical.... They are just nonsense rifles geared towards the video gamers and others that cant afford a real AR15.....



Yes there are .22 tactical rifles..... They are top quality bolt action rifles used to take out a light fixture or an animal like a dog during some police caper...... These rifles are used when it would not be a good choice to use a rifle chambered in .223 or .308....
unknown
2013-12-26 18:54:45 UTC
Get a Ruger 10/22. There are over a dozen different 10/22 models some are camo some come with fiber optic sights also look up the Take Down model. Get an Arch Angel kit or an ATI conversion kit. The Ruger 10/22 has the most accessories BY FAR. You can modify any kit to fit the Take Down model. Ruger also makes a Talk model.

Don't listen to these folks knocking on a Tactical .22lr. They're cheap and fun to shoot. Do what you want to do.

That S&W isn't that good
Jin Hayashi
2013-12-26 16:07:31 UTC
You cant buy a "tactical" rifle what makes it "tactical" is how you equip it to fit your situation and limitations....



I rather get a take down 10/22 ruger
?
2013-12-26 15:38:10 UTC
I would modify a Ruger 10/22. They are very cheap available second hand and there are many things you can add a Tacticool magpul stock, various accesories.
Mr.357
2013-12-26 19:31:02 UTC
A .22 lr can not be tactical unless you are being attacked by some rabid rabbits or squirrels with pandemonium on their mind.
?
2013-12-26 15:38:31 UTC
There's NO SUCH THING as a .22 RF Tactical rifle.
anonymous
2013-12-26 18:43:14 UTC
I know Walter makes a rifle called the G22 if I'm correct, very reliable, great sights and has rail if you decide to ad optics later on, has a built in clip holder in the stock, great rifle, very dependable...


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