22 rifle Semi-auto choices under 200.00

[Sportdog7]

Okay I have a old Marlin Glenfield Model 20 bolt action and what a sweet and accurate gun it is. I installed a 3X9 by 32mm scope on it years ago and its a great squirrel gun. I briefly owned a Ruger 10/22 but the trigger pull made it a POA to shoot so after a few months I sold it to a co-worker. I would like to get a semi-auto and the Marlins 795 has been one I have been looking at. Is the trigger pull reasonable or adjustable? I just don't need a trigger that's set so darn heavy. Also are there any other rimfires that are woth a look in my price range?

[jlloyd73]

I like my Remington 597.......I think it is a great gun.

The Ruger 10/22 is the best choice IMO though if you can swing a few extra bucks.....the reason being there are a ton of upgrades you can do to it.

[whichfinger]

I have a Marlin Model 60, a 10/22, and just picked up a 795, haven't had a chance to shoot it yet. The M60 is more accurate than the 10/22. I expect the 795 will also be more accurate. Most shooters who have both the 10/22 and Marlin feel the Marlins are more accurate, based on comments at Rimfire Central, and you don't have to throw a lot of money at them to get accuracy. I've read good things about the Remington 597 and I was considering it when I bought the 795. The 795 won out because I'm already familiar with the innards of my 60 and the 795 is the same. Since I can never have enough .22s, I still see a 597 in my future.

[Sportdog7]

Thanks guys, but I want a report on what it takes to pull the trigger, the 10/22 that I had was nice....But it took so much effort to pull the trigger that at times it would lead to misses because of it! I want a semi-auto that has a smooth trigger if that's still possible in today's lawsuit happy world.

[jlloyd73]

I don't know....I always thought that the 10/22 had a easily worked on trigger to smooth it out. One of the guys that knows more about the 10/22 will probably chime in at some point.......but like I said, I cannot say enough good things about my Remington 597 (sometimes you can find them on sale for a good price too).

[Sportdog7]

I thought they could be worked on to, but everyone I spoke with recommended a aftermarket trigger, I just want a reasonable trigger pull say under 4-1/2lbs. . I don't need a aftermarket trigger that costs near the price of the gun itself.

[jlloyd73]

I just measured the pull of my 597 and it is 5lbs........it may have loosened up some with it being fired so much too, IDK.

added pic..........all I can say is I hope I don't drop it in tall grass, might never find it again.

[Sportdog7]

Well my next question is are there any rebates from Marlin that would save me a few bucks on this gun?

[woolleyworm]

Originally Posted by Sportdog7

Well my next question is are there any rebates from Marlin that would save me a few bucks on this gun?

If you're not against a used one; I'd take a look around and see if you can find one in good condition for a decent price. There is a good market for used 22's most everywhere.

[CJ_56]

The Marlin 60 is the best choice for a semi-auto under $200. I have a 795 that I like a lot but I've had 2 firing pins break along with the trigger guard and I've only had it two years. There was a rebate on that rifle but I think it's over now. The 60 is a much more solid gun though. But neither has a great trigger. A big help is to switch to a DIP trigger which gives a lot more control over the trigger and makes it smoother to operate. It still doesn't have a really light pull though. I really don't know of any semi-autos that come with light triggers. Legal issues make that a problem for gun companies.

The best trigger on a <$200 rifle is probably on a Marlin XT22 bolt action rifles. The Pro Fire trigger is very similar to the AccuTrigger on Savage rifles but the price for the Marlin is considerably lower. I have an XT22TR and I think it's a great rifle. The trigger has always been the weak point of any Marlin until now. Now it's one of the strong points. But again these are bolt action rifles.

[Sportdog7]

Ok thanks guys!

[Sportdog7]

Well I took a trip to my local Mom & Pop gun shop here in town, the Marlin 795 new was 160.00 the Remington 597 was 170.00. So I looked at used 22's as Woolyworm had mentioned and I picked up a Marlin Model 60 for 110.00 tax inc. . It was very clean and the trigger was much lighter than the new one he had there, so I got it home and swabbed the barrel with some Butch's Bore shine, the patches came up nice & clean so tomorrow I'll try some ammo. Just wondering if there's a method for telling the age of this 22? I know I have done that with the serial #'s from other guns any idea if Marlin has a way to date year of manufacture on these guns?

[Zane71464]

Congrats on your choice Sportdog!
What letter does your ser# start with?

[Zane71464]

Originally Posted by jlloyd73

I just measured the pull of my 597 and it is 5lbs........it may have loosened up some with it being fired so much too, IDK.

added pic..........all I can say is I hope I don't drop it in tall grass, might never find it again.

I love that cammo!!! Nice jlloyd!

[Sportdog7]

Zane71464 the serial # starts with either a O or a zero.

[Zane71464]

Your rifle was mfg. in 2000.

[Zane71464]

Originally Posted by Sportdog7

Well I took a trip to my local Mom & Pop gun shop here in town, the Marlin 795 new was 160.00 the Remington 597 was 170.00. So I looked at used 22's as Woolyworm had mentioned and I picked up a Marlin Model 60 for 110.00 tax inc. . It was very clean and the trigger was much lighter than the new one he had there, so I got it home and swabbed the barrel with some Butch's Bore shine, the patches came up nice & clean so tomorrow I'll try some ammo. Just wondering if there's a method for telling the age of this 22? I know I have done that with the serial #'s from other guns any idea if Marlin has a way to date year of manufacture on these guns?

Here you go Sportdog;
MARLIN Manufacturing DATE CODE.

(22 caliber bolt action & semi-autos were not serial numbered prior to 1969)
Firearm serial numbers were date coded by a prefix within the s/n, as signified below.
For example a Marlin model 39A with a serial number of N1255X would have been made in 1955
while a 1894 in 44 magnum with a serial number of 2510509X, would have equated to 1975

LEVER ACTIONS ALL FIREARMS
1945 = C 1957 = R 1968 = AD 1981 = 19 1993 = 7
1946 = D 1958 = S 1970 = 70 1982 = 18 1994 = 6
1947 = E 1959 = T 1971 = 71 1983 = 17 1995 = 5
1948 = F 1960 = U 1972 = 72 1984 = 16 1996 = 4
1949 = G 1961 = V 1973 = 73 & 27 1985 = 15 1997 = 3
1950 = H 1962 = W 1974 = 26 1986 = 14 1998 = 2
1951 = J 1963 = Y 1975 = 25 1987 = 13 1999 = 1
1952 = K 1964 = Z 1976 = 24 1988 = 12 2000 = 0
1953 = L 1965 = AA 1977 = 23 1989 = 11
1954 = M 1966 = AB 1978 = 22 1990 = 10
1955 = N 1967 = AC 1979 = 21 1991 = 9
1956 = P 1968 = AD 1980 = 20 1992 = 8

[Zane71464]

...sorry about the 'crookedness"..cant seem to fix it, but hopefully, readable.

[Sportdog7]

Thanks for the help on determining year of manufacture Zane71464.

[Sportdog7]

While I was just sitting doing nothing I figured as long as I cleaned the barrel why not do the whole job so after about 20 min. I cleaned the action and....No doubt it had never been done before!! Got rid of all the gunk and used my favorite gun oil Slip 2000 EWL. Now we will see how accurate this gun is tomorrow.

[Zane71464]

Originally Posted by Sportdog7

While I was just sitting doing nothing I figured as long as I cleaned the barrel why not do the whole job so after about 20 min. I cleaned the action and....No doubt it had never been done before!! Got rid of all the gunk and used my favorite gun oil Slip 2000 EWL. Now we will see how accurate this gun is tomorrow.

NICE!
I'd just bought a new 60 SB just a few weeks ago and done
the initial first cleaning and after a few hundred rounds, done another good
cleaning and proper oiling.
On the 3rd cleaning after SEVERAL hundred rounds, I had it out on the shooting
bench and it began to rain.
Instead of taking it in I got in a "rush" to beat the rain and done this to the
"new, made of junk" trigger guard!

[Zane71464]

...even where the "lock" had been shipped on the trigger guard, it was marred up.
Softest piece of crap I've ever seen!

[Sportdog7]

Aw jeez!! That's a real dinger!!

[Zane71464]

...yes it is! I wasnt watchi'n when I was putting it back together and didnt have
the bolt locked in place. But when I relised that, it was just "one" small, everso
slightly, trun. It was like...well, if I could describe it best, it was like
an "aluminum-pot-metal"! You can almost take your finger nail and scribe the trigger
guard....SOFT CRAP is what it is!

[Sportdog7]

Hum? Mine seems to be made of steel but then again its a 12yr old gun and things are different now with all the cost cutting sometimes they cut to many corners.