The.22 rifle is no longer a plinker. The long gun is no longer a simple plinker. The tried-and-true long guns are cheap, accurate, and as fun as a Saturday night without chaperones. It’s been a significant improvement in recent years. There have always been.22 rifles that are super-precise and well-built. These hair-splitting beauties were made by love and mechanical prowess. They were assembled in precision-oriented basements. Factory-made rimfire tack drivers have become more popular with the popularity of NRL22 (National Rifle League.22-caliber competitions). Five of the most popular precision.22 rifles are gathered here. These long-guns have many similarities to their precisoin centerfire counterparts, including a precision bedding system, heavy barrels, and a performance stock (often adjustable), as well as heavy barrels and heft. Common features include threaded muzzles that can be used to suppress recoil, large bolt handles, and top-notch triggers (mostly the adjustable type). There are no set rules for what goes into a precision rifle. However, it is easy to distinguish one from its everyday tin-can-popping brethren. Some precision.22 rifles can cost as much as four figures. The configurations of a caliber that offers a multitude of sub-$200 options, some of which are quite respectable, might seem a bit extravagant. Competitors are also interested in one. Rimfire NRL22 can be a serious business that requires serious tools. PRS shooters also find them to be cost-effective training options. Many precision .22 rifles mimic popular match centerfires–particularly the Remington 700 and its clones. The accuracy obsessed. The upfront cost of a precision rifle.22 can be offset by a lower ammunition bill over the long-term. The guns can be a lifesaver in areas where 500-plus yard ranges are scarce. Many shooters drop their rifle in a chassis. CZ can do that for you. This wildly popular precision .22 rifle comes in a solid-aluminum-billet chassis, full of QD sling sockets, M-Lok slots and all the other adjustable bells and whistles that competitors want. You can choose from a suppressor-ready 16.5 inch barrel or a full-length 24 inch barrel.
MSRP: $1149; cz.usa.comBergara’s B-14 R.22 LRThis precision.22 rifle is compatible with a wide range of aftermarket Remington triggers and bases. It’s unlikely that you’d ever want to change the stock. The B-14 R comes equipped with Bergara’s fully adjustable HMR stock, which has an integrated aluminum bedding rail and polymer coating. It perfectly reproduces Bergara’s centerfire HMR lines.
MSRP: Starts at $1,150; bergara.online/usRuger American Rimfire LRTMy old man’s Ruger American Rimfire will shoot cloverleaf groups with CCI Mini-Mags at 50 yards. It’s a very affordable gun. It was less than $200 new. It shoots well after some DIY home gunsmithing. Ruger took the same action this year and beefed up the barrel. He then sat the barrel in an adjustable synthetic stock with integrated bedding rail. It reminds me of the USMC A4.
MSRP: $719; ruger.comT/C Performance Center CR22 CarbonTwo decades ago, Thompson/Center took Ruger’s basic Ruger 10/22 design to create a new precision.22 rifle. T/C has made it more than a clone. They have incorporated the best features of the 10/22’s original design, including an integral Picatinny rail and extended charging handle. This year, T/C has extended the lineup with several carbon-fiber-barreled models sitting in laminated-thumbhole Altamont stocks. These rifles are fast and easy to use, making them ideal for Rimfire Challenge or just having a great time at the range.
MSRP $642; www.tcarms.comSavageB22 Precision Chassis. The result of a partnership between Savage Arms & MDT Chassis. The well-designed B22 is a direct response the rise in NRL22. The B22 already has a strong competition resume. Now, it is greatly enhanced by a rigid monolithic MDT aluminium chassis. The rifle is fully adjustable in terms of comb rise and pull length, so it can be tailored to each shooter. Savage also includes an excellent adjustable AccuTrigger that can be set to as low as 1 pound. The barrel is heavy at 18 inches and does a great job keeping the barrel harmonics clean even with long strings. It’s also one of the most affordable precision rifle options.
MSRP $659; savagearms.comVudoo gun Works RavageThis rifle is undoubtedly the most accurate.22 rifle available, and it’s worth the asking price. The Vudoo Gun Works Ravage was designed for accuracy and to excel in PRS-style matches. Vudoo guarantees that every Ravage will be capable sub-MOA accuracy due to its V-22 Rimfire repeater action. Shooters have proven this by placing groups at ranges that would normally be impossible for other rimfire rifles. You have the option of four stocks and a variety of finishes for the Vudoo Ravage.
MSRP: $2,795; vudoogunworks.comEditor’s Note: This article originally appeared in the 2020 Buyer’s Guide special issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.Elwood K. Shelton and Adam Borisenko contributed to the post.NEXT STEP: Download Your Free Storm Tactical Printable Target Pack62 Printable MOA Targets with DOT Drills – Rifle Range in YARDSThis impressive target pack from our friends at Storm Tactical contains62 printable targetsfor rifle and handgun range use. Target grids and bullseye sizes can be downloaded in MOA. Get Free Targets
