Rifles

Shooting 22 LR bolt-action rifles keeps you grounded. They are affordable to shoot often because ammo costs a fraction of what centerfire ammo does and lacks the noise, muzzle blast, and recoil. Not only is shooting a 22 rimfire inexpensive and fun, it also helps build a solid base in rifle-shooting technique, from trigger control and breathing, to judging distance and reading the wind. Three new target-style 22 LR bolt actions that we thought would be fun to shoot were the Springfield Armory 2020 Rimfire, Savage’s B Series TimberLite Thumbhole, and the Hammerli Arms Force B1. All of these rifles were recently introduced and are said to provide performance and accuracy. The common characteristics of these three rimfire rifles are the 22 LR round, manually operated bolt actions, detachable rotary magazines, and they are optic ready. From there, the features start to differ.

In the December 1995 issue, we tested a pair of 30-06 hunting rifles, one of which had significant drawbacks, our shooters said. In this installment of Gun Tests Classics, we revisit the winner of that test, a Remington Model 7600 pumpgun, and see if its current used pricing makes it a still-valid recommendation for today’s shooters. 

For the rifleman, there is nothing that soothes the soul and brightens the day like a good-quality 22 bolt-action rifle. For the serious rifleman who hunts with a centerfire rifle, the 22 offers alternative training options and makes for a fine small-game rifle. Some shooters realize a more expensive rifle may be needed for precision work and small-game shooting, and an adult-size stock for an adult makes sense. This bumps the price up over the simple $200 bolt gun.

For the rifleman, there is nothing that soothes the soul and brightens the day like a good-quality 22 bolt-action rifle. For the serious rifleman who hunts with a centerfire rifle, the 22 offers alternative training options and makes for a fine small-game rifle. Some shooters realize a more expensive rifle may be needed for precision work and small-game shooting, and an adult-size stock for an adult makes sense. This bumps the price up over the simple $200 bolt gun.