Best 22 LR Rifles

Ruger 10/22

First introduced in 1964, the Ruger 10/22 has been in continuous production for more than half a century. Perhaps the best-selling .22 rimfire rifle of all-time, the Ruger 10/22 has a well-earned reputation for durability and reliability. Today, this semi-automatic gem sets the standard for all other .22 rimfire rifles.

The iconic 10/22 features a patented 10-round rotary magazine and a lightweight aluminum receiver. It comes in a variety of configurations, including a take down survival model, a sporter model optimized for hunting, and a competition model for the most serious shooters.

Because of the 10/22’s insane popularity, it has tons of aftermarket support. This means you can upgrade components and add accessories to your heart’s content.

Smith & Wesson M&P 15-22 Sport

Built to mimic the look and feel of the popular AR-15, the M&P 15-22 Sport should definitely intrigue .22 shooters with its tactical appeal. The M&P 15-22 Sport comes with high-quality MAGPUL MBUS folding sights, as well as Picatinny-style rail sections and M-LOK side panels, so you can trick out your .22 just like you would an AR-15.

Because the M&P 15-22 Sport is so similar to the standard AR-15 platform, you can run tactical drills or practice for competition shooting, only with cheaper rimfire ammo. Plus, the rig weighs less than five pounds, and it shoots like an absolute dream.

Henry AR-7 Survival Rifle

This awesome little survival rifle was originally engineered in 1959 by Eugene Stoner, the same designer who fashioned the popular AR-15. The Henry AR-7 was first designed to provide Air Force pilots a fighting chance should they be shot down behind enemy lines. While it is still used for military applications today, it is also a popular choice for civilian shooters.

The Henry AR-7 is lightweight, reliable, and incredibly portable. Once you break the rifle down, all the parts can be easily stored inside the stock, which just happens to be impact resistant and fully waterproof.

When disassembled, the AR-7 can be stuffed in a backpack or under a truck seat until it is needed. To assemble, all you need to do is attach the receiver to the stock, attach the barrel, tighten it down, and you’re good to go.

Browning SA-22, Grade I

The semi-automatic SA-22 has been in production for more than 100 years. It is actually one of the last weapons created by the famous John Moses Browning, perhaps the most influential designer in the history of modern firearms.

If you’re looking for a .22 rifle in a classic style, the Browning SA-22 definitely fits the bill. This sleek rimfire features a glossy finished stock of American walnut and a classic blued barrel. Not only is this rifle stunning, it's also insanely accurate and easy to shoot.

Perfect for both right- and left-handed shooters, the SA-22 ejects spent brass from the bottom of the receiver. For convenience and easy packing, the whole thing breaks down into two parts — the buttstock and receiver and the forearm and barrel. The takedown design also makes the rifle super easy to clean.

Remington 572 Fieldmaster

Perfect for everything from popping squirrels to plinking pop cans, the Remington 572 Fieldmaster is probably the most popular pump-action rimfire rifle ever produced. Once you shoot it, you’ll understand exactly why this rifle is so popular. This pump operates as smooth as butter, making your follow-up shots fast, easy, and fun.

The 572 Fieldmaster features big game iron sights for fast target acquisition and accurate close range shooting. However, the receiver is also grooved for easy scope mounting if you need to reach out and touch distant targets with precision.

The rifle features a tubular magazine that holds 15 rounds of .22 LR ammunition. It also reliably feeds and shoots .22 Short and .22 Long cartridges, making it one of the most versatile models on our list.

Steyr Mannlicher Zephyr II

The Steyr Zephyr II is a revival of the original Zephyr produced from 1955-1971. The new version takes the best aspects of the original to all new levels of quality and performance. One of the best bolt-action .22s on the market, the Zephyr II has earned several notable honors, including the 2019 American Hunter’s Golden Bullseye for "Rifle of the Year" and the Sporting Classics 2019 Award of Excellence.

Rugged enough for hard use in the field, the Zephyr II is precise enough to drive tacks downrange. This is a serious rimfire weapon that feels just as much at home in the woods as it does on the competition scene.

Marlin 39A

Related to the legendary Marlin Model 1891, the 39A lever action rimfire rifle is the oldest cartridge rifle in continuous production. If you want a rifle with a rich history and a tried-and-true design, this is it.

Unfortunately, unless you can find a used version, modern shooters can only get this timeless classic through Marlin’s Custom Shop. While ordering a new 39A could cost you a pretty penny, these are highly coveted firearms that will hold their value for generations to come.

Savage Arms MARK II

One of the most affordable .22 rifles on our list, the MARK II from Savage Arms is a budget-friendly option that doesn’t compromise quality or performance in the least. It features the Savage Arms famous Accutrigger technology, which is one of the best stock triggers on the market. The Accutrigger allows you to easily adjust pull weight without compromising function or performance.

Easy to shoot, the bolt-action MARK II is perfect for serious hunting, recreational plinking, or teaching young shooters their way around a firearm.

Henry Golden Boy

With beautiful brass accents, a beautiful walnut stock, and a gorgeous blued, octagonal barrel, the Henry Golden Boy hearkens back to the American Old West.

Not only is this one handsome rifle, it is also a fantastic shooter. It has a smooth, effortless lever action, a buckhorn-style leaf sight with a ramp, and a bright bead front sight. It’s also a natural pointer, so aiming the Golden Boy is practically instinctual.

At 6.75 pounds, the Golden Boy is one of the heftier models on our list. However, it balances well, produces almost zero felt recoil, and provides some of the most accurate off-hand shooting you’ll find in a factory produced firearm.

Keystone Sporting Arms Crickett Rifle

The “best” .22LR rifle will mean different things to different people. No list would be complete without a quality option for young shooters, and it doesn’t get much better than the quality of a good Crickett youth rifle. Plenty of top-notch hunters, legendary military snipers, and world-class competitors got their start with a Crickett.

This is the perfect first-gun option for responsible young shooters. It features a manually cocking single-shot bolt action. The separation of loading, cocking, and shooting sequences helps prevent accidental firing and allows even the youngest shooters to make each shot carefully and deliberately.

Keystone Sporting Arms offers their Crickett rifles in a variety of configurations, so shooters can choose from traditional solid wood or lightweight laminate stocks, threaded barrels or target barrels, or almost anything their young hearts desire.

Volquartsen Classic .22 LR Rifle

Volquartsen’s driving goal is to produce semi-auto rifles that deliver bolt action accuracy. You can see that drive play out through their entire line-up. Each and every Volquartsen rimfire rifle offers insane, match-level accuracy in a convenient semi-auto platform. Although Volquartsen offers several different model “families”, we are big fans of their Classic series, which serves as the basic template for every other “family” they offer.

The Classic features a competition style, Monte Carlo stock and a reliable stainless steel receiver. However, the barrel is what really puts this rifle in a class by itself. The barrel is a .920-inch stainless steel bull barrel that is threaded into the receiver for a surefire fit that holds steady shot after shot.

The Volquartsen Classic offers serious tack-driving precision. However, this one doesn’t come with iron sights. Instead, it comes with a machined-in Picatinny receiver rail, so you can easily mount a scope. This is an important feature, this .22 rifle is more than worthy of a serious, high-quality optic.

Thompson Center T/CR22

Although Thompson Center is best known for their high-performance muzzleloaders, their rimfire T/CR22 is a serious gem. A great entry-level option for target competition, the T/CR22 delivers amazing out-of-the-box accuracy and performance.

The T/CR22 features a high-visibility green, fiber optic front sight and an adjustable rear sight that sits behind the receiver rail. This configuration lengthens the sight radius for increased accuracy. The rifle also has a built-in picatinny-style rail, so you can easily mount a scope.

Shooters can choose from a variety of stock styles and treatments, ranging from mossy Oak Breakup for hunters to Black Grit for the more tactically minded.