A good .22 is one of the most useful guns you can own. You can teach a new shooter without intimidating them, work on your trigger control without burning through money, and dial in tight groups without a ton of recoil or noise. Some .22s are fun to plink with, but the ones below actually teach you something. They’re reliable, accurate, and easy to mess with when you want to tune them up or pass them down.
Ruger 10/22
The Ruger 10/22 is everywhere for a reason. It runs well, takes a beating, and there’s no shortage of aftermarket parts. You can keep it stock and teach fundamentals, or swap out everything but the receiver and build it into a tack driver. Either way, it holds groups well and stays fun to shoot.
It’s also a confidence booster for new shooters. Low recoil, dependable cycling, and an easy-to-load rotary magazine mean you’re not fighting the rifle—just focusing on your aim. If you’re only going to own one .22, this is a solid pick.
CZ 457
The CZ 457 feels like a real rifle—because it is. The bolt is smooth, the trigger is crisp, and it’s chambered in a way that makes you slow down and shoot with intent. That’s what makes it such a strong option for teaching precision.
You’re not rushing shots with a 457. It rewards patience and steady breathing. It’s also one of the most accurate .22s right out of the box, which makes it useful for pest control or even small-game hunting. You can swap barrels easily too, which adds a lot of value for tinkerers.
Marlin Model 60
The Marlin Model 60 has fed thousands of kids their first shots. Tube-fed, reliable, and surprisingly accurate for the price, it’s the kind of rifle that stays in a family for decades. It’s great for teaching how to shoot steady and aim small.
The trigger isn’t anything fancy, but the barrel has some real potential. It’s easy to keep clean and simple to operate. If you want to hand a beginner something with less fuss but plenty of accuracy, the Model 60 earns its keep.
Savage Mark II
The Savage Mark II is a workhorse bolt-action .22 with a strong reputation for outshooting its price point. It comes with the AccuTrigger, which makes a big difference when you’re trying to teach trigger control. The rifle holds tight groups and doesn’t cost a fortune.
It’s also easy to find in different configurations—wood stock, synthetic, threaded barrel, iron sights, you name it. That makes it flexible for teaching or for tuning. You can grab one for teaching kids, or set it up with glass and have a solid paper-puncher.
Browning Buck Mark Rifle
The Buck Mark Rifle is basically a carbine version of Browning’s well-known .22 pistol. It’s lightweight, quick handling, and surprisingly accurate. Since it shares some parts with the pistol, it’s also easier to break down and maintain.
This one’s ideal for younger shooters or anyone who prefers a shorter rifle. The balance and trigger make it easy to stay on target, and you can easily mount optics if you’re training for faster shooting. For something different than a standard bolt or semi-auto rifle, this one fits the bill.
Henry Classic Lever Action
The Henry Classic is a .22 lever gun that brings a little fun to fundamentals. The lever action is smooth and satisfying, and it holds a lot of rounds in the tube magazine. If you want to make range days feel more engaging, this one’s a hit.
It’s also dead-on accurate inside of 50 yards, and a great way to teach someone to slow down and cycle between shots. Since it’s easy to load and easy to clean, it makes a good first rifle that can grow with the shooter.
Tikka T1x
The Tikka T1x is built like a centerfire, and that’s part of its appeal. It’s got the weight, the balance, and the trigger feel of a hunting rifle, which makes it perfect for training those skills without burning through expensive ammo.
It’s also incredibly accurate. Pair it with decent glass and some quality ammo, and you’ll be punching out one-hole groups at 50 yards. It fits right into the role of a trainer rifle for someone serious about long-range shooting or small-game work.
Anschutz 64
Anschutz rifles aren’t cheap, but the Model 64 is one of the most respected .22 trainers out there. The trigger is one of the best in its class, and the action is smooth and solid. It’s the kind of rifle you use to teach what precision really feels like.
If you’re ready to step things up, this is where you go. It’s a favorite for competition, but it’s just as useful at the range with a new shooter who’s ready to learn fine motor control and shot discipline. You don’t need to tweak much—it’s dialed in out of the box.
Remington 597
The Remington 597 didn’t always have the strongest rep, but the later models cleaned up a lot of the early cycling issues. What’s left is a solid semi-auto with a unique bolt guide system that keeps things smooth.
It’s a good option for someone who wants a semi-auto that’s different from the 10/22. You can still mod it, and it tends to shoot straight once broken in. It’s lightweight and balanced well enough for kids or smaller-framed shooters to handle without issue.
Keystone Crickett
If you’re introducing a very young shooter to the .22 world, the Crickett is hard to beat. It’s a single-shot bolt-action that’s tiny, simple, and hard to mess up. There’s no semi-auto cycling to worry about, and the safety features are solid.
This one forces new shooters to focus. One round at a time means there’s no rushing or wasting ammo. It’s not a rifle they’ll use forever, but it gives them a strong foundation. For teaching safe habits and basic marksmanship, it does exactly what it needs to.
Christensen Arms Ranger 22
The Ranger 22 is a modern take on the rimfire trainer, with a lightweight carbon-fiber barrel and a match-grade trigger. It handles like a precision rifle but doesn’t carry the weight of one. That makes it great for teaching accuracy without sacrificing comfort.
It’s threaded for a suppressor and comes with a Pic rail up top, so you can run optics and keep it quiet. If you want a .22 that bridges the gap between casual shooting and long-range prep, this one’s a strong contender.
Bergara BMR
The Bergara BMR brings a lot of features from the centerfire B-series into a compact, rimfire setup. It has a good trigger, slick bolt, and solid stock fitment. It feeds reliably and shoots well with a wide range of .22 LR ammo.
This one’s ideal if you’re planning to shoot suppressed or run optics. It handles like a bigger rifle, which makes it a great transition gun for new hunters. You can use it for tight groups, squirrel hunts, or simply as a solid trainer that doesn’t wear you out.
*This article was developed with AI-powered tools and has been carefully reviewed by our editors.
