If you were picking up a new or used .22lr for plinking and squirrel hunting, what would you spend your money on and why?

used remmy speedmaster 552...it shoots all the 22 rimfire, tube fed, accurate and will last a few lifetimes if you do your part

At that price it's hard to beat a Ruger 10/22 Or the Ruger American in a bolt action.

Henry, eats everything, accurate as hell.

I have the pump version of this. I would love to have the auto. great guns

Ruger american bolt action.

ruger 10/22. It can take 10 or 25 round mags. I got the talo edition with archangel stock. So it has threaded barrel, folding 6 position stock, stainless steel barrel, and removable rails.

I'd also get a 10/22. You can do so much with it. If you get tired of it stock configuration, you can always build it into something else.

10/22

10/22 or a Marlin Mod. 60.

10/22

I like the 10/22. I've got one. But they only way I've found to get one as accurate as my Henry or bolt gun is to buy a trigger group (either Ruger's or a Volquartsen, etc.) and put a barrel on it. Very quickly looking at closer to 5-600 bucks. I'm sure every one here has a stock 10/22 that shoots MOA at 100 yards but that's my experience.

My choice as well

This or a 10/22

My favorite for under $250 is a Remmy 597.

I have 10/22's but wanted something differnt and like the 597 better. It's my go to for squirrels and is more accurate than I am. I also have one in 22Mag. My 10/22's had to undergo surgery to get them to shoot as good as my stock 597. YMMV

If you don't like autos, I have an XT Marlin that will get it done...head shots on skwerls from a long way off!

If you know someone with a lathe, you can set the barrel back about .010" and you'll have the same accuracy as a match barrel for a whole lot less money.

If your looking for a auto I'd probally go with a marlin model 60 or a ruger 10/22. If your looking at a bolt gun a older model marlin 25 is a tack driving machine. The newer version is xt22 both are magazine fed rifles they also make a tube fed version of the xt22 and the model 25. Ive got a ruger 10/22 bone stock and ive got one model 25, one model 25n which is the last of them before the xt series, a model 25NM which is a late model 22 mag., a xt22 and a xt 17 nd my grandpaw like the tube fed versions he has one 22 mag and one 22lr, all of those marlins out shoot my ruger at 75yds. But it is fun to put a 25 round mag. In the ruger and sling some lead

If you can find an older remmy 552 or a 550-1 you wont go wrong with either. The 552 really went south after about 1980 when they shortened the bbl on them and put elevated sights on it.