The 10 Best 22 Rifles for Squirrel Hunting

Despite what some people may think, squirrel hunting with a rimfire rifle is challenging. Squirrels are a tiny target in general, always seem to be moving, and rarely sit still long enough to be a target.

The .22LR is still the most popular rimfire caliber for squirrels, so it makes sense that one of the frequently asked questions from new squirrel hunters is this one: what’s the best 22 rifle for squirrel hunting?

Before I start discussing my favorite squirrel hunting 22s, I want to briefly provide a bit of a disclaimer. Identifying or classifying the “best” of anything is inherently biased because the classification is based on someone’s opinion and experiences. This post will be no different because it’s based on my experiences and opinions, having owned and used a wide variety of 22 rifles throughout my life.

Rimfire Rifle Selection Criteria

Let me also go over the criteria I used used in the decision-making process:

Personal Experience

I’m not comfortable recommending or suggesting a rifle that I haven’t shot, tested, or used personally. For that reason, I limited my recommendations to rimfire models that fall into that category.

Obviously, this approach means that I may have left off some rimfire models that could make an excellent squirrel rifle, so my apologies for that.

Acceptable accuracy

I’ve discussed squirrel hunting accuracy on this site before, so it’s worth noting that my acceptable accuracy level is around a ½” 5 shot group at 50 yards. Any of the small game rifles in my list below are certainly capable of that level of accuracy.

Reputable Brand

I also wanted to limit this list to relatively well-known firearms brands with an existing reputation for standing behind their products (at least to some degree).

Multi-shot capability

While one could certainly hunt squirrels with a single shot (which is how I started), most hunters will want a rimfire rifle capable of firing more than one shot.

Because of this, I omitted single-shot options from the list.

Still available on the market

I debated on this criteria for two reasons:

1. Because several fantastic squirrel rifle options are now out of production and difficult to find.
2. This list isn’t my top 10 squirrel rifles of all time.

While a few rifle models listed below are no longer in production, there’s usually a steady supply for sale on the second-hand and used market.

Cost

I also tried to list rifles covering a wide range of costs because I think that’s more realistic for most squirrel hunters versus a listing of popular squirrel rifles costing over $1000.

Top 10 Squirrel Hunting .22 Rifles

Here’s my list of top ten 22 rifles for hunting squirrels:

CZ 452

The CZ 452 is a bolt action rifle series that was chambered in the following calibers:

• .22 Long Rifle
• .17 Mach 2
• .17 HMR
• .22 WMR

Although the 452 was developed in the mid-1960s, it wasn’t imported into the U.S. until 1991.

CZ offered several 452 versions within the series, but my favorite models are the 452 American and the 452 Silhouette. The 22LR versions were equipped with a removable 5-round magazine, and a 10-round mag was also available separately.

One nice feature with the 452 rifles (and the 455 + 457 models) is the trigger is easy to adjust and there are several aftermarket triggers and trigger spring options to reduce the trigger pull weight.

Most any of the CZ 452 rifles and variants are typically accurate and will easily shoot an ½ inch (or better) group at 50 yards with the right ammunition. My best shooting 452 is capable of ¼” 5 shot groups at 50 yards when I do my part. My “worst” shooting 452 rifle groups slightly better than ½” at 50, and that’s with me behind the rifle. A more competent shooter can likely do far better.

Officially speaking, CZ discontinued the 452 series in 2011, but new models were still being produced for large CZ dealers (such as Whittakers Guns) up until 2014. In 2017, CZ offered a special limited production (1000 rifles) of the 452 called the 452 Grand Finale. Since 2017, the CZ 452 is officially out of production.

While the 452 models are no longer being made, there are always some pre-owned ones to be found on sites like Gunbroker, Armslist, and various rimfire forums.

If you like the traditional wood and steel materials on a rimfire for squirrels, then it’s hard to go wrong with a CZ 452. Any CZ 452 will likely make a fine squirrel gun.

CZ 455

First introduced in 2010, the CZ 455 series of rifles was designed as the next generation and successor of the popular CZ 452 series. While there were several minor upgrades or changes between the 455 and 452, the most significant enhancement on the 455 was the ability for the user to change or swap barrels. This barrel-swapping capability also offered the ability to change calibers on specific models.

For example, a CZ 455 in 22LR could be converted to a 17 HM2 (via an aftermarket barrel), and a 455 in 17 HMR could be converted to a 22 Magnum.

Another significant feature of the CZ 455 models was the ability to accept an aftermarket barrel like a Lilja or IBI made for the 455.

The 455 series was offered in the following calibers:

• 22 LR
• 22 WMR
• 17 HMR

Note that CZ did not offer the 455 in 17 Mach II, but aftermarket barrels were eventually available to convert a 455 in 22 over to 17 Mach 2. I converted one of my 455 rifles in 22 over to 17 HM2 using a Lilja barrel.

CZ also begin adopting a more American-centric approach by offering threaded barrels with a ½” x28 TPI threading versus the European standard 1/2×20 TPI found on certain 452 models. This change was quite popular for small game hunters who like to use a suppressor.

Like the 452 series of rifles, the 455 series was also offered in various configurations and variants. These models also came with a standard 5-round magazine, with a 10-round magazine available as well.

The 455 series are also capable of 5 shot ½” groups (or better) at 50 yards with the right ammo. While none of my 455 models are quite as good a shooter as my top shooting 452, I’ve seen and shot several 455 models that were ¼” inch or better shooters. One of my hunting buddies has a 455 Synthetic rifle that easily shoots ¼” at 50 yards all day long.

In 2018, CZ stopped producing the 455 rifle series in favor of the CZ 457 series. Even though the 455 is no longer being manufactured, it’s not a difficult model to find on the pre-owned market. From a price perspective, the pre-owned 455 models tend to cost slightly less than the pre-owned CZ 452 models.

Most any CZ 455 chambered in 22 LR is potentially a good option as a squirrel gun.

CZ 457

In 2019, CZ introduced the bolt-action 457 rifle series to replace the 455 series. The 457 series included several design enhancements, including:

• A shorter 60% bolt angle
• The trigger was completely redesigned and offered additional factory adjustments not found on the prior 452 and 455 trigger units.
• CZ engineers changed the safety design to function more like the safety style found on most U.S.-made bolt action rifles (where the safety moves forward to fire).

The 457 utilizes the same barrel-changing capability as the 455 and will accept barrels made for a 455 rifle.

Like both predecessor models, the 457 comes with a 5-round magazine and will accept a 10-round magazine as well.

The 457 series is equally as accurate as the 452 and 455 series and can shoot a ½” group at 50 yards. Although I don’t currently own a 457 model, I’ve had the chance to shoot a few different versions and found them reasonably accurate.

Any 22 caliber 457 rifle is potentially a good squirrel hunting candidate.

Tikka T1X

Tikka debuted their bolt action T1X rimfire rifle at the 2018 SHOT show. The T1X is a very well-thought-out rimfire rifle that is available in two calibers:

• 22LR
• 17 HMR

When the T1X was first introduced, it was only available in versions with a 20″ threaded barrel. In 2020, Tikka added models with a 16″ threaded barrel.

In 2020, Tikka also introduced the T1X UPR model, where the UPR stands for Ultimate Precision Rifle. This Tikka model was designed for precision rifle shooting with a different stock design.

Tikka also produces a T1x Hunter line, which is a T1x action mated to a wooden stock.

The T1x is loosely based on the Tikka T3x bolt gun, so the T1x will accept most T3X accessories, such as a T3x stock and a T3x aftermarket trigger.

The T1x has several impressive features built into the design, including the following:

• A 60-degree bolt
• It comes standard with a 10-round magazine, but a flush-fitting 5-round magazine is also available.
• The factory trigger is exceptionally good and is the best factory trigger I’ve seen to date at this price point. In addition, there are several aftermarket drop-in trigger models and reduced pull trigger springs to fine-tune the trigger to your liking.
• The T1x comes with a polymer stock that is lightweight and modular. When I say modular, I mean that the factory stock has modular pieces that can be added to enhance the fit and comfort. For example, the pistol grip area of the stock has a wrap-around component that can be added to increase the width and size. The stock fore-end can be adjusted as well using aftermarket parts from Tikka.

Technically, the barrel is removable, but it’s an absolute bear to remove. The removable barrel allows the shooter to change to an aftermarket barrel if desired.

All the T1x rifles are factory threaded using a 1/2×28 thread pitch. This is an excellent option for those of us who can shoot or hunt with a suppressor. I’m a diehard suppressor fan so the T1x is an ideal fit for my uses.

From an accuracy standpoint, the T1x is very accurate for a factory rimfire rifle. I own a few T1X models that will consistently shoot close to ¼ of an inch at 50 yards. I would not hesitate for one second to recommend a T1x bolt gun in 22LR for squirrel hunting.

Ruger 10/22

Over the years, I’ve had a love/hate relationship with the Ruger 10/22 for various reasons, but the primary issue involved inconsistent accuracy and functionality with a suppressor. I’ve probably owned 10-12 various 10/22 rifles in my life, and most ended up being sold for one reason or another. But to be honest, I don’t like to invest a ton of time trying to troubleshoot issues because I’m not the most patient person.

Introduced in 1964, the Ruger 10/22 is the most popular semi-auto 22 rifle ever produced. Now, the fine folks at Marlin might disagree with that assessment given the popularity of their Marlin Model 60, but we’ll get to the Model 60 later in this port.

The success of the 10/22 and its simplistic design led to an entire segment of the firearms industry manufacturing or producing various 10/22 parts. There is not a single component or part on a 10/22 that cannot be replaced with an aftermarket option.

These options include aftermarket stocks, triggers, barrels, bolts, receivers, and bolt springs. In addition, when the original Ruger 10/22 patent expired, several firearms makers started producing their own version of the 10/22 with a few design tweaks.

The success of the 10/22 also led to Ruger introducing a multitude of 10/22 versions for various uses, including several collectible and commemorative models. The most popular 10/22 variant is the 10/22 Takedown which is a version that can be broken down into two parts with a simple twist.

The 10/22 uses a patented 10-round rotary-style magazine, but higher capacity aftermarket options are also available.

The factory Ruger trigger on the 10/22 isn’t all that great, but Ruger’s optional BX trigger is definitely a better trigger than the standard Ruger 10/22 trigger.

My primary issue with a bone stock basic 10/22 has always been the accuracy and consistency. From an accuracy standpoint, my experiences with a stock 10/22 have been all over the place, with some shooting a little worse than ½” at 50 and others shooting more like 2″ at 50.

That being said, on average, I believe the standard 10/22 is accurate enough for squirrels. However, I will also say that I have found 10/22 rifles to be ammo picky, so it may take some in-depth ammo testing to find a good ammo that shoots well.

I also believe that most factory 10/22 rifles are simply not going to be as accurate as good quality bolt action 22 rifle. If you want a 10/22 that shoots as well as a good bolt action rifle, you’re likely going to need to do one of the following options:

1. Instead of purchasing a factory Ruger 10/22, consider another firearm maker who produces a 10/22 variant. These include brands like Kidd Guns, Volquartsen, and Bergara.
2. Invest some $$ in upgraded parts such as a barrel or trigger.

Both of the 10/22 rifles pictured on this page belong or belonged to me. The model with a polymer stock is my favorite 10/22 rifle, and the only original part of that rifle is the Ruger receiver. Everything else has been upgraded using Kidd Gun parts.

However, look at the grouping pic from that rifle, and you can see that the upgrades may be worth it from an accuracy standpoint. I’ve yet to see a stock 10/22 capable of a 5-shot group at 50 yards like that one.

A moderately accurate Ruger 10/22 is a very capable and enjoyable semi-automatic squirrel rifle.

Marlin 60

Like the Ruger 10-22, the Marlin Model 60 (more commonly called the Marlin 60) is another immensely popular semi-automatic 22 rifle. The Marlin 60 was introduced in 1960 and was in production until 2020.

Marlin Firearms was a standalone firearms manufacturer from 1870 to 2007. In 2007, Remington Arms purchased the Marlin brand but continued to manufacture firearms under the Marlin name. In 2020, Remington Arms went bankrupt, so the Sturm, Ruger & Co. (Commonly called Ruger) purchased the Marlin brand from Remington.

While Ruger started manufacturing specific Marlin models under the Marlin name again, the classic Model 60 was not brought back into production. Ruger has also indicated that, as of 2022, it has no plans to resume production of the Model 60.

Where the 10/22 utilizes a proprietary box magazine design, the Model 60 uses a tubular magazine that would hold anywhere from 14 to 18 rounds of 22LR (depending on the specific model and when it was manufactured)

I’ll be dating myself when I share that my first semi-automatic 22 rifle was a Marlin 60, I received for Christmas in 1981. Despite my terrible shooting, I bagged a whole bunch of squirrels and rabbits with that rifle, and it’s still sitting in my gun safe today (it’s actually the one pictured above).

With the right ammunition, I always found the Model 60 rifles to be pretty darn accurate for a semi-automatic 22 that cost less than $100 up until the last ten years. My biggest complaint with the Model 60 was always the heavy, gritty trigger that felt like it needed 10 to 12 pounds of pressure to pull the trigger.

Unlike the 10/22, which has a complete offering of aftermarket parts, the Marlin 60 only has a few aftermarket parts available. Unfortunately, a better trigger system is not one of those available upgrades.

However, I will share the steps I took to improve the trigger on my Model 60. Marlin used a paste wax-style lubricant to keep the contained trigger unit lubricated. Over time, that lubricant begins to dry out and harden. If you remove the stock from the rifle, place the attached trigger unit into a bucket of strong solvent (like Hoppe’s #9). Let the trigger unit soak for 24 to 48 hours, and most of that hardened paste lubricant will dissolve. Once dissolved, the trigger seems to be much smoother and a bit lighter.

While I’m not a huge fan of loading the magazine tube one round at a time, it is nice to know that you likely won’t have to reload during a squirrel hunt.

Another aspect of the Model 60 I really liked was the weight. Fully loaded, my Model 60 weighed just under 6 lbs. with a scope mounted.

Even though Ruger is no longer producing the Model 60, tons of these rifles are for sale on the pre-owned market at very reasonable prices.

Marlin Golden 39A

If you aren’t a semi-automatic or bolt action 22 rifle fan, you might like this next recommendation because it’s a lever action model.

The Marlin 39A is considered the oldest lever action 22 rifle on the market and the most popular based on sales. This rifle started as the Marlin 1891 but transitioned to the Model 39 in 1921. Eventually, the Model 39 would become the Marlin Golden 39A. Arms historians credit the Model 39 as having been built with the same specifications for over 100 years.

Another interesting fact about the Model 39A was its chambering versatility, as this rifle would accept and fire:

• .22 Short
• .22 Long
• .22 Long Rifle

This lever action 22 utilized a tube feed magazine (like its cousin, the Marlin Model 60), and the specific .22 caliber variant being shot also impacted the capacity. The standard capacity for .22 Long Rifle was 19 rounds, while it would accept 26 rounds of .22 Short.

I received a Golden 39A lever action model for Christmas when I was 15 and found it to be a very accurate lever action model. I used that rifle to take quite a few squirrels over the years and found it very enjoyable to use.

Every Marlin 39A rifle I’ve shot or tested has been quite capable of shooting ½” at 50 without any problems.

Technically speaking, much like the Marlin Model 60, Ruger has yet to begin production on the Model 39A since purchasing Marlin from Remington. However, Ruger has reintroduced other Marlin lever action models, such as the Marlin 336 and 1895, so there is still hope they will bring the venerable Model 39A back from the dead.

Although this rifle is currently out of production as this post was written, plenty of Marlin 39 rifles are available on the used market. Unfortunately, they now command a premium price since the Remington bankruptcy and Ruger purchase.

If you are interested in a lever action 22 for squirrels and a pre-owned Model 39A is too expensive for your budget, then take a look at the Henry Classic Lever action model as a potential alternative.

Savage Mark II

Savage Arms introduced the Savage Mark II bolt action 22 rifle in 1995, right after Savage purchased the Lakefield Arms company in 1994. Lakefield Arms made an excellent bolt action 22 rifle called the Mark II. After Savage purchased the company, they began offering the Mark II as their premier bolt action 22 rifle.

Initially, the Mark II rifles were only chambered in .22LR, but Savage expanded the line to include models chambered in 17 Mach II and 17 HMR.

Most of the Mark II line of rifles come equipped with a standard 5-round magazine, but some models are equipped with a 10-round magazine.

Early models of the Mark II rifles featured a traditional factory trigger. Sometime around 2002, Savage introduced a user-adjustable trigger called the Accu-Trigger for this rifle.

Over the years, Savage has expanded the Mark II rifle series to include several variants, including threaded, target, and specialty models with different stock materials. Currently, Savage offers 22 versions of the Mark II (or, as it’s sometimes written, Mark 2) rifle series.

I’ve owned a few different Savage Mark II rifles, including:

• An early, pre-Accu-trigger model
• A Mark II FV with a bull barrel and Accu-trigger
• A Mark II FVSR with a threaded barrel

I can say that, in my experience, the Accu-trigger is a better trigger design compared to the older, basic trigger configuration. Of the three Mark II rifles I mentioned owning, the FVSR was my favorite.

My biggest complaint with these Savage rimfire rifles involves the magazine release design. The magazine release is a single piece of thin metal that seems to break with time and use.

In my experience, the Mark II rifles series is accurate enough for squirrel hunting. That being said, I will also add that I did have to invest some time and effort to find an acceptable ammo that would produce groups of ½” at 50 yards.

The Mark 2 rifles are still in production and not too hard on the wallet.

Ruger American Rimfire

Introduced to the market in 2021, the Ruger American Rimfire series shares some design and functionality with the popular Ruger American Centerfire rifle series.

The American rifle series is available in the following rimfire calibers:

• 22 LR
• 17 HMR
• 22 WMR

The success of the original American Rimfire models led Ruger to introduce several variant lines in the series, including the following:

• Compact
• Standard
• Wood Stock versions
• Stainless Steel versions
• Target series
• Go Wild series

Please note that all three caliber options are not available in every series.

The American Rimfire rifles are bolt action models that use the same rotary magazine design as the Ruger 10/22. These rifles are equipped with Ruger’s Marksman triggers and feature a tang safety (which I really like).

Although I don’t currently own one of these rifles, I’ve had the chance to shoot and test several in the .22LR and 17 HMR calibers.

It’s evident that Ruger put much thought and planning into the American Rimfire models, which seem well-designed and relatively well-built.

From an accuracy perspective, the Ruger American Rimfire rifles are accurate enough for squirrel hunting (at least in my opinion). However, I will say that I’ve seen some that simply did not group well. To be fair, that could be an issue where the ideal ammo has yet to be tested, or it could be a not-so-great shooter.

One of my friend’s dads has one and seems to do pretty well with it in the squirrel woods. All the models I’ve personally shot seemed to group right around the ½” at 50 yards, with one or two grouping better than ½” and some grouping worse.

Any of these Ruger rimfire rifles would be an excellent choice for squirrels.

My Favorite Squirrel Hunting Rifles

Before I list my personal squirrel hunting favorites, there are a few things to be aware of:

• I prefer bolt action rifles over any other style
• Although I love a nice looking wood stocked firearm, I prefer polymer stocked rifles for squirrel hunting (and most hunting in general). I find polymer stocks to weigh less than a wood model, and polymer stocks are more more durable than a wood stock. Plus, I don’t have to worry about marring up a nice looking stock.

Over the last few years, my two favorite squirrel hunting 22 rifles are:

CZ 452 Silhouette

The CZ 452 Silhouette is a 452 variant designed for rimfire metallic silhouette shooting competitions. It’s primarily a 452 American action mated to a synthetic stock with a high comb.

I have a few of the CZ 452 Silhouette rifles, and I really like the high comb synthetic stock as it seems to fit me well. My favorite Silhouette rifle is one that I had the barrel cut down to 16 1/2″ and threaded for a suppressor. This particular rifle is extremely accurate and one of my best shooters.

I like the polymer stock on the Silhouette, its reduced weight, and how it shoots.

For all those reasons, this one is one of my go-to squirrel rifles.

Tikka T1x

I’ve become very fond of the Tikka T1x rifle series and have a 16″ model that is another of my favorite squirrel hunting rigs.

This one has an aftermarket trigger, and I had the action cerakoted, so it’s better equipped to deal with bad weather.

On this particular T1X, I like the accuracy out of the box, the semi-customizable polymer stock, and the excellent ergonomics. I’m also a big fan of the 10-round magazine capacity.

If you’re in the market for a new squirrel rifle, I hope that this post has provided some value for you or at least given you something to think about. At the end of the day, the best 22LR for squirrel hunting will be the one that you most enjoy and the one that brings home some squirrels.