I have no trouble shooting squirrels with my 10/22 Ruger. I see no need for spending more money. Put a 3x9x40 Vortex Crossfire on it, get some CCI mini-mags and you'll have a squirrel killing machine.

Where??

I am shopping.

I got an old New Haven single shot that is deadly on rabbits at 100 yards with open sights. I think if I put a scope on it, I could poke eyeballs on a squirrel up a tree. It’s an old rifle from my grandfather. It was abused and put away wet when he had it and I’m carrying on the tradition. No idea where he got it but it’s a tack driver.

savage FVT is the lease picky about ammo 22lr I have found
adjustable trigger , not overly expensive paid like 215 for my sons it was a decade ago
it's weakness is cheap magazine design definitely do not put in your back pocket and sit on it

add an EGW rail to the Savage for better scope mounting.


most decent 22lr can do 5 under a quarter at 25 yards if you can my 10/22s will with the right ammo and are just over with not the right ammo
the Savage FVT with CCI standard velocity would do 10 under a dime
and 5 under a nickel with golden bullets or most anything at 25 yards

some friends did a lot of playing with 10/22s they were making some seriously 1 inch guns at 100 yards with CCI standard velocity

the biggest gain is getting rid of the barrel band , generously free floating the barrel
the did things like adding rear action screw , glass bedding , facing off the barrel going to a bentz chamber and re crowning the muzzle but they would get most of the way there just getting the barrel space to move

Ruger American rimfire is also a nice gun not too hard on the budget , it is a chassis system so it free floats the barrel , offers a threaded muzzle and good optic mounting as well as stock adjustability

Good info as always GCPetre

10/22 trigger can be improved with a bick pen spring
For weight anyway

I have a old new haven heavy barrel single shot that is just a killer shoots better that and one of my new guns ruler m77 is close. I see the biggest thing wit 22 is ammo you have to find what your gun likes

CZ

Honestly 90% of the .22lra I've messed with will shoot the whole what 1" @30yd you need for squirrel hunting stupid easy as long as you you do some ammo testing and feed it what I likes . Honestly the biggest problems I seen when someone brings me a .22lr that won't shoot good is ammo ( usually a mix or random crap or High velocity stuff) or it's just not set up to where its easy to shoot. Ie sky scraper rings crappy $10 scopes ect. Super low stock ect.

My Remington 513S ....1949 Bolt action....is a tack Drivah

We took a brand new 10/22 and put a 2x6 Leupold on it and took turns shooting Silver Dollar size targets out to 85yds before we wasn’t hitting EVERY shot, lol. It was one of those little targets that go from one side to the other after a shot. We started at 50 then 75 then 85. When we went to 100 we’d miss occasionally. I don’t have any other nicer .22 to compare it to, but after that and plinking some fairly up close hogs stone cold dead I figured I’d found the .22 for me. With that said, most all my rifles are Rugers. Guess listening the Bocephus growing up and that logo had an influence, lol.

Where does the HENRY LEVERS fit into this accuracy thread? Thinking of a .22 mag., small game rifle, octagon , with peep.

I have to KIDD 22s A bit pricey but boy are they accurate

Used a 541-t for years. Bought new. Got browning T- bolt now. Not as accurate as 541-t but a great squirrel gun. Very light. What ever you get find out what ammo is the most accurate and stay with it till they stop making it. Then find something else that works well.

Lot of good shooting 22 LR, on the market. Ruger, Tikka, Shot Henry while back was accurate. Lot of accurate 22 LR, on the market at present

The key to an accurate 22 is spending the time to find what ammo it likes. It is of no value to shoot 2 3 shot groups at 25 yards and say that you have found the rifles preferred ammo. Shoot at least 5 shot groups and shoot at least 5 groups more is better. Also when changing ammo in a 22 it usually takes 15 shots or so for the new ammo to settle in and start producing its best groups, I have been told it is because of the different lube formulas that the manufacturers use on the bullets, I don't know about this but I do know something causes it. Also rarely is the best ammo packaged in a bulk box, but you never know you might get lucky.

But to answer your question take a look at the 10/22s that don't have a barrel band, the Ruger American series, the Savage bolt actions and then go buy you a CZ 457 in which ever configuration you desire, adjust the trigger to your preference, put a good scope on it, use Warne rings or better, and go about finding its preferred ammo. You should be able to get the rifle and a good scope for less than 1000 dollars.

I am very impressed so far with my ruger target lite.
The new trigger that ruger has for the 10-22s are a vast improvement.

my idea of not spending "a ton of money" for a 22 is a lot less than a grand