The Best 22 LR Rifles of 2026, Tested and Reviewed

Above, my Winchester 94 (top) in .30-30 and my Winchester 62A in .22 LR. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Like everything else these days, the cost of ammunition has gone up over the past few years. Some calibers cost around $1.00 per round and sometimes more. 

With that being the case, target shooting with a .22 LR rifle is looking more and more economical. I happen to have two .22 LR rifles: a Winchester 62A that I inherited from my maternal grandfather and a Ruger 10/22 that I bought around 1984.  

If one doesn't have a .22 LR rifle in their arsenal, an article by Field & Stream may be a big help in selecting one. It is on the best .22 LR rifles of 2026.

They begin with:

If you are an adult who likes to shoot or hunt, it’s hard to find completeness without a 22 LR rifle or two. Considered by many to be the most useful rifle in the world, a 22 rifle is perfect for target practice, hunting, competition shooting, and teaching others to shoot. And you can do all of that with ammunition that doesn’t cost you a dollar every time you pull the trigger.

There are many 22 rifles to choose from, and with modern manufacturing techniques, they’re getting more affordable each year. Affordability can be important when it comes to buying a 22 rifle, but other things—depending on what you want to use your 22 rifle for—matter as well. Here’s a look at seven of the best 22 LR rifles for just about any application.

To read more, go here.