A Marlin 39A lever gun, I have had mine since I was 13.  Not a target rifle, but surprisingly accurate out to 50 yards.  You should choose one at a dealer, not order it, since the wood quality varies widely.  A receiver sight and/or a small .22 scope (closer parallax adjustment) will help with the accuracy.

Other than that, I would probably go for the CZ.

Well.. I'm a smallbore prone shooter, and on top of that, have a bit of a collection of smallbore target rifles, and a few other "plinkers"... Just to give you a background to support my suggestion.

CZ452 or CZ453 and don't look back!

I don't know their current retail (may push the boundary of that "under $400" number pretty hard).

Fantastic rifles, ADULT sized, made of METAL rather than plastic, and they SHOOT!
At worst, a bit of trigger tuning and bedding, and its an outstanding sporter rifle.   
The newer 453 has a single set trigger, which I have not tried myself, but a friend has and was very impressed (he also has an Anschutz 54 with ounce-range trigger, so that let's you know the measure of what impresses him).

I can't think of anything else in the same "class" as the CZ for construction, style, or accuracy.  A couple of Savage's rimfires compete favorably in accuracy, but damn they's UGLY!

Take this opinion for what you paid for it, but I hope this helps!
Paul F.

I don't own one but do agree with those who have mentioned the Martini 12/15. Since others have mentioned bolt guns I will mention my favorite, the Savage 23A. Yes, it will have to be drilled and tapped altering it's value but a shooter is better than a "safe queen" which is not going to be worth big bucks anyway. A good 23A will match or beat many if not most of those mentioned for accuracy. An acquaintance has a Kimber 82 of which he is really proud ($600 rifle in the '80s) and my Savage can equal or best it most any day. Plus, it is from an age when even .22 RF rifles were milled, not stamped.

I'd suggest the Martini as well,  careful shopping should bring him in at the 400 price. but it'll mean hitting the gunshows and maybe the swapp'n tables at a couple matches.

    I know you are not looking at "boys rifles" per se, but you might take a look at those recent Savage/Stevens reissues. I'm not sure which action they recreated but  I picked one up for Wa-a-a-ay under 400 in the 17HMR.  it'll never win any beauty prizes, wood is very plain and wood metal fit is barely so-so,  and the tirgger must have been designed by a BIG team of lawyers.  BUT man does it shoot!!!!!    won't take much to restock and the trigger is tinkerable.
I've been using it to thin out a bunch of problem 'coons at my sisters place--amazing one shot kills.
the 22rf versions might be as accurate.  he might could rebarrel it with a heavier match grade "take-off" barrel, restock and tune it himself---and still be under the 400 limit.   
FWIW:  the local museums in Dowagiac MI has TomShelhammer's favorite 
---one of the larger framed Stevens boys rifles,  all engraved, Niedner-barreled and customstocked (of course).  it is a small and very elegant singleshot that was notoriously "sure death" in his hands among the squirrel and varmint population.

The most accurate .22 I own is a 10-22 Ruger.  Or more exactly was a Ruger to start with.  Under $300.00, trigger job-$35.00, barrel and stock combo- $150.00, original rifle at a pawn shop- $99.00.  This does not include the scope.
It shoots well with cheap ammunition too. A plus for plinking and P dogs.
Gus

I have a 10/22 because I think everyone in these parts is issued one.  haveing said that I don't like bolts or automatics either.   

My vote goes for the 39a for general purpose.  Mine is great and accurate.  Martini would not be a bad choice either.

Brad

Quote:


Mine is not factory. Trigger job and barrel made the difference.  Last week end a friend came over to sight in his Rem Nylon 66 he just put a scope on.  I took the Ruger and put 10 shots in a 3/4" circle in 10 seconds off of a bench.  This was close as it was only 50 yds.  Garden variety Rem hollow point bulk pack bullets.

I'm not really sure what it will do if I use the right ammo and I took my time shooting it.  I do know a sparrow is not safe in my cherry trees at 100 yds.
Gus

I built 4 different 10/22s for 3 nephews and a friend, with 4 different combinations of barrels, stocks and triggers. Best, by far, was the one with the original Ruger 'Sporter' stock, a reworked Ruger trigger and a 
Voquartsen 'forward balance' or similar name barrel. On the 4 rifles I used the 'Sporter' & 'Carbine' Ruger stocks and a Butler Creek folder and a Fajen brush-hook style stock; 2 different-style Volquartsen barrels and a GM barrel and a cutdown 513T barrel; one Volquartsen trigger assembly, 2 altered Ruger triggers and one Jewell assembly.

The Voquartsen and Jewell trigger assemblies couldn't be set heavy enough (!) for squirrel hunting, far too dangerous IMO. The 2-stage design doesn't lend itself to extremely light pulls in cold weather, my big fat fingers fired the rifle unexpectedly a few times which was a few times too many. The fat straight barrels are too muzzle-heavy and just plain too heavy; the Volquartsen shorter 'forward balance' (or whatever name) barrel is just perfect for both weight and balance IMO, it's the std size back in the stock's barrel channel but swells into full dia out past the forend tip, and it's short enough to be light enough to carry comfortably yet hangs well from the offhand. My nephew's with the short barrel will hold 0.65 MOA with Tenex and 0.85 MOA with Eley Subsonic, all the other 3 will do about as well but are heavier and ill-balanced. Factory barrels won't even make good tomato stakes in most cases, we use 'em for trot-line sinkers.

Cost? 10/22 with Sporter stock, at gun shows, ~$150-175. Trigger job on Ruger trigger, ~$75 depending. Barrel, $80-250 depending. Yeah, you can spend a heckuvalot more on the little Ruger but the rest is mainly window dressing IMO.

However I personally hunt squirrels with a low wall and an original Marlin 1897. Haven't used a shotgun on squirrels since 1971.
Regards, Joe

My lil ole Savage don't get no respect! I have not tried all target ammo but with winchester Power Point (discontinued?) ammo I have seen   groups a bit under 1/2 " at 50 yds. Betwwen 1/2 and 5/8 inch is more common. Rem 510 series are good too but mine lags behind the Savage. Don't overlook the Marlin 80/580 series in bolt guns either. I do, of course, recommend the Marlin 39 also.

Thanks, I will look into the Savage and keep an eye out for a Martini.  Thad Scott is, I believe, out of business (retired?).   

Brent