RE: opinions on .22 long (magnum)
There are marlin,savage and mossbergs out there in .22wmr that are pretty cheap,next step up would be (in my opinion only) ruger M77-22m.
It's hard to beat or mess up a .22 mag. I,appartently a minority since the .17s came along feel the .22mag is the only logical step between a rimfire and a centerfire for those that don't reload.