Since it's for your wife, who's not likely going to like reloading a Marlin 60 (15rnds in a tube vs. 10rnds in a detach mag), the 10/22 is a great rifle. I would honestly suggest their target model, but that's just me...OR I would suggest the Marlin 7000, which is $160 new from wally world, and is every bit as accurate as the 10/22 target version (has a stacked detach mag), vs. the 10/22 standard's $200 or the target version at $325.

The marlin 60's are hard to beat, VERY cheap, so if she doesn't shoot much, you don't have an expensive gun sitting around rusting, and they're tough enough and accurate enough to handle VERY extensive use and make those little shots that mean a lot. It's a little more time consuming to reload it, but speed loaders help, and the small size of the rifle (girth not length) makes it a little nicer to handle than the 10/22's, IMHO.

i bought one about a month ago, but its my first gun so i dont know what to compare it to, its pretty accurate, ive gone through 300 rounds without a single jam or any kind of problem. its compact, its chambered for .22 lr rounds, which are supersonic. its very easy to operate, has low recoil and isnt very loud. i like it. i think she will.

Thanks Popere glad your folks are fine and it was fun to come up with that stuff. BTW I'd buy your wife any gun she can handle that you still would want to steal for the weekend after she's bored with it. You know that's the truth so prod her toward anything you'd buy for yourself then you both win.

You nailed it Sooner. I've been wanting a 10/22 for a while, but we have been a little short on funds lately, so I am using the "but honey it's for you angle" which seems to be working.