For a first rifle, a good bolt action is hard to beat. Simple, reliable, and most shoot well right out of the box. Plus you can clean them easily from the breech without worrying about screwing up the crown.

If you can find a CZ 452 in 22lr that DOES shoot (sorry Vic!) that would be a fantastic choice. Ditto the Ruger 77/22 for which there is also a very good aftermarket for upgrade parts.

If you want to fly first class get an Anschutz. In that stratosphere a Sako (the Quad is very cool) or Kimber are also nice choices. And Ken Lunde will tell you how great Coopers are. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />