I am a big, biased fan of Marlin .22 rifles. 10/22s work fine, but they really are the McDonalds of plinkers. Now, I'll eat at McD's when I'm hungry and broke, but I prefer not to. Why, exactly, would I need a thirty-round banana clip and a folding tactical stock on a .22? Are we being invaded by an army of terrorist woodchucks? :-]

I've never shot a 981T, but it looks like a decent bang-around critter gitter in your price range. And it's a Marlin with a tube magazine.

On my list of "things to buy when money is no object" is a Marlin Golden 39A lever-action .22. I used one of those every summer while growing up, while doing my "chore" (heeheehee) of keeping the garden clear of the aforementioned woodchuck, rabbit and ground squirrel invaders. They're closer to $500, but it's something to hand down for generations.