A search here only brought up one short previous thread on the subject.
I've been on the prowl for a new .22 rimfire rifle for a while now, to end up as a host for a YHM Phantom rimfire can that should be approved any time now (89 days today, e-file Form 4 on a trust... fingers crossed). Originally, I was looking at Rugers American line (I have a bunch of 10/22 mags), but availability is spotty, and I've read a lot of mixed reviews. CZ is also on the short list, but most of their rifles don't "speak" to me... the precision trainers are interesting, but a bit heavy if I decided to hike around with it. A switch barrel .22/.22 Mag/.17 HMR is interesting though.
This brings me to last weekend. I was out of town, and poking around a new shop I hadn't ever been in before, and they had both the Bergara BXR 10/22 clones, and also the BMR bolt action in standard steel barreled models, alongside the carbon fiber barrel model. Picking them up and futzing with them a bit, I started really liking the standard steel BMR. Cleanly threaded muzzle on on a not too heavy taper barrel. It was light, and felt well balanced (bare, no scope) while also feeling a bit more like a "real" rifle than some other bolt action .22's I've put hands on. The stock seemed quite solid, despite its very light weight. Light weight is a good thing, if I ever want to get the kids shooting this gun. I'm not a big fan of the idea of a plastic magazine, but it comes with 5rd and 10rd mags (the CZ's seem to only come with one). Downsides: no irons, and no provisions for irons that I am aware of, so I'd have to buy a scope for it. No irons isn't a deal breaker, but having the option is nice. I'd also have to buy another magazine or two to have on hand, but they are apparently somewhat hard to find and expensive.
I held off on buying one on the spot, despite my wife's encouragement to "just buy it!"... but I'm still looking at them online. Does anyone have one of these? How has it been? What about the .22 Mag and .17 HMR models?
Related question: Does the BXR semi-auto 10/22 clone have a cleaning port drilled on the back of the receiver, to allow cleaning from the breech end? I may end up with one of these down the road as well.