Marlin all the way! I have 3 of them and they are all very accurate and fun. They like to run dry and clean. Just brush em out a lil wipe clean the feed ramp and your good to go. for another bulk box...lol
If you like to spend big $$$ on upgrades a 10/22 is said to be great for mods and eating cash.
I have a Savage Mark II (bolt action) that works well for me. That said, if I was doing it over, hands down my decision would be a Ruger 10/22. Nothing against the Savage, but I bought it to use at Appleseed, and a semi-auto would have been a better choice. When I can afford to do so, I'll be correcting that error.
10/22s are pretty much the gun that every other .22 is judged against.
I have a Weatherby Mark XXII, which is an Anschutz model 64 action and barrel with a Weatherby stock. It shoots like a dream, the trigger breaks like glass, and though I swore it would only be a range queen, it's been out in the woods several times, and now bears the marks to prove it.
The Savage Mark II-BTVS was tested by Field and Stream last year, it won both the Great Buy and Editor's Choice award, and they also billed it as the most accurate rimfire they had ever tested, with groups averaging .229". It's one hell of a shooter.
My dad has a Henry with an octaganol barrel, and it's has to be the smoothest lever action I have ever felt, and has gotten it's fair share of squirrels too.
I'd say 10/22 also. You can buy numerous parts for them. Very durable and dependable. Endless mods and very accurate. You can pick up a new plain one for a little over $200. They seem to hold their value very well. I have seen used ones are selling from $175 and up.
52 winchester, if you want a quality gun that will hold its value, all the rifles on here that have been mentioned are good rifles, the cz's are making a good showing at the silhouette shoot in friendship. I have a 10/22 that has all Volquartsen parts with the exception of the receiver, and it will shoot 1/2 inch @100 all day.