What's best for first gun?

[Hatch]

I'd go with 10/22 for a couple reasons, I've had great success with them for decades, they are out there in numbers and you can rely on them. The only one I'd prefer going into the woods with is a bolt action tube feed Marlin. Same basic reasoning... millions made, but less moving parts and potential points of failure... and even given both of those, I'd throw them both overboard and take the AR-7 which is now reproduced by Henry Arms... so a little bit of history and prestige there to go along with a great design!

[johnlives4christ]

i have a motto... never trust a man that would throw a gun overboard

[Hatch]

Originally Posted by johnlives4christ

i have a motto... never trust a man that would throw a gun overboard

AR-7 floats one of it's selling points!!!!

[johnlives4christ]

do you have an ar7? i've never had any experience with them but know a little about their features from research

[Hatch]

I dont! I passed up an opportunity to buy an original for 89 bucks used and I'm still kicking myself for it.

My good friends father in law does have one of them, and I've shot it at the range, so I have passing familiarity with it.

It's accurate... to a point.

but then again.. with iron sights, whats wrong with killing a rabbit at 50 to 75 yards and calling it stew in the pot? Its definitely capable of doing that all day long!

It feels different when you're shooting it... because the stock is meant to be air tight and float it's got some of that ... "twang" like you're shooting an AR/Mx

The new one's manufactured by Henry Arms are $295 at my local dealer, if I remember right... which goes back to kicking myself about not buying the used one before...

Yep, I'd love to have one, for 300 bucks new made by Henry, yep, on my to do list, but no, I'm not gonna pass up paying bills for it

[johnlives4christ]

well i would definitely like to try one out. my problem here is that i dont know anyone that has a good interest in firearms like i do. i know people with a passing interest in them, but nobody i know here eats sleeps and breaths them like me

[Hatch]

That is very surprising to me, you have Kentucky listed in your profile on your posts... I'd expect that comment from someone living where I do... the Peoples Republik of Kommifornia, but in Tenn I would think you could throw a rock and ask whoever it hits what their favorite pet hand load is for deer...


If that is not the case, then truly, California has been far to influential on EVERY other state for decades.

[johnlives4christ]

oh dont get me wrong... there are plenty of gun nuts here.... i just dont know any of them.

[dugasgunner]

Have a look at Zastava's Z-5 at Ellwood epps for 300$. Thats 200 less than a CZ and still nice european craftmanship. Cheers.

[Tinmancr1]

yep 10/22 good first gun probably the best if you got the money, if not buy a single/bolt for $50.
note that when you buy a Ruger you are getting what you pay for.
if you buy a Russian, Chinese or other 3rd world gun you will be also just in a different light.
22lr will be safe in just about any gun, 30/06 if that is what you meant is the absolute best center fire rifle round. "flexible, low recoil, cheap, easy to get"
30/06 is a high power round so buy a good one $300+ bolt or single.
I would not spend much money or time on a 410 if you want a shotgun buy one in either 20ga or 12 both are more flexible and useful than 410.
shotgun are pretty solid spend what you are comfortable if bought used watch for loose parts and bulged barrels.
want to know more mail me joshjeffords@gmail.com

[Laufer]

Stoop14:

I agree with the comments of Johnlives- and others.
My gun interest began pretty late in life (age 52, back in '07).

I've got three Enfields, an SKS, Yugo Mauser, Garand. Have sold several others, and all of this in the last three years.
This is not to brag about what I've had, but to point out that my only .22, the ancient '40's Savage, goes with my every time I go shoot these larger calibers. For your future consumption....your country gave native polar bear hunters in the far north lots of surplus authentic Enfields ten years ago (I would gladly pay for some). One round=one dead polar bear. "Nat'l Geo." magazine: Sept. '97.

Not only is a .22 rifle fun to shoot and dozens of rounds for just five-ten dollars ("Loonies"). Shooting it just before using a larger caliber can satisfy much of the urge, and reduces (somewhat) the desire to blast away with larger caliber, higher-cost 7.62x39,
(my reloaded) .303, 8mm etc ammo.
Can you buy the famous, top-selling Marlin 60 semi-auto .22s for a very low price? Down in the US they might be the top-selling .22s, ever.
And people make the mistake of looking down onto the .22 caliber, but lots of people have been killed or seriously wounded by a single round. It's certainly much shorter/slower than the military's AR/M-4's .223, but the same caliber, and soft lead mushrooms enough to tear something open quite well.

[mooresridge9]

This spring I returned to target shooting after a 45 year break from the high school rifle team where we used Army Surplus .22's.We had a great coach who taught us basics and we were able to compete against teams equiped with $1,000 custon rifles.
I purchased a CZ 453 Lux for around $392.00 delivered.Gun has open sights calibrated to 200 yds.@00 yds with open sights is beyond my 64 year old eyesight but the CZ will perform.My buddy 35 years old regularly hits a soda can at 200 yds with open sights.
Buy the CZ and you'll be pleased.I agree a good used Bruno is more gun than current production models but were too expensive when I was looking. I was looking for a#2 and the were $500 to $600.
CZ's hold their value good and you'll need a undersized cleaning rod.Most use .17mm.I recommend the Dewey Manufacturing Co's one piece model.

[da357mag]

Well you have heard about all the action types and there are good points to them all. What you need to ask yourself is" what am I going to use this for"? You mention moose hunting, that limits your choices to just about a bolt action or a lever action. Unless you plan on using an AR type weapon! Which I would not recommend! Therefore it comes down to a bolt action and if you want one that will last you a lifetime I would recommend a CZ, and the 452 series over the 455. The reason is the 455 is a new product and there are always problems to be worked out before they are completely reliable, not that they are bad at this point, it's just that the 452 has been around for a number of years. I have a 452 special, which is also known as a trainer, and has a beech stock. the only thing I had to fix was the trigger system, I had about 3/16th of an inch of pretravel (creep). There are two basic ways to fix this problem, the first and most popular is the Yo Dave kit. It consists of a number of tube "shims" which move the sear away from the trigger to reduce engagement, and eliminating the creep! also it will help you develop the skills you will need to use a moose rifle, and for that I would not use anything smaller than a .338 mag! and believe me if you have never shot one, you are in for a new experience! They kick like a mule,but it is what you need to humanely put the animal down and the skills you develop with your .22 bolt action rifle will come into play without you even realizing it! Doug

BTW; BRNO rifles are the rifles that preceded the CZ rifle models

[mr.t7024]

Big Shrek where are ya, A ruger is a nice gun, but the Marlin model 60 is nicer! Nuff said!

[Big Shrek]

Originally Posted by mrt

Big Shrek where are ya, A ruger is a nice gun, but the Marlin model 60 is nicer! Nuff said!

I'm still playing around with Marlin 795's

But yeah, the Marlins do rock

Less expensive to buy, new or used.
Less expensive to Pimp Out...accessories generally cost less for Marlins.
More accurate than Ruger's 1022 ever hoped to be straight outta the box...
and most can still beat pimped 1022's without any trouble.

I'll take "Dime-sized groups or less at 50 yards for $160", Mr. Trebek

$99 Marlin 795 on sale at Academy Sports...
$25 for a folding Ramline stock...just 'cause it looks Tacti-Cool
$9 sling...
$20 Bipod...
$5 (about) Acraglass Bedding Compound...it's 19, but you get to do several guns with it...
And it eats CZ's at the range 1022 owners just run when they see me coming
Makes Anschultz owners wonder why they spent so much money...

There's a reason Marlin's sold 12 million Model 60's since 1960...
and Ruger's only sold 7 million 1022's since 1963

Micro-Groove barrels are simply SUPERIOR once you find the right ammo...
(Eley Match, for mine)

[grcsat]

Stoop14

Hi, there is a lot of really good advice given on this thread, however you never told us were in Canada you are going. Canada is a big place with a lot of different weather conditions and depending where you are will dictate what guns you can use to the best of thier ability and performance. ie Kamloops - you can use anything because of its semi desert climate. Churchill - super cold- true military semi is ok, civilian (like norinco) is no-no.your gun will not function properly, pump will not be reliable at all ,so only use bolt action . shot gun in churchill single shot break open is best.As for 22 any bolt action is ok,clip load -good ,tube load-bad.

So where are you going?

[LewiSS]

I don't believe anyone has mentioned my favorite .22 rifle for both newbies and pros alike: the Henry lever action. I have had two (.22 and .17 HMR) and just love their quality and accuracy. I like the model that looks like the Winchester '92, but they also build a "traditional" Henry style in Brasslite. Both are outstanding, made in America, and good bargains. www.henryrepeating.com

[jblair]

I am interested in a 22LR rifle as well to use with my son when we go to the range. I was looking at a Ruger 1140R which I believe is a variation of their 1022 platform. Is this correct and would this be a good choice for a starter 22?

[RustyBarrel111]

I started with a .22lr. It's definetly the way to go. Mine was a bolt action, and that really helped to teach me the importance of "one shot, one kill". Once you get your discipline and accuracy down, I would graduate to something else.

[GSL]

Dear Sirs,
My first .22LR, was a Rem.513T
with a Weaver T10x , and I learned
to shoot it as a single shot.
I bought it used for around 300.00
plus the scope and rings.
My cost was around 600.00 tops.
That rifle could shoot quarters at 100yds.
GSL.

[gendoikari87]

Originally Posted by Stoop14

ya i keep reading that the 10/22 are great but to make really accurate you need to spend allot of money in after market prices, i just want something out of the box i can through a scope on and go have some fun targets and small game. Also i know this is the .22 forum but what is a good bang for your buck shotgun to get for grouse hunting?

In my experience the 10/22 out of the box is fairly accurate, not something I'd want to go to competition with but it's good enough for beginners, it's fun a perfect gun for fun plinking, but as others said autoloaders might not be best to train up on.

Currently I'm using a Ruger Mark III 22/45, and it's a blast. Probably more than it should be once I get that red dot scope mounted on it.