New Shooter - What Rifle to buy

Fingolfin

Fingolfin

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Hello Everyone! I know I know.. there have been multiple treads about this before but I don't necessarily know if I was able to find the answer to my questions! Anyways I'm looking to purchase my first and second rifles (non-restricted). I really like the Mossberg .22 (strictly based on looks/price). Anyone have on hand experience with this rifle? If its actually that bad I'm leaning towards the Ruger 10/22. Not sure what to get for the second one. I've read up a lot of the SKS and believe it to be the best bang for my buck, but I also like the Remington 770 (bolt action rifle). As a new rifle owner I'm looking for simple reliable performance. Not looking to hunt anytime soon. One rifle should be .22 as I will be sharing it. Thank you in advance!
 
The Ruger is a good, reliable rifle. As for the second, it's really about where your fancy takes you
 
Had a couple of Mossbergs - decent rifles - nothing to go out of your way for, though. Also have a couple of 10/22's and I would take them over any semi-auto in their price range. They will feed any brand of Long Rifle ammo - dead reliable - really easy to take down, to clean and because of their rep. - easy to sell (should you want to - - - you won't). If you're stuck on the "M16" look - Ruger also does a 10/22 in that style - but, more money. All sorts of after-market stuff for the 10/22 also, should you want to get creative.
If you're not hunting (anything over a couple hundred pounds), the SKS is indeed, "the best bang for the buck". Most Gun stores have gun/ammo deals on these - plus there's loads of mil. surp. 7.62x39 out there, less than half the price of any other .30 cal. Obviously, not as cheap to shoot as a .22 - but, cheaper than any other centre fire rifle cartridge. If you go this route, get a Russian, or Eastern European one - the fit and finish on the Chinese ones, is a bit rough - probably still work fine, though.
Additionally - if you get the SKS and you're feeding it mil. surp. ammo - you'll find that most of it uses corrosive primers - you want to clean the gun (field strip and clean, is good enough) as soon as you get home from the range - - - not the next day.

P.S. - don't shoot your eye out.
 
10/22 is one of my favorite guns .Good cheap gun to shoot.
 
Don't buy a 770. Spend a little more and get a 700 if you want a good Rem rifle. Even the bottom end of the 700 line is far better than that POS. Get your own scope as well. The crap scopes they bundle in those packages wont hold their zero even in .233

You always get what you pay for when you buy glass.

10/22 is also the better choice for a .22
 
If you are looking good for something fun to shoot than the mossberg is great. It's cheap fun. If your planning on using it to hunt a 10/22 is your better option. I have one of the older mossberg with the top rail. It feeds all 22lr ammo and is pretty accurate for a 300 dollar gun.
 
Thanks for the feedback everyone

Looks like the 10/22 didn't earn its reputation from nothing. I guess I'll be going this route.

Paul - I saw the SR22 but can't bring myself to spend that type of premium for just the look.

Hopefully I didn't end up getting to excited and end up purchasing more than 2 rifles!

What would be the popular choice for a bolt action? D23, i saw you mentioned 700 series, but its unfortunately out of my price range. is there anything else? Are the savage line of bolt action good? they seem to review well online.

My signifcant other would be shooting as well, is there any value in having a bolt action .22? They're significantly cheaper, but with one .22 already i would assume owning 2 would be over kill
 
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Fingolfin said:
Hopefully I didn't end up getting to excited and end up purchasing more than 2

Are the savage line of bolt action good? they seem to review well online.
Click to expand...

First comment is funny lol. EVERY ONE says that. I was on my last purchase 50 purchases ago.

Maybe that won't be you though. :)

I would go for a savage if that was the price range I was looking at but I would try really hard to get a deal on a used 700 vtr or something instead...... personally.
 
2 identical rifles might be considered "overkill" - one of each ? - no way !
See D23's comment - and I bet he has 2 or 3, on his radar, that he doesn't have. Most guns aren't considered an "investment", unless you start collecting rare and expensive ones, but if you get a good one and look after it, you can sell it twenty years later, for what you paid for it. Basically, the price of ownership is what you lose on inflation.
If you're not stuck on buying new, you could save some coin, buying used. Many gun stores have a used/consignment section. You could pick up a mint used gun for 60 to 70 percent of the new price. Pretty easy to tell if the gun is in good shape, by carefully looking it over. If it looks well maintained - no dings/dents, scratches, good bluing, no pits/rust, clean bore - it probably is. Most of mine where purchased used and I've yet to get stuck with a turd.
 
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I have grown to really like my Norinco M305 (a Chinese M1A knock off). For $450 and change shipped to your door, it's pretty cheap for a 7.62 NATO/.308 Win firing semi-auto
 
If you want a good cheap bolt action rifle Stevens 200 is a rebranded Savage, shoots just as good for less plus all the aftermarket goodies fit on it. If modification is not your forte my Marlin XS7 in 223 shoots 1/2MOA. Beats out my friends 700 no issues.
 
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