Beginner Questions (Help)

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bmadddd7

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Hey guys I've never owned or shot a rifle before but I would really love to own one, I am from Connecticut and am 18. I have a very large field in my backyard and I would to do some target shooting as a hobby back there and I'm just not sure if I should jump right into buying a rifle and teaching myself or being taught from somewhere? I've done some research and will start off with a low caliber (.22) and I just am not sure what would be a good beginner rifle also?

Thanks guys
 
I think .22 is the perfect choiceto learn with. Low recoil, cheap ammo, quieter, more easily controlled. Iwould suggest a bolt action with a tube magazine or several detachable magazines. Reloading low capacity magazines is not much fun. I say a bolt action because I believe it is easier to learn accuracy with a bolt action or single shot. Semi-autos make it too easy to just let it rip and hope you hit something. Also I think manual loaders may be a little safer than semis. There are a lot of good choices out there. Remington, Marlin, CZ, Winchester, to name a few. Ask friends and relatives if they can teach you. Be careful and good luck.
 
Take an NRA firearm safety course first.

Is it legal in your locality to shoot in your backyard? Connecticut is not exactly a gun friendly State (about 1% of the population has a hunting license).

A Ruger 10/22 would be a good first rifle.
 
A 22-250 is quite different animal from a .22lr. I'd suggest starting with a .22lr rifle before moving onto a more powerful rifle.

As for rifles while I do love my 10/22 rifles I'd strongly suggest a bolt or break action rifle. H&R/NEF makes a great "Handi-rifle" that is a break action single shot rifle in .22lr. If you're on a budget you can get a Rossi .22lr/20ga break action combo for around $150 to $200 depending on your market. This gets you a .22lr and a 20ga. shotgun. With this combo you should be able to take most small game and birds in your area.

If you're looking for a bolt action I'd suggest either a Savage or a Marlin.

Stay away from the autoloaders till you're a good shot. There's too much of a temptation to just blast away with the autos.
 
Make sure to check your local laws regarding that backyard shooting. If it is ok for you to shoot in your yard, I am really jealous.
Also, think foreward about your future plans. If you plan on getting into hunting, for example, you will most likely be doing it with a bolt action rifle, so get a bolt action for your .22 to get used to that kind of action.
Stay safe and have fun.
 
Air rifles make excellent back yard trainers, too.
Less restrictions and complaints.
Spring piston models provide accuracy and enough recoil to provide practice for the center fire rifle you will eventually want.
 
Alright thanks everyone, do youthink if I get a .22lr I should just like teach myself or what? I don't really know how to approach being trained or anything and I don't think their are any basic NRA classes around me. I have about 40 acres of land behind m house and not
much around it so that's whereI planned to fire the .22
 
Kid in TX got killed when a neighbor 600 yards away was plinking in his back yard.

If you don't have a proper backstop, don't do it.

That being said, I've had more fun with my Henry lever action than just about any rifle I have, including a Garand and AR.

Being a new shooter, you may want to hook up wih a seasoned, responsible gun owner that can show you the ropes. If I could hand you one major point of advice that will help keep you and a loved one alive, a firearm is always to be considered loaded until you determine otherwise. Always.
 
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a firearm is always to be considered loaded until you determine otherwise. Always.
Click to expand...
+1
In fact, I would go so far as to say it should be considered loaded even when you know it is empty. There is no such thing as too careful.

As far as training, if you can't find any NRA classes in your area, try an appleseed shoot. I don't know if any of these are close to you, but here is their upcoming schedule for CT.
http://www.appleseedinfo.org/search-states.php?filter=CT&statename=Connecticut
Another idea is to look for local shooting ranges. There may be one that offers classes.
 
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If you can, find a friend and tag along with him to the range, have them show you the ropes so to speak.

"Teaching yourself" about firearms is like "teaching yourself" about raising lions, it's a steep learning curve. Find an instructor.
 
first rifle

I've owned many .22lr rifles, and my all time favorite is the Ruger 10/22 hands down. Very accurate, fun to shoot and very reliable. You can pick one up brand new for around $200 give or take. They are also simple to "trick" out, (target triggers, barrels, stocks, scopes, hi viz sights, high capacity magazines, etc). Savage makes some fine bolt action 22lr rifles also for under 200 bucks on up - very accurate and reliable. Good luck on your search, and safe and fun shooting.
Chris
PS, I would definitely have an experienced shooter teach you the do's and don'ts. Firearms are too dangerous in the hands of someone without any experience handling them. Safety is imperative. One mistake could cost you or someone else a serious injury or death. Good luck
 
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Appleseed not only trains you to shoot it trains you to be a better rifleman. They teach the fundamentals of riflery and help you extend your accurate shooting out to 300yds (or was it 500yds?). Not only that but they give a good history lesson about US history and firearms and our duty as citizens to protect our country and our rights.

Well worth the time and cost of ammo if you can make it to one. Its not just for people who are novices. Those with experience can take it too and learn a thing or two.
 
I would really think twice about just how big that field behind your house would have to be.

First, in addition to having birms to act as back stops to stop bullets from leaving the range, ranges are also required to have baffles to stop rounds that are pointed well above the flat shooting plane from flying over the birms and leaving the range range.
Why?
A 22LR round that leaves the muzzle @ 1200 fps pointed at an angle less than 2.7 degrees above the horizontal can rise 84 inches at 50 yards, reach an apex of almost 396 inches at 400 yards, and if allowed to fly unimpeded, it can hit the ground over 700 yards away travelling at 575 fps.

That is not something your neighbors are going to want happening.

I am a range safety officer at our range and I can attest to the number of times our large, crushed stone filled baffles are hit by shooters who are usually safe and disciplined but sometimes let an errant round fly somewhere they weren't intending. Any one of those rounds could easily have left the range and travel hundreds of yards, well beyond the range's property line.

Also, even the range dug into a hollow with more than a 30 ft birm and an additional 10 fit wooden plank fence backing up our range, a bullet that is 'skipped low below a target" can still skip up and out of the range over the birm and fence.
We are so concerned with that happening that anyone, particularly those unfamiliar with shooting handguns, who cannot control their firearm well enough to hit the birm with each round are not allowed to continue to shoot until they use a rest or some other device that will get their firearm from dropping below the horizontal as they pull the trigger.
 
Thanks for everyones input, I have been doing some research and I like marlin bolt action but I've always been a huge fan of tactical rfles so I researched the Smith and Wesson M&P 15-22.. thoughts?
 
marlin bolt or S&W tactical .22

I think your best guide on this is the kind of shooting you plan to do in the future. If you will be getting into hunting, which is most likely to take you in the bolt action direction, get the bolt .22 to practice the motions and procedures that go along with it. If you plan to move onto the AR platform, or AK, mini 14, etc., Then the tactical .22 may be a better fit for your needs. It is all very personal, and getting weapons that you will enjoy is the second most important thing - the first being safety.
Having said all that, if you do decide to go semi-auto, think about also picking up an inexpensive single shot .22. Practice with it first to learn patience and the skills that make each shot count. Then make sure to take it out frequently, even after you get good with your semi. It will remind you that each shot is a seperate action, and that they should all be taken with care.
 
Thanks for your input man that helps a lot. I'm not a hunter and never will be, I plan on getting into law enforcement so I will probably stay tactical when it comes to guns..
 
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