Recommended first rifle and best practices

E

Ender

Inactive
Looking for something to start out a collection with. Nothing fancy, just the basics. The primary focus is being quality and cheap at the same time (proper balance of each), given that I'm a college student, and... well... college == poor. I am looking for something probably with a shorter barrel, and fairly lightweight. Not a hunting rifle... perhaps something semiautomatic? I really have no idea here.


Would anyone recommend buying from the local gun shop, or would getting something at one of the shows be cheaper/easier?


As it says in my sig, I do live in Texas, and the laws seem to be fairly reasonable concerning firearms. Any particular snags I should be aware of?


Thanks
 
If you want a semi-auto that is reliable and cost effective, I would suggest the SKS. You can find them in excellent condition for under $200. They are simple in construction and are easy to maintain. The 7.62x39 ammo is just about the cheapest out there @ 1.99 a box.

Let us know what you decide.
 
If you are lookoing for something with which to learn how to shoot, nothing beats the proverbial 22 LR as someone's first rifle. You then concentrate on building skill, not loud noises.
If you are looking for decent quality as cheap as possible, the best thing to do is visit all the local gun shops, letting them know your situation if you feel comfortable with them, and asking what they have got in that regards. Most of them have a pretty decent selection of used 22's.
Since you are a college student, check and see if the Phys. Ed. department has a basic shooting class. If they do and it has any kind of decent instructor, he will spot most of your bad habits from the beginning and put you years ahead in your shooting abilities right from the start. And you can probably get some needed credit for doing it, if they still have Phys. Ed. requirements.
 
Ender, welcome to TFL.

A few thoughts on your circumstances:

1. Purchase the Texas Gun Owners Guide ... see http://www.gunlaws.com . You need to know your state laws.
2. Purchase Boston's Gun Bible ... see http://www.javelinpress.com. Very handy advice for lots of different firearms.
3. Purchase a Ruger 10/22. Do some searches here on TFL ... you will find it recommended most often. It is a classic, and a .22 rifle has lots of advantages ... cheap to shoot, capable of taking small game, marginal but still helpful in a self defense situation [read 'Unintended Consequences' ... ;) ], and great for learning with as well as teaching others. I've never heard of anyone being embarrassed by having a Ruger 10/22 in their collection ... opinions certainly vary on .22 rifles, but it is hard to go wrong with this choice.
4. Purchase your first rifle new, unless you have a sharp friend who can give trusted advice. There is a respectable school of thought that suggests you never buy a firearm through an FFL ... thereby, you avoid being listed as a 'gunowner', due to the BATF form 4473. However, if you're brand new to this, you don't know what to look for - thus, a new rifle helps avoid some problems.

And, hang around TFL. Use the search function - you'll be amazed at how much information is here ... this is like a huge, interactive encyclopedia. And, it is simply a bonus that most of the TFL members are salt of the earth.

Good luck. Regards from AZ

[Edited by Jeff Thomas on 03-19-2001 at 09:34 PM]
 
My first tip is to not just think about the price of the rifle, but the ammo as well.

If you want to actually shoot your rifle, I hope it is chambered in one of these calibers, since you are a poor student:
(Cheapest on top)

.22LR
8mm Mauser
7.62*39
7.62*54R
5.45*39
7.62*51 (.308Win)
5.56*45 (.223Rem)

To learn,
Now you NEED a .22LR. They are $100-$200 NEW. I like Marlin, but any brand you recognize would be fine.

I have some questions if you want a centerfire rifle:
My most important question is why you want this rifle?

Defense of country, defense of self, Hunting, Sport shooting, learning to become a rifleman? whatever, just tell us what is most important and not important to you.

Do you want to use a scope or iron sights?
Would owning a WWII era rifle sound interesting to you?
Do you want a modern military style rifle?
Do you like lever action rifles? Cowboy movies?

enough for now.
 
Aw, c'mon, No4Mk1; he might be a good student who just doesn't have much money...:D

Ender, you might think about spending some time at any of the larger gun stores, just looking and thinking. (Don't drool on the metal. :) ) McBride's if in Austin; Carter Country if in Houston.

Don't be in a hurry...And do some thinking for yourownself about what you figure to do with whatever you get.

I tend to go with the idea of a .22 as a starter-gun. You can get a decent one for not a lot of money; the ammo is inexpensive, and you can have a heckuva lot of fun with one.

I've had semi-autos--and do, now--but I'd advise a bolt-action with either the "regular" magazine or the tube-type magazine. That inherently forces a learner to focus on sight picture and proper aim instead of getting only the fun of turning money into noise. It's a self-discipline thing. :)

Regards,

Art
 
I concur. If you are just looking for something to learn how to shoot and screw around with, then a 22 semi-auto is the way to go. Marlin is OK, but the 10/22 is legendary. The local Wal-mart sells the blued Marlin for around $110, the 10/22 blued for $150, the stainless Marlin for $155, and the stainless 10/22 for $200. Ammo is like $9 for a brick of 550. You will have countless hours of fun with these guns and not break the bank. And welcome to the shooting sports!
 
A question:

(Looking for a 22 rifle myself - I did it backwards - AKs -> FAL/M14 -> looking for 22)


Why are 22 boltactions (way) more expensive than semis?
 
Definitely something in .22 Long Rifle. A Ruger 10/22 is never a bad choice. If you're interested in something a little different look for a Rossi/Taurus 62 pump, it a copy of the classic Winchester 62 it'll set you back about $199, they're fairly common at gunshows. -- Kernel
 
Battler, I ask myself the same question. Since a first rifle for a youngster is generally a .22, why are the semi-autos the most attractively priced?

I hear that Savage makes an affordable .22 bolt action? Can someone comfirm? This just may be a good first rifle for Ender.

I solved the problem by buying one of the surplus Romanian .22 trainers (Model 1969.) It is one nice, accurate bolt-action rifle. I spent $60 at a local gun store, but they can be had as low as $40 from http://www.gunsnammo.com There will be shipping and FFL transfer fee on top of that, bringing you back to around $60 or more.
 
I have a Savage MkII ...

... and I am very pleased with it. Took my 4YO to the range with it, he didn't want to shoot it because he is a little timid and was a bit scared by the pistol shots several stalls away.

With a cheap 4X scope it is quite accurate at 100 metres. For target shooting I would recommend spending the same amount on the scope.
 
As another poor college student...

There have been some great suggestions, especially regarding the 10/22 -- bought a used one, scoped and all for $120. Cheap to feed, fun to shoot.

If you're looking for a centerfire rifle, the SKS in 7.62x39 has a lot going for it. Accuracy, not so much, though. :(

I'm getting really into rifles of historical significance: Mosins and Mausers. You can get them cheap, clean them up, and really have something to be proud of. Surplus ammo makes these rifles dirt cheap to shoot, though most of the cheap stuff is corrosive -- CLEAN THOROUGHLY.

I just bought a Spanish FR-8 Mauser chambered in 7.62x51 NATO (.308 Win), since it's such a versatile round, and surplus makes it pretty cheap to shoot.

A nice Yugo M48 (8mm Mauser is often compared to .30-06) can be had for less than $200 with all the accessories. Not that your average college student has much call for bayonet charges -- but you never know. :)

That reminds me: do you live on campus? If so, forget getting a gun unless you have somewhere secure off campus to store it. Dorm + gun == expulsion at least at most schools (I'm sure West Pointers might not have to worry about this so much ;)).
 
I'll throw in with the .22 crowd. They are outstanding first rifles and cheap to shoot as my other esteemed colleagues have stated. I started out with a used Ruger 1022 some 30, (Oh My God can it really be that long), years ago. It still resides in my safe and comes out to play on a regular basis.
As an aside, one strong consideration for a bolt action rifle is the ability to use the subsonic ammo. I do not know where you live if it is even possible, but by using the .22 subsonic or .22 shorts you can to get a lot of practice in the back yard without disturbing the neighbors provided you've got a good backstop. The subsonic or .22 short ammo will not function in most semi-autos.
Take Care
 
10/22!

Hey guys,
Funny this thread comes up, I have just purchased my first rifle, this past week. It was a 10/22 SS, Got it for about 200 bucks, Have mounted a Cheap BSA Red Dot Scope and a Choated PG Stock on it for plinking. Also added the extended mag release, and did some home-brew trigger work. The 10/22 is such a fun little toy! I am addicted to it, and cannot wait to add more guns to my collection! I love working on the gun. I bet you can guess my suggestion! The 10/22! Can't go wrong. Also, I have been shooting CB Caps in the backyard, you do have to cycle the bolt manually though. Here's a pic of my 10/22, although its not the best pic, you get the idea!

View
 
Thanks for the suggestions guys :)


It seems that a .22 was the general suggestion, so I'll probably go that route. Cheap ammunition helps too.

I am going to make my rounds to some of the local gun shops and have a talk with the people there. As summer starts approaching, we'll have at least a gun show per month here, so I shouldn't have any trouble taking my time and shopping around.


Eventually, the day will come when I have the funds to buy better gear, but I don't need anything like that right now.
 
Don't forget to look at the Romanian .22. They aren't much to look at but seem to shoot real well. For the prices I've seen on them you can have a rifle and lots of ammo for a hundred dollars.
 
My first gun was a new Ruger 10/22. Can't go wrong with this one! I got it when I turned 18. $118.00
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My next gun was a new Winchester M70 30-06 Stainless. ~$500.00 (and then you have to buy a scope!)
70stain.jpg

(mine has the BOSS)

My next gun was a new Sig P220 pistol (and carry permit). $620.00
classicframe.JPG

Mine isn't stainless :(

My next gun was a new Bushmaster AR15 (20"). $825.00 (I paid too much, but the market was a little too expensive when I bought it.)
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My next gun was a new Springfield Armory M1A. $1011.00 (That was a very decent price)
2001-products-rifles-standard.jpg


My next gun might be a Kimber CDP pistol or a Bushmaster M4 style carbine.


My name is Q-Man... and I'm a gun-o-holic.
 
First Rifle?

Ender,

You could follow the advise from anyone of these replys and be happy. I'd like to chime in, however, in favor of an SKS.

They meet all the criteria of a good first rifle:

They're very inexpensive: $150 - $ 275 depending on model,
They're reliable,
They're very cheap to feed,
They're safe if cleaned and handled properly,
There are a ton of them out there so you'll easily be able to get help from fellow shooters as we all own one,
They're complicated enough for you to get your feet wet with with using a semi-automatic rifle but not so complicated that you'll be pulling out your hair figuring stuff out,
There are tons of website supports out there,
There are tons of parts available just about anywhere,
You can even sporterize it with lots of aftermarket items,

In a nutshell, the SKS has more going for it than most other rifles, especially milsurp rifles, expect maybe for a bolt mauser or the M1. But you'll always be able to buy a bolt action rifle and the M1 is getting really pricey.

So, stick with the SKS, in my very humble opinion. You'll eventually own a .22 semi: I do and I enjoy it as an aside but when I was introduced to semi-auto high-performance rifles, the SKS was my first rifle.

Rome
 
battler - the reason for the high cost of MOST (not all) .22 bolt actions is the lack of demand for an entry level bolt action. most folks start with a ruger 10/22 :)

ender - although you will most likely eventually end up owning a 10/22, you should give serious consideration to making a bolt action your first purchase. this will help you develope rifle handling skills without the temptation of using the semi-auto for "blasting"

i think the romanian .22 trainer is an outstanding value, at <$50, and wish it had been available when i was a struggling student...i got my first 10/22 at k-mart for $47 (yup,that long ago). an equally outstanding value, althrough in a higher bracket, is the chinese NSS-522 match grade :cool: bolt action at about $250

however, if you are looking for a fun, yet practical, centerfire rifle...i have to agree with rome, :D there is no better choice than a SKS
 
Now that you've decided on a .22 I'll also cast my vote for the Romanian trainer, if you're interested in a cheap, reliable bolt action, but you won't go wrong with a used Ruger 10/22 either. There's lots you can do to upgrade the 10/22 as you get more money together. You won't find much in the way of aftermarket parts for the Romanian, but I think it's good to have a bolt action .22 as a first rifle. Just my particular opinion.

I wouldn't buy a new Ruger anything due to some ideological differences I have with Mr. Bill Ruger (I don't care that he's no longer there - the "new" company hasn't repudiated his anti-RKBA stance).
 
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