My uncle wants to buy a rifle and a handgun for target shooting and has asked me to do some research. So I am here to ask you all to make some recommendations. I am not sure how much he is looking to spend so let's not concentrate on the price.
[OP]
Member
My uncle wants to buy a rifle and a handgun for target shooting and has asked me to do some research. So I am here to ask you all to make some recommendations. I am not sure how much he is looking to spend so let's not concentrate on the price.
Contributor
Alex,
If I was your uncle, I'd choose a 22 caliber rifle and pistol.
The pistol I'd choose would be a 22 caliber revolver from one of the better maufacturers....Ruger, Smith&Wesson, Colt
The rifle....a single shot bolt action 22 caliber....could be clip fed...could be manual load .....
22 ammunition is cheap and would allow for target practice.
Revolvers are the safer than autoloaders in the hands of novices. Single shot bolt action rifles too for the same previous reason.
Last edited by Ken Fitzgerald; 06-09-2009 at 3:41 PM.
Ken
So much to learn, so little time.....
Member
I'd start with a decent .22 rifle, something like a Ruger 10/22. They're relatively inexpensive, the ammo is still pretty cheap, and they're really fun to shoot. You can find accessories for them pretty easily too.Originally Posted by Alex Berkovsky
I'm not really up on the hunting style rifles much anymore, I'm more into military style rifles (SKS, AK, FAL), so I'm sure someone else can make a good suggestion in that category.
Contributor
Ken gave you good advise, but where does your uncle plan to shoot? Does he live on Long Island too? Indoor or outdoor, on a range or in an old quarry on the family farm? There are all kinds of targets to shoot--from paper to metal sillouette at distances from a few yards out to a thousand. He could have fun in his back yard with an air soft pistol and rifle for starts.
[OP]
Member
Ken,
His friend has a 22 caliber clip-fed bolt action rifle which he used a few times. He felt that it was too "light" and wanted something with a bigger caliber. I wouldn't mind if he got an AR-15.
He has a place in the Poconos and has an outdoor range near his house.
Member
Target shooting? Or plinking?
If just plinking at tin cans and general targets of opportunity with a 22 rimfire - the Ruger 10/22 is good starter autoloader, or a Marlin or Savage - CDNN has a fairly good deal on a Winchester right now for less than $200. Nice looking little bolt action.
If he's looking for a bit better accuracy, look at CZ and Anschutz both brands have some respectable accuracy even on the "low end" models.
As far as a "target shooting" handgun? Sorry that's more of a personal choice thing, but the Ruger MkII or MKIII are fairly accurate (or have been for me) they are fairly natural point and click and easy to become familiar with. Some ranges will still rent guns for a try out or "test drive" to help in making those choices.
But if he's looking to go centerfire...well the options just opened up a whole lot - for both pistol and long gun.
The opinion of 10,000 men is of no value if none of them know anything about the subject.
- Marcus Aurelius ---------------------------------------- ------------- [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
Guest
Handgun: Ruger Mark II (Mark III these days) Mine is Mark II)
They even make 'em in shiny.
http://www.ruger.com/Firearms/FAProdView?model=185#
The 22 caliber is the cheapest and most fun caliber going for plinking and target.
Member
He could go 44 cal. (not magnum) for both rifle and hand gun. Doesn't have the kick of the mag, but still a decent punch if he's looking for a little fun.
Member
All good suggestions on the .22 calibers - RITZ crackers make excellent and fun targets for plinking - You can also easily print out your own targets as well - If he's not real familiar with guns a revolver might be a little safer than a semi - automatic pistol - Just something to consider - DB
Member
I'd recommend 22 LR also, if only just for operational costs. Easier on the wallet to put a few hundred (or more) rounds of 22 LR downrange than a centerfire.
My first pistol was a Ruger mark III 22/45, which is very similarly shaped to a 1911 (Colt 45 ACP). I knew I was eventually going to get a 1911 which is why I started with the Ruger.
For a centerfire rifle, maybe something like 30-06 or 308 would do the trick.
Alternatively, get him a Thompson/Center Contender or Encore (or one of each) with a few different barrels. Being a break open single shot weapon, they will have more felt recoil than an equivalent autoloader.
Before buying him anything, take him shooting with some folks with a variety of weapons / calibers to see what he likes / what fits him.
Don't forget eye and ear protection - these are more important for shooting than for woodworking.
Best of luck with the choice!
Member
Tell him to take a look at a 17 HMR. Cool little rifles and very accurate. Thats what we use around here to spotlight with. Er............Ah..........Oops....... I mean control the deer population by permit only of course!!
If at first you don't succeed, look in the trash for the instructions.
Member
Alex, you really need to find out what he wants to do with it. For general plinking the .22 is the best - pick your make/model - they'll all work for plinking. The biggest reason for this is price. And not the guns themselves, but the ammo. For many reasons (and let's keep them out of this discussion so it doesn't get political) people are buying up a lot of guns and even more ammo. The price of ammo has nearly doubled in the last six months for all the popular calibers. The AR-15 is an awesome gun, but check out the price of .223 rounds - they are through the roof.
I shoot well over 1000 rounds a month in 9mm and 5.56 (.223) - I'm extremely thankful I don't pay for all those rounds. And let's not even start talking about the 7.62 and 50 cal rounds I fire off quarterly. We spend A LOT of money to maintain weapons proficiency for over 500 Sailors.
So before he truly chooses, be sure he can afford to buy the rounds (my last personal purchase of .45 ACP for my 1911 cost me over 50 cents a round).
Be well,
Doc
Contributor
Alex,
I have hunted elk, deer, rabbit, squirrel, and was on a special security team in the Navy.
I have shot everything from 338-8MM Mag to 22. I own 2 custom built rifles of 338-06 and 280 Rem (7mm-06). I had to hand load for both of them when I had them built but may be able to buy ammo now.
Point...I shot pistol silhouette competition using a Ruger Mark II with a 6" bull barrel. The barrel is 1" in diameter. It did quite well on most day with no wind.
Rifles....there are those out there that have some heft to them.
Operational costs.....22 cal is the least expensive if you are buying ammo. I don't know what brick costs these days.
Ken
So much to learn, so little time.....
Member
Ken, I thought you shot multimeters
Dave
IN GOD WE TRUST
USN Retired
Member
Due to the cost of the ammunition explosion in the past 2 years. I would reccomend a .22LR as well. A runger 10/22 is old reliable a great .22 and lot of fun assories for it. For having fun shooting and plinking under 100 yds a .22 is great and ammo is still pretty cheap. A 500 round brick runs about $15 bucks around here. 3 years ago you could buy it for $4.99. If you want something with more umph, I would go to any .223 rifle. AR's are fun but a good one is expensive and get really expensive because it is real easy to blow through a 30 round clip in a couple of seconds. A 30 round clip would run about $20 in cheap ammo today. He could have lots of fun with a savage rifle in a .223. It wouldn't cost a ton will have excellent accuracy and is good out to 300 yds if you learn how to shoot it. .223 can be shot a lot farther than that in the right hands. You can buy a savage rifle and scope package in .223 for under $500. They arn't the prettiest rifles but they shoot great and are cheap. .223 ammo is still about the cheapest there is even though it is outragous compared to what it was 2 years ago. If you want a better looking rifle go to a remmington 700, they are really nice but will run a couple hundred more for just the rifle.
As far as a pistol I would go to a ruger Mark II or III. The III is the current model. They are alot of fun to shoot are really reliable and accurate. The ammo will not break you as stated earlier. They look a lot like a old german Luger.
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