My favorite is a Browning Buckmark, but my sentiment is the same. If you just want to plink, get a decent .22lr rifile or pistol. Tons of fun and cheap to shoot!
There are a couple of clubs near me that have a .22lr class in their "Action Pistol" competitions (nearly identical to the USPSA events). The competition is pretty stiff, however it's all for fun and everyone has a great time.
If you're thinking about defensive weapons for now or later, start with the AR platform. At $40 for 100 rounds of decent ammo, it's quite a step up from plinking, but a decent AR will last forever and can be modified extensively.
AR 15: Legos for adults
Seems like an AR/M4 platform in .22 is the way to go. Any brand names to stay away from or any better than the other? at the local shop Ive seen smith and wesson, sig, ruger, and a few others around the same price, some used and some new.
14x48 custom 2hp 9gear lathe
9 inch pre 1940 craftsman lathe
36 inch 1914 Sydney bandsaw (BEAST)
Wood in every shelf and nook and cranny,,, seriously too much wood!
M&P15-22 is kind of the gold standard in out of the box m4 patter 22 rifles. You could get a Normal m4 lower and a .22lr upper. Then if you wanted to upgrade to 5.56 you just need a new upper. But that wont be as cheap as the m&p.
Aside from .22 lr the next cheapest rifle to feed will be an ak74 with suprlus ammo. After that 7.62x39 (ak47) and .223/5.56(m4/ar15) are about the same.
One purchase helps keep HF in business, the other helps keep LV in business.
Those two outcomes have different values for me. - Chuck Nickerson
If you're simply looking for cheap and fun to shoot, go for 10/22. .22 ammo is about $20 for 500 shots. Ar's, AK's, and the Mini-14 all shoot .223, which is more like 25-50 cents per shot on the cheap end. Is there a particular look you're going for? Because there are a ton of body kits for the 10/22 which can make it look like a tactical weapon. Take a look at MidwayUSA.com and see what I mean.
Don't get me wrong, I enjoy shooting an AR as much as the next guy, but when you take a look at what you shot that day, and how much you spent on ammo, it hurts a lot less when you realize that you could have shot all day for that $20, versus just a few magazines.
Another option would be a rifle that shoots a pistol caliber, which can be a little cheaper, but for sheer bang for the buck, the 10/22 can't be beat...plus, you can get one at your local wal-mart (Or at least I can...) for less than $300.
My SO and I have 9mm pistols. We go to the range a couple of times a month. 9mm ammo costs about $22/100 rounds and we each shoot 100 rounds each time we go. The range charge is $10/per person and targets run s $1 / target. It costs $66 each trip to shoot. I have been told that I could reload my own 9mm ammo for around 8 cents per round. The loader costs $400-600 depending on make and model.
If you're going to be working 70 hours a week as you said in another post, when are you going to find time to go to the range?
14x48 custom 2hp 9gear lathe
9 inch pre 1940 craftsman lathe
36 inch 1914 Sydney bandsaw (BEAST)
Wood in every shelf and nook and cranny,,, seriously too much wood!
One purchase helps keep HF in business, the other helps keep LV in business.
Those two outcomes have different values for me. - Chuck Nickerson
I'm looking at Colt, Smith and Wesson, and Sig Sauer. Which brand would you choose? they are all within $100 of each other
14x48 custom 2hp 9gear lathe
9 inch pre 1940 craftsman lathe
36 inch 1914 Sydney bandsaw (BEAST)
Wood in every shelf and nook and cranny,,, seriously too much wood!
GSG-5 carbine is the sweetest .22LR I have shot. Its on my list for my next gun. Its super fun. Plink plink and zeor recoil. Fire the 22 rounds in the mag as fast as you can pull the trigger.
Glad its my shop I am responsible for - I only have to make me happy.
A Ruger mini 14 is not a really accurate rifle. The AK 47 beats it by a mile,though I think all assault style rifles are ugly. The ammo the AK or an SKS shoots (7.62X39) is the cheapest center fire ammo you can get,or at least it used to be. Haven't bought any for a while. It will nearly penetrate 1/2" steel plate at 200 yards,too. At least the old steel core stuff would. Now,it's banned as armor piercing,which it isn't.
A gsg-5 with mods - pic found on net.
Glad its my shop I am responsible for - I only have to make me happy.