First rifle, what to get?

J

jzmtl

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So I've had my license for years now and haven't really done anything with it. Friend just got his and a new Tavor and is bugging me to get something as well.

I think I'll stick with a rimfire for now, don't have several grand to drop on a centerfire.

So far I'm looking at three options. First the good ol Marlin 795, only $180 though really plasticky.

2nd is the Henry AR-7 survival, haven't handled it but it just seems really neat.

Last option is Browning BL-22, not sure which model was it I saw in store. I've always loved the look of a lever action, and the model I saw was very well finished, but of course it's the most expensive at $700.

I'd love to have the Browning, but not sure if I want/should drop that much on my first one, or any rimfire. The Marlin is just, well dirt cheap, my air rifle cost more than that, and even if I don't like it it's no big deal.

Any opinions? Don't really want a Ruger 10/22, not a fan of any tactical clip ons. Also it's for target only, no plan for anything else.
 
cooey model 60 or so - easy to find used, dead cheap and made for beginning amateurs- accuracy will come with experience- and forget about looks
 
j_06 said:
Check out Henry's lever actions. The action is smooth as can be, pretty wood, accurate and at a awesome price. I've always preferred the looks of it over the browning.
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Yeah I saw it in Lebaron's catalog, a lot cheaper than Browning too. Only went to Sail so far and the Browning is what they had, will go check out Lebaron next week or so.
 
jzmtl said:
So I've had my license for years now and haven't really done anything with it. Friend just got his and a new Tavor and is bugging me to get something as well.

I think I'll stick with a rimfire for now, don't have several grand to drop on a centerfire.

So far I'm looking at three options. First the good ol Marlin 795, only $180 though really plasticky.

2nd is the Henry AR-7 survival, haven't handled it but it just seems really neat.

Last option is Browning BL-22, not sure which model was it I saw in store. I've always loved the look of a lever action, and the model I saw was very well finished, but of course it's the most expensive at $700.

I'd love to have the Browning, but not sure if I want/should drop that much on my first one, or any rimfire. The Marlin is just, well dirt cheap, my air rifle cost more than that, and even if I don't like it it's no big deal.

Any opinions? Don't really want a Ruger 10/22, not a fan of any tactical clip ons. Also it's for target only, no plan for anything else.
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Why don't you want a 10/22? I know there's a bandwagon of CGN folks that diss them but the truth is, they are a good platform with a plethora of upgrades/farckles available. I have a number of them and they are pretty darn good. Again I know you said you're not into the 10/22, but have you used a 10/22 takedown? I'd put my 10/22 TD against the AR-7 survival rifle any day.....

I know... I'm stirring the pot... I've got my flame suit all cleaned up and ready for the onslaught of 10/22 haters....
 
I was gonna ask "why not a 10/22" as well. They're bloody great!!! Great value, lots of add ons, you can get them in a bull barrel for your target desires.....

That'd be my choice. If you want a super accurate bolt .22, look at CZ's too, and savages.

-J.
 
Here is a vote for the 795 accurate out of the box ,had a blued years ago
and sold it always regretted it so i picked up the stainless model a while ago
mounted a simple 3x9 and shes a beauty tack driver

I would suggest a bolt action to really learn the skill first though i took that advice when i started in the sport and now know it was the way to go
and one to look at is the Marlin XT bolt

just as accurate as you can get out of the box and as a bonus the mags are compatible with the 795 and if that is not awesome enough you can get both for the price of a 10/22 that you will need to dump cash into to get anywhere as accurate
Now the 10/22 has its crowd if you want to mod its the ticket but myself i have a bang for the buck approach accuracy being the most important and with these two models you get both in spades
Safe shooting
 
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gmctech said:
Why don't you want a 10/22? I know there's a bandwagon of CGN folks that diss them but the truth is, they are a good platform with a plethora of upgrades/farckles available. I have a number of them and they are pretty darn good. Again I know you said you're not into the 10/22, but have you used a 10/22 takedown? I'd put my 10/22 TD against the AR-7 survival rifle any day.....

I know... I'm stirring the pot... I've got my flame suit all cleaned up and ready for the onslaught of 10/22 haters....
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I agree with you, 10/22 is a great platform and wouldn't trade my 10/22 TD for anything.
As for the haters flame away ;)
 
Frontier Firearms has a bunch of Savage rimfires on sale in the EE....

If you're willing to spend a bit more on ammo, a .17HMR is a much more capable round.

-J.
 
Gunneegoogoo said:
Frontier Firearms has a bunch of Savage rimfires on sale in the EE....

If you're willing to spend a bit more on ammo, a .17HMR is a much more capable round.

-J.
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True dat... but beyond that I'd be going with the .17 WSM... Have the hmr and wsm and find the wsm a tad bit less prone to windage corrections... Not a huge difference but enough of a difference for reaching out and touching gophers beyond 100 yards....
 
well, I've been shooting for about 50 years now, my first was a cooey 600 bolt- a rifle about 95% of us learned on, or the lee- enfield no 7- right now I have 2 10/22s, a nylon 66, and the cooey- it's an oddball with a barrel looks like it come off a tractor, - for precision, I use the 66- for goofing around the 10/22- she folds, and I have the back- up- and for teaching the cooey-i had an ar-7 and it "feels funny" and it's an over-priced GIMMICK- fist made popular by james bond in from Russia with love- so it's been around a while as well- and the new ones are clunky and crude compared to the armalite. start with a bolt or bolt repeater, and stay away from the levers as everyone that sees it will want to play "cowboy" and you'll get the rimfire burr and a new barrel or liner very quickly- comes from dry-firing- and don't say that won't happen to me- everyone I know that has a lever does it- that's why I don't have 1- I had an ithica 49 and that's what happened to it- learn on the cooey, and you'll learn all the fundementals and avoid a lot of the mistakes
with browning you pay a premium for the name
 
Tdog243 said:
I love my marlin 795 it's super accurate and have had no issues with it at all
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While I do not currently own a 795, I have put many rounds down range with a friend's and have to admit that it edges the 10/22 in consistent accuracy starting at about 75 yards (strictly factory setups)... Not a massive difference but if your fun is strictly tight groups with .22lr; then between the two the 795 just slightly wins.

Great..... it's been a while since I've thought of the 795 and I'm thinking that there's room In my safe for one..... Cabela's here I come! Lol
 
My experience: buy better qality first and avoid regrets. Fork a bit more $ and get a CZ bolt action.

Gilbert
 
How about the Ruger American? Not pretty, but they feel good and seem to be of decent quality.
If you were willing to go $700 on the Browning I would definitely check out a CZ. I have a 455 lux, and I really like it. Wantalls had the Canadian edition and personally I really liked the looks of that one. You'll need a scope, but you'll still probably come in under $700.
 
jzmtl said:
So far I'm looking at three options. First the good ol Marlin 795
2nd is the Henry AR-7
Last option is Browning BL-22

it's for target only, no plan for anything else.
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Out of your 3 choices I personally would get the lever action. Before you drop $700 on a BL-22 make sure you shoulder it. Sold my BL-22 because it didn't fit me (poor cheek-weld). A Henry Frontier or Golden Boy(even the base model) would be a good choice and save you some $$ for ammo.
Since you're ok with tube fed and you want a semi you may want to consider a Marlin 60 with a laminate stock(less plastic than the 795).

If it's for "target only" I'd be looking at a bolt action CZ with tangent sights….
 
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