What is a good range gun?

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Hey guys. I am looking into getting a new non-restricted gun that is good for shooting a fair amount at the range. The problem right now is that i own a new 22lr, 44magnum hunting rifle (40 years old), and 308 hunting rifle (40 years old). So the only thing that I can really shoot often at the range without spending a fortune is the 22lr. As a result im looking for a new non-restricted rifle or carbine which would be good for putting rounds down the range with an affordable cartridge. My budget for this new firearm is less than $1000. Something Ive been considering is some sort of 9mm carbine like the TNW for example. However, I would love to look at some more suggestions (possible .223 or a different affordable cartidge?) for what you guys think are good options. Looking forward to exploring some potentially new good choices that everyone suggests.

Eric
 
CZ858 or VZ58 would be my choice..IMO, either beats the SKS hands down plus 7.62x39 is plentiful and cheap and makes a satisfying bang.
 
Innavedaw said:
CZ858 or VZ58 would be my choice..IMO, either beats the SKS hands down plus 7.62x39 is plentiful and cheap and makes a satisfying bang.
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For plinking at the range on a budget an Sks with 2 crates of 7.62x39 is cheaper then a vz58, plus stripper clips are cheaper the. Mags
 
agreed with 7.62 if your just plinking

Any semi auto 'plinking' at the range get's very expensive real fast. You can always pickup a precision rifle in .223. Instead of 40 rounds in 5minutes, you shoot 10 rounds in 5 minutes.

If your keen on plinking, i highly suggest working up the bank for a basic reloading setup and a good manual.

Only trouble with reloading is you don't save much money. You tend to shoot more.
 
cz858, might be hard for you to find one since they are not being sold new anymore ever again, you'd have to find one used at a premium
vz58, can still be found new

if you want to have fun popping steel or cans at the range go with 762x39

the cz858 platform is a whole lot better than the sks platform, a whole lot
 
Another vote for the Vz platform in 7.62x39. Ideally a Cz product over a CSA, though these may be a bit pricier. Vz's may be a hair out of your price range, but keep an eye on the EE (though most guys are asking ridiculous prices for used CSAs)
 
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For cheap plinking fun on the range go for 7.62x39 . Great for 100m, OK for 200m. Cheap ammo for more trigger fun.
 
Something in .223 gets my vote. Start with a bolt gun if you're into putting groups together. Vz58 in 223 for plinking. Reloading is an option as well. Good stuff for precision and bulk stuff for plinking. Bulk can be reloaded for less than 25 cents a round if you shop around. Both can go to the bush too.
 
Get a used VZ 58 or CZ 858. Don't bother with the SKS imo, your better off with the .22lr.

My CZ 75 has become my favorite range toy. Easy to pack, you can hold 10 rounds. Cleaning is a breeze. Cheap ammo. Best of all more challenging then bolt of semi auto rifles.
 
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CobraGT said:
Another vote for the Vz platform. Ideally a Cz product over a CSA, though these may be a bit pricier. Vz's may be a hair out of your price range, but keep an eye on the EE (though most guys are asking ridiculous prices for used CSAs)
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That's cause there hard to let go :D Mines been up 3 times and has come down in less then a week :p My VZ was my first true favorite semi auto. Love it so much considered taking it deer hunting this year!
 
I have a 1955 Polish Moisin Nagant m44 that I enjoy plinking with at the range….oops, but you're looking for a Black&Green gun.
 
I had to go through the same thinking process than you to select my own firearms. You're right, it's not the firearm you have to look at first, it's the ammunition.

What I had to decide first is at what range I'd be shooting. If I was to shoot beyond 100m, I could pretty much forget .22LR and the pistol calibers. If I was shooting up to 100m, anything goes.

Then I had to decide whether I was going for accuracy or for "minute of gopher" plinking. From everything I've read, if I wanted 1MOA accuracy I'd have to forget milsurp ammo and pistol calibers altogether. And forget about most semi-autos too, unless I was willing to plunk $3000 into a high quality firearm. Seems that accurate shooting is a domain of the bolt action rifles. And accurate ammo costs, too: match grade .22LR is around $0.50 a round, yes?

Next, I looked at the cost and availability of the ammunition. 22LR is cheapest, usually followed by 7.62x39, then 9mm, .223Rem, etc... Check sponsor's sites and compare a few brands of FMJ for costs. Found lots of milsurp ammo for cheap... found that it was also usually out of stock. :(

Once I knew which bullet I was going to shoot, then I looked at what rifle to get for shooting it.

I ended up with a 9mm Cx4, and shot about 3300 rounds through it to date. it costs maybe $400 more than the cheaper alternatives, sure... but consider the build quality and that you'll be shooting it for 10 years or more, and that's actually only $40 or less more per year of use.

I've gotten 2MOA at 50m out of mine with factory loads, and I'm fiddling with combinations of bullets, powders and cartridge OAL to try to see how far I can push that caliber for precision. Seeing as the CX4 is a straight blowback design and I'm shooting low ballistic coefficient bullets, I doubt I'll ever reach sub-MOA accuracy, but it's sure a lot of FUN to try! It's a great plinking gun, easy to equip with bipod and optics.

:d
 
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Loving all of the great suggestions. In terms of shooting 7.62 x 39 do you guys always shoot corrosive? Is the cost savings worth the extra hassle of dealing with the corrosive ammo? I'm definetly leaning towards a firearm in 7.62 x39 more so now with all of these suggestions along with also thinking about 9mm, .223, and maybe even the 7.62x54?
 
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