M14 a good choice for 1st gun?

H2O MAN said:
I disagree on starting out with the .22 they have much in common with fat chicks and mopeds.


Get the M14 you are wanting and never look back.
Click to expand...

so very well put LOL

my first rifle was a lee enfield no1 mkIII in 303 , my second rifle a couple years later was an sks-d ...... then i got a 22 LR semi hehehehe then i got a trw m14 prior to the prohib bullsh*te and sadly don't have anymore. then the m14s came along and well..... the rest i history.

22 is a great rifle to learn shooting skills. I weighted mine to be the same loaded wieght as my 303 so the only felt difference practicing off hand was the trigger pull and recoil. all the practice with the 22 paid off though cuz now i'm a crack shot offhand with my trusty 303 deer rifle ;)

I'm sure there will be m14s rifles around long after marstars m305b sells out in the event you decide to wait.
 
Go for the M305, my first rifle was a M14S m305, great rifle, I enjoy the 7.62mm(.308).

Now have a No4 MkII (.303), Norinco JW25A (.22LR), to go with Sheilla...Next on the list is a Mauser in 7.62mm X 51.....Also an SKS when it get here.....:D
 
M14, M305, , Polytech, M1A all the same bloody thing ... couple are chinka made, other one is yank made ... same shiit different price ... BUY the M14 and have at'er as you won't be disappointed. :D

Otokiak
Rankin Inlet, NU
CANADA
 
M14 (Norc M14-S from Frontier) was my 3rd gun, only a couple months from my first. You ARE going to learn how to reload so you don't spend a buck a shot. I for one got lucky and my Grandpa had everything except the projectiles, $0.25 a shot!

Also, buy it. :sniper:
 
Haha, and the debate inside my head rages on...M14 and SKS, M14 and 10/22, SKS and BTVS. I'm working on a budget of about $1000, I need to keep it around there. I've got a birthday in Sept. and then Christmas in Dec. so if I do get an M14 I'll be asking for reloading equipment to help offset shooting costs associated with the .308. Glad I have time to make up my mind, there are so many damned guns I want, but the M14, SKS, and BTVS(maybe 10/22) are kinda at the top of the list right now and are ones I will for sure buy(of course I'll be needing a shotgun or two and a Glock as I don't want the small shelf in the top of my safe to sit empty for too long):D

Decisions, decisions...wait I know, I just need more money, then I won't need to make a decision I'll just buy them all at once...wonder how much I can sell my wifes dogs for??:slap:
 
Iron Sighted said:
Yes, a .22LR had also crossed my mind, have been looking hard at the Savage BTVS, could probably swing that, a cheaper scope and the SKS and crate of surplus 7.62x39. Just don't want the supply of M14's to run dry on me, while I save my pennies again if I do go .22Lr and SKS. Realistically you both are probably right about starting with the .22 and SKS to develop proper technique, I just want to buy an M14 so bad LOL. Not a bad compromise though I guess, I'm positive that I'll love shooting a BTVS and the SKS will provide enough bang to carry me through until I save up enough again to buy a M14. Thanks for your insight guys.
Click to expand...

Wow, I'm in the same boat as you, the M14 is by far my favourite battle rifle of all time, and I simply have to have one (even if it's only a Chinese copy), and when I heard that this run of M14s may be the last to be imported by Marstar, I placed my order immediately. I bought a Savage Mark II BTV for my first rifle, and I can assure you that you wouldnt regret buying one for yourself, its magnificent.
 
scianna54 said:
You should be concerned about cost of ammunition, I just sold lots of rounds surplus 7.62x51 for 80 cents/round and could have sold more, meaning that there is not much available.

I have a M14-305 for sale, just check my profile, better price than ### and I shot 1 inch groups standing from 50 yards (and I am a bad shooter), no surprises here.
Click to expand...

I cant find it:confused: , I might be interested
 
Get at least 2 rifles. First get a 10/22 Easy to shoot and you can add stuff to your hearts content.
The next hard part is do you buy the SKS or the M14/M305/Polytech. The anwer is simple you can have all 3 for less than $1,000. The M305 is an outstanding rifle for the money, but ammo is expensive and you won't be shooting as much as you like. Hence the 10/22 and SKS. These two use the cheapest rifle ammo going. The SKS mean you can burn through 60rds without batting an eye. That's at least $60 out of your M305. The 10/22 means you can plink all day for $26. You will be taking friends shooting and you can teach them on the 10/22 and then the SKS.
The only other economical option out there for a semi is a new Nork M4 or a used Mini-14. The 5.56 is easy to shoot and 1/2 the price of .308
 
My first firearm was a Squires Bingham semi auto .22.

I would reccomend a .22 as a starter gun, like most others. Also, don't overlook the huge cost savings of shooting a .22 just for fun, even after you're no longer a novice. There are some fairly regular/serious shooters who shoot .22's; they're just not for teenagers shooting up beer cans at the local gravel pit.

If a fellow is clearly favoring semi auto's on the whole, like myself, then there's no reason not to start off with one and learn about those few extra little things you need to when shooting/owning a semi auto right from the start.

Having said that, if you see a good deal on an M14 (anybody's variant or name for it) then scoop it up. Opportunities do not always come around a second time!
 
I would get a good .22 bolt gun ( something like a Savage with a heavy target barrel ) and, given that ammo is cheap, a CZ858 (which you can dress up all tacticool like if you wish ). I would hold off on an M14 until you have decided really what kind of shooting you like most. It maybe that you become a milsurp buff, a LR target shooter or a black rifle aficionado so you may find Enfields, TRG's or AR's more to your taste depending :)
 
As a first gun and student on a budget, M14 is clearly the wrong decision. There can only be a rimfire, SKS, CZ-858 or a bolt action rifle in .223 or 7.62x39.
 
fritzhanzel said:
As a first gun and student on a budget, M14 is clearly the wrong decision. There can only be a rimfire, SKS, CZ-858 or a bolt action rifle in .223 or 7.62x39.
Click to expand...

I'm not a student, but I am on a budget as I am the sole provider for myself, wife and two young kids(mortage, car payments, blah, blah, blah, etc.), at least for the time being because once my wife gets back in the work force I'm going to be filling the gun safe at a much more rapid pace. I'm going to stick with the SKS over the CZ-858 as I gather that the CZ is no more accurate, just more expensive(and more visually appealing to some), and use the saved money to put towards another gun. I've gotta be patient for the time being and make sure I make the most of my initial purchases to maximize my shooting fun until I can afford to get a wider variety of boomsticks.
 
A few thoughts about shooting on your given budget.

Perhaps you should consider the following:

a. Get the M14;
b. Get something like the Lee Anniversary Reloading kit, brass, bullets and powder;
c. Find a decent new or used .22; and
d. A couple bricks of .22 ammo.

This way you'll have an inexpensive .22 to train on and build up your shooting skills, the fun of reloading your own ammo and an opportunity to shoot your M14 at longer ranges like 100-300m. Even if you only have the time and funds to put 50-60 rounds downrange with your M14 at each sitting, combined with another 100-200 rounds of .22 that will give you a lengthy range visit and opportunity to hone your skills.

With a bit of luck you might be able to just get an M14 plus an SKS with crate of ammo within your budget, but I doubt you'd have any money left over for .308/7.62 NATO for the M14 besides maybe a box or two to try it out. You might however find shooting the SKS sufficient to hold you over until you get more funds for reloading in the winter.

If you want to eventually take up hunting, the .22 and M14 combo would be good for small and large game respectively, with maybe just a basic 12 ga shotgun to fill out a basic hunting arsenal. That's probably for another thread, but I thought it worth mentioning in case you're headed in that direction.

With Regards,

Frank
 
Last edited:
My very first firearm was a CZ-2003-H (VZ58) from Milarm at 375$- I lOVE this gun!!!
Shortly after, an SKS and a 12ga shotgun.
Therefore I learned quick with large caliber guns and how to handle them.

I currently have 3 M14S rifles and could not have wished for better!
Sure ammo is pricey, but that is a very good incentive to learn proper shooting from the get go.
I also wanted something with which I could hunt large game with.

Out of the box, great shooters, but tweeking them is what they are all about anyhow.
Just bear in mind that if/when you get your M14, save up for a very good quality scope mount/rail/rings and optics for these rifles are VERY HARD on them!
I highly doubt that you'll ever regret owning one.

Just my 0.02$ and YMMV.
 
To add to what 69 Santa said, you'll probably want to make a good scope and mount your next big purchase in the upcoming year (the Bushnell 3200 10x40 is a good scope for just over $200, but you'll have to look and save for decent mounts). Until then, the peep sights on the M14 are certainly better than the SKS and most other milsurp sights, so that should hold you over in the meantime.
 
I already have an SKS and shoot milsurp ammo. It is really cheap to feed. GREAT rifle!
now i have pre-ordered a marstar M14b (M305b). The only reason is that i have the set-up to reload ( the press) and will be buying the dies and bullets

If you shoot outdoors, the best thing to start with would be the sks
if you shoot indoors, then the 10/22
and finally if you reload and have had trigger time with the two rifles listed above, get an M14


My next purchases would be
1- a ruger 10-22 for cheap indoors practice since the indoors ranges don't allow the steel core bullets
2- get a 12 ga shotgun. something similar to the Weatherby Px-459 home defender (tacticool 12 gage)
3- get a glock 17. i miss shooting 9mm
4-get an AR-15 style carbine

that way i will have all i wanted to have
1- a ww2 sniper ( mosin sniper i just bought)
2-an outdoors plinker in the sks
3-an indoors plinker pistol in the 22/45 mk3 i have
4-a nice revolver in the dan wesson model 15 38/357
--------------------
5-an indoors plinker in the 10/22
6-a 12 gage pump in the weatherby px-459
7-a nice semi-auto pistol in the glock 17
8-an ar-15 style carbine for more range time!

the only thing missing for now is the funds.....
but i will figure that out soon!!!!
 
"...As my first gun I'd really like to be able to unpack it, disassemble/clean it, and go take it to the range..." That'll do nicely. Range first. You'll have to sight in. You'll have to try a box of as many brands of ammo as you can to find the ammo it shoots best too. That gets expensive. Reloading is your friend.
An M305 won't be cheap shooting and starting with a .22 is a good idea(didn't have one myself until I decided I wanted a semi I could screw around with and not cost a fortune to shoot. Even 30 some years ago. Was drunk when I bought it too.), but an M305 will be just fine.
My first handgun that worked was an issue .45 Government. The .22 pistol came later too.
 
Beadwindow said:
A few thoughts about shooting on your given budget.

Perhaps you should consider the following:

a. Get the M14;
b. Get something like the Lee Anniversary Reloading kit, brass, bullets and powder;
c. Find a decent new or used .22; and
d. A couple bricks of .22 ammo.

This way you'll have an inexpensive .22 to train on and build up your shooting skills, the fun of reloading your own ammo and an opportunity to shoot your M14 at longer ranges like 100-300m. Even if you only have the time and funds to put 50-60 rounds downrange with your M14 at each sitting, combined with another 100-200 rounds of .22 that will give you a lengthy range visit and opportunity to hone your skills.

With a bit of luck you might be able to just get an M14 plus an SKS with crate of ammo within your budget, but I doubt you'd have any money left over for .308/7.62 NATO for the M14 besides maybe a box or two to try it out. You might however find shooting the SKS sufficient to hold you over until you get more funds for reloading in the winter.

If you want to eventually take up hunting, the .22 and M14 combo would be good for small and large game respectively, with maybe just a basic 12 ga shotgun to fill out a basic hunting arsenal. That's probably for another thread, but I thought it worth mentioning in case you're headed in that direction.

With Regards,

Frank
Click to expand...

That Lee reloading kit is precisely what I've been looking at, or the one that uses the press to put the primers in the cartridge instead of the hand priming tool, same kit other than that I think. I'm fairly positive that I'll end up with one of the combos you've listed here as I've been set on getting a M14, SKS, and .22lr(Savage BTVS) as my first three guns for awhile now, just a matter of what two I'll buy together to start. I need to figure out an approx. price for a scope for the BTVS as well, and see how that factors in.
 
I just had the same dilemma. As soon as my PAL arrived I went to Cabela's and bought an SKS and crate of ammo. Later that week the M305 that I bought from Wolverine arrived.

I am very happy with this.

I'll take a few hundred 762x39 rounds to the range and 40-60 308 rounds. I have always wanted an M14 and I love shooting it, but it is expensive to feed. I find this is a nice compromise. I can't speak for all Norinco rifles but I am happy with mine, it shoots just fine right out the box (I am hitting the Hungry clinic next weekend tho)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom