Especially when you set the 10/22 up with a set of Tech-Sights. That gives you an M-14 and a Micro-14
.
M14 a good choice for 1st gun?
- Thread starter Iron Sighted
- Start date
Especially when you set the 10/22 up with a set of Tech-Sights. That gives you an M-14 and a Micro-14
.
300Spartans
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Canada of course
I think you should buy your M-14 now, not because the supply is going to dry up (it won't, there's a lot in Canada with many dealers stocking them), but because you will have one of the coolest rifles out there. Our neighbours south of the border envy us, because we can get the Chinese M-14 clones, and they can't. Do yourself a favour and buy one today!
Also, you will have to splurge and buy yourself a Ruger 10/22 and a brick or two of .22LR. This inexpensive fodder will allow you to become proficient in marksmanship, so that your skill with the M-14 will be enhanced.
Good luck!
Iron Sighted
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Peace Region
OK, as I think I can swing the purchase of two guns to start, I'm leaning back towards getting the M14 and either the .22lr or the SKS, and hopefully a single stage reloading kit. Any suggestions on a scope for a .22lr that will help it reach out to 200 yards(eventually) that won't kill the budget?(feel free to include approx. price) Oh, and if anyone knows a retailer with good pricing on the Savage BTVS .22lr or the Ruger 10/22, I'd appreciate hearing about it so I can crunch numbers and try to budget better. Again, thanks to everyone for their advice, I truly appreciate it.
Iron Sighted
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Peace Region
Are you just learning to shoot?
If so forget the scope for now and become proficient with iron sights first. Spend the extra cash on your ammo stockpile
Yeah, I will just be learning to shoot when I finally get my PAL/RPAL. For now, I'm just salivating over the prospect. What you say makes some good sense, as I plan on keeping the M14 iron sighted anyway, though that will force me away from the BTVS that I have been coveting as it does not come with iron sights. Still the 10/22 is nice, maybe have to consider that in laminate stock/stainless and buy the BTVS down the road as my 2nd .22lr. If I opt for the SKS then the scope issue is no issue as I would never bother mounting one on a SKS. If I do get the M14 and 10/22 with no scope then that also leaves me more money to buy a reloading kit. Well, back to the number crunching.
I would say not a good "first rifle". Accuracy can be discouraging, its becomming expensive to shoot(esp for the non reloader),and has a fair bit of recoil for the novice to learn good trigger control.
Good rifle to get, but maybe not the first.
A .22lr or even a bolt .223 would be my recommendation.
GC
Good rifle to get, but maybe not the first.
A .22lr or even a bolt .223 would be my recommendation.
GC
Hmmm I see. Another few points to consider. M14 addiction: Once you get your M14 and start shooting it, you will inevitably become addicted to it, upgrades will follow and this thing will become your money pit (this happens to most of us here
). The ammo situation: I'm not going to get into why because this topic pisses me off to no end, but there is no surplus 7.62 nato coming in to this country and my stockpile is almost dry. .308 is at $1 a round (ridiculous!!) and now we have the f*cking HST bulls*hit here in Bring Cash so its about to get even more fun. My point being, not a cheap platform to learn on. If you're going to reload that's one thing but its still a big round to learn to shoot on and it will cost money.My honest recommendation here is snag an old used Colt Hbar off the EE (see them go down to $1200 all the time) and buy a 1000 round case of .223
Its one rifle, very accurate, great irons, you can shoot it to 400m no problem and the ammo for it is there. Only downside is you're stuck at the range with it.
If you're just learning to shoot, budget a little for a copy of Jeff Cooper's The Art of the Rifle: h ttp://www.amazon.com/Art-Rifle-Jeff-Cooper/dp/1581605927/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1280085225&sr=8-2
It's a great guide to rifle shooting.
300Spartans
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Canada of course
I saw a copy of this one time at a gunshow and regret not purchasing it that day.
jeepcjaholic
CGN Regular
- Location
- Vancouver Island B.C.
one of my frist firearms was a m-14, loved it. started my boys off both with sks's, but got them both 10/22's also just after the sks's. my 11 year old little girl loves to shoot my m14e2 with the bipod (funny as hell at the range). but if your having a hard time trying to come up with the money to by a $400-500 rifle you will hate having to pay for the ammo. get a cheap 10/22 and a sks fill your boot have fun you can always sell them for something later.
BigGameHunter
Regular
Why not get the M14 and an inexpensive .22? You are going to be able to shoot the .22 much more than the M14 anyways but then when you go to the range you have something substantial to blast away with.
I would also echo the comment on the mini 14. If you like the garand action the .223 round is a nice compromise between .22 and .308 and it packs a descent amount of power into something with very little recoil. IMO this may be the best route as although a .308 is not that hard hitting as a first gun it does have recoil and might like others have said deter from your shooting potential.
My personal route went as follows when I was 12 I was shown how to shoot a .22 from my grandfather. Then it was a 16 gauge at around 16. Then Once I had a pal and started acquiring firearms I have anything from .22 to 300 win mag however the .22 gets shot as much bullet wise as everything else combined. Everyone should own a .22.
I have an SKS and rarely shoot it. But thats just me and mine is Nork and it only like good 7.62 ammo. I bought a case and it won't eat the stuff like a picky child. All I am saying is cheap ammo and cheap guns sometimes equals no fun.
My 2 cents
I would also echo the comment on the mini 14. If you like the garand action the .223 round is a nice compromise between .22 and .308 and it packs a descent amount of power into something with very little recoil. IMO this may be the best route as although a .308 is not that hard hitting as a first gun it does have recoil and might like others have said deter from your shooting potential.
My personal route went as follows when I was 12 I was shown how to shoot a .22 from my grandfather. Then it was a 16 gauge at around 16. Then Once I had a pal and started acquiring firearms I have anything from .22 to 300 win mag however the .22 gets shot as much bullet wise as everything else combined. Everyone should own a .22.
I have an SKS and rarely shoot it. But thats just me and mine is Nork and it only like good 7.62 ammo. I bought a case and it won't eat the stuff like a picky child. All I am saying is cheap ammo and cheap guns sometimes equals no fun.
My 2 cents
Iron Sighted
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Peace Region
Well, I've pretty much decided on getting the M14 and likely a Ruger 10/22 in stainless(anyone know if these can be found with a laminate stock, I've only seen the stainless with the composite stocks). This should leave me enough to get a starter reloading kit as well without having to exceed my $1000 budget by too much. I'm relatively certain that I'll be quite happy with both guns, I'll just buy the SKS and a Savage BTVS .22lr later on.
I'm glad to see that you've been able to make a thoughtful choice of rifles based upon the good advice of the posters who've contributed. I think that between shooting, reloading and reading up about the M14, reloading and marksmanship in general, that you'll get alot of quality time out of your investment.
Best of luck and good shooting,
Frank
Best of luck and good shooting,
Frank
Well, I've pretty much decided on getting the M14 and likely a Ruger 10/22 in stainless(anyone know if these can be found with a laminate stock, I've only seen the stainless with the composite stocks). This should leave me enough to get a starter reloading kit as well without having to exceed my $1000 budget by too much. I'm relatively certain that I'll be quite happy with both guns, I'll just buy the SKS and a Savage BTVS .22lr later on.
So you're getting the M14 eh? That is great news indeed, you will not regret it. Oh; and welcome to the addiction.... muhahahahaha
Iron Sighted
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Peace Region
Thanks everyone for the advice, now I just have to wait until end of Aug. for my PAL/RPAL courses. M14 is a lock, same with the reloading kit, still waffling a bit on which .22lr to buy, but no pressure I've got lots of time to decide.
Iron Sighted
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Peace Region
Well, I went ahead and ordered a M14 from Canada Ammo as Marstar is no longer taking pre-orders on their M14's, was only $20 more from Canada Ammo and shipping is free. Now I just have to wait very impatiently to get my PAL so I can have it transferred to my name. Next up, purchase reloading equipment and find a .22lr. Feels good to make that first purchase even though it won't be in my name for probably 2 more months.
Great first gun. The first centre fire rifle I ever shot was a C1A1, I was just a skinny 20 yr old and the recoil was fun but those things leave you with a bruised cheek after a day shooting prone on the range. I would love to buy an FN but the 305 is every bit as good and so cheap you can't go wrong.
2ndShotCanada
CGN Regular
As someone who has had and M14 and several SKS's I'd get a 10/22. I just bought a 10/22 and it started the addiction all over again. The ruger is a great gun to shoot/upgrade and i can bring it to the indoor range when i don't feel like taking a trek to my outdoor.
