M14 as first rifle?

You guys pretty much convinced me to get a .22 to start with. Now the question is, what manufacturer... I heard a lot about Ruger but is there other good .22 manufacturers?
 
You guys pretty much convinced me to get a .22 to start with. Now the question is, what manufacturer... I heard a lot about Ruger but is there other good .22 manufacturers?

Remington 597 is a nice semi-auto rifle. Mine is in .22 WMR and I love it. Henry has some fun lever and pump models. Sako makes a rifle that comes with 4 barrels so you can shoot whatever rimfire you find.
 
You guys pretty much convinced me to get a .22 to start with. Now the question is, what manufacturer... I heard a lot about Ruger but is there other good .22 manufacturers?

Lots of choices.
A good used older .22 can be an excellent option. Some great buys out there.
I would suggest that it you want to learn how to shoot, get a quality bolt action rifle. Make sure it has decent sights.
 
I own Savage Mark II BV. I got it for $300, laminate stock, heavy target barrel. This is definitely my favourite 22. Very accurate, smooth, nicely balanced in your hands, handles very well and is darn good to look at. Very very strongly recommended.


You guys pretty much convinced me to get a .22 to start with. Now the question is, what manufacturer... I heard a lot about Ruger but is there other good .22 manufacturers?
 
You guys pretty much convinced me to get a .22 to start with. Now the question is, what manufacturer... I heard a lot about Ruger but is there other good .22 manufacturers?

If you want to learn to shoot accurately you should choose as accurate a rifle as you can afford. Rugers look great, and work great but to get them to shoot well cost alot. Savage make entry level target stuff that is reasonably priced 200. If you want to spend a bit more (400) brno makes rifles that you should be happy with for your lifetime.

I shoot an old TOZ 8 target rifle that I paid 99$ to elwood epps for. It is a subminute of angle gun. So sometimes you get what you paid for and sometimes you get a little more:) Used market can be hit and miss.:)
 
I like my 10/22. It's accurate enough for me (I can't shoot a mosquito's balls off with a Brno either) and it works pretty well and there's lots of available toys for it...

Jeff
 
I started with a gevarm, but that's just because it was what there was.

I would take a ruger 10/22 over the rem 597. Had both, liked the ruger more..... BUT

I would buy a bolt action over either. If you want to buy new... I have no idea... I don't buy new guns...

Older, I've had anschutz, walther, winchester, lakefield, all target models. Cheapest was $100, most expensive was $375 They all shot far better than I did and had diopter sights and grooved recievers for a scope if you really wanted it. I just shot with the diopter.

Some of the most fun I've had shooting was a beautiful hot day with thick white ice on a logging road. Toss a couple black pebbles onto the ice, then proceed to shoot them all over. If you're really bored you can try shooting around them to make them go in different directions :) Eye protection advised, as usual.
 
I'm running a CZ858 now... I have to say that it is really a pretty cool rifle and would be a lot of fun as a first rifle. With surplus still at ~$200/1100 it isn't overly expensive to shoot lots of ammo and have a real "blast" at the range or on crown land as it is non-restricted as well.
 
The problem is i dont have the money for 2 rifles (for the moment)

I'd rather start with 1 and the SKS is really starting to appeal to me... And at 139$ on Marstar i cant really go wrong.

Why not a nice bolt action .22 rifle. Learn the basics and improve your skills. Cheap to shoot inexpensive to buy. Something you'll always keep.

Figure out how far you want to go with this before you get too wrapped up in it.
 
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Another vote for the 10/22 here, but with Tech Sights.
If you're learning to shoot then forget the scope.
Learn to shoot with a good pair of irons first, get off the bench, get your butt in the dirt, practice prone, kneeling, standing, snap shooting, develop your shooting skills. Buy a few hundred rounds of .22 and have at it.
Then when you do get an M14 you will be ready to learn how to make hits with its superb irons out to 500m.
Tech sights are also available for the SKS.

techsights.jpg

I agree with most of this. Everyone has a few rimfires and we shoot them lots.
 
I'd say if ammo cost is a concern get a SKS. 18 cents a round is pretty cheap and it is in my opinion a better stop gap to the more expensive to feed M14 then a 22LR. You can always buy a box of hunting ammo and you'll have a capable deer gun to 150-200 yards with or without a scope at that range.

Dimitri
 
i'd say if ammo cost is a concern get a sks. 18 cents a round is pretty cheap and it is in my opinion a better stop gap to the more expensive to feed m14 then a 22lr. You can always buy a box of hunting ammo and you'll have a capable deer gun to 150-200 yards with or without a scope at that range.

Dimitri

x2 ;)
 
Oh, and since it seems to be drifting this way.... between the sks, cz 858, and m14 I'd buy the cz 858.

I just like it way more, for all sorts of reasons. I'd buy the M14 last.
 
Another vote for the 10/22 here, but with Tech Sights.
If you're learning to shoot then forget the scope.
Learn to shoot with a good pair of irons first, get off the bench, get your butt in the dirt, practice prone, kneeling, standing, snap shooting, develop your shooting skills. Buy a few hundred rounds of .22 and have at it.
Then when you do get an M14 you will be ready to learn how to make hits with its superb irons out to 500m.
Tech sights are also available for the SKS.

techsights.jpg
Wow, awesome! Where can you get these Tech Sights? Do they make variations for the VZ-58 rifles as well? I suppose the SKS Tech Sight would work on it, correct?

The only thing that's turned me off of getting a VZ-58 (CZ-858) is the iron sights. I prefer peep- sights like on AR irons. Are those Tech Sights made in Canada? Is there a website for the manufacturer?

Thanx!
 
I was thinking about it today and im still considering the SKS a bit more... a .22 rifle seems too much like a kids gun to me to be honnest. *puts on flame suit* It probably isint the case, specially seeing how much of you guys like them, but a 7.62 sounds more fun to me. But then, i couldnt know since i never shot either of them. I guess i'll have to find someone to let me squeeze a few rounds this spring :)
 
go with a .22 or m14 but if you whant to do a bit of precision dont go sks for first gun...

I love my 10/22 best semi-auto .22 IMO
 
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