How much would I spend?
To me, a firearm is like a tool, but used for enjoyment: whether formal target shooting, plinking at cans, or hunting.
In 1959 I spent $42 to buy a Remington 513-S .22 sporter. That was three times the ordinary Remington .22 price at the time, but it is worth about 15 times that today. That was over a weeks pay then.
Some people have egos and have to be one above the neighbours. They buy Cadillacs when a Ford or Chevy would do. Some snowmobiles cost more than a house, and are used a couple of months a year.
If you are a serious target shooter, and have a blueprinted rifle that will give you a couple of points over the competition, than the $2000 is a cheap price to pay. If you are going to shoot Gophers, then it is a lot more than is needed. A good target rifle is protected and babied. A gopher rifle only needs to hit something two inches wide and nine inches tall, usually at under 100 yards. It will be used under field conditions, scratched, get dirt in it, and
generally not get as much attention to cleaning, etc, as a more expensive one.
Somewhere in the $500 range will get you a very capable .22 rimfire rifle today. That is probably about one weeks pay, about what I paid for a very good rifle in 1959.
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