Need a little insight

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bwilk

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Hi all,

I'm new to the world of firearms, and have recently done my CFSC (non-restricted) and applied for my PAL. I am now in the long wait. During that time I wanted to figure out what I should look for in a rifle.

As far as goals, I am by no means a hunter. I have no objection to hunting, and I could see myself going on an excursion if invited but I have no real motivation to go myself. I would like to target shoot, and my local range goes out to ~200yards. As I tend to get obsessed with things, I would expect that I may want to shoot further than that at some point, if I get good(ish).

I really enjoyed shooting my cousins 22-250, and also enjoyed his 30-06. I guess my question would be, what should I start with? I don't really even know where to begin.

So I guess a list of criteria would be useful
- reasonable price (I have to be able to justify it to the wife)
- Fairly good out of the box (I realize you get what you pay for)
- Mostly used for target shooting, but may go on a hunting trip.

I like the look of a 700(and apparent quality/upgradeability), but I like the price points of the Savage (Axis XP, I know, it's cheap)

Any help or insight would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks much.
 
Hi and welcome to the sport. :)
Lots of good info and deals on here.
30.06 is a really good all purpose round as well as a .308 but ammo is not cheap.
If you are just target shooting maybe a savage in .223 would suffice. SFRC has a good deal on now as another gunnutter got one a couple days ago with a scope for $325 taxs included .
Granted the package deals normally include a pretty cheap scope but for $325 it would get you started .
To get alot of trigger time cheaply get a 22LR and you can get alot of target practice in for a fraction of the cost..
 
Get an SKS, Cheap to buy, cheap to shoot, fun to shoot, able to do mods to them, so so on accuracy.
Click to expand...

Thanks, and I will look into it, but I was thinking more along the lines of a bolt-action. Yes, just because I think it's cool and have unrealistic fantasies about being a sniper. That, and the 22 that I get to inherit is semi, and I chewed through ammo the times I've been able to shoot it.
 
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chalkriver said:
Hi and welcome to the sport. :)
Lots of good info and deals on here.
30.06 is a really good all purpose round as well as a .308 but ammo is not cheap.
If you are just target shooting maybe a savage in .223 would suffice. SFRC has a good deal on now as another gunnutter got one a couple days ago with a scope for $325 taxs included .
Granted the package deals normally include a pretty cheap scope but for $325 it would get you started .
To get alot of trigger time cheaply get a 22LR and you can get alot of target practice in for a fraction of the cost..
Click to expand...

Yeah, I will get my dads old 22lr given to me when my PAL comes in, and I certainly went through a lot of ammo cheaply when I got to fire it. Thanks for the info.
 
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If you are going to go with one of the package deals. get an Axis or a 11/111 FC. Use it till you can afford to upgrade the scope then put a nikon or something good on it. Try to stay away from the 770 or anything ruger. I work for a major outfitter and out of the combo packages we get lots of 770's returned. Not so much Savages. ( If you can afford it pick up a Sako A7 package.) They come with a Burris scope and rings.
 
The Weatherbys are good if your ok with "Made in Japan" I personally do not like the cheap asian guns. But then again Remington and Ruger are made in the states and they are pooooo.
 
I really don't mind where it's made, I just want it to last a while. I'm unfortunately not made of money. What's wrong with Remington? My perception after reading some threads here is they're kind of middle of the pack, but fairly upgradeable. Maybe that's just the 700's not the 770s or others.
 
bwilk said:
Hi all,

I'm new to the world of firearms.

So I guess a list of criteria would be useful
- reasonable price "(I have to be able to justify it to the wife) "

Any help or insight would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks much.
Click to expand...


Justify to the wife...?

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You don't belong here. Choose One ........ Us or Wifery - Biggs
 
The Remington 700 SPS with detachable mag has been discontinued and there are seriously smoking good deals out there to be had on these guns. You might need to do some hunting around on some of the site sponsers and other sources, but they are an absolute steal right now. And you are right. Lots of upgrades available.
 
Biggunners said:
Justify to the wife...?

You don't belong here. Choose One ........ Us or Wifery - Biggs
Click to expand...
I got the license... WHAT ELSE DO YOU WANT FROM ME!?!?!?!? Does that kit make all the black rifle people insane? That and the Hello Kitty AK might get my wife into shooting.

MASTER CHAN said:
The Remington 700 SPS with detachable mag has been discontinued and there are seriously smoking good deals out there to be had on these guns.
Click to expand...

How good? The Remington would get me middle of the pack out of the box, and be upgradeable into a pretty nice rifle, right? Another noob question does DM mean Detachable Magazine?
 
The cost of the rifle+scope is one thing, the cost of the ammunition quite another. I agree with the .223 bolt gun, cheap to shoot. Get thee to the Local Gun Store; I'd shoulder as many as possible to find the rifle that fits you best, lots of cheaper offerings out there, new and used...where are you located? Wanna come shooting? I don't have a .223/small calibre bolt gun but the guys n gals on here are awesome, there's always someone looking to help you out.
 
I'd be happy to come out shooting. I live in Kelowna which I think is a bit too far for a shooting trip. I only found a few local gun shops(one is out of a guys house), and only the one local range. Thanks for the advice. I probably will shoulder a bunch to see how they feel. All about ergonomics isn't it?

Thanks evolture, good read.
 
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So I finally got to shoulder some weapons, and I have to say, the Stevens I held felt cheap... even when compared to the axis. The Browning X-bolt and Tikka T3 were quite nice, but are a bit too expensive for me right now. The Weatherby was alright as well. I think I'll probably end up buying an Axis XP because it's the right price, and I'm a beginner so I don't think I'll notice a lot of the differences. I'm guessing it takes a rifle or two to figure out what works and what doesn't anyways, right?
 
bwilk said:
So I finally got to shoulder some weapons, and I have to say, the Stevens I held felt cheap... even when compared to the axis. The Browning X-bolt and Tikka T3 were quite nice, but are a bit too expensive for me right now. The Weatherby was alright as well. I think I'll probably end up buying an Axis XP because it's the right price, and I'm a beginner so I don't think I'll notice a lot of the differences. I'm guessing it takes a rifle or two to figure out what works and what doesn't anyways, right?
Click to expand...

I was in the same boat as you, and I picked up a Savage Axis in .243 on boxing day for 249 bucks. Took me a bit to sight in the scope when I first took it to the range, but now that I have it all setup I am getting 1" groups at 100yards and 1.5-2" at 200. I am happy with it as a starter rifle, and once I get a bit more familiar I will put together something a bit fancier :)
 
So it took me a while, but after much deliberation, I finally got my rifle. A Remington 700 SPS Varmint in .223. I was lucky enough to convince my parents to buy me a scope for my college grad gift, so it's topped with a Vortex Diamondback 4-12x40 in Remington all-in-one rings. I'll post pics later, as I'm undercover at work.
 
Start with a bolt .22 then get a .308 Savage if you want something that is accurate that you can take hunting. If you are obsessive you won't enjoy something that is not accurate so forget the sks.
 
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