Need help to choose a first rifle! Hunting/Target shooting

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Atfer

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Hi! I am new to this forum and I've been looking to choose my first rifle.

Right now, I am hesitating between .17 HMR or .22 LR. I need your help to figure out which one i should choose!

My expectation:
I want a rifle mostly for target shooting, but there is no way I am going professional. I really would like my rifle to be usable for occasional small game hunting (rabbit, pheasant, duck?, etc).

I've read that the .17 HMR can be too strong for small game hunting, and that in windy condition there is no precision.

The Savage 93R17 GV would be an exemple of what I am looking for (.17 HMR), but I am asking you what would you recommend for my need!

Also, is a .17 HMR really louder that a .22 LR? My girlfriend will be shooting too and too much impact/noise would bother her.

Is there a better caliber for my needs?

And my father possess a 12 and a 20 that I could borrow for better hunting.

Thanks for your help!
 
Buy a .22LR. Ammo is far, far cheaper, which is good for a new shooter.

As an aside, it is illegal/dangerous to shoot waterfowl with a rifle. It would also be very difficult to shoot pheasent, so I'd suggest borrowing your dads shotgun if you choose to hunt those two.
 
And for grouse hunting, would a .17 HMR would be too much?

Would the Savage Mark II G be a good starter for this use (target mostly/ maybe occasional small game?)
And again versus the Savage 93R17 GV?

Thanks for your input!
 
I agree with blasted saber get the .22 to start with. Dont think there will be a big difference with noise, but you should always wear hearing protection anyway.

Do youself a favor and pick up a ruger 10/22. These are in my opinion thr best .22lr. There are scores of aftermarket parts and barrels. My 10/22 will shoot sub MOA @ 100yds. So its great for hunting + targets (it does have a match barrel).
 
Atfer said:
And for grouse hunting, would a .17 HMR would be too much?

Would the Savage Mark II G be a good starter for this use (target mostly/ maybe occasional small game?)
And again versus the Savage 93R17 GV?

Thanks for your input!
Click to expand...

I would say yes. 17 HMR is known for violent impacts, something you dont want on game you're eating. You want something that will be gentle on the breast if you happen to hit it, not explode it like a grenade.

The Savage Mark II G looks like a good rifle. Ive never even held one, but it looks fine, and Savages reputation is good.
 
Atfer said:
And for grouse hunting, would a .17 HMR would be too much?

Would the Savage Mark II G be a good starter for this use (target mostly/ maybe occasional small game?)
And again versus the Savage 93R17 GV?

Thanks for your input!
Click to expand...

jpbaker said:
I agree with blasted saber get the .22 to start with. Dont think there will be a big difference with noise, but you should always wear hearing protection anyway.

Do youself a favor and pick up a ruger 10/22. These are in my opinion thr best .22lr. There are scores of aftermarket parts and barrels. My 10/22 will shoot sub MOA @ 100yds. So its great for hunting + targets (it does have a match barrel).
Click to expand...

The savage Mark II will be the most accurate bang for your buck for sure. The 10/22 is a fun little semi with lots of upgrading options, but won't be as accurate as the mark II in general, although hard for me to really tell at 50 yards and under.
 
Thank you for your help!

It seems that I'll be looking for a .22 LR! And the price of the ammo really is a big plus.

Is there some things that I should know before buying? What is a good price/quality ammo brand that you would suggest for .22 LR?

There is a scope mount on the Savage Mark II G. Is a cheap scope worth the fun or is the .22 LR accuracy not enough to use a scope?

Once again thanks for your help, I really appreciate it!

EDIT: Oh and since we're there. I do love bolt action rifle, but if you were me, would you choose a semi-auto or a bolt action? Why? Thanks!
 
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Invest in a good bolt 22. These guns will last you a lifetime. I have scopes on most of mine. Buy a few different brands & types of shells and see what you shoot best. As JP said get ear & eye protection, some ranges will not let you near the firing line without them. Look at CZ, Savage, Rem bolts ((541 are my fav.), used Brunos, and many I've missed. Don't be afraid to ask more questions when you get it narrowed down. Good luck Aj
 
I would recommend a Ruger 10/22 rifle, they are very reliable, accurate and fun to shoot plus the accessories to modify it later are there if you want,,,
,22LR is all I've ever hunted grouse with and it works fine under 100m, I only use CCI ,22LR ammo, now but any good name brand like Winchester or Federal should work alright it's usually best to try a few different brands and see what works best in your rifle,,,

Welcome to the world of firearms,,,
 
I'd get the 10/22 for the fun of it. They're great little .22's and when you get bit by the upgrade bug the options are limitless lol.

You might want to get a little .410 for pheasants.
 
Get a .22 of some sort for sure. A bolt with irons is hands down THE best way to learn good shooting fundamentals. Mark II G would be perfect. A semi with a scope is a hell of a lot of fun. I started with a 10/22 but that's only because I got a Savage bolt in .17 hmr at the same time. Absolute tack driver.
 
I will start by saying i am not a hunter i am a target shooter
But i do read a lot and have accumulated some all around knowledge
which i am sure the expert hunters will soon echo.
Bolt 22lr for small game great choice and also best way to learn all the fundamentals.
Can not go wrong with a savage or a cz depending on your budget.
Now i am a great Marlin fan for target but as i do not hunt i can not speak of their tolerances for the field use.
But one point that i do not think has been addressed with clarity .
You can not hunt fowl with a 22lr bolt not even sure if that is legal but definitely not prudent from a safety point
if you miss there is a round coming down a half a mile away somewhere.
For birds you use a shotgun end of
Safe shooting
 
Atfer said:
Thank you for your help!

It seems that I'll be looking for a .22 LR! And the price of the ammo really is a big plus.

Is there some things that I should know before buying? What is a good price/quality ammo brand that you would suggest for .22 LR?

There is a scope mount on the Savage Mark II G. Is a cheap scope worth the fun or is the .22 LR accuracy not enough to use a scope?

Once again thanks for your help, I really appreciate it!

EDIT: Oh and since we're there. I do love bolt action rifle, but if you were me, would you choose a semi-auto or a bolt action? Why? Thanks!
Click to expand...

I have both semi's (10/22) and bolt (mark II) i like the 10/22 for fun range plinking, but the savage is more accurate, so if i use it hunting it's what comes along with me. If you love bolt actions, go bolt, the good thing about 22's are that they are relatively cheap, you can get a 10/22 later if you feel like you want one.
There are lots of options for rimfire scopes for 22's. I have a 3-9x32 bushnell rimfire on my savage and a 3-9x32 simmons on my 10/22, some people like irons, some prefer scopes. personally i shoot better with a scope, so that's what i went with, although i would like to try the tech sights for the 10/22
 
do some research, pick a quality firearm and one that has high praise for being very accurate. An accurate rifle will keep your interests away up in the shooting sport. s/a's are not usually the best choice. You can always get one later when the feel for need sets in.
 
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