Planning ahead - good budget rifle for newb?

[Obtunded]

It is certainly possible to find good deals on used precision rifles, but one MUST know what they're looking for. I think it would be a real crap shoot to think you can get into a precision gun for a grand. Besides, add three grand for top quality scope, rings, and bases and a rest or bipod of good quality. Add another $1500 to get all the essential precision reloading tools and components.

The gun is almost the cheapest part of shooting.

 

[Bandits]

IMHO, you should start with a good 22LR.

Most of everyone who shoots, has started on a 22 and for good reason. It will allow you to develop all of the basics at a fraction of the cost. You have to learn how to read wind and judge your range correctly as it gets kicked around "relatively" easily and drops "fairly" quick.

Once you have a 22 you won't get rid of it (usually) as most everyone has one somewhere even if it is a safe queen. More to the point, I believe that someone can not really appreciate all that a target rifle offers unless they have shot an old fashioned 22 factory rifle. Really, some of those 22's have a trigger heavy enough to hang the gun off (don't try that). But you learn trigger control and not to hold your breath for a minute while squeezing the trigger.

Start small, get the basics and some coaching. Most shooters are happy to help someone new to the sport. Shoot as much as you can, in all conditions. While on the range you may get the opportunity to try other guns by which point, you can appreciate details in a gun that is best suited to you.

 

[maynard]

You must be into the "Barnard" action stuff . I've seen a few ex DCRA rifles on the EE for that price. I know $1,000 is on the entry level cheap side of TR for sure!

Barnard...bite your tongue Actually Barnard's were not readily available in Canada at the time, so for me it was a toss up between an RPA and an HHE Millennium. I went with this h ttp://home.xtra.co.nz/hosts/hhe/alloystock.htm
Had I known Ian was going to be bringing in Barnards the following year I would have waited.

 

[BP7]

... add three grand for top quality scope, rings, and bases and a rest or bipod of good quality ...

LOLOMGWTFBBQ!!1

three GRAND for a scope? haha! that's funny. i scanned the LeBaron catalog and can't see myself spending more than a three HUNDRED for a scope. this is after all a hobby and not a career that's earning me money. haha!

that WAS funny, though.

in any case, the more i look at it the more i like the Rem 700.

 

[rishu_pepper]

LOLOMGWTFBBQ!!1

three GRAND for a scope? haha! that's funny. i scanned the LeBaron catalog and can't see myself spending more than a three HUNDRED for a scope. this is after all a hobby and not a career that's earning me money. haha!

that WAS funny, though.

in any case, the more i look at it the more i like the Rem 700.

Just because you won't/can't purchase a $3000 scope doesn't give you the right to laugh at others who choose to spend more on their "hobby".

 

[Obtunded]

LOLOMGWTFBBQ!!1

three GRAND for a scope? haha! that's funny. i scanned the LeBaron catalog and can't see myself spending more than a three HUNDRED for a scope. this is after all a hobby and not a career that's earning me money. haha!

that WAS funny, though.

in any case, the more I look at it the more I like the Rem 700.

Do yourself a favour and never look through a good scope then, because the reason for the difference will become immediately apparent.

....yet another reason why the title of this forum is a misnomer.

 

[BP7]

Just because you won't/can't purchase a $3000 scope doesn't give you the right to laugh at others who choose to spend more on their "hobby".

i think i clearly said "can't see myself spending..." so thanks but i'm not laughing at him for choosing to spend more. i do find it funny that spending $3k on a scope would be so casually tossed forth as "getting into a precision gun" esp since the thread it about "budget rifle for newb"

different ballparks!

 

[Grantmac]

i think i clearly said "can't see myself spending..." so thanks but i'm not laughing at him for choosing to spend more. i do find it funny that spending $3k on a scope would be so casually tossed forth as "getting into a precision gun" esp since the thread it about "budget rifle for newb"

different ballparks!

Maybe if the title of the thread was "getting a gun that goes bang". But it wasn't, it mentioned precision. This forum is the precision forum.
I have far too little money to buy cheap scopes. The cost in wasted ammunition due to lacking confidence in your set-up will soon pass that which you save buying cheap accessories.

Get a really good .22lr, put good glass on it. If you want to shoot off a Bipod then put on of those on there too.
Shoot the crap out of it. Shoot it in the rain, wind and snow. Shoot it way further then anyone thinks you can (300m is not that far).
Then when you feel like it is the only thing holding your shooting back, get a centerfire and start the process again.

-Grant

 

[Woodbeef]

Find yourself a good target type 22 with peep sights. Learn how to shoot accurately with them before going to a scope. Getting good with peeps will teach you more about hitting the target than any high $$$ scope will.

 

[BP7]

what would be the next recommendation outside of 22LR? let's assume that i simply don't want a 22LR rifle. hey, i don't HAVE to start there, i can choose to start a notch up, so where would the next notch be?

(not everyone has to learn to drive on a 3cyl suzuki swift with manual steering and no radio)

 

[cdnredneck_t3]

I agree with the .22LR. You will end up buying one anyway. But if you want to go with a center fire go with a .223. Now ask yourself if you want to hand load? Do you want to punch paper only? Do you plan on varmint hunting? If so, small like gophers or big like Coyotes? What you want the rifle to shoot will determine what twist barrel you want.

 

[Katana]

LOLOMGWTFBBQ!!1

three GRAND for a scope? haha! that's funny. i scanned the LeBaron catalog and can't see myself spending more than a three HUNDRED for a scope. this is after all a hobby and not a career that's earning me money. haha!

that WAS funny, though.

in any case, the more i look at it the more i like the Rem 700.

i think i clearly said "can't see myself spending..." so thanks but i'm not laughing at him for choosing to spend more. i do find it funny that spending $3k on a scope would be so casually tossed forth as "getting into a precision gun" esp since the thread it about "budget rifle for newb"

different ballparks!

what would be the next recommendation outside of 22LR? let's assume that i simply don't want a 22LR rifle. hey, i don't HAVE to start there, i can choose to start a notch up, so where would the next notch be?

(not everyone has to learn to drive on a 3cyl suzuki swift with manual steering and no radio)

I'll tell you what I know, your an a$$. You asked about a "budget rifle for a newb" and have gotten answers from some of the best shooters in around. Obtunded and others has been doing this for some time and know there stuff (I've met and shot with Obtunded). The budget rifle for precision shooting would be the .22 as it is the cheapest (ie... budget rifle like you asked for). If you don't like what they have to say then you shouldn't have asked the question. It sounds to me your not getting the answers you wanted to hear.

 

[Slavex]

TRG22 with a Sako bipod and 5-25x S&B PMII on top. A Near Alpha mount and base or the Sako 3 ring setup. Should get you in the door for under $8000 if you're lucky. You're young take out a loan and pay it off slowly.

 

[Grantmac]

what would be the next recommendation outside of 22LR? let's assume that i simply don't want a 22LR rifle. hey, i don't HAVE to start there, i can choose to start a notch up, so where would the next notch be?

(not everyone has to learn to drive on a 3cyl suzuki swift with manual steering and no radio)

The next notch is a better .22lr rifle, it will last you for the rest of your life and everyone who wanted to own it afterword.

There just isn't a way around this. If you don't want to reload and you think spending $3000 on a rig is expensive you simply DO NOT have the cash to run anything centerfire.

Not being able to afford to shoot enough to get accurate means you will just be making noise. Get an SKS, it will fit the bill just as well.

-Grant