Target Rifles
- Thread starter foremanwild
- Start date
What kind of targets are you shooting? Silhouette? Benchrest? Olympic style? One won't necessarily work for the other.
Jason
To get your feet wet without breaking the bank, I'd recommend that you look for an 64-series action Anschutz, like a CIL 180 or 190:
You can usually find these, with front and rear sights for $400-600 at many used gun shows. The light barrel, decent stock with fore-end rail and adjustable buttplate allows for the most basic of adjustments and they'll shoot better than you for quite awhile -- at least until you decide to get serious.
With more patience you could likely find an older 54-series Anschutz from the 1960s, such as any of the 1400 series mentioned by Paul. These actions are stiffer, triggers are better, lock times faster and the stocks more adjustable. But I don`t know that you would shoot one better than a 64-series if you`re just starting out.
There are also a number of Remington 37s, 540s, Winchester 52s, BSAs, Savages, Marlins and Lakefields floating around that would also do, but dollar for dollar, an Anschutz is still your best bet.
My first rifle was an Anschutz 190, followed by a 1974 vintage 1413 free rifle and currently a late 80s model 1913.
Jason
That was also going to be my suggestion. We have a number of 22 target rifles, and a 190 gets used a lot. Accurate, lightweight and and easy to shoot accurately.
It takes practice and a really good coach to learn to shoot a heavy barreled rifle (offhand). Some people can become discouraged. Without small adjustments in position, posture, and stance, and the shooter won't be able to achieve great accuracy. Heavy barreled rifles are not the most comfortable rifles to shoot.
Start with a lighter barreled rifle, when you get good with that, upgrade to a heavier rifle.
Put a WTB ad in the rimfire EE, there is a steady trickle of CIL/Anschutz 180's and 190's through there. I would recommend the 190 over the 180, it has the better stock and sights for what you are describing as your use. The pic posted by JasonJ is a 190 (unless I am missing something). I have a 190 and enjoy shooting it regularly, even though I don't compete.
Expect to pay ~$500 shipped for a good+ condition 190 with the full aperture sight set up from the EE.
Mark
Yes, that was a CIL 190 that I grabbed off Google. I have an Anschutz 190 -- no CIL mark -- and it's nice little rifle. Here's my son shooting it from a couple of years ago:
I like the fore-end and fully stippled pistol grip. I may buy a new 1903 action and send it off to be pillar bedded in the fall after my dad finishes installing an adjustable buttplate and cheek piece.
Jason
To get your feet wet without breaking the bank, I'd recommend that you look for an 64-series action Anschutz, like a CIL 180 or 190:
You can usually find these, with front and rear sights for $400-600 at many used gun shows. The light barrel, decent stock with fore-end rail and adjustable buttplate allows for the most basic of adjustments and they'll shoot better than you for quite awhile -- at least until you decide to get serious.
With more patience you could likely find an older 54-series Anschutz from the 1960s, such as any of the 1400 series mentioned by Paul. These actions are stiffer, triggers are better, lock times faster and the stocks more adjustable. But I don`t know that you would shoot one better than a 64-series if you`re just starting out.
There are also a number of Remington 37s, 540s, Winchester 52s, BSAs, Savages, Marlins and Lakefields floating around that would also do, but dollar for dollar, an Anschutz is still your best bet.
My first rifle was an Anschutz 190, followed by a 1974 vintage 1413 free rifle and currently a late 80s model 1913.
Jason
Gagnon Sports had one of these for sale a week or so ago for around $400. I didn`t see it on their web site but that doesn`t mean it isn`t there.
Excellent rifles, not sure you will find one in good shape for much less than $1000, though.
Mark
And the target specific models can be quite heavy, especially compared to a 180 or 190.
Jason
Yes they are very heavy, expecially the International series. I have several, including an International and a heavy barreled custom rifle.
My suggestion is to start off with a lighter rifle, get good with that and then move up to a heavier rifle. If you can shoot well with a lighter rifle, they you should be even better with a heavier one.
A lighter rifle allows a beginning shooter to concentrate on all other aspects of technique, rather than just trying to hold a heavy rifle still.
All I'm saying is that you may not enjoy sporting/match rifle shooting, regardless of how long you've been shooting, what you've been shooting or how well you shoot in general.
That's why it's great that we have so many different kinds of competition in this country -- if one doesn't float your boat you can likely find another that does. Starting out with a 180 or 190 will give you the option to try out many (at least in smallbore).
Jason
