What is the best first rifle?

Back when I started out shooting and only had a few rifles, I found when ever I left the house to go shooting it was my Remington 700 243 that went with me. I also had a 222 and a 7 RM and a 30-06 and a Sav 99 in 300 Sav and an old Mod 86 in 45-70 but it was ALWAYS my 243 that went. I shot the barrel out of that rifle in about 4 years, something over 10,000 rounds. The others didn't languish idly about either but none saw 10% of the volume of my 243.
The 243 is just soooooo much fun to shoot, almost zero recoil, superb accuracy, which boosts your confidence and it has the ability to reach out and terminate coyotes at 400+ mtrs and is effective on deer with proper bullets, properly placed.
I cannot recommend the 243 high enough as a beginner CF on which to learn to shoot. I have owned and shot virtually every caliber and cartridge available in NA and quite a few I designed and built myself and most of my earliest fond memories of hunting and shooting and some outstanding shots are with my old 243. Now I'm not saying that it is the only caliber/cartridge to start with, but that family which includes the 6mm Rem, 250 Sav, 257 Roberts, and 25-06. The key is to keep the recoil down, the velocity and accuracy up and the fun factor at redline at all times. The cost of shooting is also a factor and these cartridges are all relatively inexpensive to shoot.
I tried but never liked the 222/223 class of cartridges, they blew around in the wind way more than the 243 and were not decisive on coyotes, in fact I dumped and lost 2 running coyotes one winter day with the 222 and I sold it a week or so later. The 22-250/220 Swift are fun but are better suited to longer and heavier barrels, but definitely fall into the bottom end of this class of cartridge with 60-70 gn bullets. The 257 Wby tops out this class of cartridges but is up there in comparative recoil and much higher cost of shooting, but still a ton of fun.

The rimfire is a must, of course, and will definitely aid in learning shooting skills, but I disagree with the concept of buying a cheap one. Buy a higher quality, mid priced adult sized one, and you will keep it for life and always enjoy it. I went on a search for a nice 22 here a while back, with a man sized walnut stock and a barrel longer than 18". I ended up with a Browning T-bolt and it is a very nice rimfire that shoots exceptionally well and looks good doing it. It has a real walnut stock with real cut checkering and a 22" barrel with a flush fitting 10 rd magazine. In my opinion Browning got it exactly right. I have also picked up 3 Winchester 94 22s which I have always loved and again they have real walnut stocks and the heft and feel of a real rifle, with real sights and real blued steel. My T-bolt 22 mag will shoot 10 shots at 50 mtrs into a hole smaller than a dime using CCI 40 gn HP ammo. I have yet to find the perfect ammo for my 17 HMR (a second T-bolt in blue and walnut) but I haven't really sat down with a sampling of everything out there for it and made a concerted effort to find out which is best. Right now it'll keep CCI plastic tips in about 1-1.5" @ 100 mtrs so it fulfills my needs at the moment.
 
For caliber I'd have to suggest .243... load down for varmint and predators...load up for deer even black bear. Mid recoil, excellent accuracy. Just fun to shoot anything with!!!! As for rifle all I will suggest is, you'll be best served by a bolt action. Your mfg'er and model is up to you and your wallet! Check online reviews, go touch and feel some up, if you can get a chance shoot the ones you are considering.. one more thing take everyones rifle advice for what it is ...advise and opinions.... what they like and can afford my not be what you like or can/want to afford?

Enjoy your search for the right rifle for you!
 
I'm kind of in your situation. Looking for something that's a "step-up" from my .22s. One thing I've learned is to shoulder as many guns as you can to give you best idea of what fits you. What looks good on the shelf, may not be the good for you. I'm still looking!!
 
I think it's really hard to cover off both small game (grouse) and deer sized game with one rifle. But coyotes and deer is doable. So having said that, a .243 would be an easy shooter, light recoiling and can adequately take both deer and coyotes. Look at a Ruger American or Savage as those would be good entry level rifles for what you are wanting to do. I'd lean towards the Ruger myself. There are some other calibres too like 257 Roberts, 6.5x55 or 6.5 Creedmore. As above, a .22 is a good rifle to keep around for plinking and practice. But a few hundred rounds through a .22 then shoot the .243. You'll be better off having done that for sure. Also, know, understand and practice the principles of marksmanship. Here is a good PPT on marksmanship.

http://www.biathlonltu.com/uploads/file_manager/Principles_of_Marksmanship.pdf
 
Ruger #1 in .243.

Enough for you to take anything from vermin to deer. If you think you may one day go for something larger you may want to get it in 30-06. I don't know if they still have them but you used to be able to get the "accelerator" rounds for the little guys and you can kill anything in North America with the 06. If you plan on hunting with it, don't get SS. stands out to much on sunny days.

The big advantage is that the #1 demands you learn good shooting and hunting skills. You will be a better person for it. As for the slowness of reloads... I have a leather sleeve on the stock that holds 3 more rounds. I can get all 4 off as fast as you can with your bolt action. Point of note - I don't shoot it like a machine gun. I usually know where the round is going as soon as it leaves the barrel and wait to see its effect before I shoot the second one (which is already loaded)
 
Marcelj1221 said:
Thanks for all the replies. From all the replies I figure it's best I get a 22lr and shoot a couple cases of ammo through it and then either sell it and get a 308 or similar and keep the 22lr for squirrels and for new shooters down the line to try it out.
Click to expand...

I am 61 years old. I learned to shoot gophers with my Dad's iron sight Cooey Model 60 22 LR. He bought each of us boys a 303 British when we turned 14. I could never hit anything with the Lee Enfield sights. Of course, the notion of target shooting, or even practice, for that matter, was out of the question for centerfires rifles - cartridges were just too expensive, and were only used when deer hunting! Once I was on my own, I had three guns - a Ruger 22 semi, a Browning pump 12 gauge with 26" barrel, and a 308 Winchester Model 70 with 2-7 power Leupold. Got my first deer with the 308 when I was 20. Life was good! My son chose early inheritance on every one of those three guns. I have, and have had, many other guns, but for most of us folks "south of 60", I think the 22, 12gauge and 308 are still pretty good way to get started.
 
Potashminer said:
I am 61 years old. I learned to shoot gophers with my Dad's iron sight Cooey Model 60 22 LR. He bought each of us boys a 303 British when we turned 14. I could never hit anything with the Lee Enfield sights. Of course, the notion of target shooting, or even practice, for that matter, was out of the question for centerfires rifles - cartridges were just too expensive, and were only used when deer hunting! Once I was on my own, I had three guns - a Ruger 22 semi, a Browning pump 12 gauge with 26" barrel, and a 308 Winchester Model 70 with 2-7 power Leupold. Got my first deer with the 308 when I was 20. Life was good! My son chose early inheritance on every one of those three guns. I have, and have had, many other guns, but for most of us folks "south of 60", I think the 22, 12gauge and 308 are still pretty good way to get started.
Click to expand...

Same way I grew up
I remember being given 3 303 rounds and told not to come home with out a moose or deer and if we had to use the last round we were not be using the Lee Enfield any more

The 22 was difrent we pack that thing everywhere camping hiking fishing Evan to school all us boys had a tree we would leave are rifle and pick them up on are way home each day
 
carverk said:
Same way I grew up
I remember being given 3 303 rounds and told not to come home with out a moose or deer and if we had to use the last round we were not be using the Lee Enfield any more

The 22 was difrent we pack that thing everywhere camping hiking fishing Evan to school all us boys had a tree we would leave are rifle and pick them up on are way home each day
Click to expand...


Now that's just the right way to grow up...........
 
One of the first things that I would suggest is to pick the action that you would like.
Bolt, lever, pump, semi or single shot.

Then go and get a 22 RF and shoot as much as you can then get a 243 then a 30-06 and a shotgun.
Then go hunting.

David
 
Everyone needs atleast 3 guns, 22lr (semi) , 12 ga. , And a cannon (.270 or better).

I personally recommend a cheap bolt action with synthetic stock, makes the newb marks easier to cope with. I sctrached my great grandpas 870 second time out... It still hurts
 
Deer and yote on the cheap? I would say get a mosin, as stated above learning on a bolt .22 is a great idea, surplus ammo for mosins is relatively easy to come by. Once you shoot that a bunch and the novelty of larger calibres that go "bang" wears off, then you'll start chasing accuracy with hunting ammo, as well as shimming & bedding the stock if you really like it. If you're anything like me, the reloading bug will bite you inside a year after that. First rifle I had was a K98 in 8x57mm, definitley think about your ammo costs first, the old kraut gun is about $2/round for quality hunting ammo from europe.

That being said, welcome to the sport and we all hope you receive your licence quickly! :D
 
12 years ago i got my first Scout Steyr 308, my quest for an hunting rifle was over except i bought 3 other Scout Steyr 376/ 308/308... JP.
 
The best first gun is the one you can afford today and actually buy. Your first gun will never be your last. Don't over think getting the perfect first gun. Just get one that shoots. Buy used. NO matter what you buy you will soon discover that it doesn't do everything you want to do, and will need to get another, and another. Each purchase will be an improvement on the last, and could often see your shooting interests, develop, change, devolve and wander.

Gun ownership is a journey, and its not a straight line. Welcome fellow traveller.
 
Starting with a .22 bolt action would make the most sense, based on what you plan to buy in a center-fire rifle.

Everyone learns to shoot with one, for good reason. Low cost ammunition, no recoil, and plenty of practice is possible.

Learning trigger control and aiming is fundamental to all shooting, and is best learned on a .22. Afterward, with ingrained habits, recoil won't have any effect on your shooting.

Since hunting is your focus, you should practice shooting from different positions as well. (Sitting, kneeling, squatting, standing)

Many hunters never bother, and just sight in off the bench, and could not hit a bull in the ass with a banjo.

Once qualified, buy the best bolt action rifle that you can afford with a decent scope mounted.

You should resist any temptation to impulse buy a rifle in some exotic new cartridge, for which ammunition may be hard to obtain and expensive.

As has been said, a .243 would work very nicely for coyotes and deer.

For larger game, you can't go wrong with a .30-06.

If you plan to shoot center-fire a lot at the range, then invest a few hundred dollars in a basic reloading setup.
A single stage press, dies, scale, powder measure, priming tool, and such will be a good investment.
 
Last edited:
Its more a matter of financial possibilities, if you have lots of disposable income the churning guns might be a what you want to do. While guns do hold their value you almost always lose a little bit every time you buy and sell.

Now to the meat of the matter, every one recommends a 22lr I however recommend a 17hmr, still a no-recoil rimfire but far more accurate at greater distance for accuracy practice and practice with out developing a flinch. Slightly more expensive ammo but worth the money IMHO

Every one recommends buying used but you never know when you are buying some one elses shot out or problem child rifle. Buy a Savage Axis2 for the accutrigger or an Axis1 and do the trigger job yourself. Many on here will spend half their time telling you how terrible Savage rifles are but you will have to spend thousands of dollars to get a more accurate rifle. It will be your first centre fire rifle and you will probably make mistakes and give it character scars and that is much easier to take on a $500.00 rifle then on a much more expensive one and when you finally put it in the back of your cabinet forsaking it for the new and bright and shiny its just a cheap gun working as a back up. Secondly as it will be your first center fire it will teach you what you like and don't like and will inform your next purchases and there will be more purchases.

As for calibre, if you are serious about deer and killing coyotes then a 270 or a 308, probably the 308 as you can still get cheap FMJ for practice at the range. If you are more interested in pelt hunting for Coyotes then a 223 would seem more plausible
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom