Will I be happy with a .22?

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Noltz

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Looking for experienced opinions. I'm 31, using air rifles & pistols for many years. Enrolled for PAL course this weekend. Primary interest is medium-long range paper target / gong shooting (200 yards and up). Considering my experience with air rifles, comfortable putting tight groups in at 50 yards, should I consider a .223 or .17HMR for a first rifle over the Remington 597 that's caught my eye? I tried a 30-06, and while it was quite repeatable it had a lot of kick. Maybe I need to get used to it, or perhaps a smaller round is more suitable since I'm not hunting. Your opinions on this are welcome. Budget is around $500.

Please keep in mind that Silverdale (primary range I'll be shooting at) does not allow rimfire on their 200 yard range due to CFO concerns. This will restrict me to the 50 and 100 yard ranges. Another reason to consider center-fire from the start.
 
If you're set on using that range and they don't allow rimfire on their 200 yard range then I guess you've got your answer. Nobody would be happy with a gun that they had no place to shoot with.

Personally, I'd have a hard time keeping happiness shooting rounds that cost ~$1 each. I like the dime or less per round for .22lr Shoot more. Smile more.

Nobody says you can only have one gun anyway.
 
A windy day @100 yards could be frustrating shooting with a 17 rimfire. Especially if your range time is intermittent. My best guess is .223 for your situation friend.
Plus with handloading you can customize your rifle target reloads, which is not an option with a limited selection of store bought rimfire. Handloading opens up a whole new interesting world in of itself, IMO. IE-Hot loads, factory spec loads, squib loads, cast lead, copper jacketed, hollow points, FMJs, super accurate match loads, etc.

my two bits
 
No gun will keep you happy for long. You will always want another one. :)

22lr is best to start, I would say especially if you have limited range. I think 22lr at 100 yards is more challenging than 223 at 200 yards because it is more affected by wind and other factors. 200 yards on a 223 isn't very far.

So, get the 22lr then get the 223 whenever your budget allows. As mentioned above. You can practice all day with a 22lr but the 223 gets expensive and this will limit your time with it.
 
normally on CGN, the advise to a new shooter goes along the lines of "get a .22.... cheap ammo.... get good before getting a center-fire..." I've said so myself.

But the OP isn't a new shooter, he's just been using airguns. Given that he just wants to punch paper, his aversion to recoil, and the ranges at which he wants to shoot, a .22 center fire cartridge, or even up to a .243, might be a better choice for him. He'll just have to cut back on unnecessary expenditures like rent and food.

My. $0.02
 
i don't know how many times i've heard lately about "kick" or recoil- what most people don't realize it's the BULLET WEIGHT that's causing the problem- go to something like 150's in 308 or lighter or smaller calibers and it WON'T KICK as bad- also DO SOME ON-LINE RESEARCH and see what the pounds-force recoil of the selected cartridge is in what bullet weights- and there are STILL ways around that- muzzle BRAKES, recoil pads on the rifle , or the "pussy pad" on the shoulder, or finally, get a HEAVIER gun to absorb the recoil- if you get the average 7-8 pound rifle in 06 and shoot say maybe 180's in it you generate about 17 pounds of recoil- take that same combo and put it in a 12 pound target rifle and it generates about half that, if that
 
Start on the 50 and 100 yd. ranges with a .22 bolt action, (not the semi 597) then decide after that what you want, it will probably be more than you expect.
 
You can always shoot the metric range with a .22 :) - as well as the Action Range ;) , the 25/50 and the 50 range.....:yingyang:

A .22's a (relatively) cheap and great way to start :evil: , and it sounds like you might be adding a bolt-action .223 (Stevens ? ) or a milsurp to that .22 sometime in the near future !
 
.22 is cheap as chips and it will give you base for reading wind and bullet drop. Dlask makes parts for the ruger 10/22 which make the rifle incredibly accurate with the cheap-o ammo.

The next level would be .223 as it can reach further and can provide wind challenges due to bullet weight, as previously mentioned very little recoil. The added benefit to .223 is its very reasonable to shoot as a center fire and a great starter cartridge for learning to reload.

As for .17HMR, I have several friends with rifles chambered in this caliber and although very fun they've either sold their rifles or no longer use them due to the cartridge cost, I've been told .223 is cheaper.

My .02
 
As a newbie to the posession of firearms in my late thirties i can say you will likely enjoy the .22 but will want to graduate to something with more of a kick. Myself i've always had a interest in military surplus and have now aquired a couple. Fun to shoot something with alot of history. Can be cheap to shoot with surplus corossive ammo. Just have to clean well. So start off with that .22 but move it on up and keep shooting. cheers!
 
No, you won't be happy with a 22. Considering your previous experience and the longer range you will be able to use a centerfire rifle on, you should get a bolt action 223. If you buy a Stevens 200 in 223 it won't cost much more than a 22 and will be much more capable. Sure the ammo costs more than a 22, like a car costs more than a bicycle.
 
Buy a .223. Savage makes some Heavy Barrel rifles that are extremely accurate, sure they are built like clubs, and won't have the fit and finish that any high end air rifle have but they can shoot and shoot very well. Its a caliber that many use out to 1000 yards, it won't beat you up, you likely won't wear it out, many more bullet options for it than for many other calibers, and recoil is not a killer. I am like you I don't like recoil, seen way too many detached retinas from all the trauma.



For strictly paper punching the 223 is really hard to beat at the ranges you are talking.


Keep in mind an accurate 22 will cost you more than an accurate .223.

Heck a match air rifle is 6 times the price of an accurate .223
 
ice2152 said:
Myself i've always had a interest in military surplus and have now aquired a couple. Fun to shoot something with alot of history. Can be cheap to shoot with surplus corossive ammo. Just have to clean well.
Click to expand...

Agree! get an SKS, reliable, shoots well (i can pretty consistently hit a 16"x16"steel plate @ 200yards with the iron sights), more kick that a .22, and good to learn dissasembly, decent amount of aftermarket options (stocks, scopes, sights, etc)

~$180 SKS
~$200-250 for 1200-1400 surplus ammo
+ clean well after every outting
= happy shooter

good luck!
 
WOW! Great replies guys!! Special thanks to Thumper to meet at the range to check out his rifle.

I tried to keep my original post clean and to the point, leaving out some details. I was shooting a 180 grain bullet in the Savage 30-06. The lighter 150 would have been less recoil. Given the kick on it, I doubt I'd fire more than two dozen rounds per visit, so cost wise it's more than .22LR but not excessively so. At a buck a pop this would get expensive fast but my hobbies are never the cheapest ones.

I'd prefer to avoid the 10/22 simply because it WILL get expensive to modifiy it to my liking, whereas the 597 get's quite good reviews out-of-the-box. Not as good as a modded Ruger of course :). I've received PM's too about looking at SKS's and Mosin Nagant. Neither seem particularly well suited to a scope, but Google has pic's of both wearing them with adapters or gunsmithing. Ahh.. choices.

Please, any additional options will be welcome. And many thanks to those who posted already.
 
You guys haven't been around a lot of airgun shooters :) They shoot groups that would make you cry with joy on a daily basis. An SKS is NOT the answer for this guy!!

A decent used bolt .223, or even better, .222 if you can find one, will more than meet your needs.

Also in your price range, a good quality swedish M96 in 6.5x55 will outshoot you most of the time, is a relatively easy shooting cartridge, and should be able to be had for about $300. Spend the other 200 on a single stage press, a lee deluxe collet die set, and some components, and you'll be good to go for a while :)
 
Every shooter needs a good .22 RF, really good practice (due to no recoil you can see what you are doing wrong), cheap to shoot and challenging at 100 yds. CZ 452 is heirloom quality.

Next step would be good .223.
 
I'm going to chime in with what everyone else is saying. Grab a little .22 to start, perhaps an older cooey, they're really cheap around $100-$175 if you can shoot $19 worth of .22 ammo in a day at the range you're an animal! Shoot that for a month or until you get bored of it and by then you'll easily be back up to your $500 budget or even higher and then find a higher caliber rifle with low recoil
 
The OP has an air rifle, which addresses the practice with lower cost ammo, for his battery. A 597 would probably be a disappointment. but a good .223 would give CF velocities, enough boom to require discipline to continue the excellent follow-through air gunners develop, and still allow all he can afford to shoot without beating him up.

Yeah, you can load the bigger ones down, or shoot cheap surplus ammo (I wish), but prairie dog gunners, and woodchuck killers, and three gun bangers all appreciate being able to go dozens or even hundreds of rounds without a recoil induced headache. And, if the OP goes on to become a handloader too, well, he can shoot his .223 for even less, and develop even more accurate loads. Since he has ruled out hunting as an interest at this point, there is no need to go to a hunting round, and while mil surp arms are interesting, they seldom drive tacks.

YMMV
 
.223 is an awsome round with 45 grain bullets you can get 3200fps outa the barrel so hitting a target at 200yrds should be doable I personally own a Mini 14 at 100 yrds I can hit a pop can falling down a hill 3 outa 5 times groupings arnt the best but its a mini and theres virtually no kick compared to your 30-06 allowing you to stay on target although I find when you go to a semi auto it also helps absorb some kick my browning long track is a nice gun for touching things out to 600yrds. my brother owns a .270 he scoped it and seems to love it ... but compared to .22 rnds the price is way up so make your own ammo or pay the price.. another thing to look at is what grain ur gunna be shooting and getting into the twist of the barrel for better stability at higher grains
 
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