Looking for a beginner rifle

[MinnesnowtaWild]

Hello there. I am an avid fisherman and have never even shot a gun before but am really wanting to buy one to use on my buddies land. It will mostly be used for targets and small game, but down the road I may want to deer hunt.

The gun I have really been looking at is the Ruger 10/22, and have been recommended by my buddy to start out with a .22 rifle. I own a few .177 pellet guns and a .22 pellet rifle and have been wanting to get into a real rifle for a while but this year I want to buy one.

Looking to spend in the $200 range.

[Doug Smotherman]

For small game the 10/22 would be great for small game, but if you want a deer rifle get an H&R 243 bull barrel. They are cheap single shot rifles that shoot very good for the money. You can get one for $230, but not a small game cal. Also you could get a shot gun with a field barrel(for small game) and a slug barrl for deer, but you will have to spend a little more. A 20ga shot gun would have less kick and would work for small game and deer.

[SapperACE]

You should be able to find a brand new basic 10-22 at any retail store in the price range you mentioned. The Ruger 10-22 is one of the best rifles ever made. You wouldn't be disappointed. Good Luck!

[lovebigbluegills]

I agree, the 10-22 is one of the best rifles ever made, and I absolutely love mine. The thing I like best about 22's, is that you can shoot all day long for relatively little expense.

[MinnesnowtaWild]

I decided I am for sure gunna get the 10/22 Ruger for my first gun. I have gone to a few sporting goods stores (Gander Mountain, [PoorWordUsage], Scheels, and Cabela's on Monday) and have seen many rifles but I still like the feel of the 10/22 and the price is good too.

[Cold_blood]

the price is good and you'll have that gun forever i have my my uncles which he bought new back in the 70's still shoots like a dream

[jlm]

I would have to agree, I have never heard anyone complain about a 10/22. Great choice for a first gun and easy to sell if you decide its not for you! Good luck!

[deadeye]

I think everyone said it already but you cant go wrong with a 10/22. There is a plethora of accessories out there for it too, just about anything you can think of is available for it.

[MinnesnowtaWild]

I was also interested in the Remington Model 597.

My buddies dad recommends a .177 for a first rifle though, so we shall see.

[Cold_blood]

a .177 (or pellet gun) is a good choice but for those you would want to go with a good one which at least the ones i've checked out are even more then the 10/22 and the ammo for both is about the same price you'll have more options with a 22 and if you do get into rabbit or squirrel hunting its nice to have a fast follow up shot

[skolfoppa]

10/22. Easy to handle, durable, and fun to shoot.

[MinnesnowtaWild]

I didn't mean .177 pellet gun, I already have three of those but was talking about the .17 caliber guns.

[Cold_blood]

o ok my bad.... i mean get what you want in the case of a gun because afterall your the one shooting it but you should diffenately shoulder them at the store and see which fits you best let us know what you decide

[DrKen]

You won't go wrong with the 10/22. Good durable gun, accurate and all kinds of stuff out there to customize it. Will last a lifetime.

[picksbigwagon]

If you are looking to just blast away and throw cheap rounds at beer cans, go with the 10/22. If you are looking to use it for small game (squirrel, rabbit, ???) I would go with the 17HMR. I love my 17HMR. I can hit primers in unloaded rifle rounds at 50 yards with my 17hmr (off of shooting bags). Yes the ammo is more expensive, but the accuracy is amazing. Look at the savage line with the accutrigger, they are unreal. Yes it will be more than the 200 you are looking at, but you can get it with a scope for about 350.......

[bdafisher]

Ruger 10/22 is a great gun, and that is the way to go. Cheap ammo, tank of a gun, and it will teach everything you need to know about shooting higher calibers later on.

[coombia21]

i would get a 10/22 and not a 17hmr because of the ammo costs and there really isnt a big difference i have both

[paul pachowicz]

After reading this thread and talkin to my son who has two of em I went out and bought a 10-.22 today with a scope for 219.00. Also got an extra factory clip and 2 25 rd clips and 3 bricks of ammo. I completely forgot about the speed loader for the bigger clips. Guess I go back and get on of them tomorrow. Then I started looking at those mini-14 and mini 30's. That 6.8mm SPC is an intriquing caliber. I better stop reseaching it or I'll talk myself into gettin one.

[MinnesnowtaWild]

How is the scope that comes on the 10/22 combo? Seems good enough where I won't just buy my own scope separate.

[picksbigwagon]

The 6.8? well, now you are going to open a whole new world hobbies. Reloading would be your best option on the 6.8 spc, since ammo is not redily available but I agree that the ballistics are intriguing on them. Of course that would mean you are looking at an AR-15 set up which would open other opportunities for new additions to your collection.

[paul pachowicz]

I took that new 10-.22 out to the range yesterday. pretty decent day, 38 degrees, light unaffecting breeze, full sun. Bench resting only took me 15 rds to get it dialed in at 25 yards, 5/16ths grouping. Then went out to 100 yards and consistently busted clay birds. The scope on it is acceptable for the price and probably be reliable enough considering the lack of recoil. One thing though, the stock is pretty short for me so I put a slip on recoil pad that just about took care of that but it sure looked silly. now, I'm gonna make my own extension for it about 3/8's longer then what the slip on afforded. And, I think I'm gonna sand down the finish and coat it with Rhino lining. The finish is pretty slick and I like a rougher grip.

[sparkydm]

The 6.8? well, now you are going to open a whole new world hobbies. Reloading would be your best option on the 6.8 spc, since ammo is not redily available but I agree that the ballistics are intriguing on them. Of course that would mean you are looking at an AR-15 set up which would open other opportunities for new additions to your collection.

Just read recently in one of the gun rags Ruger is chambering their autoloader in 6.8. They are doing things a little different over at Ruger since the old man died.

[picksbigwagon]

I would assume they are going to put in a Mini-14 format. I have shot two different mini's before, one was a friend and it was okay, not very accurate, but functioned well. The other was his dad's. He had the barrel Cryogenically treated, but it doesn't even come close to my AR-15. I just bought a gun rag magazine for my flight on thursday, I wonder if it is the same magazine...........

[thenewguy]

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[MinnesnowtaWild]

I went ahead and bought a used Remington 597 that I found for $175 and I am pretty happy with it. Went out and bought some CCI Stingers, Velocitors, and mini-mags. Can't wait to try this thing out.

Does anyone know if I need a firearms safety certificate to get a small game license?