Another "help me pick a rifle" thread

[BKCowGod]

Okay, so I would like to purchase my first rifle. I am very torn, but have narrowed things down a bit.

My needs:
* It would mainly be for playing around on the local rifle ranges, not hunting anything that did not once contain soup or soda.
* Totally stupid, but it would also be to complete a certain image of my redneck truck...
* Mossberg is at the top of my price list. Which means a 10/22 is out of the running...

My top choices:
1) Marlin 795 - $150, $.03/round - the Honda Civic of guns. .22 is cheap and plentiful and easy and boring.

2) Mossberg 17HMR - $180, $.10/round - better velocity, better accuracy, slightly more unique round appeals to me. I've always hated Hondas...

3) Mosin Nagant M91-30 - $80, $.25/round - A true challenge, a piece of history, much more interesting and cool. But I am somewhat worried about the kick, I hear they can be really hard on a shoulder. I am 130lbs of weak.

Any input would be appreciated!

[cruiseroutfit]

The clear winner imo is the .22, the cheap ammo is the 100% seller. The Mosin Nagant is a neat gun, relic and has the historical relevence, but a weekend of shooting could leave you with a light wallet and a sore shoulder. I've got a similar Marlin .22 (can't remember the exact model), I've put 1000's of rds through it, never a hitch.

Don't know much about the 17HMR, not a bad ammo price point though.

[SEREvince]

Flip a coin on the .17 or the .22 and then buy the other one later down the road. My pick would be the .17 just because..

I would reccomend you include a few accesories in your cost analysis. If you already own all this then nevermind.

BoreSnake (http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=4926762&sourceid=1500000000000003260410&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=4926762) I use this exclusively with excellent results on my .223 rifles

Some good cleaner/ lube. I like Break Free CLP. A little goes a long way.

You can use some cheap foamies for ear pro, especially with a .22. If you go bigger I'd suggest investing some good muffs (electronic are awsome).

Targets, most ranges have restrictions on shooting bottles, cans etc. Mostly due to litter. You can make your own target stand pretty cheap. For .22/.17 cal there are several fun reusable "Spinner (http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0012734224679a&type=product&cmCat=SEARCHFEAT_all&returnPage=search-results1.jsp&Ntk=Products&QueryText=target&sort=all&_D%3AhasJS=+&N=0&Nty=1&hasJS=true&_DARGS=%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Fcommon%2Fsearch%2Fsearch-box.jsp.form23&_dyncharset=ISO-8859-1)" tagets. Fruits and veggies make a fun alternative if your area allows it. I love blowing up pumpkins, it's kind of an October tradition!

A hardcase of some sort. Even a cheap one will work to protect your new baby. A case may be required depending on where your travels take you. It also allows you to lock it up. I would be very reluctant about carrying any long gun outside a case unless I was hunting on private property, just from the theft standpoint.

If it doesn't already come with a trigger lock I would invest in one of those as well.

If you don't have much experience with firearms or just want a refresher a basic hunter/firearms safety course is a great investment and generally pretty inexpensive.

Either way you go, have fun and be safe!

[Mercedesrover]

Nothing says redneck like a lever gun. Find yourself an old Marlin 39A. Great little .22 that you can pass down to your kids.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v709/Vaarok/marlin39.jpg

The sight of a lever gun is less threatening to the anti-gun crown than to have, say, an AR15 hanging in the back window of your truck. I like to keep one or two hanging behind the front seat of my Rover in leather scabbards. Kinda looks like they belong there.

[calamaridog]

You would never notice the difference in accuracy between the .17 and the .22 unless you were using optics that cost more than the rifle itself. I would definitely opt for a .22 and enjoy yourself.

[AndrewP]

A vote for a .22 of some sort. A used Ruger 10/22 would fit the bill and be a good choice. Mossbergs of all varieties tend to be pretty crude. I think you want to look for a used rifle and save a few $$. .22 is available everywhere and there is no cheaper ammo than .22LR. If your goal is just general shooting, then you'll want to stick with a .22.

I shot a Mosin Nagant this weekend. It is a piece of crap. It takes crude to a whole new and deeper level. The bolt rattles around in the receiver and then sticks when you try to cycle the bolt. Also, the stock is garbage mystery wood, it's practically impossible to load, it's loud due to the very short barrel and it kicks like a mule. Since the ergonomics are poor, that excessive kick will really hurt your shoulder. In short, don't bother.

If you want to shoot a piece of history, get an M-1 Garand from the CMP. For a high powered rifle, these are a joy to shoot, and there is plenty of surplus ammo around to keep the price reasonable.

[ntsqd]

With the 10/22 ruled out I tend to favor bolt action .22's, but those Marlin 39's are a stellar choice too!

If you do buy a used .22 DO NOT buy one without a magazine. Mags are the Achilles heel and unless the rifle is a new model they can be both spendy and rare.

Save the centerfire rifle purchases for later. Really. Not only are they more expensive to shoot (fewer opportunities to shoot) they also require a better back-stop than a .22 (fewer safe places to shoot).

The last time that I looked at the Noise Reduction ratings few of the "bunny ears" type hearing protection had as good a rating as the ear inserts. I keep some foamies in the center console of my truck. When I was a poor college student I reused the foamies by putting them in a sock and tying a know in it. Then I ran the sock through the normal washer/dryer sequence with all of the other socks. The foamies come out looking brand new!

[BKCowGod]

As much as I love the M91, I know in my heart I would be buying it for the wrong reasons.

Bay Area Gun Vault has a used bolt-action .22 with scope for under $200. Don't remember if it is a M'berg or a Marlin, but maybe I should just go for that and call it a day.

Am I better off with the used good one than the new cheapo semi-auto?

[absolute]

I'm suprised nobody has mentioned a Marlin Model 60; cheap, reliable and effective. Semi-Auto, .22 for around $150.

Just a thought!

Nick

[ntsqd]

As much as I love the M91, I know in my heart I would be buying it for the wrong reasons.

Bay Area Gun Vault has a used bolt-action .22 with scope for under $200. Don't remember if it is a M'berg or a Marlin, but maybe I should just go for that and call it a day.

Am I better off with the used good one than the new cheapo semi-auto?
It's pretty hard to wear out a brand name .22, regardless of action type. The first to go will be the early designs of auto-loaders. If you're more about shot placement than volume I'd suggest something other than an auto. Not to say that autos can't be accurate, but that bolts, falling blocks, and levers are more likely to be more accurate out of the box.
The scopes commonly used on .22's a junk, I would not put any value in one.

[ShearPin]

If your thinking .22 and don't intend to modify - Ruger 10/22's don't seem to stay in the factory configuration for long - check out the offerings from CZ. I picked up a 452 Lux last year. I wanted something cheap to shoot, iron sites, accurate... I payed a bit more then I would have for a 10/22 but the CZ looks and handles like a much more expensive rifle. Something worth looking after and passing on...

Henry
www.4x4freedom.com

[ntsqd]

Those are cool. I haven't paid much attention to what is on the market since we let the FFL expire.

Perhaps I should amend my saying "buy a brand name" to "post the brand that you're thinking of if it's unfamiliar." There's enough experience here that someone can probably give it a thumbs up or down.

[Scenic WonderRunner]

I have a Remington Speedmaster .22 that my Dad passed down to me. It's the first gun I ever shot and the one my Dad taught me with.

The first time I shot it, I was so young that I could hardly lift up the barrel with my left hand. This rifle still shoots like new even after all these years! It's from the 1950's or early 1960's.

http://www.remington.com/products/firearms/rimfire_rifles/model_552_speedmaster.asp

Looks like they are making them a bit more fancy these days.


http://www.remington.com/images/products/firearms/rimfire/smsil_552.jpg

[BIGdaddy]

save up for a ruger 10/22 and then forget about it, cuz it'll be the last .22 you need.

:)

[Maximus Ram]

curious as to why not a ruger ? one of the funnest little .22's i've shot and if you get bored with it in the stock form, you have a ton of choices and configurations on barrels , stocks and scopes. Great little plinker and vermint rifle.
My first .22 was a stevens single shot. fun little .22 it was.

[calamaridog]

Semi auto .22 = more fun plinking. Any brand should be fine.

[cruiseroutfit]

I don't know what the gun shows and purchasing laws are like in your local, but check out a gun show in your area. We have them here in SLC every couple of months, at the show last weekend I could have chosen dozens and dozens of different .22 rifles in every brand, shape, condition, some cash & carry no paperwork needed. Others require a quick background check.

Ended up with this little .22, a AR look-alike based on the common .22 repeater. Needed a bit of work but $90 cash out the door :D

http://207.234.249.73/gunfax/rimfires/m1600_pic.jpg

Might be worth checking out just so you get some hands on time with a couple different models your considering. You might find one you just can't let go of :D

[BKCowGod]

no ruger for the same reason I hate Toyota pickup trucks - too ubiquitous. I think it's an excellent rifle (and the toys are great vehicles) but I couldn't stand to own one. Same with the Marlin to a certain extent, but I can live with it a bit more.

No gun shows in the area any time soon, I checked.

Thanks for the advice, y'all! Keep it coming...

[Martinjmpr]

OK, I guess I don't quite get the Ruger antipathy...as has been previously mentioned, the Ruger 10/22 is the most common .22 rifle out there on the market, parts and accessories are cheap and easy to find. If you need a magazine or a barrel you can get one almost anywhere.

I understand wanting something "unique" but "unique" can be a total PITA when you need to replace a broken part. Ask me how I know that. ;)

Otherwise, there are some nice rifles from Marlin out there, too. My first .22 was a Marlin model 60 and I've owned a couple of others since then. For reasons I don't fully understand, semi-auto .22's are considerably cheaper than bolt or lever action .22s (probably the semi's are easier to mass produce.)

I would stay away from the .17 unless you are a varmint hunter or like the throw money away. You can still get .22 for about 2 1/2 cents a round while .17 is almost as expensive as centerfire rifle ammo. Since you're looking for a "plinker" and not a target rifle, .22 should be fine and, again, you can buy .22 ammo anyplace in the US that sells ammo.

Mosin-Nagant: I'd stay away. Mosin Nagants fire a powerful cartridge and kick like a mule, especially in the carbine (short rifle) variants. Unless you're planning on fighting invading Nazis (which the Mosin-Nagant was designed for) you will have too much gun. Ammo can be found that is relatively inexpensive if you don't mind non-reloadable steel-cased Russian or Eastern Bloc ammo but it will still be more than 10x as expensive as the .22. Plus you can shoot a .22 all day but if you shoot more than about 10 rounds from that Mosin-Nagant, you will be black and blue.

[snipecatcher]

I do understand not wanting a 10/22 because everybody and their mother has one. I DO NOT understand the not wanting a Toyota statement. :p Anyways, I've got a Marlin Model 60 and a Marlin 981T right now. The 981 is a bolt action with a tube feed. The reason this is so cool is that you can fire any type of ammo in a tube fed bolt action. It will hold 15 rounds of regular 22LR or 25 rounds of 22 short. Aguila makes ammunition that has no powder, only a primer. They fire at about 500 fps, which is about the equivalent of most air rifles. They make less noise than most air rifles. If you go with a semi-auto, it is fun to shoot very fast (granted you are near a range that will let you do so, or you own land) but a bolt action is much more versatile.
-Dan

[BIGdaddy]

OK, I guess I don't quite get the Ruger antipathy...as has been previously mentioned, the Ruger 10/22 is the most common .22 rifle out there on the market, parts and accessories are cheap and easy to find. If you need a magazine or a barrel you can get one almost anywhere.

I understand wanting something "unique" but "unique" can be a total PITA when you need to replace a broken part. Ask me how I know that. ;)

Otherwise, there are some nice rifles from Marlin out there, too. My first .22 was a Marlin model 60 and I've owned a couple of others since then. For reasons I don't fully understand, semi-auto .22's are considerably cheaper than bolt or lever action .22s (probably the semi's are easier to mass produce.)

I would stay away from the .17 unless you are a varmint hunter or like the throw money away. You can still get .22 for about 2 1/2 cents a round while .17 is almost as expensive as centerfire rifle ammo. Since you're looking for a "plinker" and not a target rifle, .22 should be fine and, again, you can buy .22 ammo anyplace in the US that sells ammo.

Mosin-Nagant: I'd stay away. Mosin Nagants fire a powerful cartridge and kick like a mule, especially in the carbine (short rifle) variants. Unless you're planning on fighting invading Nazis (which the Mosin-Nagant was designed for) you will have too much gun. Ammo can be found that is relatively inexpensive if you don't mind non-reloadable steel-cased Russian or Eastern Bloc ammo but it will still be more than 10x as expensive as the .22. Plus you can shoot a .22 all day but if you shoot more than about 10 rounds from that Mosin-Nagant, you will be black and blue.


To me a gun is a tool, albeit a fun tool.

I don't "not buy" snap-on tools or craftsman or whatever, because "everyone else has them".

do you, BK? or do you view guns differently?

[BKCowGod]

A car is a tool, a knife is a tool, a job is a tool, a pet is a tool. Everything is a means to an end. If I can find something that works as well or better and is not the "obvious" choice, I will almost always choose it. I enjoy choosing the alternative simply because the person who has never been in first place will often try harder than the person who has been in first place for so long that whenever someone requests options their name is immediately and without explanation given.

For examples:
Drive a 1986 Honda Civic, then Drive a 1986 Hyundai Excel. Back then Honda rocked and was the obvious choice.
Now drive a 2008 Honda Accord and a 2008 Hyundai Sonata. The Sonata has better handling, better throttle response, a more logical and inviting interior, and costs way less. In two decades, Honda became so used to their success that they just churn out the same unenthusiastic product every year with just enough minor updates to keep uninformed people saying to their uninformed friends "just get a Honda".

Similar examples can be found in most of the major brands in any given category.

On an unrelated note, I am picking up my Marlin in 9 days. I tried to like the Ruger a number of times and I just hated how wide it was. :victory:

[BKCowGod]

By the way... you are talking to someone whose expedition ride is a vintage Jeep (and I don't carry any spare parts), whose daily driver is a BMW with an engine I rebuilt, and whose motorcycle was only imported for two years. I live dangerously :P

And I don't buy Craftsman tools anymore because they are riding their reputation. Plastic parts in the wratchets, no more lifetime warranty on torque wrenches, etc.

[AndrewP]

On an unrelated note, I am picking up my Marlin in 9 days. I tried to like the Ruger a number of times and I just hated how wide it was. :victory:


I assume you got a Model 60. I'll bet you'll have a blast with it. I love the fact that for $20 in ammo, you can shoot all weekend. Good choice, but then so is the Ruger.