Good first rifle?

Question

I'm looking for a good first rifle to own. Should I start with a .22? And if so, which one? Any thoughts?

Answer 1

Ruger 10/22 would be a great first rifle. You can hone your shooting skills, and you'll never outgrow it. If you get bored with it in its factory configuration, there are tons of aftermarket accessories for the 10/22. IMHO no one should be without a 10/22. Good luck & stay safe.

Answer 2

just for plinking, i'd say a ruger 10/22
but for like deer hunting, a marlin 336, or a winchester model 94, both being 30-30's, they are relatively cheap and they will last forever if taken care of as will any gun

and what the first guy answered a .22 is in fact a rifle, he doesn't know what the he|| he is talking about

i have the marlin 336, i bought it when i was 14, i am now 20, i know that isn't very long but it has been a wonderful rifle, i like it better than the winchester because the shells eject out the side and not the top, making it much better for mounting a scope

i would advice in buying a good cleaning kit along with it, and clean it after every use.........good luck in purchacing your first rifle!

Answer 3

Ruger 10/22

Answer 4

Start with whichever rimfire you choose. .22 rimfire is the most obvious choice, and is cheapest to shoot, but I wouldn't be afraid of buying a .17 HMR either. They are more expensive to shoot ($8-$9 for a box of 50), but have no recoil to speak of, and perform much better. Ruger 10/22's are of course an excellent choice for a .22, and Savage sells a line of .17 HMRs with synthetic stock and a 3-9x40 scope for around $225. Have fun, and good luck.

Answer 5

A .22 Long Rifle, preferably in a bolt action, but in the long run a semi-auto would be more usable, like a Ruger 10/22.
You sure as hell can't hunt deer with it but if you are just purchasing a rifle for the first time, you really shouldn't be hunting deer anyways, learn to shoot first, then get yourself a .243, .270, or .308 bolt action.

Answer 6

As others have said it depends on who it's for and what it's for. The .22LR is a great gun to learn to shoot with, it's cheap to shoot and you can shoot it all day with no recoil issues. As to which model that depends on your budget and comfort with action types. I've had a cheapo Mossberg bolt action for over 20 years and it still shoots fine. Beyond the .22's I couldn't disagree more with the answers on .30-30's...they don't "kick like hell" for one thing and "blowing a big hole" in something does not in any way shape or form replace being accurate, something the .30-30 definitely is not beyond 100 yards or so. For a multipurpose deer or varmint gun look at the .243 Winchester or 6mm Remington (very similar cartridges, 6mm has a little advantage ballistically). They are reasonably cheap to shoot and have little or no recoil, something that is important for beginners to avoid developing a flinch. It's a lot easier to get a flinch than to get rid of one.

Answer 7

Yes Mr. Green, a .22 is a good starter rifle unless you plan to hunt deer. Then start with a .243 Winchester.

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Answer 8

A 22 is a perfect place for anybody to begin. Several people have suggested the Ruger 10/22, and I bought one for one of my kids, but I have to recommend against it if you're new to shooting. You'll develop better shooting habits if you start with a single-shot or bolt-action. There are several quality bolt guns if your budget allows that will be with you a lifetime.

Answer 9

Depends on what you want to shoot , for deer hunting 30-30 or 30-06 for squirrls and small game the Ruger 10/22 is excelent

Answer 10

A22 is an excellent starter gun,so you can get used to the feel and noise.To hunt big game a starter gun of my choice would be a 243, or the 6mm`s.For a little bigger calibre try the 25-06,not bad recoil for the noise.