What rifle would best suit me?

Question

Hi there from the UK. I've asked numerous questions here as a beginner and you've all been most helpful but I'm still a little confused. Basically I want to get in to small bore rifle shooting and the main calibres seem to be .22 and .17, and all the variants (Hornet, HMR, WMR, LR etc).

Which calibre would be best suited to indoor, 25-yard target shooting?

Also a local farmer has said if I get a licence he'll give me written permission to hunt pests on his land, including rabbits (which he says I could eat), rodents and foxes. Is there a calibre I could use for this that I could also use on the 25-yard range near me, which is limited to (I believe any variant of) .22 calibre?

Also which rifle would you recommend for me? I'm not sure if semi-autos are allowed on the range so please reference a bolt action as well as a semi-auto/

I know there's a lot here, but thanks all the same!

Americans! AKs are very illegal in the UK!

Answer 1

I would go with the .22 mag. It is a little beater than the .22LR and a lot cheaper than the .17. And stay away from the Hornet. The Hornet is a great gun......but very expensive to shoot. The Hornet is center fire. But it's great for varmints at long range. I have all a gun in all of the caliber's that you have listed and I think your best choice for what you want is the .22 mag. I have a Marin Model 25MN in 22 mag and I love it.

Answer 2

Most Americans dont understand how difficult it is for Brits and Germans to hunt and all the things you may have to deal with just to shoot.

Most any 22 cal weapon would be fine for what yu are looking at doing. The standard 22 ( if there is really such a thing) would be the 22LR * Long Rifle. and that is what id personally get for what you are doing. Were you in America and looking at the same thing i might suggest the 17 cal for longer distance shots...
What the avail of weapons are is quite diff where you are than here. No real way to say buy a pump when i doubt that 1 in 4000 American have ever been to England let alone been to a gun store there. If the range only lets you use a bolt action then you are stuck with a bolt action in order to use on the range. As to brands that too is tricky as no one is sure of whether or not many brands are avail in the UK and some may be so costly due to VAT etc that it places a normal weapon out of reach on many Brits.. Taxes eat you all alive .

Whether its a bolt action, pump, lever or auto really depends on the availability where you are more than your intended usage. I think that you would be very pleased with either a pump or an automatic... I say this as i get the impression that you are a younger shooter and while old time shooters may be more prone to a pump or a bolt action the younger shooters tend to prefer an automatic over other actions... Bear in mind that in general the automatics do have a shorter barrel than do other actions as they are almost always considered as carbines in the 22 cal. This means an 18 in barrel length where as a pump or bolt action might have a barrel length of 22 in..

One of the most popular and most modified weapons here in the states for the 22 is the Ruger 10-22. A really great starter weapon yet one that can be easily ( not necessarily cheap) modified and tricked out with diff barrel and stocks..

Hope that this helps..

Answer 3

.22 Long Rifle is really the way to go. The .17s, supers, mags and others are cute, but for price, availability, and variety of rifles, if you're going small bore there's nothing that matches the .22LR

FULL auto, REAL AK47s are highly restricted in the U.S., no matter what propaganda you may have read.

SEMI-auto versions are not. They may be allowed in Britain as well - if you are interestd, you should investigate. There are semi-auto versions that shoot a small-bore caliber (specifically, .22s) that were developed by the old East Bloc for training purposes.

But even if these ARE legal in Britain I would NOT recommend them - they are just a curiosity, and expensive. But if you are interested, take a look -http://www.impactguns.com/store/RI1160-N.html

A perfectly decent semi-auto .22 can be gotten without anything exotic. AND they are much less expensive.

I have a Marlin 70PSS ("Papoose") which breaks down into a small package, and, together with its included case, will float. The metal parts are stainless steel and the stock is a very sturdy plastic, so it is great for wet weather. It's good for sticking in a backpack, or for canoeing, or any other time you want a small rifle but don't want to lug something unwieldy around.

I have shot many thousands of rounds through it and it has never jammed once. It cost me $200.00 USD (not including taxes, background check, and shipping).

If you have a little more money and want something a little more exotic, Henry Arms makes great lever-action .22s, with an extremely reliable mechanism that has remained essentially unchanged since the U.S. Civil War. They are sturdy, actually PRETTY, many have solid brass receivers and walnut stocks. Henry also makes great pump actions and bolt-actions.

Henrys are top-of-the-line, BUT they are priced accordingly - quite expensive.
Here's a good Henry lever action-
http://www.impactguns.com/store/SS-39958.html

The Ruger 10/22 is for some reason very popular, but the Marlins, the Papoose and other types, can be way cheaper and are just as sturdy, and I recommend them highly from personal experience.

Marlin also makes a number of high quality, low price bolt actions.
Here's a page with various Marlins -
http://www.impactguns.com/store/marlin_firearms.html

A perfectly decent quality Marlin .22 LR semi-auto, the Marlin New Model 60DL, can be had for as little as $150.00 USD (not including taxes and shipping). A Marlin Model 795 22LR Semi Auto can be as cheap as $125.00 USD (not including taxes and shipping).

You must, of course, investigate prices, shipping, availability in your country, etc. I doubt very much if the company whose web site I've given you as references here will sell to someone in Britain, but they are good for an example.

Have a great time, be useful, be safe, follow your local laws, and be sure to present a calm and reasonable appearance at all times, and give the lie to those who push the anti-gun propaganda that we are all bloodthirsty lunatics desperate to murder someone.

Answer 4

Well, for indoor ranges you may be required to use lead-free ammo and most of the standard .22 Long Rifles loads use copper-clad lead ammo, so this may be a problem.

The .22 Magnum ammo has a copper jacket so you may be better off at the range especially with the solids. Ask the range master. If he gives the nod for regular .22 Long Rifles go with this. Otherwise get the magnum or one of the smaller .22 centerfires. The .223 is very popular if not restricted in your country.

Best.

H

Answer 5

from what i have read from your questions, i would suggest to you
.22 rim for targets/rabbits (ammo cheap)
.17hmr for rabbits ect at ranges of up to 200 yards
foxs may be shot at close range depending on your constabularys say so. (ammo £20 per 100) if choosing the .17 go for 17grn balistic tips.
223centerfire I choose the 223 for the fact it is a great killer and out of the 22's the ammo is cheap, this is down to the fact its the equivalant to the nato round used by our army 5.56mm and there easy to get hold of (£20 per 100)
For example i posses all they above as well as a 22 hornet whos ammo costs me £25 per 50.
The beauty about the centerfires is that they can be reloaded,
somthing im sure you will get into if your serious about your persuit.

The action of the rifle is down to your phreferance, bolt action tend to be the more common, though autos (self loader) are still used

With regards to your writen permision.
A letter will accompany your aplication for the grant of a firearms cert, on it youwill have to state where you plan to use it, the landowner will also have to sign it.
It is alwasy best to have experience with rifles when applying, im sure it will be a question asked to you.
there is no harm in joining a local club, which will go in you favour.
Insurance is also a good thing to have.
ie www.basc.org.uk
the beauty about the above is your also entitled to all the services they offer,and will fight for you should you be terned down on any certificate.

hope that was of help

Answer 6

if money is no problem, try the .17 hmr or the .22 magnum. but just for 25 yard target, a nice .22 long rifle will do good.

Answer 7

Try a Tikka or Sako. These are Finnish rifles and can be pricey but they are first class. Also Browning A-Bolt is useful. I think they are available in a range of calibres. Go for a second hand quality weapon rather than a new piece of tin - EVERY TIME!!!

ps. AK's are basic utility crap. They just don't break and can be buried etc by your local terrorist/robber without damage.

Answer 8

I would recommend a .22 mag. I have a Marlin model 25mn and I love it. The rifle was very cheap and the ammo is not much more that a regular .22

Answer 9

OK it sounds like you need .22.
the ammo is as cheap as chips and good at the 25-yard range, this Menes you can get your eye in and is wont brake the bank.
they are dame good for rabbits.
but !!!! they dot have much stoping power so a .22 will not good for a foxes or bigger.
And as for bolt action vs a semi-auto do not get a .22 semi-auto as all the brands jam. (even the top noch ones)

Answer 10

22 long rifle, bolt action, clip or tubular feed.* Helps to add a scope, use hollow points for hunting.*