[txgolfer45]

I'm thinking of getting a rifle to go with my small collection of handguns. Should I stick with a .22lr for my first rifle? Any reason not to get something like an AR-15 for my first rifle?

I learned to shoot at summer camp with a .22lr. But, I haven't shot a rifle in many years.

Also, I'm left eye dominant and shoot right handed with my handguns. Which way should I shoot a rifle? left or right handed?

Scott

[J. Parker]

I shoot handguns righty and rifles lefty. I've owned 22 rifles and frankly get bored pretty quick with them. My favorite "lefty" long guns are lever actions like 30-30's or AK-47 type weapons.
Okay, this is just my opinion, but there's no way in hell I'd get an AR-15 for a "first" rifle. My shootin' buddy has one and all he does is cuss at it when we go shootin' and it's a $1,400 Colt H-Bar fancy pants. Every once in awhile it jams (like it's acceptable) and my AK's just keep runnin' and runnin' and runnin' like the energizer bunny.
Get a inexpensive Romanian SAR-1 and you'll be happy as a pig in slop. :D

[Art Eatman]

As near as I can tell, it's easier to shoot a long gun on the same side as the dominant eye. It seems to be less important with handguns.

What sort of use do you have in mind for your rifle? That makes a bunch of difference about type and cartridge...

Art

[Sactown]

I'd get an inexpensive .22 rifle with iron sights like a CZ452 LUX, it has a scope rail so you can add optics later after you've mastered iron sights. Cheap to shoot so you can practice all day.

[txgolfer45]

Initially, it will be primarily for target practice. I've never gone hunting. All the different rifle calibers available is bewildering to say the least. Seems that either .22lr like a Ruger 10/22 or CZ 452 or something in .223 like a Ruger Mini-14 or AR-15 are pretty popular.

Scott

[BusMaster007]

Choose carefully for your first rifle and never sell it. :)

A bolt-action .22LR is a very good choice for getting started.
If you try iron sights first for a bit, then get a scope, you'll shoot better later. Lotsa practice/plinking - it won't be long.
Once you've gotten pretty good with the .22LR, you'll know you're addicted to rifles, and then you can get an AR15 in .223! :D

I recommend a Marlin 81TS for your .22 as it holds 17 rounds in a tube magazine and has a synthetic stock.
Durable and less weight and expense than wood.
A cheap TASCO low power scope for that one and you'll be started.
I mentioned that particular rifle as it is virtually the same one I inherited, and I'm fond of it.
http://www.marlinfirearms.com/firearms/boltAction22/81TS.htm

When it's time for the AR15...
Bushmaster makes a model called the XM15E2 A320.
The first #'s are the Bushmaster designator for the type of 'black rifle' and the next #'s are for the flat-top 20" bbl. version, which makes a fine first AR15.
http://www.bushmaster.com/shopping/weapons/pcwa3s20.asp

Good Luck.

[WYO]

Concerning the eye dominance issue, my wife is right handed and left eye dominant. She went to a women's shotgunning course put on by Wyoming Game and Fish and was told that they recommended that she shoot using her right eye. (This surprised me.) After shooting a lot, it worked fine for her. Now she is training on a scoped hunting rifle, using her right eye, and it's working out ok. You may want to do a search and see what turns up on these forums before making a decision.

[Art Eatman]

I've been shooting all sorts of rifles for well over 50 years. Even so, there are times when I drag out a .22 to work on eye-finger coordination. It's the least expensive shooting there is...

For centerfire, the .223 and 7.62x39 ammo is cheapest, and then the .308. The various para-military rifles are certainly fun to shoot, but they don't do a double-purpose as hunting rifles all that well...

With the eye-dominance deal, I guess you might try going to a range which rents guns and talk to them a bit. Try different styles, shooting both left-side and right-side and see what you think. For southpaws, there are a few companies which make left-handed bolt-actions.

Art

[J. Parker]

I'm left eye dominant and I can't shoot a long gun right handed no matter how hard I try. If you end up being a long gun "lefty" a right handed bolt gun is nothing but a giant hassle and wasty of money. Certainly most semi-auto's are left handed friendly.
The most friendly? AK-47's and SKS's tend to throw the brass straight out from the receiver or even a bit foward toward the muzzle. This is good. The Mini-14 is straight out or maybe a bit to the rear. I've never had a problem with any of my Mini's in this respect.
If you're not used to it an AR-15 can be a bit scary seeing this shell wizz by your eyes. There are however AR's made specifically for lefties. Savage markets a whole bunch of left handed bolt guns. All I'm sayin' is don't force yourself to be a right handed long gun shooter if it isn't meant to be. As lefties we have alot of choices out there nowadays. :D

[BowStreetRunner]

My extremely small $ .0000002
get a .22 or a SKS
.22 = cheap to feed, most are easy to care for
SKS = also cheap to feed (compared to other centerfire rifles), more bang!, easy to care for
BSR

[BDM]

Just my .02,at 18 my first rifle was a garand,thats what I learned on then I learned it was expensive to shoot,a few years later I got a bushy AR15 now a preban,but then I also wanted a .22 and I got a ciener .22 conversion kit for my AR 2 guns in 1,my suggestion get the AR some wont agree for a first rifle but considering that 70% of our military do not come from shooting backgrounds the M16 is the first firearm they ever shoot in many cases,that tells you the rifle is easy to learn on just seek some competent instruction on its care and maintenence and above all SAFETY,and get a good mil spec AR. bushy,rockriver or armalite and get a conversion kit for .22 for some inexpensive plinking they run 150 to 200 dollars and with a good ar $1000 or a little under and youll have a set up good for the rest of your life,until you start buying handguns and more ARs or AKs,good luck.If you get an AR get an A2 it has a brass deflector as part of the upper so you dont have to worry about stray brass hiting you and you can shoot lefty without the same worry,thats why the deflector is there,The AR is just so versatile,I love it.BDM out

[Quintin Likely]

A .22 would be an excellent choice if you can't get to an outdoor range regularly...and even if you could, you can shoot *lots* of .22 for very cheap. Practice, practice, practice.

For a first centerfire rifle, I'd recommend a .223 bolt gun. ARs are neat and all, but the they're relatively expensive compared to a good bolt gun. There's also a mentality that some fall into with a semi-auto, that if the first shot doesn't land, there's more where that came from with just another trigger pull or another magazine. I need to break that habit myself with my pistols. My first rifle was a Marlin model 60, afterwards I went to a .223 bolt gun, a .308 bolt gun, and I'm saving my pennies and brown bagging my lunch for an AR.

My insignificant .02 :)

[Andrew Wyatt]

whatever you do, DO NOT get a rifle with anything other than an aperature rear sight, as these are vastly superior to notch or buckhorn sights.



If i were you, i'd pick up either a single shot .22 or a lee enfield number4 mk1. both are left hand friendly, and the enfield has excellent sights.

[txgolfer45]

Andrew, what make and model has the aperture rear sight?

So far, I've heard the following for .22lr:

CZ 452
Ruger 10/22
Remington 597
Marlin 60

Or should I just jump up to a bolt action .223 or .270????

Scott

[4v50 Gary]

The only reason why I would say no to an AR right now is 2004 is right around the corner. Bayonet lugs, evil flash suppressors, collaspable stocks and the d****'s personification on earth, high-capacity magazines! Oh the humanity. We won't need to wait for the machines to rise (T-3).

Betcha nothing big will happen. Crime rate will remain the same but the rest of us will be happier to have our evil things back.

[Desert Dog]

You MUST have the Steyr AUG... :rolleyes:

Just think, you will be the first person IN HISTORY to have this as your first weapon... :D

You will probably have to get a mortgage to pay for it... :scrutiny:

:neener:

Mike

[nextjoe]

Another vote for a .22. I'd recommend a CZ 452. If you want a semi-auto, my recommendation is the takedown Browning. It's the only semi-auto .22 I'm willing to put up with.

Best,
Joe

[MolonLabe416]

Here's another vote for the CZ 452.

I have the American. It shoots one ragged hole groups at 25 yards.

Trigger was a bit heavy and creepy. I installed one of Brookie's trigger kits. No creep, ~2# pull. Best $9.00 I've ever spent.

http://cz452.com/