Good Caliber to Plink With?

[mugs79]

I'm thinking that my next gun purchase will be a rifle. Now it will probably be a while before I've got enough money burning a whole in my pocket, but hopefully sooner than later. I don't plan on doing anything but plinking with it, but I'd like a bolt action, and I'd like to be able to mount a scope and hit things from far away with reasonable accuracy.

The thing is, I really don't want to spend any money on a .22lr. Don't get me wrong, plinking around with a .22 is fun in it's own right, but I want something a little more... exciting. Something with a little more bang. So outside of .22lr, what's the next cheapest caliber to buy in bulk and target shoot with? Bonus points if rifles in that caliber tend to the cheap side as well. I'm as broke as the stereotypical college student.

 

[12Bravo20]

Look at getting a rifle in .223. Savage makes the Stevens Model 200 which is cheap and accurate out of the box.

 

[Funderb]

Mosin nagant, m91/30
7.62x54r should be about $.25/round
scout mount.
inexpensive scope.
done deal.

 

[Timthinker]

I know you want something "more exciting" than a .22lr, but this caliber is fun and relatively inexpensive for plinking. Now that I have given my Sunday sermon, I would have to champion a .223 also. In term a specific rifle, the Mini-14 should serve as both a plinker and self-defense rifle. I am not a fan of the Mini-14s accuracy, or lack thereof, but I understand Ruger makes a more accurate-and expensive-version of this rifle. If you have your heart set on a bolt-action, then follow Bravo's recommendation.


Timthinker

 

[gcrookston]

I like plinking with a 22lr. for cheap shots, I also enjoy my AK and SKS in 7.62x39

 

[RNB65]

.223 in most any gun

7.62x39 in a CZ 527 Carbine is a terrific plinker.

7.62x54r in a Mosin-Nagant is cheap if you don't mind fairly heavy recoil.

 

[Andrew S]

Look up ammo prices. Buy the cheapest.

I am sorry I know you said no 22LR but you are going to end up going that route anyway once you really get into it because feeding a centerfire rifle is expensive. 500 rounds of 22LR can be as little as $10 for plinking. Match ammo is only like $60 for 500 rounds. 500 rounds of cheap centerfire ammunition these days is $75 or more. Match ammo runs a buck a round.

A 10/22 is a lot of fun. I started off with your way of thinking but now I am starting to shoot 22LR more than any of my centerfire rifles and I enjoy it very much.

 

[munk]

223 or soviet short both good.
Lots of carbines around that shoot handgun cartridges. They're fun- like the 357 or 44

munk

 

[Dave Markowitz]

Look into a semiauto carbine that fires 9mm or a levergun in .357, which can shoot .38s.

 

[Fast Frank]

.17Mach2.

Cheap.

Accurate.

Shoots flat enough to hit at longer range than .22

Fast enough to make things explode.

Savage and Marlin make nice rifles for 2 hundred, and cool stainless bull barrels with thumb hole stocks for 4 hundred.(You can find them for less if you shop)

Exactly what the doctor ordered.

 

[RockyMtnTactical]

A mosin would be good for this purpose.

 

[skinewmexico]

223 or a 17 HMR. I probably shoot my 17, and enjoy it more than anything I own. And I own a lot.

 

[TCB in TN]

I would second the 9MM Carbine, fairly cheap, but lots of fun.

 

[Clipper]

9mm carbine or a cheap AK or SKS. WASRs and Hi-Point carbines are about $200.00 or so and will go bang every time, dirty or clean, hot or cold. The 9mm would be cheapest to shoot, and the 7.62X39 will have more range and is capable of taking deer-size game. If you live near Flint, we could get together and you could try mine...I also can give you a chance to shoot my Mosin-Nagant. PM me if you wanna give 'em a try.

 

[EHCRain10]

gotta say that 17HMR or 223 would be fun and pretty cheep with bolt actions
9mm or 223 in semi would be good choices

 

[packnrat]

.17hmr
.22-any rimfire-
.223
.30 carbine
.38
.40
762x39


lots more.
just depends on how much money you have.

 

[_N4Z_]

Plinking steel takes up a good 80 to 90% of my range time.

1. At 25 yards it's 38's or 357's out of a revolver.
2. At 50 yards it's a .22lr out of a Marlin925 -or- 7.62x39 AK.
3. At 100 yards it's both in #2 above, and 30-30 Marlin336.
4. At 200 yards it's everything in #2 and #3 above.
5. At 300 yards I will sometimes plink the 30-30. Mostly at that range though it's 7.62x54r out of my two M39 Finn Mosin Nagants.

These calibers are all fairly inexpensive and are great fun for ringing steel.

*note - Of all of the above only the .22 is scoped. I prefer irons.

 

[doc2rn]

I think 7.62x39 is even cheaper than .223 now so I would have to go that way if ammo cost was a concern. Next in line would be a carbine in 9mm, then something like 8mm Mauser. Some ammo is easier to find at a descent price, others not so easy.

 

[jhansman]

.223, and roll your own. Relatively inexpensive, very accurate, and a whole lot of fun to shoot.

 

[qajaq59]

I like the 30-30 with hand loaded cast bullets. But that is probably because I enjoy lever actions. But the guys are right about a .223. Especially if you roll your own.

 

[Spiggy]

Buy A Mosin Nagant then explain to your shoulder why you decided to punish it

Then explain to your significant other why you're purchasing another one

Mosinitis, it's a real disease

 

[Walkalong]

A Kel-Tec or High Point 9MM Carbine. Cheap, accurate and 9MM is cheap to buy and cheaper to reload.

9MM carbines are a lot of fun.

 

[Mannix]

The cheapest center fire production ammo is definitely 9mm.

So a Beretta/Kel Tec(takes 33rd Glock mags)/Hi Point 9mm carbine would be my vote for a fun blaster.

 

[Selfdfenz]

If you are as broke as you indicate why not rethink the 22. Putting several 22s thru the same hole at 50 yards is challenging and fun.

I find the fact Sportsmans Guide is currently selling 5000 rounds [yes 5K rounds] of Blazer 22 LR for $94.00 pretty darn exciting. If you can find one, a TOZ 78 or heavy barrel Savage with the accutrigger can be had for less than $125 for the TOZ and less than $300 for the Savage.

Let me know what higher caliber combo you come up with that beats that pricing matrix.

Best

S-