Looking for a new rifle...

A few more details would help @Tucker25.

You looking for rimfire or centerfire? Also what's your price range?

Rimfire or centerfire? For rimfire any of the .22LR repeaters will work fine - Ruger 10/22 has insane amounts of aftermarket support if you want to tinker.

For centerfire a PCC is a great plinker. Either a newer semi-auto style in 9mm Luger or if you're feeling old school a Henry or Marlin lever gun in .357/38.

Ruger 10/22
Ruger PCC
Ruger American Rimfire
Ruger American Ranch in 223, 300 Blackout, or 7.62x39
Braced Ruger Charger 22 LR version
Braced AR pistol in 9mm
AR carbine in 9mm
AR carbine in 223

It all depends on what your budget, both hardware and ammo is.

Got this 223 ADL a cpl years ago mainly for the action. Then shot it,found it to be uber precision.... and this is with jacked up cast loads(starting JB "book" velocity). So filled/bedded tupperware stock,cerakote,Timney,Bushnell 3200 elite.

Jacking beercans @150yds off shooting sticks is a hoot. Way more fun/accurate than rimfires.

This is a Noreen 50 BMG it's perfect for plinking-

....details matter-.....plinking what?

Plinking is many things to many people.

The question is really broad. But a 22 of some type is a good start.

A 500 Nitro Express... ya know, in case the elephant down the street decides to graze up your rhododendrons.

In all seriousness, a good 22lr is my pick. There are plenty out there, but I like a Henry; you can feed them darn near anything and they shoot decently accurately. A plain carbine won't break the bank, either. Failing that, a 10/22 is a fine all-round plinker, hunter, and range gun. You can't go wrong with either one. Believe me, I have both!

Mac

My Kel-Tec SU-22 is light, accurate, and fun to shoot. If a .22LR is on the list, it’s worth considering.

Alright guys, don't throw anything, but I'm going to recommend an SKS.



My stepfather just got one of these things and he really loves it. I used to own one for a few years and traded it (which I regret). When he got his last week, it was only about $500. The reasoning is:

• The ammunition is cheap (relative to 5.56 x 45 / 9 mm )
• The firearm is semi-automatic but does not require magazines (save $)
• They are very rugged. You could drive a truck over these things in a hailstorm and they'll normally still fire
• They eat steel ammunition.
• They are light
• They are relatively accurate -- or at least, accurate enough for plinking! You can expect 2" to 4" MOA with iron sights and cheap milsurp ammunition.
• Replacement parts are cheap!
• They're shaped like a traditional rifle, so civilians can easily get the hang of it.

All around I recommend SKS's to a lot of people. I know some folks really don't like commie guns (and that's fair), but it's one of the few decent sized rounds you can find that won't break the bank!

...erm...that is, for now.

Tortuga said:

Alright guys, don't throw anything, but I'm going to recommend an SKS.

My stepfather just got one of these things and he really loves it. I used to own one for a few years and traded it (which I regret). When he got his last week, it was only about $500. The reasoning is:

• The ammunition is cheap (relative to 5.56 x 45 / 9 mm )
• The firearm is semi-automatic but does not require magazines (save $)
• They are very rugged. You could drive a truck over these things in a hailstorm and they'll normally still fire
• They eat steel ammunition.
• They are light
• They are relatively accurate -- or at least, accurate enough for plinking! You can expect 2" to 4" MOA with iron sights and cheap milsurp ammunition.
• Replacement parts are cheap!
• They're shaped like a traditional rifle, so civilians can easily get the hang of it.

All around I recommend SKS's to a lot of people. I know some folks really don't like commie guns (and that's fair), but it's one of the few decent sized rounds you can find that won't break the bank!

...erm...that is, for now.

Click to expand...

I second this. the biggest part of this is THEY EAT STEEL. You can run any ammo through these and they just keep trucking. They are a ton of fun to shoot and if you're just plinking with irons it is a fantastic choice.

If you practice on steel targets, all firearms are plinkers, regardless of caliber or cost.

But really, “Plinking” is fun and informal. A lazy way to spend a Sunday. Practicing and smoothing technique, without stress.

Find a cartridge and rifle you can do that with.
Most humans will find the rimfire to be the cartridge of choice. A fine, older pump action Remington Fieldmaster is something that comes to mind.
So is an AR with a CMMG conversion.

Now, don’t tell anyone, but recently my most fun plinker has been my boy’s red Savage Rascal!
I kind of feel like Kong swatting down airplanes when I hold it, but man, does it shoot!

So, knowing all the rifles we own isn’t any different than the factory catalogs.
What are you looking for in a rifle?
Cartridge?
Cost?
Recoil limits?
What length do you like?
Do you stand when you shoot, or would a heavier bench gun be better?
Paper doesn’t plink, but when I go, I shoot paper. What kind of accuracy are you looking for?
Is this rifle just a range toy for some stress relief?
Or would you rather have something to pass to your kids? (someday, no rush!)

And the biggest factor, cost! What’s yer budget?

We’ll help you spend your money! It’s fun!

To me plinking means.22 LR, and I think for a plinker you would be hard pressed to beat a lever action rimfire. There are many different models out there ranging in price from around $300 to about as much as you want to spend. The vast majority of these rifles are quite durable, loads of fun and (normally) inexpensive to feed. My very first firearm was a lever action Winchester and I can't imagine any other rifle being as much fun as it was (and still is 50 years later).

Considering your taste in rifles which I haven't a clue and of course your budget where I haven't a clue and your definition of plinking and again no clue just go to store and buy a rifle.

Ron

I second the PCC 40 with brass catcher if needed and a nifty red dot sight of your choosing. Cans, used shotgun shells, shards of clay pigeons and other garbage left at your favorite shooting place. And got it closed, then take some of it home and recycle it.

With the current ammo shortages I'm shooting hunting rifles.
I have seen a little more ammo in hunting calibers on the store shelves. I have been shooting my 243,270,30-06, & 7mm mag. It is close to hunting season so part of it is preparing for hunting. Not seeing much 223, 7.62x39, ext... on the shelves.
It really doesn't cost much more to shoot considering it's much easier to blow through a hundred rounds of 5.56 than 7mag

You did say rifle, so I second 7.62x39 for centerfire plinking. It’s cheap, it hits with authority, bonus that it makes a great woods-range deer gun or self defense caliber. If you like semi auto get an SKS or AK-47. If you like bolts, get a CZ 527. I think Howa makes one too. If you like levers, well..... you could do a lot worse than a Rossi 92 in .357 mag.

I like the idea of pistol caliber carbines (usually people think of something in 9mm or 45) except that right now, good luck finding any ammo, and the PCC might chew through a fair quantity of it, because they’re fun to shoot. Ruger makes a good one and there’s any number of AR variants.

Plinking's all about cheap ammo, and cheap ammo's tough to come by right now, so that does limit your choices if you're not already sitting on a decent ammo stash.

One of my favorite shooters is a Rossi 92 in 357 - I run 38s out of it. Light as a BB gun and gives you the tactile fun of running a lever. Only problem is 38s seem to be unobtanium these days.

For semi-automatics, I like the SKS as well. More tactile joy as one of the absolute most solid feeling rifles I've ever come across and recoil is nil. And even basic 16" ARs are great too - some times I think we get so caught up in the details on buffer weight this and nitride barrel that that we don't appreciate how fun the damn things are.

Tortuga said:

Alright guys, don't throw anything, but I'm going to recommend an SKS.

View attachment 942603

My stepfather just got one of these things and he really loves it. I used to own one for a few years and traded it (which I regret). When he got his last week, it was only about $500. The reasoning is:

• The ammunition is cheap (relative to 5.56 x 45 / 9 mm )
• The firearm is semi-automatic but does not require magazines (save $)
• They are very rugged. You could drive a truck over these things in a hailstorm and they'll normally still fire
• They eat steel ammunition.
• They are light
• They are relatively accurate -- or at least, accurate enough for plinking! You can expect 2" to 4" MOA with iron sights and cheap milsurp ammunition.
• Replacement parts are cheap!
• They're shaped like a traditional rifle, so civilians can easily get the hang of it.

All around I recommend SKS's to a lot of people. I know some folks really don't like commie guns (and that's fair), but it's one of the few decent sized rounds you can find that won't break the bank!

...erm...that is, for now.

Click to expand...

Works for me! Shot mine at a big dead tree so much that i chopped it down with lead!

Though with the way ammo is right now, a Marlin 17 or 25 bolt action in 17hmr or 22 mag respectively, would be a coat efficient way to go.

Then just about any bolt gun in a reasonable caliber will do it. You have a good budget for most nice rifles new or gently used. This is where individual taste figures into the game. While I have some AR type rifles I also like a good, well made bolt gun in a caliber like .308 Winchester. I like rifles like the Remington 700 or Winchester Model 70 guns as well as other names like Tika or any other number of imports. My liking is longer barrels like 24 or 26 inch but my 18" AR-10 did fine also. My best advice is visit a well stocked gun shop or two, assuming you can find one and feel your way through several rifles. Consider things like distances when choosing a cartridge.

While the mention is Hunting Rifle you may want to give this thread a read and take note of what the prospective buyer is considering as some of that may well apply to you.

Ron

Tucker25 said:

I just want something to shoot steel with and i dont want to spend more than $1,000

Click to expand...

At what range? Does that include scope, mounts, and other related items or just the gun itself?

If for a total package and shooting around 500yrds, I'd think a Ruger American Predator in 223 with the rest spent on glass and bags would be good money spent. At longer range, a 6/6.5creedmore would cost s little more in ammo, but would stretch your range.

For a plinking rifle, I think affordable ammo is a LARGE part of it. Since it implies a high volume of fire.

If $1k for just the rifle, there's some very nice heavy barrel savages that'll really shoot.

Literally...first buy the ammo required by whichever gun you choose --with very few exceptions-- Then buy the gun you select.

Not kidding here, one bit.

The lowest-cost, steel-cased 7.62x39 at JGsales (or AIMsurplus) might now be .38/round (by the case)...even Before the tax and shipping are added.