Buying my first gun, so many choices...

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SoCalGeek

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Well, after finally talking my dad into it, i'm allowed to buy a firearm. I'm just wondering if there's anything I should know about any of these rifles, any suggestions, etc.

1.) Remington Nylon 66 $90
2.) AR-7 .22LR Takedown Semiauto $100
3.) Ruger 10-22 $129
4.) Savage Model 64FXP- $149
5.) Mosin Nagant M44 $49.99

I'm leaning toward the M44 because they're so damn cheap, and ammo is inexpensive too. But i am sure people will suggest a .22 because ammo is cheaper, and I don't have to travel as far as I would to shoot centerfire rifle.

Specific Questions I have-
1.) How is the recoil of a 7.62X54R? Looks like it would give you a pretty good shove.
2.) Anybody here have problems with the Remington Nylon 66?
3.) My parents have said that the only requirements are a lock for the rifle (Trigger or action) and some kind of an ammo locker. Do I have to purchase the trigger lock from the gun store with the rifle, or can I get one from a gun-owning friend and save the money? Also, recommendations for an inexpensive method of ammo storage? It doesn't have to be that big, I doubt it would hold more than a few hundred rounds at any given time. If anybody's got something for sale or knows where I can find a cheap one, please let me know.


Thanks a lot for your help,

Alex
 
Ruger 10/22 for a couple of reasons.

1st, like everybody else is going to tell you, .22 is a good way to learn to shoot well. Learn trigger pull, flinch control etc.
All that aside it is just so darn cheap and fun.

2nd, a basic 10/22 can be built into anything you might want over time. You want to make an evil looking, super accurate, mini sniper rifle.....the parts are there. How about a beautiful stocked presentation gun.....the parts are there. How about a bullpup.....the parts are there. How about a............etc. and so on.

3rd, the 10/22 being a semi auto will let you do a little spray and pray plinking fun as well as allow you to shoot slow to learn the basics.

4th, the M44 is dirt cheap, you could quickly save up the money for one after the 10/22 and more importantly if this is your first gun the M44 will turn you into a big dog flincher. These are handheld, flamethrowing, howitzers. Not a good first gun to learn on. A great fun gun once you have the basics down.

My two cents.
Chris
 
Almost forgot.

.22 ammo is so small you could go to Walmart buy a document fire safe for $50.00 and be able to store 2-3 thousand rounds of .22.

Chris.
 
I gotta agree with cslinger. It's not uncommon for beginning shooters who buy a M44 to develop a flinch and/or otherwise not enjoy rifle shooting. I only fire the M44 if I get to wear a PAST recoil pad (gel filled "shock absorber" you strap on). After about 15 rounds, the buttstock bends the gel pad.

Also, as cheap as 7.62x54r is, .22lr is cheaper still. Also, you can literally shoot hundreds of rounds of .22lr in one sitting. Not too many would try that with the M44. Don't get me wrong, I like Mosin Nagants and own three, but if you have to have one, go with the longer MN 91/30, or for a bit more money the Finnish M39. However, the smartest choice is the .22lr.
 
The Nylons I believe have not been made for almost 20 years. The ones I have seen for sale have been for a lot more than $99. They are great guns, but a little light for me. The full length plastic stock does seem to supress the report a little though.

10/22s are one of the most versatile and customizable .22s ever made and that's a great price if it's in good shape.

Savage Model 64FXP-- Not long ago Wal-Mart was selling those for $99. I got mine from a pawn shop NIB for $39 shot it twice and gave it to my nephew for a first gun. Passable good accuracy but nothing special

M44s kick like a pissed off mule and from what I understand from the guy that owned the one I shot and from 2 others I know that own them you have to have the bayonet extended or accuracy , which may or may not be good anyway will be adversly affected. To me they have limited practical use. and can be picked just about anytime forf that price.

All in all it's a close call between the Nylon and the 10'/22 with the Nylon just barely nosing out the Ruger only due to nostalga on my part, which you probably would not be interested in.
 
Agree with all the above. The .22 rifle is a great weapon for a bunch of reasons, and it's easily the best choice for a beginning rifle. The M-44 is a great buy at this time, but it's also the WRONG way to start out shooting rifles. Now, assuming you're a teenager, you'll assume that we're all trying to pee on your parade, but we're not. Start with the .22 and work your way up. I can almost promise you won't regret it.
 
Coming from another tenager, buy the .22 (so you don't hear it from all the old guy only ;) ). One day I got carried away at the range, and before I knew it, I put an entire box of 550 .22 shells through my Ruger rifle and pistol. In that same time, I shot 10 7.62x54 (from a 91/30) and 10 8mm. My arm was not reed from the .22, but from the bigger guns. IMHO, th recoil isn't too bad on my 91/30, but I haven't shot a M44 to compare.

And when I bought my first pistol a few months back, I ignored everyone that told me I should get a .22. I had to have the .45. Now I own two pistols: a .22 and a .45. And you know what? After fixing my bad habits with the .22, my .45 shooting is getting MUCH better.
 
And for your last question:

Don't know were you live.

In Michigan, where I am, the law is:

http://www.michigan.gov/documents/msp-203_6450_7.pdf

You may be criminally and civilly liable for any harm caused by a
person less than 18 years of age who lawfully gains unsupervised
access to your firearm if unlawfully stored. As such, a trigger lock,
gun case or other device designed to prevent unauthorized access to a
firearm is strongly recommended.
Click to expand...

My guns are most always locked in a safe. Just a cheap Wal-Mart safe, that probably won't stop a dedicatded criminal, but will keep kids out and the honest people honest. The ammo isn't locked up, but is sitting in a few ammo cans located in the garage well away from the guns. And the last few times I bought a gun, I have had to sign a waiver saying that I have or would get a trigger lock or other locking device for the gun. This happened at two different stores, and I have heard that some stores around my area are now requiring people to buy a lock when they buy the gun, regardless if they have one with them or not (IMHO, theyre just trying to get rid of the locks)
 
Get a 10/22. I bought a Marlin 795 for my first rifle, but my grandpa gave me a 10/22 a few months ago. Despite the akward manual of arms, it's still a better made rifle, more accurate, with more options. The 795 is very light, and pretty accurate with iron sights as well. Can fire off 10 rounds really fast, but isn't much more than a plinker. Get the 10/22.
 
DO NOT buy a mosin as your first rifle. You will develop a flinch that will be with you until the end of your days. Especially with the steel buttplate, and especially with one of the carbines.

10/22. It was my first rifle, and I wouldn't change that even if I could.
 
recommendations for an inexpensive method of ammo storage? It doesn't have to be that big, I doubt it would hold more than a few hundred rounds at any given time. If anybody's got something for sale or knows where I can find a cheap one, please let me know.
Click to expand...
I didn't read the second part of you post. But here is my inexpensive ammo locker.
50 cal ammo box
$5 from local surplus store will hold much more than the required couple of hundred rounds
Lock
from $5 to $10 I use one of the free locks I got from buying a gun
4181d297.gif
Don't know about your state but here their is no requirement to purchase a lock here, but most shops will give a free lock with purchase, and local police stations also have free give aways.
If you can't find one ,I have a box full of them in my shed I'll send you one.
 
10-22 But.....

I recommendgbetting one with the larger stock. The regular old plain vanilla 10-22 has a very tiny little stock.

Of course it is perfect for smaller framed individuals so you will have to make that call.

One thing is the 10-22 does not come with the best of triggers but that is easily fixed and can be your first gunsmithing project.

BUT MOST IMPORTANT!

Always follow the rules of GUN SAFETY. a .22 ain't no toy.

If you don't know the rules just ask anyone here or with the NRA.

-bevr
 
The M44 was one of my first guns.
Go with the 10/22 ;)

M44 is a great gun, but you wont develop a flinch with the .22
 
We don't want to scare you off from the M44 as it is a blast, literally, it is just a rather stout gun to shoot. Heck it makes people next to you flinch. :D

Chris
 
I love my Mosin M38 carbine - the same as an M44, but without the bayonet, a cleaner, much better balanced rifle. A recoil pad is a MUST with one of these little cannons, but as a non-recoil fan, I am completely hooked on my Russian Rifle! Having said that - it is not a good beginners' rifle, but if you can grab one now, AND get the 10/22, it is a good deal. Aztec has them for C&R licensees as little as $49.95, in excellent re-arsenaled condition, with all accessories.
If you are interested, check out the Yugo SKS, a very reasonably priced semi-auto 7.62x39 10 round fixed mag rifle, with attached bayonet and grenade launcher, usually at the distributers for $129 or so.

Get a Mosin, but wait until you are confortable with rifle shooting first to shoot it - the prices may go up soon....
 
OOhhh..

I'll second the SKS!!! My favorite fun gun!!! And nearly as cheap as a 22 to shoot. After taking that out (which is everytime I go to the range) me = :D.

That being said, I still believe a .22 is integral to learning. That being said:

$149 - 10/22 at K-Mart (Wal-mart, and probably a few others)
$ 60 - M44
$129 - Yugo SKS (ballpark)
-------
$328 For all three..

(hey, in rifles alone over the past two months, I spent ~$600 on six rifles, not counting the pistols)

But again, do yourself a favor. Don't shoot the big guns a lot if you buy a .22 at the same time. I am still reversing the flinch off my .45 when I didn't listen and start on a .22.
 
$149 - 10/22 at K-Mart (Wal-mart, and probably a few others)
Click to expand...
Really? I thought they were up in the $200 to $250 range.
I bought mine used with 2 standard mags and 1 30 rd mag for $149 a year and a half ago.
 
For your first rifle, hard to go wrong with the 10/22.
Lots of modifications available aftermarket.
Cheap ammo, no recoil.

For ammo, any large tool box with a padlock will work just fine.
 
Gonna tell you like most of the others have, Get the 10/22. One of the best little rifles ever invented.

I've had mine for many years and it's been changed into many configurations during that time. A couple weeks ago I put it back to the original way; checkered stock, skinny barrel and open sights. Shot it some yesterday and it's still as fun as ever.

You've got lots of time in the future to get large caliber rifles. You'll be real happy learning on the 10/22.

I'm pretty sure that the store will require you to buy a lock when you buy the gun. (That is, if you're in So Cal) The only time you can get around that is if you have a gunsafe that is on the DOJ list of approved safes.

Good luck and have fun.
 
Get the 10/22. (There really seems to be a common theme to these posts, huh?)

Don't buy an AR-7 for your first .22 rifle. They can be finnicky with different brands of ammo. Mine has a tendency to fail to feed. I'd hate to see you get your first rifle, only for it to turn out to be a lemon.

The 10/22 is inexpensive to buy, cheap to feed, versatile, and a great tool to learn the fundamentals of marksmanship.

The M44 is a beast. They kick like the old Russian war horses that they are, even with a recoil pad.

If you need a trigger lock, drop me a PM with your address, I'll send you several. I keep my guns in a safe now, so I have little need for the box full of locks that I have. Heck, I'll send you one that covers the trigger and another with a plastic-covered cable that will fit through the mag well and come out through the ejection port of your 10/22. Another good idea would be to buy a lockable hard case to store the rifle. These can be had as low as $15 - $20 if cost is an option.

For ammo storage, it's hard to beat an old GI ammo can. If your folks want it to be lockable, drill some holes into it and you can run a lock through the holes. A .30 ammo can would probably hold a few thousand rounds of .22lr.

Whatever you do buy, have fun and be safe with it.

Frank
 
I'll second the recommendation not to get the AR7. I've had several over the years, if it operated right it would hit way off, if accurate it jammed like a beaver dam.

rk
 
Wow, I think I have a pretty good idea of what i'm gonna go with :D I am comfortable enough with rifle shooting and can handle recoil, but I can always get a Mosin later. First rifle I ever shot was a 7mm-08. I'm finally rid of the flinch from that, i'll be damned if i'm gonna give myself another one in the name of $80. Anyways, I'm thinking either the 10-22 because, well, i've not heard one negative about it, or the Remington Nylon because they've also got good reviews and this shop seems to have a better price than most of the others i've seen online. So i'm gonna save up a bit more money, and in a few weeks i'll post pics! Thanks to everyone for your advice.

Alex

Edit: One more question... As I understand it, the CADOJ website requires that the dealer sell me a trigger lock unless I present the dealer with a lock and receipt showing i purchased it in the last 30 days. So if a friend gives me a trigger lock, that's not acceptable? Do I actually have to buy one from the shop, or am i just misreading this?
 
None of the above

SoCalGeek, I strongly encourage you to consider this:

The "correct" answer (as I see it), is:

Marlin model 60!

http://www.marlinfirearms.com/firearms/selfLoading22wTubularMag/index.htm

Semi-auto, tube-fed (no mags to keep track of/lose), universally regarded as more accurate than a ruger 10/22 in stock configuration, AND and cheaper than a 10/22 (usually $99 for plain jane wood/blue one). What's not to like? A 10/22 is ONLY a better choice if you're planning to "trick it out" with fancy stocks, barrels, triggers, and such. There's good reason the Marlin is the best selling semi-auto .22 ever (that's what they claim anyway).

Better yet, check pawn shops and such and get a used Marlin model 60 for $50, And an SKS for $100-$150 and you're set for mucho cheap acquisition and mucho cheap ammo, with no recoil issues! [Note: If you get an SKS, do not rack rounds through the chamber until you're at the range with the gun pointed safely downrange - although rare, some SKS's can slamfire.]

But, choice from your list => Savage 64 or Rem 66.

If you do get a Mosin, get a full-sized 91/30 instead of the M44; prolly around $80-$100, and put on a slipon recoil pad, as others have mentioned.
 
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