dumb noob questions

[billsnogo]

Keep in mind, I am BRAND new to rifles.

So.....why are bolt action rifles supposed to be more accurate than semi-auto rifles?

Also, what would you suggest for a beginner in a .22 rifle, both in bolt action and semi-auto that will be very accurate at 100 yards, and cost $300 or less with scope?

ps
I am choosing .22 since it will be my first rifle, cheap to shoot, and more likely to have my wife shoot with me do to no recoil.

thanks in advance

 

[SDC]

Mainly, more consistency in how the bolt locks up each time, and the absence of any major/large/relatively heavy parts moving around inside the rifle between the point when the firing pin hits the primer and when the bullet exits the bore. More consistency = more repeatibility = more accuracy. Despite that, in 22, it can be hard NOT to find one that's more than accurate enough for anything you'll be using it for; just as you can find a bolt-action 22 that'll put round after round into a dime-sized group at 50 yards, you can find plenty of semis that'll do the same.

 

[rangerruck]

get two marlins for your 22's. any of the 81 seriesfrom 1937, all the way to the current 981. this will be your bolt action, and it shoots short,long, longrifle. the mod 60 will be your semi auto. I would go to a gunshow or gunshop, and get both of these used for under 100 bucks for the 981 or other 81, and 50 to 75 bucks, for the mod 60. If you have a pawnshop anywhere around, they will usually have a mod 60. For target shooting out to 100 yards, you need a 16 poiwer scope or greater, to see clearly your 1 inch dots at 100 yds. a 3x9 or 4x 12 will not let you see it large enough. the scope will cost you more than the rifles, proly. you can get the Tasco varmint, or it 's clone the Barska, for 100 bucks and 75 bucks respectively. you will also need rings and mounts. the mod 60 will proly require you to get either , BKL mounts OR GET kwiksite weaver tip off blocks, for the dovetail rail. then put regular mounts and rings on them. A dovetail rail, with a medium or large scope on a 22, will usually make the scope ' walk' backwards on the rail, because of the recoil. You will not have this problem with the 981 or equivalent, since they should have drill and tap holes for scope mounts.
The reason a bolt is considered more accurate than a semi is various, but the shortest of many answers is this one; a semiauto bullet is pulled and dragged up into the chamber, get nicks and scuffmarks along the way.
So the bullets lose their best uniformity, and aerodynamic properties along the way, every time a new bullet is grabbed and chambered.

 

[MatthewVanitas]

Rangerruck beat me to it:

In Austin, I'm about guaranteed to find a Marlin 60 (semi-auto, holds 14 or 18 rounds depending on model) in every other pawnshop. Marlin has sold something like 10 million of these since 1960, and with good reason. I see them as low as $50 in Austin (in good shape), and consider $75 about my max price for a blued one, maybe $20 more for stainless or some unusual variant.

I'd get the semi first, have fun plinking with that, and then look into getting a bolt-action and a scope.

You might reach a few conclusions about what you like and don't like after shooting a few thousand rounds out of the Marlin 60.


Some have suggested the Ruger 10/22, but a used one runs at least $120 around here, and I don't find it to be any better than a Marlin. The Marlin is slimmer in profile, doesn't need expensive detachable mags, and has a great trigger. The Ruger is more customizable, and that's about it's main advantage.


As inexpensive (and outstanding) as the Marlin 60 is, there's no reason not to get one.

-MV

 

[trainwreck100]

I'll second a Marlin, single shot bolt is all you'll ever need, and once you've shot it it'll be all you ever want...until you try a Ruger 10/22...but you should be able to get both for under 300 dollars, and a BSA 4x32 scope from Wally world for about 25. Great fun, and we welcome you're wife and you to the forum and the sport, glad to have you.

 

[Morglan]

I say go with the Ruger 10/22--it'll be as accurate out of the box as you can shoot, and down the road there are more aftermarket accessories that you can add for this rifle than any other .22 on the market.