First Rifle

[MedWheeler]

Because of the shortage of .22LR ammo, I was able to score some decent buys in firearms in the caliber. Though the shortage is all but over, and I have no issues finding ammo, I'm glad so many others still believe it's hard to come by, because that's keeping the firearm prices down, and their availability up.

One of the guns I picked up last year is a mint-condition Marlin Model 25, made in 1985. I'd bet a gun like this one would suit you quite well.

 

[someguy2800]

Whan't to learn how to read wind? Shoot a .22 cal rifle at 100-200yds. Learning with a .22 affords you the opportunity to learn good habits without muzzle blast or recoil.

That is an excellent point. People really learn some nasty flinching habits when they learn to shoot with a higher recoiling rifle because they can't tell they are mashing on the trigger while the gun is recoiling. The best thing I ever did for my pistol shooting is to start shooting 22 pistol

 

[someguy2800]

22 ammo is readily available with plinking ammo as low as $ .05/rd.

My local stores I can still only ever find 100 round boxes for $9 or 50 round target stuff for $7-$10. I buy bulk boxes when I can but that's very rare still and I look twice a week. I shoot half of it in my buckmark and save the rest for my daughter when she gets old enough to shoot.

 

[Sniper66]

Pete,

You have chosen the two most basic calibers to learn with. The 2 rifles, one rimfire and the other a reloadable center-fire, are the perfect choices to begin what can be great fun for a long time to come. You really should plan to eventually buy both. Only then will you begin to appreciate the difference between rimfire and center-fire. Then if you are truly blessed you can move the hell out of that insane state. Happy shooting.

Tom

 

[webrx]

We have a howa 1500 varmint in .223, hogue stock, minimal recoil due to being a fairly heavy rifle even with the fluted barrel. I got mine for under $500 - you can reload for it, extremely accurate (at least ours is) we shoot paper to 200 and steel out to 600 routinely, my son has even hit the barrel at 1000 with it a couple times. Rifle shoots 1 moa no problem

that said, you will also want a .22, so both you and the wife can shoot at the same time. I bought an old mossberg at the local pawn shops for under $100, my son now claims this, so I bought a .22 savage btvss (stainless bull barrel accutrigger, etc) to shoot from the bench. The .22s recommended above (CZ, tikka, etc) are all good rifles too. But that little mossberg I got for $100 shoots great for a sporter barrel.

We enjoy shooting the .22s from 25 to 100 for short range accuracy, and cans, and golf balls, etc. The .223 (and my 6.5) are for longer distances and allow paper to 200 and steel out to 1000 (as long as we can get at our range) which is also a blast.

if I could have only one and I reload (which I do) it would be a varmint barrel bolt action gun in .223 for all the reasons I and others have stated above.

And then I would check out the pawn shops for an old bolt action 22 - pretty hard to shoot out a barrel on a .22 unless you shoot thousands of rounds for a long time so most if they have not been left to rust or pit are in decent shape. and even the old sears and monkey wards .22s were made by mossberg or marlin or another name manufacturer for them.

I would not sell my mossberg 340BB for $500, which is 5x what I paid for it - it is near pristine and accurate, buy a decent 223 varmint, you can hunt dear in a pinch with it if everything goes to heck in a hand basket, and look around for a .22 deal since some think they are a waste now - bet you can find a decent one for under $150, heck, I think you can get a new synthetic one at walmart for under $250 though I like the older wood stock ones better

Dave.

 

[Nature Boy]

if I could have only one and I reload (which I do) it would be a varmint barrel bolt action gun in .223 for all the reasons I and others have stated above

A Savage Model 12 BVSS fits that bill nicely.