Good intermediate rifle

[Pork Fat]

Personally, I found mil-surps to be great beginner rifles. Rugged, inexpensive,
and a great learning tool with charisma that a wally world commodity rifle can't touch. I may be biased, but I hate the thought of someone never learning how to shoot without a scope. It's like never learning how to drive stick- you never know when you'll need the skill.
I agree that the 6.5 Swede is an excellent middleweight round, but the cheap surplus dried up abruptly a couple of years ago. I meant to horde some, but there always seemed to be plenty until there wasn't any. Same with .303 British. We grow too soon old and too late smart.

 

[roscoe]

30-30 Winchester or Marlin. Every American should own one. $200 used easy. It will do most everything you could need from a rifle inside 250 yards.

 

[kennyboy]

Based on what you said, I recommend a .30-06, .308, or maybe even a .300win mag. These are common medium game rounds and will not empty your pocket. For the make of rifle, Remington 700 or Winchester 70. Both guns are popular, solid, accurate, and decently priced. I am 5'10, 150lbs and can handle my .30-06 so you will have no problem.

 

[Stiletto Null]

Don't forget about 8mm Mauser! Turks are still dirt cheap (barely more than Mosins), and Yugos are still very cheap (<$200).

 

[pdowg881]

So if I show up at my local gun store asking all these questions, do you think it would go well, or does it really depend on who you're dealing with? Like would i get good help and advice or kinda be ignored because I don't really know much? Lol, it's just that i'm not really used to asking people what they have for guns.

 

[JohnKSa]

It depends HEAVILY on the gunshop. I hate sending inexperienced folks to gunshops because I've heard so much bad advice dispensed in gunshops over the years.

 

[pdowg881]

OK I guess i'll go and see what happens and tell you guys what I get for answes and see how it sounds. Also, does being a lefty shooter make it harder to find what you want?

 

[JohnKSa]

Yup, there aren't as many options and the cost is generally a bit higher if you need a left-handed rifle.

 

[pdowg881]

I ended up settling on a used marlin 80 .22lr for now. It's bolt action with a scope. I thought it would be good for now so I don't bother anyone shooting it in my woods. It looks like it's in really good shape and it shot well. I got it for 75$. I was curious for opinions of anyone whose had experience with this rifle.

 

[pdowg881]

Would I be able to find a date of manufacture on the rifle or get more information on it somehow? The lefty issue also turned out fine because it's ambidextrous or however it's spelled.

 

[CB900F]

Pdowg881;

I seriously doubt that your Marlin is ambidextrous. If the bolt isn't operated from the left side of the reciever, it's not LHB.

This is what people previously were concerned about; you presumably asked to see left-handed guns & the shop sold you a right-hand bolt gun telling you it was ambidextrous. Marlin has yet to make thier first LHB .22 as far as I know.

Savage does make an LHB .22 interestingly enough. It's the MKII & should be available, new, for something around $150.00 or less I'd think. Check Wally World on this one, I've been told they can get them for you. They'll never have one in stock though. If you are small statured, it can be had in youth configuration too.

A further suggestion - start going to better gun shops.

900F

 

[pdowg881]

When i say ambidextruos I mean the mold of the stock not he bolt. I prefer it how it is anyways since being left handed means my left hand stays near the trigger while my right hand works the bolt. Sorry fo the confusion.