Rifle for my girlfriend

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The Deer Hunter

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Well to start off, my girlfriend really enjoys going shooting with me and is now in the process in getting a her FID (I'm in MA). She doesn't have a lot of money and with school being her #1 priority (well, mine too but oh well) she cannot afford to buy things on the side. I have mentioned it a couple times and it seems like she absolutely loves the idea.

The few times we have been out to the range together we were shooting my .30-06, and the Mosin (She really liked that one :D) she really liked it, although she was a bit timid to the recoil (She is 5'-2", 115 lbs). We have also shot the .22 mag off the back porch and I can tell she liked that much better.

Now I'm on a budget myself. I can probably afford $250 max. I want to get her something that she can really learn to shoot on. I was thinking about a Ruger 10/22, but I have heard it is good to get a bolt action as a first gun, I want her to focus on accuracy, not speed and peppering the target, but I also want a gun that she isn't going to feel is inadequate as soon as she gets used to it. (I have to say, she is a good shot as it is).

The ruger .22lr bolt actions are advertised as "economical", so I thought, hey they look good and are cheap, but they cost like $800. Yeah, real economical.

Marlin, Savage and Mossberg seem like the best bet. Does anyone know the MSRP on the Marlin 935 and the Mossberg 802?

I honestly don't like the look of the Mossberg or the Savage, but of course I'm not just going to hand her the gun I like. I will take her to look at a couple once I narrow things down.

Does anyone have any suggestions for a good starting gun? Something that is accurate, solid and dependable and reasonably priced.

And also, I'm kind of wandering into the unknown (for me). What is your advice for a starting gun for my girlfriend?
 
I believe that everyone should first own a defensive firearm before a plinker. Therefore, for your budget, I would recommend an SKS. You can still get them for around $200. The 7.62 is a pretty cheap centerfire rifle caliber and it's powerful to boot.

Otherwise, a 10/22 would also be a good choice for a .22 rifle. It's cheap plinking and a tested design, however, personally I would opt for a defensive rifle before a range toy.
 
I'd get her a Stevens 200 in 223. Great price, great shooter. And nothing makes you want to shoot more like the success you have with a low recoil, accurate caliber.
 
Why not save up and get an AR-15? If it will be her gun, the 10/22 will work and should be fun as well. I can't think of any small bore rifles that are economical and as fun as the 10/22, maybe an AR-15, but that isn't economical for everyone.

edit: I see some recommending a rifle chambered in 7.62X39, I personally am much larger than your girlfriend and I some times have recoil issues with my AK (related to it messing with my hearing protection on recoil), I think you should stick to the .22s with her.
 
well

well, could get her a 50 bmg in a 12 lb gun and just be done with the dating scene and save the pain of div... n/m, im old and jaded :) (but happily remarried, im a slow learner)

all things considered, if you are on a tight budget for the foreseable future, it is hard to beat a 22, 11 or 12 bucks for 500 shots is easy on the wallet. Hard to beat a savage for raw accuracy out of the box, i'd lean that way myself.
 
She doesn't need a defensive rifle. She needs something she will be able to shoot. I know it is a good thing to have but that is not what I am looking for. Plus I think 3 German Shepard's should keep the intruders at least at bay.

I have an AR-15 lower. I also have a 20 year old Jeep Wrangler that needs a lot of work. If I could, I would buy her an $900 gun but the fact of the matter is that I am in between jobs (college plays a major role in this), I have to either buy another vehicle or pay a lot to fix the one I have and I have to get her a rifle.

It would be nice but I just can not afford that.

Thats pretty good for the mossberg gun.

And please don't think of my shoot downs personally. I really do appreciate the feedback.

well, could get her a 50 bmg in a 12 lb gun and just be done with the dating scene and save the pain
Click to expand...

Do I get to keep the .50 afterwards? =P
 
I bought my Marlin 60SN semi-auto .22lr for around $140 new.

AbleAmmo has the 925 bolt gun for less than $180. These guns are very accurate with decent ammo...just stay away from the bulk pack stuff (you know, 500+ rounds for ~$10-15), unless you're strictly plinking.

The Ruger 10/22 has a much stronger following, so there's more stuff available if you ever wanted to upgrade/modify.
 
I've gone through this... my wife is just about exactly that size/weight. She'll shoot a Mosin-Nagant M39 or M1A, she handles recoil just fine, the problem is that most rifles are simply too long for her to hold comfortably, and anything in the 7-9 lb. range is too heavy. After trying a few things, my wife decided she really wants an AR. That's out of your budget, but it's light, short, and handy -- perfect for someone of that size. Another good choice would be a Puma lever-action (1892 clone) in .357 with a 16" barrel, but they're around $500.

It's worth considering another question: what is the purpose of the rifle? Is this just a plinker for the range? If so, I'd get something like a 10/22 carbine or a Marlin 60. For hunting or home defense, you'll want a center-fire rifle, which will likely be out of your budget unless you get a milsurp like an SKS or Mosin-Nagant. In that case, I'd suggest a carbine and maybe a good recoil pad.

Think short and lightweight. :D (My wife also shoots a youth-model Mossberg 505 20ga.)
 
The Ruger 10/22 has a much stronger following, so there's more stuff available if you ever wanted to upgrade/modify.
Click to expand...

Thats the thing. I want her to be able to learn the fundamentals of marksmanship, but I don't want her to feel like she has an inadequate rifle in a year or two, when she may not be able to afford to buy one herself.

It's worth considering another question: what is the purpose of the rifle? Is this just a plinker for the range? If so, I'd get something like a 10/22 carbine or a Marlin 60. For hunting or home defense, you'll want a center-fire rifle, which will likely be out of your budget unless you get a milsurp like an SKS or Mosin-Nagant. In that case, I'd suggest a carbine and maybe a good recoil pad.
Click to expand...

I want her to learn to shoot a rifle accurately. Although it will mainly be a range rifle she could use it for home defense or hunting but that is not what I am focusing on.
 
Savage Mark II 22LR with composite stock. Should be close to your budget and you might win some points! Looks best in stainless, but it is a bit more than the blue finish price tag. Mount an inexpensive 4x (1" tube) scope for now. Upgrade later to something higher quality. Never happens for me however. I just buy another rifle.

I would have suggested the CZ452, but it's outside your budget unless you want another 22 rifle.

I agree. She doesn't need a defensive rifle. She can use the 22 for a defensive gun should it ever be necessary.
 
I would show her that one in a store and look at a few others including the Savage. I am sort of on a Savage kick of late. I'm dying to get my Mark II Classic 22 (walnut stock) out of layaway. I already have a CZ452 Varmint and a number of other good 22 rifles. I even have a Ruger 10/22 deluxe which is okay and fun to plink with. I seldom recommend Ruger 10/22's for anything other than a plinker or project rifle. But it works good for rabbit hunting with the 4x scope on it. Very fast pointer.

The CZ's shoot real good!! The trainer is the cheapest model. I prefer the American with the more traditional design of walnut stock. Ony the trainer and the Lux (Manlicher stock) come with open sights.
 
If you want to buy a .22lr for her look for used ones. Unless of course that wouldn't go over well. I have 2 marlin 25n's that are great guns for the money. One was $75, the other was about $70 even though the lady only wanted $25. (she was a friend of my fathers from work and I couldn't rip her off)

I believe they are very similar to the 925 marlin offers now. If you can find either the 925 or 25 used they would be good picks.
 
You've gotten a lot of good suggestions so far so I'll just offer a +1 for the CZ if you/she can afford it. Also - heresy as this will be among the TinkerToy crowd - I wouldn't get her a 10/22. A good trigger is invaluable to all shooters and especially newbies - and the the typical 10/22 is not even in the "good trigger" ballpark. And why buy an incompete rifle and then spend more for tack-ons than you would have spent for an excellent rifle in the first place?

Also I agree with your "thumbs down" to a "defensive gun". Buying a "defensive gun" doesn't make you a defensive shooter any more than buying a piano makes you a Mozart.

HTH
:cool:
 
I'd suggest sitting down with her over a nice quiet meal or whatever and discuss the whole thing with her. Get her input on whether this gun will be for defense, hunting, or just plinking around. From there you can determine what caliber is needed. Now you can take her to some gun stores and see what SHE likes and what feels comfy to HER.

Personally I feel that everyone should own a .22 and they make fro great learner guns. With the 10/22 she will be able to build the gun to get better as she does as well. Plus there is so much out there for the 10/22 it will allow her to personalize it.

As far as a semi vs a bolt for beginners I am just not buying it. You can load a semi one at a time just as well.

Over all and most of all, let her be a part of the picking/choosing/buying process and I promise she will like the firearm of choice much better.

Just my thoughts on it all from learning and living with 2 sisters, my mother, my wife and my 16yr old daughter...all of which like shooting.

Noidster
 
I was planning on bringing her up to some gun stores in the future. I am definately for her picking and choosing a gun that feels right to her, but I am just in the early stages.
 
I had tricked out a Colt LE 6920 for my GF but she didn't care for it, I sold
it and relinquished my Winchester Trapper .357 Mag carbine for her to use.

If at all possible, take your GF to a range where she can test drive a short list.



I did baptize my GF with her very first hand gun and she loved it - Glock 21 :evil:
 
Used gun show Marlin 336 in .30-30 Win - best value going! But a Mossberg 100 ATR or NEF Handi or Rossi single shot would do fine as well, within budget. Caliber: .243 Win

A Stephens 200 (new) does NOT come in within the stated budget. The 100ATR does ONLY without tax/shipping/FFL.


And oh yes, this is most excellent advice:

"Over all and most of all, let her be a part of the picking/choosing/buying process "
Click to expand...
 
I think a .22 will do just fine. I don't want to bother with a pistol caliber carbine (although I hear they are nice) because neither her nor I are over 21 and since we are in MA, a lot of places make you have a LTC to obtain "pistol" ammo.
 
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