Very Proud of myself!

[Dr.Mall Ninja]

I had a friend who had no desire to ever shoot a gun, and after several vists to the gun range he has decided that he wants to buy one! Now he wants me to help him find something sub-$300. He wants something bigger then a 22. This is simpily to plink with, I'm think an SKS is what i'm going to push him towards or prepares a Yugo Mauser. Any other ideas would be great. He is 22 and does not have much experince with guns besides the 3 or 4 times I have taken him to the range.

 

[pikid89]

i would whole heartedly suggest a Ruger 10/22 and that he sign up for an Appleseed shoot,

he will become intimately familiar with his rifle in a matter of hours, and learn how to shoot better than the majority of americans to boot

 

[Iramo94]

You can't go wrong with a milsurp.

By the way OP, nice signiature.

 

[Dmitri Popov]

Maybe a Savage Axis in .223? They're really sharp little rifles, and ammo would be cheap. A scoped combo can usually be had for $280~ pretty easily.

Oh, and good job!

 

[Dr.Mall Ninja]

I have a ruger 10/22 that he has shot, and I know that is a great starting rifle but he just wants a bigger boom..... plus he works at UPS and only brings home about 250 a week or so, and is going to college. I think appleseed would be out his price range.

 

[Dr.Mall Ninja]

Showed him the savage axis, he likes it any other similar guns?

 

[rozziboy18]

how about the ol 870! its inexpensive to buy,shoot, maintain. is a simple action to learn,and can double as a home defense platform, not to mention i makes a huge boom. and the ammo range i pretty broad as well, birdshot or slugs buck shot to 3 1/2 inch mags....good god, i guess im going to walmart tomorrow to buy one now.

 

[Dmitri Popov]

Showed him the savage axis, he likes it any other similar guns?

Nothing comes to mind right off if he's wanting something NIB, sept' fer the H&R Handi Rifles. H&R makes a good rifle too.

Your options open up quite a bit if you go used, but I've found alot of new to firearms people like to own a new firearm, since they can make all their own memories, history, with their rifle. He may feel differently however, depending how sentimental he is.

 

[Thefabulousfink]

cheap ammo would be a plus, along with being fun to shoot. I thing you are on the right track with an SKS. You might also look at ruger mini-14s you might find a used one for a little above that price, but they are great guns. Someone else mentioned an 870, and I have seen so many non-gun people fall in love with trap shooting.

Some mil-surps that are fun to shoot (but the ammo is a little more $) would be the K-31 swiss or an Enfield No1.

for pistols, a .38 revolver like a S&W model 60, or a single action army from Uberti are both great fun for plinking.

good luck

Edit to add: a mosin-nagant would give him a BIG boom for under $150. We're talking bruise your sholder after 20 rounds, but throws a big fireball.

 

[FreddyKruger]

Have him check out the howa rifles. im not sure how cheap they are in the states, but over here they are great value for money.

Then there's a mosin...

 

[Dr.Mall Ninja]

I like the milsurp guns and think k-31 would be awsome, hes wanting a newer design...

 

[Thefabulousfink]

Kel-Tec SU-16? might be more like $600 or $700.

Or a CZ 527, a .223 bolt action with a 5 round box magazine. might be around $500.

 

[Hunterdad]

How about a hi-point carbine in 9mm

 

[Mr. Bojangles]

Mosin Nagant 91/30. Definitely a big boom, and for about $200 he can get the rifle and about 440 rounds to shhot through it! It even comes with a bayonet and a little bit of history.

 

[ATBackPackin]

I think the Hi-Point carbine or the Kel-Tec SUB 2000 would be a great idea. Inexpensive rifles and the ammo is cheap as well.

I really like the SKS, but that much boom might develop bad habits for a beginner. I would normally suggest a .22lr rifle, but if he wants something more I would go with a 9mm carbine or rifle.

Congrats on showing your friend how much fun shooting can be.

Shawn

 

[Dr.Mall Ninja]

By the way OP, nice signiature

Yes..Gecko45 is to the gun world, like Plato is to philosophy. His great artwork of words makes Cooper and Ayoob seem like childerens coloring books.

My friend lives with his parents who are very anti,I will be holding this gun for him until he finishes college in about a year =) It is kind of a win win for me =)

 

[velobard]

For $300 I'd recommend a 10/22 for training AND a Mosin 91/30 to satisfy his urge for something with more wallop.

 

[Matthew Courtney]

Moisin Nagant with a recoil pad!

 

[Slotback]

Can't go wrong with a 10/22 and an Appleseed shoot.

 

[afponiky]

10/22 but if his mind is made up on something else...



+3 on the High Point Carbine!

And good job!

 

[hso]

Marlin .22 under $200 and a .22 spinner target, cleaning kit and as many bricks as the remaining money can buy.

OTOH, it is difficult to beat a Mosin Nagant rifle and surplus ammo if you like big booms.

 

[USAF_Vet]

+ whatever we're up to on either the Hi Point or the Mosin.

 

[FROGO207]

I would lean to a bolt rifle as the ammo consumption would be a lot less with it. Also the .22 for cost of feeding it. The SKS would be a close second. Then any caliber of SB-2 Handi Rifle that eats inexpensive ammo. One can get a spare barrel in another caliber for a minimal cost later, even a shotgun barrel.

 

[Bovice]

Save a bit more and get up to 400, and get a WASR-10. Big boom, "modern" design, and you can shoot nasty lacquered ammo and it won't care and neither will you.

I have a friend who got one, it's pretty fun to shoot. The quality wasn't "awful" like people say online. It's decent for what it is.

 

[bangaway]

H&R rifles are accurate, do not cost much and come in lots of calibers. How about .357/.38 spec.? Rem. and savage are selling new rifles at $270. Stevens brand rifles do not cost much either. Have fun and bangaway.