What rifle/caliber do you like to shoot the most?

[DMK]

What rifle & caliber do you like to shoot the most?

Let us for the moment put aside the discussions of stopping power, terminal ballistics, ammo availability, rifles that cycle when covered with mud/sand or work after getting knocked around in a vehicle. What do you just like to shoot the most?

I've got a few favorites:

I shoot 22LR a LOT. I have a 22LR AR that's setup similar to my main HD gun. Also have a Marlin 39A lever and a scoped model 60. All are loads of fun. Nobody can argue about 22LR accuracy. It's cheap so I don't feel guilty about burning up 500 rounds just shooting dirt clods. But it has no punch or bang and it's range is short.

I'm starting to really aquire a taste for Swiss 7.5 in my K31. I love the smooth action and clean break of the trigger. I still can't believe what a deal GP-11 is. Where else can you find such accuracy and quality for the money. I buy a case of thise stuff every month just to cover myself for the day it stops coming in.

7.62x39 and the SKS. Fun! I love loading with the stripper clips. The recoil is light. The carbine is handy. The sights aren't great, but Tech Sights fixed that problem for me. One day I've got to do something about the terrible trigger though.

My all time favorite though is the basic 20", fixed sights, AR15 chambered in 223/5.56. It's light weight, has great sights, great trigger, neglidgable recoil, shoots flat, good accuracy, easy to clean. Of course, I'm exceptionally proud of my ARs because I built them with my own two hands using carefully chosen parts.

 

[Father Knows Best]

44-40 and .30

I love shooting my 1866 Winchester short rifle loaded with 44-40 black powder rounds. That always brings a smile to my face, and I could do it all day.

I've also got a thing for .30 caliber rifles. I love my AK, my Garands, my G3 and my FAL, and I love shooting all of them.

The .223 just doesn't do it for me. I recently bought an AR to play with, though, so that may change.

 

[trueblue1776]

1. .223
2. 7.62x39
3. 8mm
4. .303 brit

 

[duck911]

Although I usually take multiple rifles and handguns to the range when I go, I really enjoy shooting my Marlin bolt action .17 HMR. It's SO accurate that I can practice with it at 200 yards with just a little holdover and it's cheap to shoot.

I start with the 17, get my self calmed down, then switch to the .204 ruger for serious work. Then, back to the .17 at the end for dirt clod and starling assault

Or, instead of the .204 I'll shoot the .270, .30 carbine, etc, etc but I always seem to come back to the .17 HMR.

Same with my handguns. KP-95 9MM first, then either my .45 ACP or .357 revo. But it's always back to the 9 MM in the end!

 

[williegee]

For me:

1) 9mm
2) .38 Special
3) .223/5.56

 

[ArmedBear]

in .30-06 is my favorite right now, though it doesn't see as many rounds as some other calibers/guns.

I like the way I can just calm down, relax, and try shooting at small, faraway things from various positions with it.

.223 semiauto is fun, and probably my second choice, iron sights, also at faraway things, or moving things. Hand-thrown clays are amusing, but you need a big backstop.

I'd shoot .22LR if I could shoot in my yard, but for some reason I just can't get into driving out to the mountains to shoot a .22. Various old milsurps are amusing and historic, but I have a nice scope on the Weatherby, and its ergonomics and recoil pad are far more pleasant, to say the least. On the other hand, a relatively light sporter isn't good as a hand-to-hand combat weapon...

In all, though, shooting a scoped sporter at small, faraway things, from field positions, not a range bench, is really meditative, and feels really good when I'm ready to pack it up and go home.

 

[Jackal]

I enjoy shooting my Ruger M77 Tang Safety .243 more than any other gun. It has a varmint profile heavy barrel. I topped it with a good Pentax 3-9x and couldnt be any happier. I frequently shoot sub 1/2 100yd groups with decent ammo. What could be better? Decent power, low noise, zero recoil, superior accuracy and reasonably priced ammo. This rifle has been well used and is well loved. ( Not a safe queen) .

 

[gbran]

17 Mach2
.223
'06

 

[dragongoddess]

Carcano in 7.35

 

[_N4Z_]

.22LR
7.62x39
.357mag
30/30

shoot .22 the most and the rest in that order.

 

[DMK]

For you guys listing just calibers, what rifles are you shooting them with/from.


Interesting how so far manual actions are greatly outnumbering semi-autos.

 

[rbernie]

7.62x39 from a 16" AR-15 pattern rifle.

 

[MachIVshooter]

My favorite rifle to fire is the .50 BMG, but the rifle calibers I fire the most are .223 and .308, followed by .30-06 and 7.62x39.

I will easily go through 100-200 rounds of .17 rem. in a day at the praire dog towns, though.

 

[Smith357]

.22 lr by far from a Walther UIT, T/C 20" Bullberry.

Followed by .45-70 Gvt. from a Browning 1886, 1883 Trapdoor and T/C 16"

 

[Harry Paget Flashman]

Shooting 7.62X54R out of a Mosin-Nagant 91/30 or 1938 model is great fun and still relatively cheap. But it's tough to beat plinking with a .22 revolver.

 

[Squidward]

.22
.223

 

[jd46561]

I prefer to shoot with Heidi. Shes a Swiss gal 7.5x55 . A good looker and a great shooter....

 

[possum]

.223/ 5.56 for rifle
9mm for handguns !

 

[mc223]

22 short in my 552 Rem.
22 Hornet.

 

[doc tc]

Has to be the Marlin lever 30-30 for me. Really like the .223 Mini-14 (California don't you just love it), the Remmie .243 and my Savage .308 but for the most enjoyment minute to minute I have to say that that old lever is still at the top of the list.

Lots of reasons, most of them personal, like all good reasons are.

doc

 

[the 22 junkie]

22, from Browning Buckmark carbine and my Marlin 925, thats about it. Hence the name. 223 in a Mini-14 is too loud and lacks enough fun factor to be enjoyable. 410 out of a Win. 9410 and 38 spl. out of of an SP101 are nice too, but not rifles.

 

[EvisceratorSrB]

Although I only technically own two rifles, I love shooting my 7.92x57 M48. I've shot many other rifles and pistols, but the power is awesome I'll stick with a .45 pistol too...

 

[Beetle Bailey]

Well, I do shoot my CZ 452 in .22lr the most often, and I do really enjoy the outstanding accuracy and total lack of recoil. My eyes get tired before my shoulder does.

However, my favorite is my Finnish M39 Mosin Nagant (7.62x54r). I've got two, and the one I shoot the most is the VKT made with an antique receiver (made in 1894). My shoulder can only take about 50 rounds so I take my time and try to enjoy every shot. I shoot it so much that at my local range, I'm known as "that guy who really likes Mosin Nagants" even though I actually own more Mausers than Mosin Nagants.

 

[sscoyote]

I like my XP-100 .17 Mach IV for spot and stalk coyotes, but also like my 243 WSSM Striker, and will be liking my 20BR, and 6.5WSM XP's for coyotes this season.

 

[Dr. Dickie]

Two words: Ga rand
Also: Spring field ('03).



P.S. Beetle Bailey
That's Elvis Costello not Nick Lowe