Author Topic: New guy with old problems (Read 1048 times)

sillyputty · « **on:** January 29, 2006, 04:14:10 PM »

I'm not sure where to start with this, so I'll spew out some randomness and hope someone gets it. I'm new to rifles and wanting to start out with a .22 cal rimfire. I'm wanting to do long-distance, iron-sighted target shooting. I'm not sure what caliber to go with--22 Long Rifle or 22 Magnum? I've had my eye on a Marlin 982 .22M and the Marlin 980S .22LR. I'm willing to fork out 242$ (with 7% sales tax included

) for a bolt-action rimfire, so feel free to post make/model suggestions.

jgalar · « **Reply #1 on:** January 29, 2006, 05:22:32 PM »

I would go with the 22 Long rifle rimfire for your first rifle. Check the price of ammo, the 22 Magnum will cost you about 5X as much as the 22Long Rifle ammo. If you sight it in around 70-80 yards the bullet will only be a few inches low at 100yds. Not what I would call long distance, but you can do alot more shooting for less money.

Nightrain52 · « **Reply #2 on:** January 29, 2006, 06:07:10 PM »

First I will say welcome to Graybeards Outdoors. As jgalar said to start out get a good quality 22LR. They are much cheaper to shoot and you will need a lot of target practice. You will need to try several brands of ammo to see which brand your rifle shoots the best with. You might check into the CZ brand of rifles as most people get pretty good accuracy with them. The Marlins are usually pretty good shooters too. It may take 50 to 100 shots to get a new rifle settled down to where it shoots the best. If you go from one brand ammo to a different brand it will take a few shots for it to come back around also. 100 yards is at the very limit of a 22 lr. for taking small game reliably. Good luck, enjoy, and have fun.

sillyputty · « **Reply #3 on:** January 29, 2006, 06:44:49 PM »

Alright, I've looked around for boxes of ammo and you guys are right (of course), a box of 50 .22M rounds is 9~15$ (MSRP) while the .22LR is 2~5$.

One more question, would you choose a bolt-action or semi-automatic if you were in my place? Keep in mind, it's for a .22LR, target shooting only and the shooter (me) is a fast learner. ...I really don't mean to gloat, it's just an important piece of information in some cases.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #4 on:** January 29, 2006, 06:50:23 PM »

Welcome aboard, Sillyputty!! I'm not much of a .22 rimfire expert, but I read a lot at RFC, here's a thread on long range .22 shooting...there are others if you wanta look around a bit.

Tim

http://rimfirecentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=96320&page=1&pp=15&highlight=200yd

jgalar · « **Reply #5 on:** January 30, 2006, 01:59:36 AM »

I have had good success with the Federal bulk 22 Long Rifle ammo. It shoots fairly well in all my 22 rifles and is what I would concider cheap. The action you choose is a personal decision, but many autoloaders will not cycle well with all Long Rifle ammo. Don't overlook lever actions also, take a look at the Henry rifles. Since you plan on shooting without a scope check the sights on the different guns. Some are good and some aren't, you have to choose one that is easy for you to use and that you can adjust. You also need to think about the magazine that you prefer - detachable box or tube.

Jack Gilbert · « **Reply #6 on:** January 30, 2006, 06:50:35 AM »

jgalar is right, some of that promotional ammo shoots well, I have had good luck with the Remington bulk pack stuff from Wal-Mart, even though I have had several misfires.

A good receiver sight goes a long ways to making shooting any .22 more fun and more accurate. One of my favorites is a Marlin 39-A with a Williams receiver sight, it holds its own with many scope sighted firearms.

Have fun!!

popplecop · « **Reply #7 on:** January 30, 2006, 08:01:02 AM »

Welcome aboard. Warning .22 rf shooting is addicting, one rifle will lead to another. I go to a well stocked sporting goods store and I buy single boxes of .22rf shells of as many brands as I can. Now I have my testing stock, each .22rf is a different animal in the same make or model. People ask for the most accurate 22 rf shell, I have no idea what it is, like I said each rifle is different animal. That being said, take the advice already given, try the promotional rounds first, if they prove accurate great. My problem is always trying to find the most accurate in that particular rifle, that's my addiction. But the most fun is plinking and squirrel hunting. Hope you enjoys .22rfs as much as I do.

flintlock · « **Reply #8 on:** January 30, 2006, 08:40:17 AM »

silly...It would be hard to beat a Ruger autoloader as a first .22...If you aren't set on a bolt...you might look into them...all sorts of after market triggers, barrels, stocks etc are available for them....I would kinda like to have one in the laminate stock with the target (bull) barrel...

I do most of my squirrel hunting with a Remington 541-T bolt...but...they aren't made anymore....In a bolt CZ has a lot of happy campers also...

BillP · « **Reply #9 on:** February 08, 2006, 11:40:11 AM »

The .22 Mag round is considered a hunting round although I am sure plenty of targets are shot with them. The .22LR is considered both hunting and target with lots of amunition available spesificly for target shooting and even spesific kinds of target shooting. You don't indicate what you consider long range but if I wanted to shoot targets at a range beyond the capibility of a LR and I didn't want a centerfire, I would consider the .17HMR.

No doubt someone will inform me that the .22 Mag is the finest long range rimfire available on the face of the earth. In my limitted experience that has not been the case. The .17 HMR is still new but is quickly gaining a reputation for accuracy. In any case, neither the .17HMR or the .22 Mag have anywhere near the number of dedicated target shooters as the LR. My advice is to see what sort or organized competion most closly resembles the shooting you want to do (silhouttes ?) and take a close look at what sort of gun they are using.

Swamp Yankee · « **Reply #10 on:** February 09, 2006, 03:31:38 PM »

The 22 cal is an excelent choice. You can shoot all day for very little money. Just my opinion but I would start with a bolt. It gives you time in between shots to settle down and practice your shooting disciplines: your breathing, triger pull, your hold. I see to many new guys at my club with the semi autos that use the shoot and spray method [ten rounds in five seconds] sure it's fun but it doesen't help your marksmanship. I have three rimefire rifles a bolt a pump and a lever and I like them all but I have recently seen a CZ bolt action I think it was a 452 trainning rifle that really impressed me infact if I had some extra money I might buy one. you can never have to many guns!!! You might try looking in the used racks too, don't be afraid to buy a used gun it take a long time to wear out a 22 [like a couple of lifetimes]. Thats just my spin on things,....Jim

handirifle · « **Reply #11 on:** February 19, 2006, 08:53:19 AM »

Sillyputty
Welcome to GB's, great people and advice here.
The best thing I can suggest for your budget is this Savage MarkII .

Since it is a bull barrel bolt gun, with an accutrigger. I do not have this rifle but I have the 17 HMR version (93r17) and it is very accurate. List price is $234 and most (I never can) seem to get theirs much lower than that.

The 22LR would be my suggestion as well. Very cheap to learn on and Match ammo is available, more money but it's there.

uncle joe · « **Reply #12 on:** April 12, 2006, 11:25:27 AM »

That Savage looks to be a very good deal. I don't have any experience with their rimfires but their centerfires are very accurate. You also might want to look at a used CZ 452 bolt action, I have one that shoots way better than me and I can even shoot 3/4" groups with it at 75 yards.