First gun purchase

[Serenity]

First gun?  Why not a nice 22?  Bolt action or auto, it doesn't matter.  Don't put a scope on it until you are GOOD at using the iron sights out to 100 yards.  Put a few thousand rounds through the .22 and then buy another gun.

Might as well get a .22 handgun to match the rifle.  Revolver or auto, doesn't really matter although many say a revolver is a better first gun due to it's simplicity.  I learned to fire hanguns using a S&W K-22 revolver, a beautiful pistol.  I highly recommend AGAINST a browning buckmark as a first pistol because it cannot be decocked, so once a round is in the chamber the gun is ready to go with a light single-action trigger pull, and no way to decock it except to extract the round manually and pull the trigger on the empty chamber.  It is a terrible first pistol and an even worse "field" gun.

My first rifle was a ruger 10-22 and my first pistol was a buckmark, but I had years of shooting experience before I bought them.  My next guns were a ruger mini-14 ranch rifle (with scope mounts) and a beretta just like the military uses except chambered in .40 cal for extra punch, so I could use my own gun to help train me for my official duty pistol qualification.  It worked, since I've shot expert every time I've had to qual in the M-9, M-16, and M-4.

I don't like to shoot .22. I've never liked it. This is the first gun I've OWNED but not the first I've shot. I've spent plenty of time on the range with friends (Most ex-military) who drilled basic operation of firearms into me, but didn't really teach me maintenance. While I've shot everything from .22 (A ruger 10/22 in fact) to 5.56 and .308, right up to .50 (A few squeezes on a Ma Deuce), and I just don't enjoy shooting the small caliber. This isn't going to be a hunting weapon, and instead for 'fun shooting' so I'm aiming for something I will really enjoy.

I learned to shoot handguns on an M1911, and nothing else in the way of a pistol feels quite right in my hands, though I can still shoot well with the Kimber .45 and most .40 weapons. I am, however, too young to purchase a handgun.

[IrishOne]

M44s

the model i have

[eagl]

Ruger Mini 14 is inexpensive and rugged, but it isn't really all that accurate.  It is pretty fun to shoot though, if you like the traditional style.  You can get high capacity magazines and the ranch rifle model has a scope mount.  There are custom stocks to make it look like an assault rifle if that is your thing, and they can cost a lot less than other high demand models.  Plus .223 is relatively cheap and easy to obtain.

[Serenity]

Ruger Mini 14 is inexpensive and rugged, but it isn't really all that accurate.  It is pretty fun to shoot though, if you like the traditional style.  You can get high capacity magazines and the ranch rifle model has a scope mount.  There are custom stocks to make it look like a sweetie ault rifle if that is your thing, and they can cost a lot less than other high demand models.  Plus .223 is relatively cheap and easy to obtain.

I was actually looking at those, and am still considering one, though in the back of my head there's that little voice that says for that price (All the ones I've found are around $800) I might as well just save up an extra month or two and get the Springfield M1A.

[Jayhawk]

My first gun was a .22LR,  I can understand the desire for something a little more powerful.  However, the more and more ammo I bought, the more and more I shot the .22.  I enjoy my other stuff but those .22s can be a lot of fun for plinking.

[eagl]

I was actually looking at those, and am still considering one, though in the back of my head there's that little voice that says for that price (All the ones I've found are around $800) I might as well just save up an extra month or two and get the Springfield M1A.

I got my good condition used mini-14 ranch rifle for $250.  That was a long time ago, but at the time it was about half what a new one cost.  Consider looking around at some respectable gun shops that carry used guns.  Before you buy used though, get an expert opinion on the serviceability of the weapon.

[Serenity]

I got my good condition used mini-14 ranch rifle for $250.  That was a long time ago, but at the time it was about half what a new one cost.  Consider looking around at some respectable gun shops that carry used guns.  Before you buy used though, get an expert opinion on the serviceability of the weapon.

I have only managed to find one store dedicated to guns in Austin I'm going to check out when I get back, otherwise I was looking at Cabellas (IIRC, the had a mini-14 on the used rack there, though I could be wrong).

[Jack16]

I own a 1943 Ivhevsk 91/30 Mosin Nagant. I got it for $150. It's a good gun, fun to shoot, and has a good amount of recoil.


Depending on where you purchase it, it should come with a sling, bayonet, ammo pouch, toolkit, and an oil can. Ask if it does.

The big thing is cleaning. These guns were packed with cosmoline to preserver them and when you buy this rifle, guess what, all the cosmoline is still usually inside it. Your going to have to clean it out. Heat melts the cosmoline. My friend cleaned out my Mosin for me, but I cleaned out my Garand. What I did was take the entire thing apart (Mosins are very simple to take apart and put back together) and put the pieces into a tin container and dumpped boiling water over them. Let them sit and the cosmoline should come off easier. Don't forget the barrel aswell.

As for ammo, I can get military surplus 7.62x54r ammo here for around $8-$9 for 20 rounds. And as most of the guys said here, these rounds are corrosive meaning you have to clean your gun right after shooting it. That being said, I recommend getting a cleaning kit. The Hoppes#9 Rifle cleaning kit is pretty good. It comes with lubricant that helps protects against rust, Solvent that helps get rid of rust and also gets rid of the corrosive material, patches (not many so pick up an extra pack of cleaning patches), cleaning rod, and 3 cleaning rod end knobs.

[Nefarious]

Easiest way to clean after shooting corrosive is Hot Soapy Water or Windex. Then Hoppes#9 or Oil.

[Serenity]

Jack and Nefarious, this goes to both of you. When studying up on the Mosin, i've seen it mentioned that while hot/boiling water is effective at getting out cosmoline and cleaning the weapon after firing, it also has a tendency to get into the threads of the barrel and other parts and cause rust. Is there anything in particular you do/did to ensure that you could dry out the rifle.

[Jack16]

You can use your cleaning kit and put a couple dry patches through.

Or maybe put it in front of a heater or hairdryer, but the dry patches should work.

[Serenity]

You can use your cleaning kit and put a couple dry patches through.

Or maybe put it in front of a heater or hairdryer, but the dry patches should work.

This gets the little droplets out of the rifling too, yes?

[Jack16]

This gets the little droplets out of the rifling too, yes?

It should. The cleaning patches are put on the end of the cleaning rod to clean the entire barrel. so the dry patches should clean up the water like a paper towel does.

[Serenity]

It should. The cleaning patches are put on the end of the cleaning rod to clean the entire barrel. so the dry patches should clean up the water like a paper towel does.

Roger, thanks!

[Nefarious]

I don't use the Cleaning Rods that comes with any of my Milsurp. I use one of those Winchester cleaning kits (Brass Rod) or a boresnake.