Need a entry level rifle...but which one?

[zippo]

  Don't know about the Marlin, but it is fairly easy to change barrels on a Savage if you want to shoot another round.  I have a Savage 12fv that was bought with a 22-250 barrel for varmints.  Right now it has a Shilen barrel chambered in .260 Remington AI on it. .260 is basically a .308 Win necked down to .264...better ballistics.  I use that barrel for whitetail hunting and just burning powder at the range(is fun to shoot little groups...I reload too).  Some guys have just one action/stock and several barrels and change them out depending on the need. Is fun to tinker with. Lots of info on the forum @ savageshooters.com. Whatever you get is important to shoot it a lot to become familiar with cheek weld, sight picture, trigger, etc. so you know where the round is going when the trigger breaks.  And shoot from different positions......lot of guys can shoot lights out from a bench but can't hit jack from positions you sometimes have to use when hunting.  Whatever you get, enjoy it.

[1Boner]

Mac-90=cheap.

7.62 ammo=cheap.

Cheap fun gun =

[SmokinLoon]

Mac-90=cheap.

7.62 ammo=cheap.

Cheap fun gun =

Actually, the Mac-90 is not cheap.  The BATFE has banned importation of firearms from China thanks to the Chinese trying to sneak in a boatload of FA rifles for civilian sale some time ago.  So the price of them have gone up.  A "cheap" variant of what you are speaking of is the WASR-10.     Oh, and while ammo is cheap for the time being, if the Obama administration has their way ammo sales from Europe will be banned soon and that mean SHY-HIGH prices for 7.62x39.

For learning "how to", that rifle is not a good tool, imo.  A basic bolt action would be better.

[SmokinLoon]

OUT TO

The ballistics are lethal OUT TO that range

Check your charts again.  The ballistics you speak of can be had by many calibers, including the 5.56 NATO/.223 Rem.  You are quite correct, the 7.62 NATO is a fine cartridge and in no way shape or form does it take a back seat to the .30-06, but it certainly does not out perform the latter.

 

[Skyguns MKII]

From what my gramps always told me, .22 rifle to start

[ToeTag]

From what my gramps always told me, .22 rifle to start

I'm good with my Glock 19, I have (2) .22's, (2) Browning A500's in 20 ga and 12 ga and (1) 410 ga.  I got the basics down as far as shooting, but this will be my first high power rifle.  Just wanted to know if these two were good starters or if there was a nicer entry level rifle.

[Skyguns MKII]

I'm good with my Glock 19, I have (2) .22's, (2) Browning A500's in 20 ga and 12 ga and (1) 410 ga.  I got the basics down as far as shooting, but this will be my first high power rifle.  Just wanted to know if these two were good starters or if there was a nicer entry level rifle.

springfield 1903 perhaps or enfield 303?

[DEECONX]

If you looking for a cheap, reliable, fairly accurate bolt action to start, I'd say grab $200 bucks and go to your local gun show/store and get a nice M91/30 and one of those spam cans and starting plinking.

I recently picked up a '39 Tula and she is a blast! Literally! 

But I also use my step dads Savage in 30-06 and she is good too. 

[68valu]

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=245718879

check out this rifle

This rifle is made on the same line and is essentually the same as the S&W 1500 and the Weatherby Vanguard. My first rifle, a S&W model 1500 in 7mm mag. was a gift from my wife in 1984 and have used it for hunting deer, elk, and bear virtually every year since. I have since purchased a second exact model off of gunbroker to have for a backup. coincidentally, I just put a scope on it today, and sighted it in. It shoots like a tack driver, just like the original. 2 years ago I bought a Weatherby vanguard for my son as he wanted a rifle just like mine, because he has seen me kill lots of animals with mine. I also purchased it through gunbroker. so I essentually have three identical rifles, all 7mm mag and all even the same scopes.(original weaver K6-W)

As other people have posted already, shot placement is the key to kills, not the bullet size or gun model. I shoot a 7mm mag because sometimes I shoot long range and like a flatter trajectory. 30.06 is an excellent choice as well, as the numerous bullet weight choices make it suitable for many different situations.

68valu

[guncrasher]

Entry level rifle?

Strange choice of words

Your first rifle should be an AR 15 chambered in 223

You should be intimately proficient in its use, cleaning and repair

You should own at a minimum 2000 rounds of ammo (55 grain FMJ BT)

You can kill game with a knife or spear, and start fires with a 9 volt battery and steel wool

If you own one rifle...make it an AR...and your next investment should be a folding shovel

Keep your powder dry

Salute

Oneway

(Image removed from quote.)

(Image removed from quote.)

just curious why a minimum of 2k rounds?

semp

[Golfer]

Flash mobs.

[ToeTag]

Flash mobs.

 

I saw the howa in 30-06 and the package scope is much nicer and its only $429.00 vs the savage, same caliber at 399.00 with a cheap 35.00 scope.

[Stellaris]

For sophisticated western armies there are sophisticated western rifles.

For everyone else, there's Kalashnikov!

[oneway]

just curious why a minimum of 2k rounds?

semp

When the zombie apocalypse comes (not a matter of if - only when - see U.K. London last week)...bullets will be worth their weight in gold

In fact they are high on the short list of things to have in quantity - such as:

Water - water purification capability
Antibiotics
Beans
Rice
Fire
Guns - Ammo (lots of both)
Basic fishing tackle kit - minimum of a hand line and several hooks in various sizes
Blades (knives, machete, axe) - Means to sharpen (stones & steels)
Food seeds
Vice grips
WD-40
Duct tape
Bailing Wire
Basic tool kit - mechanical
Basic tool kit - DC electrical
Basic tool kit - wood

 

Feel free to add to this list

Adds:

AC wind generator (as found on sail boats)
Diode array (AC>DC)
Solar panels (as found on sail boats)

[wes34th]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evr_tP9cJWY  

Language warning.

ROFL