what rifle to buy

sonofthegun

Hi Lads just looking for advice i do a bit of hunting with shotguns over the last few years but ive decided i like to try some rifle shooting for foxes and rabbits and as ive never even held a rifle what should i try and start with.

endasmail

ah it has to be a tikka tactical in .223 ,ya wont go wrong with it

clivej

It has to be a CZ 223 varmint

jwshooter

would you guys not think a 223 is a bit power full for a lad that never held a rifle let alone fire one .

a 17 is a safe enough place to start and its capable of killing a fox with a well placed shot out a 100 yds

sonofthegun

clivej loved the video on bunny hunt .thats looks a serious bit of kit what kind of money would that set up set you back

clivej

jwshooter wrote: »

would you guys not think a 223 is a bit power full for a lad that never held a rifle let alone fire one .

a 17 is a safe enough place to start and its capable of killing a fox with a well placed shot out a 100 yds

I don't realy know is it to big a gun to start off with. My son got a CZ Lux 223 as his first gun and never had a problem with it being 'too much gun'.
I started with a 22lr because the Super would not allow any 223's or bigger, else I would have got a 223 as my first gun. I now have a 223 and I'm in the process of getting a 308.

SonOfTheGun has shotguns and the recoil of a 223 is not any more than a SG.

JWShooter is correct in what he says and that must also be taken onboard

lucky-colm

the brother got a .22 semi automatic can't remenber what make it was but jesus it was some mad yoke a rabbit or a fox would start moving at the wrong time you would just start poping bullets mad after him you wouldn't be long going through a bust of bullets but some crack

bunny shooter

I reckon any "newbie" should be looking at 22lr as a first rifle.

clivej

sonofthegun wrote: »

clivej loved the video on bunny hunt .thats looks a serious bit of kit what kind of money would that set up set you back

If it's the gun above then thats my CZ varmint in 223 with a HS kevlar stock. I bought it from Stakelums now in Thurles @€;1150 in September and the best I have shot from it was sub 30mm @300m. I don't think I'll ever be able to repete it again.

The scope shown is a Nikko Nighteater 8-32x60 AG IR @€;300ish but has been replaced with a Bushnell 4200 Elite 6-24x50 Tactical @€;650. A 6"-9" Harris bi-pod @€;120ish

lucky-colm

clivej wrote: »

I don't realy know is it to big a gun to start off with. My son got a CZ Lux 223 as his first gun and never had a problem with it being 'too much gun'.
I started with a 22lr because the Super would not allow any 223's or bigger, else I would have got a 223 as my first gun. I now have a 223 and I'm in the process of getting a 308.

SonOfTheGun has shotguns and the recoil of a 223 is not any more than a SG.

JWShooter is correct in what he says and that must also be taken onboard

i thought a 270 was as big as you could get? at least it was when i got my one 3yrs ago

clivej

lucky-colm wrote: »

i thought a 270 was as big as you could get? at least it was when i got my one 3yrs ago

As far as I know you can get as big a gun as they make. The problem is getting the license for them. A 308 is quite common as are any of the .30 cal. guns.

bunny shooter

lucky-colm wrote: »

i thought a 270 was as big as you could get? at least it was when i got my one 3yrs ago

A lot has changed in the last 3 years

It wasn't me!

And it really wasn't the case anyway. I know of at least one person within five minutes of me with bigger guns than a .270 for a good bit more than three years, and a lot more nationally. More cowboy rule-invention by the locals I daresay.

Cul a cnoic

I would have thought that a Hornet best as a starter rifle if sonofthegun is going after foxes.

irishhunter

I'd go for a .243, does the same job as the rest...

sfakiaman

For a new rifleman I think .22lr is always the best choice. It takes a lot of practice to use a rifle well and centrefire is expensive and noisy. With the .22lr subsonics it's easy to find a place to practice and at a tenner a hundred is affordable. Having learned to use the rifle an educated choice as to caliber can be made having regard to individual circumstances.

Before embarking on the centrefire route you will probably have to get 'her indoors' on side, clivej could probably advise

The Aussie

go for a 22lr and spend a few weekends at a range and put a load of rounds down onto paper adjusting trigger, scope, maybe customise the stock/barrel and read as much balistic data as you can about 22's. my first rifle was a single shot 22, if i missed what i was shooting at i had plenty of time to think about what went wrong, if you do decide to start with a 22 (its your choice) its easy to step up to other calibers once you have mastered the basics.

As for rifle brands. Its like religion, every ones is the best, so its best to make up your own mind on that one.



Anthony.

clivej

I was out again on Sunday hunting rabbits and got another 8. Using the 22lr is a great way of showing how the bullit drops and must be compensated for. And as said above it's very cheap to run @€;37.50/500 subs.

Go on get yourself a 22lr to start with you won't look back and they always hold there value for sale or trade-in.

cavan shooter

Start with the 22 lr on paper and rabbits/ greys and mags then work up to foxes. Learn how to shoot first.

If you wanted to do both for relative liitle cost go for 22 wmr but be aware of the capabilities of this round and more importantly your capabilities on foxes.

best of luck

sonofthegun

thanks to everyone for the advice going up to tom in Cashel see what he has but it looks like ill be going for 22lr and work from there.

clivej

If Cashel is near to you then also try Stakelums in Thurles near the railway station - a Hunting Super store now with plenty of guns to see and Paul O'Halloran in Drangan the village Post Office and gun shop.

You'll never go wrong with the 22lr.

The Aussie

Clive, are you working commision for Stakelums:D, next time your in there see if he has a sako finnfire for us, im getting on the big bird tomorrow and wont have a car organised for a week, was just thinking seems you live there you can ask him over dinner. cheers.


Anthony.

Breachloader

Always a good place to start and cheap as chips to shoot... Fire a few thousand rounds and get good with it, then decide if you want something bigger...
Just remember, she needs a proper backstop. Know your target and whats beyond it..

clivej

The Aussie wrote: »

Clive, are you working commision for Stakelums, next time your in there see if he has a sako finnfire for us, im getting on the big bird tomorrow and wont have a car organised for a week, was just thinking seems you live there you can ask him over dinner. cheers.
Anthony.

NO it's just people ask for where to buy stuff and he's my local (NOT so local now since they moved to Thurles) dealer and has the gear and is not the most expensive. The new shop has now got all the fishing tackle as well as a large stock of guns on show.

And it will be best for you to ring Sean yourself, and yes he has many Sako's & Tika's new and secondhand.

Trojan911

For rabbits & foxes for a first timer then I would suggest the Hornet. You'll soon jump up to the .223 though...

sfakiaman

Trojan911 wrote: »

For rabbits & foxes for a first timer then I would suggest the Hornet. You'll soon jump up to the .223 though...

I'd agree that for the foxes a .22 centerfire would be best but the OP is a beginner and will probably shoot a lot more rabbits than foxes. If for arguments sake we consider it will take a thousand rounds to reach a reasonable standard then 1000 .22lr @ €5.00 for 50 equals €100, 1000 .22hornet @ €25 for 20 equals €1250. It seems logical to start with the .22lr and maybe trade it in on a .223 at a later date. It would probably also be easier from the licencing point of view.

milkerman

clivej wrote: »

I was out again on Sunday hunting rabbits and got another 8. Using the 22lr is a great way of showing how the bullit drops and must be compensated for. And as said above it's very cheap to run @€;37.50/500 subs.

Go on get yourself a 22lr to start with you won't look back and they always hold there value for sale or trade-in.

Holy crap, I bought Subs in Athy at 70 euro for the carton of 500. I should bring the KY with me when I buy ammo next.

The .22lr is definitely the best gun to start with, cheap, easy to trade on and 'teaches' the shooter.

Has anyone here used a .204 Ruger? Whats the verdict? How much is the ammo & is there a decent selection available?. Havent seen any in the dealers nearest me.

cavan shooter

milkerman wrote: »

Has anyone here used a .204 Ruger? Whats the verdict? How much is the ammo & is there a decent selection available?. Havent seen any in the dealers nearest me.

Nearly bought one but ammo price and availability put me off. Very popular as a varmint round in the USA, it outstrips the 223 on balsitics front.

sfakiaman

milkerman wrote: »

Holy crap, I bought Subs in Athy at 70 euro for the carton of 500. I should bring the KY with me when I buy ammo next.

Wavin waste pipe lub is much more manly, but better yet is to shop around.:D