(another) Getting Started

KealanOCarroll

Well lads,

im 18 an the end of January, and really want to get a target rifle. Lookin to spend somewhere probably around the €200 mark (Student Budget:o).

Im living in Galway...theres a forest behind the house and acres of bog beyond that so space isnt really an issue, nobody in the family has even had trouble with the guards or anything so I can't see there being any issue witht he local Super either.

I go to college in UL so if I do find myself wanting to get more serious Ballyhoura would probably be my next port of call...

...Basically wondering if its feasable on a shoestring budget/being so young, and if so, is there anything I should/shouldn't do?

Thanks in advance:)

Cass

Could you supply more details.

Type of shooting, air rifle, smallbore, open sight, aperature, scoped, benchrest, PR60, etc, etc.

I hate to p**s on your ideas, but for €200 i don't really see how you could get started. Its "possible", but unlikely.Chances are no matter which of the above you want to try you will need more than €200 to get started. Remember its not just about getting the gun. There is the safe, ammo, tools, cases, cleaning gear, etc. All this alone could add up to €200 without the rifle.

clivej

Well for your budget of€200 it won't get you proper target shooting but it will get you shooting if you look around for a good deal second hand. My son picked up a cz 22lr lux for €250 with scope that he uses for shooting rats,very successfully I may add.
At least it will you shooting and you can trade up when you get more dosh.

bunny shooter

A few dealers have old BSA target rifles for very small money

KealanOCarroll

cheers for all the replies lads:)

hmm okay so looks like ill be putting a lot more than 200 aside so:rolleyes:
Not sure whats most suitable but I have a mental image of a .22 rifle with a scope & bipod?

Cass

KealanOCarroll wrote: »

.............hmm okay so looks like ill be putting a lot more than 200 aside so:rolleyes:

My apologies if i seem to be putting you off. Just you posted in the target shooting section, and are asking about a target shooting rifle. Now you DO NOT need to put out a serious amount of money nor would i advise to do so even if you could afford to do it, until you have tried the sport and gone to a range to see which discipline of the sport you would like to try. Get as much info on what you need, then what you want and find a happy medium.

To that end, you can pick up a good quality .22lr rifle (such as a CZ) for around the €250 mark as clivej said. The condition may not be top notch, but you never know you could find a "cracker" for the money. Either way you have the rifle and scope. If its a CZ then it falls into the sporting class which means a low mag scope so pretty much any scope will suffice.

Break it down from there. You have your rifle for €250. Add to that the following;

Bipod or front rest - €90
Rear sand bag - €25
gun slip/case - €40
Gun safe (compulsory for rifle ownership) - €60 - €90 (second hand)
Memebrship to a range - (min) €300
Cleaning supplies, tools for maintenance - €60
Ammo - €5 - €7.50 per box of 50. This is a recurring/ongoing cost.
License fee - €80

Now take into account you don't want to join a range to get the license or shoot target, and simply want to start plinking vermin, etc. Take away the range cost, but the rest is still necessary or compulsory so total cost for your €250 rifle and gear is €605 - €635 without ammo.

You may be able to save a few bob here and there with good second hand gear which alot of the lads here will have on sale most times (watch the For sale/Wanted section), but taking that into account you may still be looking at €550 -ish all in.

Its not a huge amount of money, but like myself, when money is tight it might aswell be a million. Either way i would suggest you ring around and better still travel. I have found if you ring a gun dealer he will tell you of all the stock he has, but there could be a gem hidden in the corner (as such) that the dealer either forgot about or considered not for you.

I hope you go ahead and get a rifle and get into the sport. Its truely rewarding not to mention addictive. In a few years you will be striving for the latest gear and the best rifle.

Ez.

clivej

EZ has put it all out there for you.

To own a rifle you must have "Good reason of use" and if you won't be going to join a shooting range, a good reason to use, then you will have to get farmers permissions to hunt as that's the other "good reason to use". To get that it's all legwork and knock on doors.