Best Beginners Bolt Action Rifle?

[ar15barrels]

6mm rpr is ideal. Do you reload? If not, I suggest 308 win.

Not for a new shooter with NO prior rifle experience.
I would start complete newbies on a 223.

It's safe to assume that a new shooter without ANY rifles is probably buying factory ammo.

[sigstroker]

Savage Tactical in 6.5 PRC. Good for 1 mile+. Heavy barrel, adjustable stock with aluminum backbone. 600-700 bucks.

[Munny$hot]

IMHO I'd buy something that will sell easily in case LR is not for you. A lot of new shooters wants a sub moa rig that is 1K yards capable, spend big money on glass, stock etc just to find out how much money it adding up to, time classes, research, how much more reloading will cost and a hassle it is to get to range that maybe more than 2.5 hours away that you can stretch your new stick out to.
I'd would not recommend a Savage Access or rifle that when the barrel heats up a little firing a few shots, that translate to opens the group size up drastically. I'd start with a Remington 700 action rifle in 6.5 Creedmoor or .308 with a varmint profile barrel for @ 600 or less. As far as glass a SWFA SS fixed 10X, Bushnell 10X elite, or a 3-16X Athlon has been getting a lot of attention from LR shooters on Snipershide. All the mentioned scopes can be bought new for @ 200-400 and a bit less used, they all carry a lifetime warranty, track well, good build quality, retain their value and great glass clarity for what they cost. They do have different powers available but clarity of the glass will suffer at higher magnification. A 10 or 16X scope is plenty out to 1K+. The money you save could be better spent on good classes/quality ammo vs trying to learn by sending multiple meaningless rounds down range. Learning how to set up your rig, proper technique, recoil management, follow through, etc all can be learned in a good class/es. If you like LR spending money for better kit is easy, learning to use it to the best of your ability is hard. Most people are not more accurate then their rig and having the best that money can buy doesn't make you a better shooter, it just makes you more reliant of gear, to try to cover up your deficiencies.

[JackEllis]

Here's the thing. Your rifle and ammunition are not unimportant, but beyond about 300 yards the biggest variable is likely to be wind. If you can't ready the wind, the rest of it doesn't matter.

I had a .30-06 for hunting but the next rifle I bought was a .22 and I found plenty of ways to challenge myself with it. Start off by putting all of your rounds inside an 8" target at 50 yards. When that becomes easy, move the target to 100yards. After that reduce the size of the target to 4". Then set out clay birds and try breaking them using a 50 yard zero and a holdover (don't mess with the scope). Then build yourself a little rig to hold spent shotgun hulls and start at 25 yards. Shoot from a bench, from the prone position, off sticks, off a tripod, standing, sitting, kneeling. Then graduate to off-hand.

The rifle is cheaper, you can use a less expensive scope, and you can shoot ten or more rounds of .22, even at today's absurd ammo prices, for the cost of a single centerfire round in just about any caliber.

[Arreaux]

Savage Tactical in 6.5 PRC. Good for 1 mile+. Heavy barrel, adjustable stock with aluminum backbone. 600-700 bucks.

Good advice there , Savage has some good basic rifles to get started with. I would be looking for something with the new 6.0 or 6.5 PRC rounds or maybe even a win .243. Good starting point. You can upgrade the stock with a Boyd's and as for the scope I would get the best you can afford.

[sigstroker]

The stock that comes with that Savage is better than a Boyd's. Accu-fit stock has adjustable length of pull and multiple cheek risers. Accu-stock has an embedded aluminum backbone that's stiffer than a wood Boyd's.

[wpage]

Truth

This...

Yes.

Budget $1000 to $1200 for a good scope.
Then buy a $500 gun that you can replace later if you outgrow it.
I suggest a Ruger Predator in 223 because it has a proper heavy barrel with a fast enough twist to shoot 77gr or 80 gr bullets that you will want to shoot to get out to 600yds.

[newbutold]

Enjoy that new rifle

[RandyD]

To learn long-range, a .22 will allow you to learn marksmanship at a significantly lower cost. A .223 will give you good accuracy out to 600 yards, but if you want to go further, I would recommend a Remington 700 in .308, and you can later have the action blueprinted and you can rebarrel the action and change the caliber to a 6 mm or a 6.5 mm.

Regarding scopes, start with the best quality that you can get. They last forever and their resale value is good.

[theduracellbigd]

Too many variables to pick one. Like one said .223 for a beginner is ideal due to lack of recoil and ammunition cost/availability. .223 has limits if the shooter ever wants to hunt big game with it. .308 also good due to ammo availability, but for new shooter who might have early improper shouldering, recoil could develop issues. I would say .308 then get some shooting lessons and proper use of sling to mitigate recoil sensitivity and the caliber will have no big game limitations like a .223. A .243 or 6.5CM would be a good choice as well if one wanted to split the difference between .223 and .308.

[Garandimal]

Hi all,

I'm looking at getting into rifles soon for long range. The longer the better. I have a good eye and would really like to test it.

I currently don't own any rifles of any type.

Are there any rifles you would recommend for someone just getting into the hobby? Ideally I'm looking for something that is reasonably priced but will last awhile and that I won't have to replace for a better version within a year.

Or, if there are any great threads or websites you can recommend that I can read and research, that would be a great help, too!

Thank you,
Daniel

Get Two(2).

1. RUGER RAR in .22 LR.
2. Mossberg Patriot Synthetic - Vortex Scoped Combo in 6.5 CM.

Run you ~ $750-800.00 for both.




GR

[mtenenhaus]

i've had my eye on a clearance model scope at midway called the crimson trace 5...it's running $699...and they have free shipping noted on the website today

that would leave you $800 for your rifle.

can't disagree with the recommendations for caliber, there are so many good options listed. i don't care for high recoiling calibers so i really enjoy the .223, i played with a 6.5x47L for a while also great but tough to find and expensive rounds to purchase..... ultimately i settled on the near ubiquitous 6.5 Cr as it's readily available and shoots reliably.

[BradleyAbrams]

Savage Tactical in 6.5 PRC. Good for 1 mile+. Heavy barrel, adjustable stock with aluminum backbone. 600-700 bucks.

THIS ^^^^

.

[1859sharps]

Yes.

Budget $1000 to $1200 for a good scope.
Then buy a $500 gun that you can replace later if you outgrow it.
I suggest a Ruger Predator in 223 because it has a proper heavy barrel with a fast enough twist to shoot 77gr or 80 gr bullets that you will want to shoot to get out to 600yds.

This is actually some really good advise, I strongly suggest giving it serious thought.

1. you get started for a fairly low investment
2. cost of ammunition will allow for A LOT of practice to develop fundamentals.

IF you choose to not go 223, I would strongly encourage going 6.5cm or 308. due to factory ammunition support.

I would NOT invest in any of the niche calibers being suggested. Not because they are not good choices for someone really into long range, but what if this turns out to not be your "cup of tea"?

The suggestion by AR15barrels will get you started with minimal investment, allow for lots of practice without having to invest in reloading, and if you decide this isn't for you, and you don't want to keep the rifle, you will have an easier time selling it due to not being a niche chambered rifle.

[NATEWA]

https://www.longrangehunting.com/