Getting Into Rifles...

[RNE228]

Oh, I agree. Always mix it up with some fun. Besides decades of shooting experience, have also done NRA, BSA and Appleseed training.

My preference is to start with basic marksmanship on the bolt or single shot. After practicing proper marksmanship, then move to some other rifles, with some reactive targets(steel silhouettes, balloons, cans etc). Then add something like a 10/22.

Then we'll pull out a smoke stick; usually a 50cal Hawken.

Really had fun teaching my buddy from Brazil to shoot. He had a blast. He has lived in the States for 3 years now, and enjoys going to the range frequently.

Really enjoy getting more folks in to shooting!

don't dismiss the value of having a bit of fun and blasting away. gets it out of their system, makes the experience fun, thus more likely to maintain some interest in learning to shoot. And, may actually help them focus on your instruction after seeing all the misses.

I have never seen you teach, so I can say this next applies to you, but most people are not teachers and forcing someone to start single shot, with lots of dry instruction (due to lack of teaching skills or preparation) when they might at this stage just be looking for some fun, might not be the best way to get someone hooked on shooting.

nothing says they need to blow through a brick of 22lr, but a magazine or two having fun might actually benefit the goal of instruction in the long run.

[LindenBruce]

You guys may laugh at me but all I will use it for is target shooting from a much larger distance than is possible with my handguns. I'm not a hunter (at least not yet). I'm not planning to use a rifle for self defense at home (too unwieldy). Just
'plinking' I suppose.

EVERYTHING is a target. Whether it's stapled to a frame or standing on four legs. It's all a target.

As far as what rifle? OMG. You could throw a dart in a densely packed field of rifles and odds are you will hit a great rifle. Especially if you are talking about the sub-300 yard field category.

Caliber wise, the guys are spot on here. .223 is prolly your best choice all around for center fire. Yeah Yeah, lots of guys will say "this" is or "that" is better, but come on. These days anything that has not been around for 30 years or more you are going to have a hard time finding ammo. And .223 has been around for a very long time. So finding it won't be too hard. Good luck. B.

[M1NM]

I would like to think that we have as many options as the rest of the states. For now, Ca doesn't care a whole lot about bolt action rifles.

Unless it's 50 BMG.

For a bolt get something that is cheaper to run ammo through to develop skill. A 223 would be good. If you plan on hunting get a 308.
For just learning and plinking I'd just get a 10/22.

[theduracellbigd]

.22 are great for young novice shooters, or small game hunting, but like some have said become boring fast due to lack of range and yes bang. There is a whole crowd of .22 target fans however and they might have some good arguments, but you are moving from handguns likely to increased range benefits of rifle so in your case I would say .223, .243, or .308 bolt action. .223 has benefit of low recoil for ease of learning and is best bet, however if you ever plan on hunting pigs, or deer then you might think of going straight up to .243 or .308.

[1859sharps]

.223 has a LOT more recoil than .22.

since when?

just kidding, I know it does. Just easy to forget how much compared to a 22lr when you normally use a fairly heavy rifle in 223.

[Imageview]

Not quite sure why people think 22s are boring. To the op fit is a big deal for rifles (although not as much as for shotguns). So the more time you can spend shooting other people's rifles, the better informed decision you can make about what you eventually want to buy.

[n8vrmind]

The biggest downside to .22's is they're boring as hell. OP probably knows that from shooting pistols.

Tell that to folks in NRL22 competition

[Handgunther]

Bolt-action rifles are easier to get in CA but some specific models can often be very hard to find in-store. I did something similar a few years ago and slowly migrated from buying handguns to buying rifles. I was more interested in target shooting, and had .22LR target pistols, so I started with the terrific CZ 457 in .22LR and .22WMR (one gun with two different barrels) and then moved up to a CZ 527 in .223 a year or so later. The 10/22 came somewhere in between and that has honestly been the most reliable and fun rifle to shoot (and fully customize with aftermarket parts), but it's SA, not manual.

.22LR is a practical and accurate caliber that is shoot-able at close range and at long-distance; and is affordable enough to shoot as often and as much as I want. I also have several nice .22LR pistols & revolvers that use the same ammo - including a CZ75 Kadet Kit. Until I got into it, I didn't realize how unique and huge the user base of rimfire shooters actually is.

I enjoy the feel of the .223/.556 [and bigger], but I have no real need for anything that powerful since I only shoot at paper. My 'real' rifles - and a shotgun - get a tenth of the rounds that my .22s do (unless I'm shooting in the desert); but they do provide a much more powerful rush, so they'll be staying.

[Squidward]

Since you have handguns, and presumably handgun ammo, how about a carbine chambered in a handgun caliber?? There are several makes/models to choose from that are not subject to CA compliance complications.

[cz74]

If .22lr is too weak for you, get a lever action or pump .22WMR for fun. For centerfire fun, I like my Ruger American Ranch in 5.56, I took it out to 200 yards getting 1.5-inch groups with 62-grain Wolf Classic steel case.

[PoorRichRichard]

OP, nice to see you expanding your gun interests. Word of caution: Stay way from shotguns/clay shooting! It’s far more addicting than any handgun or rifle I’ve ever laid hands on...

[fx1974]

Shooting anything can be boring if it is not challenging.

Whoever says 22LR is boring has not pushed beyond boring... try shooting 22LR at 200 yards in some wind. I felt the same way with my 22 until I set up my rifle to shoot longer. At 300 yards, I get the same elevation as my 30-06 at 1000 yards. Mix that with varied distance shooting and it all feels the same as long range center fire, without the recoil and blast.

Although I would say, everybody needs a centerfire in their life. My unbraked 30-06 keeps me honest and helped me learn correct shooting positions.

[sigstroker]

Shooting anything can be boring if it is not challenging.

Whoever says 22LR is boring has not pushed beyond boring... try shooting 22LR at 200 yards in some wind. I felt the same way with my 22 until I set up my rifle to shoot longer. At 300 yards, I get the same elevation as my 30-06 at 1000 yards. Mix that with varied distance shooting and it all feels the same as long range center fire, without the recoil and blast.

Although I would say, everybody needs a centerfire in their life. My unbraked 30-06 keeps me honest and helped me learn correct shooting positions.

All my shooting has a practical purpose in real life. I have no practical purpose for shooting a .22 200 yards.

[Glockrocks]

OP I would suggest you get a rifle in one of your handgun calibers, that way you can shoot the same ammo you already have and grow from there.

[bigbossman]

All my shooting has a practical purpose in real life. I have no practical purpose for shooting a .22 200 yards.

I'm with you on that for the most part, but shooting .22's at distance can give you a lot of good insight on judging wind.

I would like to add - position shooting .22's (prone, off-hand, sitting) at something like 50 yards will make you a better rifleman, and that has plenty of practical purpose. Shooting with .22's will show your weak areas PDQ and tell you what you need to practice. It all translates to center-fire rifle skills.