Entry level bolt action questions

[divingin]

As an aside, a lefty friend of mine recently had a rifle built on a left bolt-left port action. All his other rifles are right-handed. He finds the left handed action unnatural, and though he's keeping it, says he kind of regrets going lefty on the new rifle.

I'm not suggesting one way or the other, just throwing this out there. Let your wife decide (but see if she can at least sit behind, if not shoot, a left handed rifle.)

[deckhandmike]

Good luck finding a new lefty rem 700, they are almost impossible to find. Used there a few out there but still difficult. Probably going to need to look at bergara or savage. Definitely get the 556.

[Whiterabbit]

My 2 cents:

If she likes shooting from the bench then a heavy barrel won't walk bullets and she will be happier. But shooting off hand will not make her happy.

If you get a lighter barrel, it's more fun to carry to and from the range, to shoot off hand, even partially rested, seated, etc. But when on the bench the bullets will start to walk when she heats it up good and hot, and not be happy.

I'd tailor it to the shooting she likes NOW. And not for unknown future capability that may or may not happen.

[Bhobbs]

Neither of us hunt, and the most we walk with our gear is from the truck to the bench, so weight isn’t much of an issue. The heavy barrel has more benefits in this case.

[ar15barrels]

Ruger American Predator Left-Handed in 6.5 Creedmoor

RUGER AMERICAN RIFLE PREDATOR LH 6.5CM MODEL 16977

I would begrudgingly recommend a 6.5 creedmoor as a starting bolt gun for anyone due to so much more ammo cost and recoil than a 223.

I don't know why they don't offer the left hand predator in 223, but if they did, it would be my recommendation.
I think the 223 predator is an excellent starting bolt gun for anybody who can shoot a right handed rifle.

[XL650]

223 and check out Sportsman’s warehouse for the lefty. ��

[theduracellbigd]

Get a lefty used if you can and save some money.

[newbutold]

If, when she wants more gun than .223, muzzle brakes make larger calibers pleasant to shoot.

[THBailey]

First question- What does she want to shoot at? Just poke holes in paper? Steel targets? Varmints? Small game? Big game? And at what ranges?

Pick a suitable chambering for the task, keeping in mind ammo availability and cost.

You might look long and hard at a Savage in 308 Win. Priced right and generally tack drivers right out of the box. ( https://www.savagearms.com/content?p...ummary&s=57010 ) 308 Win is commonly available, usually not the most expensive box of cartridges on the shelf, and especially if you reload, being a 30 cal, the range of available bullets means it can be loaded for anything from light varmint to bull moose.

Just my 2 cents worth.

[ACfixer]

If she's never going to hunt, it's hard to even come close to everything the .223 offers. I don't even know why you'd look elsewhere.

If she gets to the point some day that 500+ yard shots are easy for her, you'll want something a little nicer than an entry-level rifle and you can ponder a cartridge change, but until then I can't see any other logical choice all things considered.

[plumbum]

I love my cheapie Savage Axis - available in lefty:

https://www.sportsmans.com/shooting-gear-gun-supplies/rifles/savage-arms-axis-left-hand-black-bolt-action-rifle-223-remington-22in/p/1541402

[FishnHunt]

Properly twisted 223. At least 1:8
Ton of cheaper bulk ammo for trigger time. Once she really gets into it, you can get the heavier pills to get further out. No need for bull barrel with 223, and she can also use it for for deer/hogs.
6.5 isn’t bad, it’s the ammo availability and price that have doubled or tripled last couple of years. Unless you reload.
The new 6 PRC looks pretty bad a*s.
I don’t like how ruger Americans feel, and my axis isn’t much better.
My TC venture is smooth and solid and keeps up with my tikka.

[ar15barrels]

Properly twisted 223. At least 1:8
Ton of cheaper bulk ammo for trigger time.
Once she really gets into it, you can get the heavier pills to get further out.
No need for bull barrel with 223, and she can also use it for for deer/hogs.

Ruger predator fits all of that perfectly except that they don't offer it in a left hand version.
The 223 uses a 1:8 twist and is mid-weight.

[Epaphroditus]

Cross post warning!

Left handed for sale

https://waguns.org/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=136783&view=unread#unread

[golfish]

What do you guys think of the Howa M1500 HS percision?

Better then the Remington 700 SPS Varmint, or another 700 that doesn't have a 26" barrel?

I'm talking .308 here