Tweet
I got into shooting a few months ago starting with a 9mm handgun that I bought for home defense. Training with the handgun was fun, so I took my father's old shotgun out of storage and I've been doing some trap shooting. Trap shooting was also kind of fun, though I didn't enjoy it as much as shooting the handgun. So I thought to myself, why not get a .22 rifle for some longer range target shooting? So I bought a Savage Mark II bolt action rifle and an inexpensive scope for it.
Now I'm new to this, but the rifle really hasn't been much fun so far. First the scope wouldn't sight in and I had to have it replaced. Then I found that holding up the rifle for multiple shots is pretty tiring, though I can hit targets at 50 yards which is neat. Another problem is that I shoot left-handed because I'm left eye dominant. It's a right hand bolt action so working the bolt is a bit awkward. The traditional rifle grip also seems to cause my wrist to become sore after a few shots, whereas the pistol grip of my handgun is very comfortable. Furthermore the rifle (like the shotgun) is huge compared to my handgun and it's obvious I'm carrying a gun when I take the rifle to my car, whereas I can just throw the pistol in a backpack and I don't have to worry about nosy neighbors calling the cops or anything.
Another problem: I tried some subsonic ammo but it seemed like bits of powder or bullet fragments were left inside the barrel after each shot. (I removed the bolt and looked down the barrel of the gun from the rear of the gun.) The possibility of a bullet getting stuck in the barrel scared me so I shelved the rest of the CCI Quiet ammo I bought (about 500 rounds). I have heard that shooting subsonic ammo in a pistol is safer. (?)
Finally, last night, I was cleaning the rifle for the first time and the .22 bore brush rod became stuck inside the barrel of the rifle. The brush went through the barrel, then I took the bore brush off the cleaning rod and pulled the rod rearward to remove it, but the cleaning rod somehow became completely jammed inside the barrel of the rifle. It's totally immovable in either direction. I became frustrated and I didn't want to break the rifle, so I put it away until I can figure out how to remove the cleaning rod.
I never had this kind of trouble with my handgun or shotgun. They work perfectly and are fun to shoot. The handgun is easy to disassemble and clean. Cleaning the semi-auto shotgun does take some work.
I'm asking for a little insight from experienced shooters. Are these just the growing pains of a new shooter? Would I be happier with a Ruger 10/22 Takedown? Or maybe I'm just not a rifle guy? Should I sell the Mark II rifle and buy a Browning Buckmark pistol with a scope or red dot instead? I'm not planning on doing any hunting. Should I stick to pistols?
Thanks for any advice!
Now I'm new to this, but the rifle really hasn't been much fun so far. First the scope wouldn't sight in and I had to have it replaced. Then I found that holding up the rifle for multiple shots is pretty tiring, though I can hit targets at 50 yards which is neat. Another problem is that I shoot left-handed because I'm left eye dominant. It's a right hand bolt action so working the bolt is a bit awkward. The traditional rifle grip also seems to cause my wrist to become sore after a few shots, whereas the pistol grip of my handgun is very comfortable. Furthermore the rifle (like the shotgun) is huge compared to my handgun and it's obvious I'm carrying a gun when I take the rifle to my car, whereas I can just throw the pistol in a backpack and I don't have to worry about nosy neighbors calling the cops or anything.
Another problem: I tried some subsonic ammo but it seemed like bits of powder or bullet fragments were left inside the barrel after each shot. (I removed the bolt and looked down the barrel of the gun from the rear of the gun.) The possibility of a bullet getting stuck in the barrel scared me so I shelved the rest of the CCI Quiet ammo I bought (about 500 rounds). I have heard that shooting subsonic ammo in a pistol is safer. (?)
Finally, last night, I was cleaning the rifle for the first time and the .22 bore brush rod became stuck inside the barrel of the rifle. The brush went through the barrel, then I took the bore brush off the cleaning rod and pulled the rod rearward to remove it, but the cleaning rod somehow became completely jammed inside the barrel of the rifle. It's totally immovable in either direction. I became frustrated and I didn't want to break the rifle, so I put it away until I can figure out how to remove the cleaning rod.
I never had this kind of trouble with my handgun or shotgun. They work perfectly and are fun to shoot. The handgun is easy to disassemble and clean. Cleaning the semi-auto shotgun does take some work.
I'm asking for a little insight from experienced shooters. Are these just the growing pains of a new shooter? Would I be happier with a Ruger 10/22 Takedown? Or maybe I'm just not a rifle guy? Should I sell the Mark II rifle and buy a Browning Buckmark pistol with a scope or red dot instead? I'm not planning on doing any hunting. Should I stick to pistols?
Thanks for any advice!
I can keep my cheek weld, and finger near the trigger and use my alternate (Right) hand to reload. Right handers have to remove their firing hand to load another round.
Comment