suggestions: beginner target rifle?

[sqroot3]

Hey, longtime lurker on this site. i have read numerous threads and articles on the internet about good .22lr target rifles for the beginner, and i still can't figure out which one to get. open to any price, but preferably under $500. any suggestions?

also, a few specific questions:
- thumbhole stocks aren't allowed for issf or nra matches, right? or are they? so many "target rifles" on gunbroker, etc have thumbhole stocks.
- what kind of iron sights should i start off using? should i get a rifle that accommodates a scope without further modification?
- should i consider getting a semi-auto instead of a bolt-action?

thanks!

[CSACANNONEER]

Where are you located? If you're close enough to me, I could let you try a variety of .22 rifles with a variety of sites and optics. If you want a GREAT starter target rifle without breaking the bank, you can find something like this:
http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/s...d.php?t=183168. It is really going to depend on what type of competition you want to do though.

[JBird33]

Are you stuck on .22? I just purchased a .17 and the thing is a real tack driver out of the box. Ammo is a little more money but not bad by any means.

[626Tony]

for a beginner I would take a look at a local BIG 5 very reasonable prices.

[sqroot3]

csacannoneer: thanks for the kind offer. i am in sd county though, which is a bit far. i don't know much about the types of competition--i was mostly thinking about NRA smallbore rifle.

jbird: .17 hmr is about 4-5x more expensive than .22lr! also, i have a .22lr pistol, and i wanted to have a rifle that could shoot the same ammunition.

626: which rifles at big 5 would serve as target rifles? i want to be able to adjust the trigger, at least...

[CSACANNONEER]

I'm not sure what the rules are for NRA smallbore. Would an old Anshulz work? It does have a thumbhole stock but, it's a nice old rifle at a great price. If you want to see it, it's at Fort Courage in Simi Valley with a ridiculously low price tag of $500 (I think). You will probably never see another .22 rifle like this for less than $1500. I would have bought it as soon as I saw it but, I'm a lefty. I still am considering it but, it really should go to someone who will use it.

[checkenbach]

I would visit Rimfire Central .com and see what they have to say, or call Mac Tilton at MT Guns and ask the same question.

[Mr D]

If you want just a rifle for under $500 take a look at the CZ 453, or the Savage MKII BV series. The Savage will have the thumb hole stock out of the box. Or, you can go the route I did with the Savage MKII FV with a nice little scope and a bipod for about $400 out the door with tax and DOJ fees included. The first day out I sighted it in and had 1/2" groups at 50 yards no problem. I was actually lining up .308 cartridges and blowing holes through them at 50 yards. I can't get enough of that little rifle. It loves Federal match grade, but has trouble feeding the greasy CCI blazer. Good luck to ya!

[Gator Monroe]

1966 Ruger 10/22 International carbine with original clear plastic roatary magazine !

[scc1909]

Savage MkII for about $150 all-up. Tack driver. This rifle may be the best .22 bolt action available new right now. Maybe ever. It is that good.

My personal favorite? Remington 521T. That's 'cuz I have one...

[wellfedirishman]

Something different

If you want something different that is a tackdriver, consider getting an Izhmash Biathlon Basic from MT Guns. They are in Santa Barbara. It cost $395 about a month ago.

Here is mine:


And here are some 50 yard 10 shot groups, using Eley Sport ammo:

[wellfedirishman]

Tack driver...

When in doubt, consult the ever-authoritative Urban Dictionary...

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Tack+driver

Tack driver:
An extremely accurate firearm. Most often in reference to a rifle.
"Using hand loaded ammunition can turn a poor rifle into a tack driver."

[nikki#2]

CSACANNONEER, very cool of you! A very generous offer!

sqroot3,

I would echo Mr D's recommendation of the CZ. There are several different models, some with iron sights and some without. Perhaps the CZ 452 American is the most popular, it does not have iron sights and requires a scope. I would suggest the American or Varmint (as I have both), depending on which model you prefer after trying both. Both models are offered in either the 452 or 453 models. The major difference between these two is the trigger. The 452 is the standard trigger, the 453 has a fully adjustable set trigger, which you can set to two different weights (e.g., one for benchrest shooting and one for hunting/plinking). I can explain that more if you are interested. I would probably suggest the 452 with a trigger job (easy to do yourself) over the 453, just because it's less expensive and the trigger on my 452 is really excellent!

I have both models, as pictured here. The 452 American is on top, the heavy-barreled 453 Varmint on the bottom. Generally speaking, a bolt-action rifle is going to be more accurate than a semi-auto. While CZ's are no longer an undiscovered gem, they are still a great value. Mine will both shoot 1/2" groups at 50 yards with Wolf MT .22lr ammo. I encourage you to check out the very active CZ Forum at rimfirecentral! You'll find LOTS of good info and advice, from a good group of folks who are really into CZ's. 1/2" groups are regularly reported in the forum, so the accuracy of mine is pretty common. Why do I have two? Because they really grow on you... You'll read that over and over again in the forum. I use the Varmint for Smallbore Metallic Silhouette competition, and the American for informal benchrest, as well as hunting and plinking: http://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums...splay.php?f=18

[Timberwolf]

Can someone explain the term tack driver for me? Does that mean you can use it to hit a target the size of a tack?

Just picked up my savage mk II and put a scope on it myself. Haven't fired it yet, but I can't wait to get out there with it. I put a mueller 4-16 50mm scope on it.

Drive tacks - why yes we do . . . in fact that was a stage in one of our matches last year . . . driving 5 tacks at 25 yards though a 1x2.

[nikki#2]

Another VERY accurate, VERY high quality .22lr rifle that will just fit your budget is the Sako Quad. People that have both the CZ and Sako on rimfirecentral report the Quad as slightly more accurate than the CZ, with better overall quality of construction.

The unique thing about the Quad is that is it so named because Sako offers additional barrels (.22lr, .17m2, .17hmr, .22mag), and you can easily swap them out. You can purchase additional barrels and have them shipped directly to you without paying FFL and DROS fees.

The synthetic-stocked Quad with a single .22lr barrel is being phased out, and it is available at the blowout price of $449 at whittikers guns. On gunbroker, you can find the Quad w/ synthetic stock in .17m2 for $399. Once these are gone, the Quad will reported be only available in a wood stock with two barrels in the set at Significantly more $$$.

Check out the Sako forum on rimfirecentral.com for more info. Sako (pronounced 'Sock-o') is a Finnish company well known for making very-accurate, high-end rifles (read expensive).