Best for Beginner: .308 vs .22lr

[Merc1138]

Decent deals on .22lr pop up online on occasion, and people still find the odd bulk pack or two at walmart every now and then.

But, even if you can't find bulk .22lr, you can still pick up some of the expensive match stuff and it'll be cheaper than shooting .308 factory loads. Learn the fundamentals, then step it up to a .308 or whatever later on.

[Mad Jax]

Buy a basic Ruger 10/22, shoot it in its stock configuration until you can shoot one ragged hole as far as you can see with the iron sites... Then buy a scope and shoot it as far as you can see until you make one ragged hole... Then buy an aftermarket trigger group like a KIDD (that costs as much as the original rifle) and try to get your ragged hole even smaller.
Along the way do an Appleseed or two.

THEN look at buying a 308.
Your marksmanship will be so high by the time you get the 308 that with just a short time getting to know the new rifle/caliber you will shoot sub MOA at any distance the 308 can reach!

Have fun, shoot safe.

^^this^^

[Haunt]

Buy a basic Ruger 10/22, shoot it in its stock configuration until you can shoot one ragged hole as far as you can see with the iron sites... Then buy a scope and shoot it as far as you can see until you make one ragged hole... Then buy an aftermarket trigger group like a KIDD (that costs as much as the original rifle) and try to get your ragged hole even smaller.
Along the way do an Appleseed or two.

THEN look at buying a 308.
Your marksmanship will be so high by the time you get the 308 that with just a short time getting to know the new rifle/caliber you will shoot sub MOA at any distance the 308 can reach!

Have fun, shoot safe.

Thanks for the great tip, I'll follow through with this.

[Haplo]

A 22 is highly recommended. 1,000 rounds of 22 should cost you around $60 these days, while 1,000 rounds of .308 will run you about $1,000.

[golfish]

if you want to have fun buy a Henry H001 lever action 22..Those things are fun as hec to shoot and cheap. I saw a lot of them at the gun show today for close to 400.00, even a used one for 450.00.

I think Turners reg price is 309.00 and they can order them for you if not in stock. If you have a little more to spend get the Frontier model or the Golden Boy...Henry makes a fine 22 lever action rifle and their customer service is second to none.

[Agent 0range]

10/22 FTW. Get to know it and upgrade it with the endless options out there. Learn the basic fundamentals of rifle shooting (breathing, sight picture, trigger pull, etc.). Then, after about 3k-5k rounds, go for a bigger caliber.

[joepamjohn]

a .308 since there is no .22lr to buy and shoot!!!!!!!!!!!

[CrippledPidgeon]

Depending on what you're going to buy in the .308, I'd recommend going with one of the CZ 452 series rifles. Probably one of the best inexpensive .22 bolt action rifles out there, and even the iron sight models have rails for scope rings.

[firebert]

.308 ammo is still about $1.25 a round where I'm at but it's easier to find than .22LR.

[Gem1950]

.22lr - Enough said.

[MrExel17]

Go big or go home! Just kidding.

What can you afford to shoot? Ammo price would be a major deciding factor here.

Also, what's it's intended purpose? Range only? No sense sending high priced 308 ammo downrange at 100m targets when cheaper 22 lr can shoot the same target, right?

Then again, I'm a pistol guy...no long rifles here. But if I ever get a long gun, an AR-10, 308 is what I would like.

Not kinding "Go BIG or stay home" I agree consider ammo and your budget 308 can get pretty expensive quick!

[curtru]

You can still find 243 at Walmart but good luck finding 22 or 308

[JDay]

.308 is not cheap. They shoot dollar bills.

[Supertac916]

I've only been able to find 700 rds of .22lr at a LGS and it was $7 for 100 rounds. You can find guys selling 500 rds for $40.

Cheapest I've found .308's lately was $799 for 1,000 round case of Federal ammo.

[j411701]

Even though I think every one should have at least 1 10/22 I'll give a shout out for bolt actions.
Rem 513T
Rem 512
Mossberg M44
Savage
Kimber