Looking for rifle recommendations

[Dream Thief]

Hey NYGunForum, I decided that it's finally time to buy an actual rifle instead of LARPing on Arma and the likes.

For my first gun, I'm looking to buy the cheeseburger of rifles. A simple but effective patty, with plenty of room for additional condiments and addons when necessary. Bonus points for cheap ammunition.

Looking forward to everyone's recs

 

[fnfalguy]

Ruger 10/22

 

[northny]

Your request is like saying you want to by a motorized vehicle. Truck, car, tractor? Mini van, sports car, motor home? It would help if you tell us what you want to do with it and at what distances? Plink cans at 25 or 50 yards, Hit human sized steel targets at 1000 yards? Target shoot mid range 200-600 yards? Hunting and for what?

 

[nortatoga]

There is a law that everyone needs to have a 10/22 LOL!!!

 

[Dream Thief]

Your request is like saying you want to by a motorized vehicle. Truck, car, tractor? Mini van, sports car, motor home? It would help if you tell us what you want to do with it and at what distances? Plink cans at 25 or 50 yards, Hit human sized steel targets at 1000 yards? Target shoot mid range 200-600 yards? Hunting and for what?

Using the car analogy, I'm really just looking for something to get me from point A to point B. Mid range, for home use and practice. A real beginners rifle.

 

[fnfalguy]

Using the car analogy, I'm really just looking for something to get me from point A to point B. Mid range, for home use and practice. A real beginners rifle.

For a new shooter, I’ll stick with the 10/22 recommendation. Cheap to shoot, develop good habits with low recoil and lower report.

Solo mi dos centavos

 

[dwa12479]

Just don't start put with something like a .300 WinMag. Haha..

Can't go wrong with a 10/22. They're a great starter rifle, its what I bring out any time I have a new shooter.

 

[JaguarJaguarGolf]

I would go for a magazine fed bolt action .22LR with open sights so you can learn the basics of shooting a rifle. There are several good ones on the market. I like Marlin.

 

[SomeSoldier]

Your request is like saying you want to by a motorized vehicle. Truck, car, tractor? Mini van, sports car, motor home? It would help if you tell us what you want to do with it and at what distances? Plink cans at 25 or 50 yards, Hit human sized steel targets at 1000 yards? Target shoot mid range 200-600 yards? Hunting and for what?

Moped

 

[northny]

Using the car analogy, I'm really just looking for something to get me from point A to point B. Mid range, for home use and practice. A real beginners rifle.

A .22 rim fire rifle is the best beginners rifle. Relatively inexpensive to buy and feed (ammo). Optimal 50 ft to 50 yards. It can get some work at 100 yards. Unless you buy a very specific type ( expensive). It’s not going to go 100-400 yards. But it will not be suitable for home defense ( if that is what you mean by home use, ) and it is not going out to 600 yards. But if you only have access to 100-200 yard range why not. I like the 10-22, but the standard short stock with metal curved butt plate should almost be called a youth model. They do make models with larger stock.

If you are looking for a center fire rifle for out to 600 yards (and home defense as a distant priority) a bolt rifle in .223 Remington. Savage May have the best bang for the buck in accuracy per $. But .223 in bolt rifle is a poor choice for home defense. Unwieldy size,slow rate of fire and over penetration of bullet.

consider an inexpensive pump shotgun for home defense and a .22 rifle for range work. Your priorities determine which is first

 

[tony]

I would go for a magazine fed bolt action .22LR with open sights so you can learn the basics of shooting a rifle. There are several good ones on the market. I like Marlin.

This ^^^.

 

[Will556]

A .22 rim fire rifle is the best beginners rifle. Relatively inexpensive to buy and feed (ammo). Optimal 50 ft to 50 yards. It can get some work at 100 yards. Unless you buy a very specific type ( expensive). It’s not going to go 100-400 yards. But it will not be suitable for home defense ( if that is what you mean by home use, ) and it is not going out to 600 yards. But if you only have access to 100-200 yard range why not. I like the 10-22, but the standard short stock with metal curved butt plate should almost be called a youth model. They do make models with larger stock.

If you are looking for a center fire rifle for out to 600 yards (and home defense as a distant priority) a bolt rifle in .223 Remington. Savage May have the best bang for the buck in accuracy per $. But .223 in bolt rifle is a poor choice for home defense. Unwieldy size,slow rate of fire and over penetration of bullet.

consider an inexpensive pump shotgun for home defense and a .22 rifle for range work. Your priorities determine which is first

I think the statement “But .223 in bolt rifle is a poor choice for home defense. Unwieldy size…” isn’t exactly right. I mean any rifle of any substantial caliber has a barrel length of 16” regardless. I’m not saying that a bolt action makes the greatest home defense gun but with minimum barrel restrictions in the state, they’re all going to have that same minimum barrel length.

Also the argument of 5.56 over penetrates but a shotgun doesn’t is wildly untrue. It’s like some old wives’ take that keeps being told and passed down generation to generation with not much information to back it up. Yes you can choose different shells for a shotgun depending on what you want (you also have different types of rounds for 5.56 and pistol calibers to choose from) but most people are not loading up weak game loads for home defense.

5.56 doesn’t over penetrate as most people claim it does. Pistol calibers actually tend to over penetrate more than 5.56 does.

 

[Will556]

Also claiming a 16” bolt action 5.56 has “Unwieldy size” but then go on to suggest a separate style of weapon that has an even longer minimum barrel restriction of 18” and are usually heavier, recoil more than the previous option also makes no sense.

 

[ArmedCorgi]

Here you go.
Incase you want a pistol, I'd suggest this one.

 

[Will556]

Remington 870 18.5” barrel
Weight: 7.5lbs
Overall Length: 38.5”

Ruger American Ranch (bolt action 5.56)
Weight: 6.1lbs
Overall Length: 36”

 

[GTN]

But……
You might want to get an AR before you can’t get one anymore

 

[fnfalguy]

For some folks, a 22 loaded with Federal Punch would be optimal. Lots of different people out there with different abilities and limitations.

 

[Will556]

But……
You might want to get an AR before you can’t get one anymore

 

[northny]

Also claiming a 16” bolt action 5.56 has “Unwieldy size” but then go on to suggest a separate style of weapon that has an even longer minimum barrel restriction of 18” and are usually heavier, recoil more than the previous option also makes no sense.

I never mentioned 16”.

I had assumed a bolt action rifle for intermediate distance (200 - 600 yards) is likely 22” not 16”. But I didn’t get into barrel length or twist rate choices on a 223 bolt gun. That would get back to what the OP wants to do.

 

[Will556]

I never mentioned 16”.

I had assumed a bolt action rifle for intermediate distance (200 - 600 yards) is likely 22” not 16”. But I didn’t get into barrel length or twist rate choices on a 223 bolt gun. That would get back to what the OP wants to do.

A 16” barrel chambered in 5.56 works well for 200-600 meters. You can shoot out to 600 meters with a barrel that’s less than 16” without an issue as long as you have a good barrel and ammo.

I also didn’t go into twist rates…because that has absolutely nothing to do about how unwieldy a rifle would be. That’s ballistics and a whole other conversation. All my previous statements still stand.

 

[Acer-m14]

go for a airsoft rifle .. cheapest ammo on the market today and plenty of it ..

 

[Will556]

go for a airsoft rifle .. cheapest ammo on the market today and plenty of it ..

 

[meketrefe]

The ideal size for both 5.56 and 308 is 21" that is when speed gains slow down.
20" is a popular size and 18 a fair compromise.
16" is a bit of a waste in both.
A 18" rifle with a plain crown is as long as a 16' with some average muzzle brakes.
My preference personal is 21-20 inches bolt action , 18 inches for autoloader compact carbine
It doesn't mean they cannot work with 16' but those cartriges were not designed for that type of barrel. That ia a fact.

 

[Podmonkey]

@Dream Thief, you gotta learn to walk before you can run so I also recommend a Ruger 10/22. The 10/22 is widely available, inexpensive, reliable, easy and fun to shoot, has massive aftermarket support and is NY compliant. .22LR is the only ammo these days that doesn't require you to be independently wealthy to afford the quantities you will need to learn and practice with (you will need thousands of rounds). .22LR is not an ideal defensive round but out of a carbine can potentially be effective. If you lived in a free state, access to 25 round magazines would go some way towards maximizing the 10/22's defensive potential but even just 10 rounds of .22 in an attacker's heart and lungs is likely to do the job.
Get a 10/22 a handful of spare mags, a sling a couple thousand rounds of .22 and then attend an Appleseed course.

In terms of your analogies a 10/22 would be like a dollar menu portion of chicken nuggets........ if those nuggets were from Popeyes because the 10/22 while basic is actually very good. Like Popeyes tenders.
If the 10/22 were a car it would be a base model Honda Civic.......... With Toyata Corolla dependability.

 

[FRANKIE]

Another 10/22 vote.
For the same reasons all on here mentioned. But if I had to add to it, you can learn virtually every aspect of function, assembly and disassembly, including barrel changes with minimal tools. (Go and No go gauge and inch pound torque driver never a waste here when swapping barrels.) Total understanding of the complete function of your firearm definitely makes you a Safer and Better addition to the club.

 

[Beerman]

@Dream Thief, you gotta learn to walk before you can run so I also recommend a Ruger 10/22. The 10/22 is widely available, inexpensive, reliable, easy and fun to shoot, has massive aftermarket support and is NY compliant. .22LR is the only ammo these days that doesn't require you to be independently wealthy to afford the quantities you will need to learn and practice with (you will need thousands of rounds). .22LR is not an ideal defensive round but out of a carbine can potentially be effective. If you lived in a free state, access to 25 round magazines would go some way towards maximizing the 10/22's defensive potential but even just 10 rounds of .22 in an attacker's heart and lungs is likely to do the job.
Get a 10/22 a handful of spare mags, a sling a couple thousand rounds of .22 and then attend an Appleseed course.

In terms of your analogies a 10/22 would be like a dollar menu portion of chicken nuggets........ if those nuggets were from Popeyes because the 10/22 while basic is actually very good. Like Popeyes tenders.
If the 10/22 were a car it would be a base model Honda Civic.......... With Toyata Corolla dependability.

Love that chicken from Popeyes!

 

[Dunedain Ranger]

Ruger 10/22 is the way to go for a beginners rifle, on a budget. Whenever i have someone shooting for the first time on my property, i hand them the ruger 10/22 first. There is no kick or recoil. Its fairly quiet to shoot. It is a great platform to become familiar with the basics of a rifle.

It is semi-automatic, so you can shoot as fast as you can pull the trigger. It will teach you how to sight in and zero your rifle. It is a fairly simple rifle to break down, strip, and clean, a star screw, punch out 3 pins, and remove the main assembly. That said, its simplicity is good, but there are also TONS of aftermarket options, and custom options.

You can add extended mag releases, stronger bolt handles, stronger springs, or upgraded triggers, to name just a few. One option that i feel is a must have for it, is the tri-mag adapter's. Since we live in the most gun restrictive state, here in NY we cannot have over 10 round magazines. The best legal way around this is with a tri-mag adapter. Ruger 10/22s use a small rotary mag, you can use other styles, but the rotary mags are the most common. The tri mag adapter piece allows you to connect 3 ten round rotary mags together, so that when you unload the first 10 rounder you just have to release and rotate the next mag in line, as its already attached.

Ruger 10/22s are so much fun, and easy to shoot. I am an avid shooter who owns 4 AR 15s, many pistols, a Kel tec RDB, and i always find myself still reaching for the ruger 10/22 for the bulk of my shooting. Plus the savings on shooting .22lr over 5.56 is literally like shooting nickels or half dollars.

 

[nortatoga]

Using the car analogy, I'm really just looking for something to get me from point A to point B. Mid range, for home use and practice. A real beginners rifle.

As most have stated, myself included starting out with a rimfire rifle is the best way to go. And at this time with the high cost of center-fire ammo 22lr make even more sense I myself have only shot around 5rds of 9mm in the last two years and that was sighting in a PCC red-dot. For more info on rimfire firearms you can checkout this site Rimfire Central Firearm Forum

And as @Podmonkey mentioned above attending a Project Appleseed | Project Appleseed would really help you. And the Ruger 10/22 is the most popular rifle on the line, I have worked shoots where it was the only brand on the line.

 

[Saltwater60]

A ruger 10/22 is a great rifle and can’t go wrong with it at all, but I’m going to stray from the pack here and say buy a center fired rifle before the licensing thing kicks in and do it fast!! Like today fast! A ruger mini 14 is a good option as well as a AR-15 in many calibers.

 

[fresch]

Get them today!
Do not wait.