Beginners rifle
- Thread starter TimS
- Start date
A shooter that doesn’t reload is like a foodie that can’t cook. A beginner should not be expected to reload right away, but should be taught to expect to reload eventually, and not reloading will absolutely stunt your growth as a shooter.
Reload stuff today is affordable and good quality. A frequent shooter can recoup all the investment in reloading in a year. My gear paid for itself in 18 months and I shoot less than many others and that’s including a lot of .223.
I once demonstrated that one could pay for a press and basic tools in less than 100rds of .338lm.
Anyone’s first centerfire rifle should be a .223 . And your first 223 should be an AR15. After that, consider a bolt .223. An AR15 can do almost anything a bolt .223 can, and many things it cannot dream of doing.
An AR SHOULD be an AR, that's nonsense .
I am with Josh,the Tikka T3x Varmint in 223 is a heck of a good value and they are great shooting guns.
hpshooter
Gold $$ Contributor
"My son is looking to buy a rifle to shoot with his wife. He is going to be limited to factory ammunition.
It is for recreation, but of course, he wants it to be accurate."
A different approach. In my opinion rifles become fun to shoot when you can shoot them accurately. Making the assumption that neither the son or daughter-in-law are seasoned shooters I would suggest that two rifles should be purchased. An accurate .22 rim fire and a .223 both bolt guns. Learn the basics of marksmanship, safe gun handling and bench set up with the .22 and then ease into the center fire shooting with a .223.
A Tikka T1 and a T3 in .223 would make a nice pair of keeper rifles.
It is for recreation, but of course, he wants it to be accurate."
A different approach. In my opinion rifles become fun to shoot when you can shoot them accurately. Making the assumption that neither the son or daughter-in-law are seasoned shooters I would suggest that two rifles should be purchased. An accurate .22 rim fire and a .223 both bolt guns. Learn the basics of marksmanship, safe gun handling and bench set up with the .22 and then ease into the center fire shooting with a .223.
A Tikka T1 and a T3 in .223 would make a nice pair of keeper rifles.
coldboreshot
Silver $$ Contributor
It did not sound like the OP was looking for a rifle for hunting but the recoil is not really equal. Unless the Grendel is braked, (and not saying this would be the equalizer), the recoil energy of a .223 is 2.6-3.9 compared to the Grendel at 7.9-8.9. For comparison, a 6.5-284 is 14.7. The Grendel would have to weigh considerably more to bring the energy factor closer together. I've seen many .223s superbly accurate at 300 yards, even 600 yards. This is a rifle that can be shared by many.
Seem to me back in the day if you wanted to get a youngster or lady a comfortable rifle to shoot it was a 2 forty something the other made by Winchester.
The name of the cartridge escapes me since all we hear about is the 6br/bra and creedmoor.
Oh yeah the good ol 243 Winchester that's the one I'm thinking of.
The name of the cartridge escapes me since all we hear about is the 6br/bra and creedmoor.
Oh yeah the good ol 243 Winchester that's the one I'm thinking of.
jonbearman
I live in new york state,how unfortunate !
I would definitely go with .223 rem. If you start someone with almost .308 win recoil it will be a total tunn off. Remember you are wanting something to suit a new shooter and I am assuming your son has shot before. Now if .223 is too small for him then he can buy 2 rifles, one that suits her and one that suits him. Recoil for small frame women and men is a deal killer which would probably cause her to say its too much.
argrendel
Silver $$ Contributor
that’s what I was thinking! The 243 with the right twist is amazing! Usually factory ammo is easy to find.
But.... 6BR? Fun little cartridge that will reach out!
as was posted earlier, what is the expected use? Bench? Off hand? Light? Varmint weight?
Cheap, accurate and fun? Ruger Ranch 7.62x39! Very inexpensive rifle, shoots affordable steel case ammo extremely accurate, compact, light weight & low recoil.
When my wife and I started with rifles 5-6 years ago, we each got Ruger 10/22’s. Cheap scopes and let the me vs. you competition get started. First time or two instructional range time, then after that it was every shooter for themself. Great fun! We now both have 6.5 Creedmoors and AR-15’s and the competition rolls on. You gotta plant the fun factor in there early on and it keeps on giving. Even if she doesn’t get as involved, she will understand why he likes it so much and let him buy more toys.
I may have erred in my comparison between 223 and 6.5 Gren, I apologize for not doing the recoil calculations of equally weighted rifles, my 10 yr old manages her Grendel fairly well. My shoulder is not able to discern the recoil impulse difference between 223 or 6.5 Gren. They are both soft recoiling rifles. Had I been considerate enough to run the calculations I would not have made such a grievous post.
223 is a great caliber but when things go crazy you'll have a hard time finding ammo , the 6.5 CM will always be on the shelf . Just like the AR platform 223 out of stock but 308 no problem. A 6.5 CM in a bolt action is hard to beat, low recoil and shoots like a Lazer out to 600 yards easy.
Yeh, but the 6BR ROCKS!
dgeesaman
Gold $$ Contributor
Well if you take a 6BR, add 10 grains of powder and the extra recoil to it, you will end up with a 243 Win. From a technical point of view, the 6BR obsoleted it with same/better ballistics using much less powder.
About the only reason to consider 243 Win is off-the-shelf ammo everywhere and easier mag feeding.
joshb
Gold $$ Contributor
Don’t forget barrel life!
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