Harrynsw wrote:Lots of great budget rifles around, howa, savage, weatherby and so on. Personally I wouldn't spend to much on my first outfit for a couple of reasons. When you own a firearm, you learn by trial and error what works, so in the learning process don't go out and buy a Mercedes, get a corolla in case you have a prang. Next reason i wouldn't go all out on my first rifle is because you're going to want another one soon, like a centrefire or shotgun, it'll leave a bit of coin for the next purchase.
As for scopes, I rave on about the vortex crossfire ii range because the glass is great for the money, turrets are a bit mushy, but you'll set and forget. Iv got the one with adjustable objective, which is a plus. But look around there's heaps of affordable options these days.
If your gonna go rimfire, go 22mag.
Aussie_Vic wrote:Harrynsw wrote:Lots of great budget rifles around, howa, savage, weatherby and so on. Personally I wouldn't spend to much on my first outfit for a couple of reasons. When you own a firearm, you learn by trial and error what works, so in the learning process don't go out and buy a Mercedes, get a corolla in case you have a prang. Next reason i wouldn't go all out on my first rifle is because you're going to want another one soon, like a centrefire or shotgun, it'll leave a bit of coin for the next purchase.
As for scopes, I rave on about the vortex crossfire ii range because the glass is great for the money, turrets are a bit mushy, but you'll set and forget. Iv got the one with adjustable objective, which is a plus. But look around there's heaps of affordable options these days.
If your gonna go rimfire, go 22mag.
I'm interested in a savage B series .22 as a first rifle for $595 but also leaning on the .223rem side. scopes i've sorted out.
For me depends if i'll buy a rimfire rifle for starters then a centrefire when i get the hang of things as you've said..
Harrynsw wrote:Aussie_Vic wrote:Harrynsw wrote:Lots of great budget rifles around, howa, savage, weatherby and so on. Personally I wouldn't spend to much on my first outfit for a couple of reasons. When you own a firearm, you learn by trial and error what works, so in the learning process don't go out and buy a Mercedes, get a corolla in case you have a prang. Next reason i wouldn't go all out on my first rifle is because you're going to want another one soon, like a centrefire or shotgun, it'll leave a bit of coin for the next purchase.
As for scopes, I rave on about the vortex crossfire ii range because the glass is great for the money, turrets are a bit mushy, but you'll set and forget. Iv got the one with adjustable objective, which is a plus. But look around there's heaps of affordable options these days.
If your gonna go rimfire, go 22mag.
I'm interested in a savage B series .22 as a first rifle for $595 but also leaning on the .223rem side. scopes i've sorted out.
For me depends if i'll buy a rimfire rifle for starters then a centrefire when i get the hang of things as you've said..
You will regret getting a 22LR if you want to hunt all the things you mention. I was even thinking stepping it up to .223 like you say which will let you stretch right out when going for dogs, cats and foxes, but will be a bit much for the rabbits, and the cost of ammo will roughly double going from 22mag to 223, but if you're only shooting 20 rounds a trip the cost is negligible.
Oldbloke wrote:rabbits, hares, 22lr
Foxes, feral cats, wild dogs. 222 or 223
Any decent sporting rifle ($700 - $1000 new) with a decent 3-9×40 scope. ($300 - $450) And yes consider hand loading down the track.
Aussie_Vic wrote:G'day all
I've been shooting at the range with a 22.lr for a while now and wanting to go out hunting in the vic region.
I will be purchasing my first rifle soon for varmint hunting. I will be hunting rabbits, hares, foxes, feral cats and maybe wild dogs.
I can't decide which rimfire calibre to buy between 17.hmr, 22.wmr and 17wsm and what brand to buy.
Lithgow LA101 is the best brand i've seen for a rimfire. my budget is $500 to $1.3k
Any recommendations?
For scopes i'm relativity new to i have no clue which one to purchase my budget for scope is $150 to $500.
Any help is much appreciated!
Cheers!
GQshayne wrote:Same story from me too. For foxes at moderate ranges, and for wild dogs, a rimfire is not enough gun.
Most of us will have a .22 of some sort, along with other centrefires. If budget will not allow for both at this time, then perhaps think about getting the humble .22LR first up, and limit your hunting to that, until alter on you can get something bigger for longer range and larger targets. I do not own one myself, but as others have mentioned, a .223 is a good choice.
Aussie_Vic wrote:.22lr or WMR is a great start as a first rifle as it's cheap and a great for beginner hunters, I'll try out my neighbours .223 see how it goes and might change to that.
I have my eyes on a savage b series 22wmr for $595 and .223 is with howa 1500 for around $600-$800
Any suggestions on the .22lr or wmr or even .223
Cheers
boingk wrote:Another vote for 223. Have a look at the Howa 1500 Mini Action with 20" barrel, or Ruger American range. Both good and well-priced rifles.
For optics anything with a 'lifetime' sort of warranty will be good. Bushnell, Vortex and Leupold spring to mind. Personally I'd recommend a Leupold 'Freedom' in 4~12x40 as I find mine is brilliant for pretty much anything - closer work, out far, inbetween. Bushnell also do a good range of scopes in that sort of package and also with a lifetime warranty, but tend to be slightly more wallet friendly for the same features.
What I would seriously AVOID is anything used, anything unbranded from eBay, and anything marketed as "perfect for the recreational shooter" such as the $99 Nikko Sterling Panamax 3-9x40. That last one may well shoot just fine at first... until you knock it! Then it'll likely go out of zero and even start developing problems if you knock it again. I find my Leupolds are bloody brilliant in that regard particularly and only need a re-zero when I use different loads through the rifle.
Cheers - boingk
EDIT: You know what... you could probably get a modestly priced 223 and scope from the above selection, and then get a humble little Norinco 22LR with a basic scope package (Bushnell Banner or Trophy) as well. Whole lot could cost under $1700.
boingk wrote:Aussie_Vic wrote:.22lr or WMR is a great start as a first rifle as it's cheap and a great for beginner hunters, I'll try out my neighbours .223 see how it goes and might change to that.
I have my eyes on a savage b series 22wmr for $595 and .223 is with howa 1500 for around $600-$800
Any suggestions on the .22lr or wmr or even .223
Cheers
I believe I posted this above:boingk wrote:Another vote for 223. Have a look at the Howa 1500 Mini Action with 20" barrel, or Ruger American range. Both good and well-priced rifles.
For optics anything with a 'lifetime' sort of warranty will be good. Bushnell, Vortex and Leupold spring to mind. Personally I'd recommend a Leupold 'Freedom' in 4~12x40 as I find mine is brilliant for pretty much anything - closer work, out far, inbetween. Bushnell also do a good range of scopes in that sort of package and also with a lifetime warranty, but tend to be slightly more wallet friendly for the same features.
What I would seriously AVOID is anything used, anything unbranded from eBay, and anything marketed as "perfect for the recreational shooter" such as the $99 Nikko Sterling Panamax 3-9x40. That last one may well shoot just fine at first... until you knock it! Then it'll likely go out of zero and even start developing problems if you knock it again. I find my Leupolds are bloody brilliant in that regard particularly and only need a re-zero when I use different loads through the rifle.
Cheers - boingk
EDIT: You know what... you could probably get a modestly priced 223 and scope from the above selection, and then get a humble little Norinco 22LR with a basic scope package (Bushnell Banner or Trophy) as well. Whole lot could cost under $1700.
K2bonsai wrote:My first question is this: What is your next rifle going to be?
If you plan on getting something bigger as a second rifle then I would go the way I did and get a 22MWR. For me this covers everything from being able to pump rounds at the range for practice and covers all the smaller game you mentioned. When i fire the 30g Vmax through my Ruger American it is very flat shooting and accurate.
My second rifle is a 6.5CM which has crossover on foxes/dogs etc for longer range and then covers me up to goats/pigs/deer etc. I was toying with getting something bigger but I don't have the inclination or time to travel to Vic for Sambar so most of the deer will be fallow here in NSW etc and the 6.5 is more than enough and has very little recoil.
My thoughts when deciding myself were between these combinations:
Buy 22WMR and then .243 or 6.5CM, OR
Buy .223 and maybe .308
I chose the former. When poeple talk ammo cost, if you go on a trip to get to your shooting are you will probably spend more on fuel/food etc and differences in ammo costs are negligable. Just my 2c worth
Aussie_Vic wrote:Thanks mate for reposting it again didn’t get a chance to look at your post. I’ll look into what rifles and scopes you suggested. Do you have any website recommendations to buy the scope or rifle from?