If you know about guns (especially rifles/long range) please look at this...?

Question

Okay so I have never fired a gun in my life, I'm not going to B.S. you. My friends at work are all gun collecters, hunters, whatever, but I think I want to make shooting a hobby of mine. I want to just set up targets at a local gun range or something and get good at it.

But the thing is is that I want to do long range things. I don't want to one hundred yards, i want something like 100-to maybe even 600 yards? But I want my gun to be something good, something that I can start off with but also grow and learn a lot with.

My dad is telling me to just start off with a 22, but I don't want to get good at shooting a hundred yards and then have to buy a new one.

My friends at work are telling me to buy either a 270, a 22-250, or a 223. And I have NO idea what to do.

Somethings to consider are that I will be practicing a lot, buying a lot of ammo. Also I've never fired a gun before. But I want to buy something I can invest time and money in.

Any help?

Answer 1

Taking this from common sense start with a piston to get used to the recoil and move up to a sniperrifle :)

Answer 2

Well, smaller bullets often have much higher velocities, and are great for "short" ranges.  Much depends on the skill of the shooter, but basic ballistics apply to all, the bullet is effected by gravity, wind, air resistance, etc.  Lighter bullets are more easily effected by air currents than heavier bullets.

Your dad is telling you to start with a .22 for several reasons.

The rifles are fairly inexpensive, the ammunition is dirt cheap,

and there is no recoil to speak of.  All those things lend well to a person learning to shoot.  Now, that box of .22 long rifles tells you to be careful, the range is approximately 1 mile.  And it is, more or less.  However, that doesn't mean anyone can aim at and hit a target a mile away with a .22.

For mile-long shots, you might be talking about a .50 rifle, a fairly specialized piece of gear.  And even then, substantial skill is involved.  For something out to 500 or 600 yards, I might recommend a .308.  I'm not all that familiar with .270.  I love the .223,  but I would avoid the .223 for 500 yards and out, and I don't care for the .22-250 at all.

If you get into serious competitive shooting, the cost of rifles and ammunition can go up rapidly, I don't own any match grade rifles, can't afford 'em.  

So buying a .22 and learning to shoot it well before stepping up to something with a bit more heft cold be a very cost-effective solution.  If you do well and you decide you really like shooting, you may set your sights on a quality rifle that you might not have considered as a first rifle.

Answer 3

try starting with a .17 hmr or a .17mach 2.   they are quite accurate at 200 yards, and honestly,alot of very experienced shooters are doing good to hit accurately at 200 yards.   the ammo for the .17's is very inexpensive compared to almost any centerfire rifle.   however, if you are deadset on a centerfire, while the .270, .243, and 22-250 are all great long range rifles the ammo for them is quite expensive compared to the .223 remington.   you can find military grade .223 ammo very cheap.

Answer 4

Instead of shopping for a rifle, you need to go to a shooting range and learn to shoot with one or more of theirs - they rent them.  

  I think you will find it very difficult to find a range that has alleys as long as you want to shoot and I hope you plan on being lilly pure because you are talking sniper ranges and people will look at you very carefully considering the current news about various school and other distance shootings.

  and besides the distance you may have to travel to a range, be aware that ammo is more expensive and in short supply because of a certain war on the other side of the world - not just the ammo used there, but the lines shut down in other types so more of that stuff can be used.

  I have no idea whether your friends advice is any good, take your time and learn from people who do the kind of shooting you want.

Answer 5

I shoot an M4 with iron sights (no scope) and hit targets at 500 meters

Answer 6

I agree with mike. A range for that distance is hard to find. Most ranges use targets that represent different firing distances (smaller target's the farther the distance).

Years ago I shot black power matches for awhile and that is the way they did it.

As for a rifle for you I would suggest a 223 or 30.06 with a good scope. That way you can easily sell the rifle as you upgrade.

If you get into shooting a lot then you could get a Lee Loader (hand loader) and load your own cartridges and save money that way. I have loaded quite a few 357 rounds in the past with a Lee Loaded it's slow but it gets the job done.

Shooting was a pastime and a lot of fun for me until I  discovered golf.

Good luck and have fun.