next step after .22

FutureMarine9 · 10-29-2007, 06:03 PM

i was wondering what is a good caliber rifle to get after a .22 so i can work my way up to large calibers and not go too big too fast preferably a milsurp... or at least something that isn't too expensive

billy · 10-29-2007, 06:05 PM

300winmag

no not really.
i would go with a 223

Triggerjerk · 10-29-2007, 06:12 PM

Why not wait until you are in the service? They'll give you a rifle. I may be wrong, but you may not have spare time to shoot your personal arms. For example, I can go to the sandpit after work on a nice summer evening. You probably cannot break out your personal arms on base and go to the range when your day is over. So your personal arms will just sit at home.

samuel · 10-29-2007, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Triggerjerk

Why not wait until you are in the service? They'll give you a rifle. I may be wrong, but you may not have spare time to shoot your personal arms. For example, I can go to the sandpit after work on a nice summer evening. You probably cannot break out your personal arms on base and go to the range when your day is over. So your personal arms will just sit at home.

That is right,you cant even have personal arms on base. As to stepping up from a .22,I am partial to .243-6mm. sam.

FutureMarine9 · 10-29-2007, 06:39 PM

yea i still have 2-3 years before i get into the service, but i want to get proficient with firearms before i get in...and thanks for the replies...Would 7.62x39 be too big? i was looking at .223 but i can't really afford a $800+ Ar

billy · 10-29-2007, 07:36 PM

7.62x39 would be fine you could even get a bolt action

SilverRun · 10-29-2007, 08:59 PM

The 7.62x39 would be fine, but you can build an AR for less than $800. If you plan on going in the service, that would likely be the best way to go if you can swing it. I think you could probably build a very basic AR for around $600 if you pick up the kit and lower in the right place. Guys around here could point you in the right direction. But if you don't have the money, a $200 SKS will still give you loads of fun!

Dan22 · 10-29-2007, 10:29 PM

My next step after a .22 will be another .22.

At age 68 it finally became clear to me that I love a simple little .22.

I don't hunt any more and a .22 is a highly accurate target or plinker rifle and that's all I want at this point in life.

Let the kids fire the shoulder bruising noise makers with expensive bullets.

Big Dog · 10-30-2007, 04:47 AM

I'd go with a nice SKS - cheap fun!

And . . . many installations DO have provision for inmates . . . uh . . . servicemen to have personal weapons stored on base in the armory. We had a couple guys on my ship that had their own pistols on board.
You just have to roust a Gunny to sign them out to you to go shooting. Get to know the guys at the armory - take 'em shooting, buddy up to them - they can really help or hinder you.

FutureMarine9 · 10-30-2007, 05:23 PM

thanks for all the feedback...the sks seems like a good option...not too expensive and a good step up...also considering 7.62 Saiga both look good(and also my friends dad has an ar so i can shoot that occasionally)

Cyrille · 10-30-2007, 09:24 PM

I may be old fashioned but my next modern "rifle" after many years hunting with my .22 was the 30-30, darn good 'step-up' rifle IMO.

SilverRun · 10-30-2007, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FutureMarine9

thanks for all the feedback...the sks seems like a good option...not too expensive and a good step up...also considering 7.62 Saiga both look good(and also my friends dad has an ar so i can shoot that occasionally)

I think either or those would be a good choice. Good Luck!

Dan22 · 10-30-2007, 11:01 PM

cyrile,

Yes, a lot of people moved up to a 30-30.

Most east-coast deer hunters have to contend with brush country and a 30-30 will slog through brush and keep on going.

On the other hand, many western shooters moved up to a 30-06 for longer range shots.

A 30-06 can be loaded heavy or light and would often be a great substitute for many of the more specialized rounds for specific game.

If I could only have one rifle for large American game it would be a 30-06 and ammo is readily available.

.22guy · 10-30-2007, 11:10 PM

Get a SKS, or maybe a Saiga in .223 or 7.62x39.

rondog · 10-31-2007, 12:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan22

My next step after a .22 will be another .22.

At age 68 it finally became clear to me that I love a simple little .22.

I don't hunt any more and a .22 is a highly accurate target or plinker rifle and that's all I want at this point in life.

Let the kids fire the shoulder bruising noise makers with expensive bullets.

I hear ya buddy! I still have my old Remington Model 514 single shot rifle that my oldest brother gave me when I was 10 or so. He's 16 yrs. older than me, and it was his rifle for many years, no telling how old it is. I have a cheap scope on it that's close to 40 yrs. old, and I can still hit bottlecaps with it!

toolman · 10-31-2007, 12:36 AM

A good Chinese or Russian SKS will serve you well. The recoil is not excessive to point of causing a flinch, and the ammo is the least expensive centerfire ammo on the market. I would suggest looking for a fiberglass stocked (not aftermarket!), Chi-Com with a screwed-in barrel. These are usually very accurate and dependable guns.

samuel · 10-31-2007, 09:07 AM

A .30-30 with 150gr bullets will deflect much easier than a .30-06 with the same weight. In the real world the faster a bullet is going the harder it is to deflect.As to heavy and light loads in one specific rifle,how do you handle the sightin problem? I have nothing against all of these spray&pray guns and can understand how people can have fun with them,but it is my sincere belief that if someone goes out and buys a spray&pray or for that matter any wae weapon that doesnt shoot close to 2" at 100yds they are going to be very dissapointed if they try to use it to take big game.And it is my belief the sickest round of all is the 7.62+39mm. sam.

Dan22 · 10-31-2007, 09:23 AM

I would hope that the shooter would sight-in his rifle with the ammo he will be using for a specific hunt. If the bullet weight changes, re-sight it.

How about some other opinions on high-speed bullets vs lower-speed for deflection when hitting twigs.

Idaho Dave · 10-31-2007, 10:28 AM

I avoid shooting if there are twigs in the way. Just my nature

samuel · 10-31-2007, 11:07 AM

There is no other opinion.I didnt give an opinion. It is phisics.No matter which hits an object it will be deflected if it isnt dead center.But the fastest bullet will be deflected rhe least because it has the most energy and because the deflection has less time to work on it.A sidewind is a deflection.A faster bullet is deflected less because it has more energy and the wind has less time to push on it.Often bullets from high power rifles dont riccochette when striking water but slower rimfire bullets virtually always bounce.If you have a childs toy top get it spinning and touch it while it is spinning fast and then touch it when it has slowed down.At fast speeds it will deflect a little.At slower speeds it will go crazy.I am not trying to change the laws of phisics.A faster bullet will wade more brush than a slower one.Dont blame me,blame the laws of enertia. sam.

10-29-2007, 06:03 PM	#1
FutureMarine9 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: connecticut Posts: 174	next step after .22 i was wondering what is a good caliber rifle to get after a .22 so i can work my way up to large calibers and not go too big too fast preferably a milsurp... or at least something that isn't too expensive __________________ Semper Fi Last edited by FutureMarine9; 10-29-2007 at 06:44 PM.

10-29-2007, 06:05 PM	#2
billy G&G asst.dino wrangler Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: a secret lab on the shores of lake titicaca Posts: 7,993 Images: 8 Blog Entries: 108	300winmag no not really. i would go with a 223 __________________ no matter how responsible he seems dont give a monkey a gun Last edited by billy; 10-29-2007 at 06:06 PM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost

10-29-2007, 06:12 PM	#3
Triggerjerk Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 978	Why not wait until you are in the service? They'll give you a rifle. I may be wrong, but you may not have spare time to shoot your personal arms. For example, I can go to the sandpit after work on a nice summer evening. You probably cannot break out your personal arms on base and go to the range when your day is over. So your personal arms will just sit at home. __________________ We old dogs can learn new tricks. We just may not like performng them. TJ

10-29-2007, 06:39 PM	#5
FutureMarine9 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: connecticut Posts: 174	yea i still have 2-3 years before i get into the service, but i want to get proficient with firearms before i get in...and thanks for the replies...Would 7.62x39 be too big? i was looking at .223 but i can't really afford a $800+ Ar __________________ Semper Fi Last edited by FutureMarine9; 10-29-2007 at 07:13 PM.

10-29-2007, 07:36 PM	#6
billy G&G asst.dino wrangler Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: a secret lab on the shores of lake titicaca Posts: 7,993 Images: 8 Blog Entries: 108	7.62x39 would be fine you could even get a bolt action __________________ no matter how responsible he seems dont give a monkey a gun

10-29-2007, 08:59 PM	#7
SilverRun Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: AL Posts: 1,591	The 7.62x39 would be fine, but you can build an AR for less than $800. If you plan on going in the service, that would likely be the best way to go if you can swing it. I think you could probably build a very basic AR for around $600 if you pick up the kit and lower in the right place. Guys around here could point you in the right direction. But if you don't have the money, a $200 SKS will still give you loads of fun!

10-29-2007, 10:29 PM	#8
Dan22 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Central Florida Posts: 271	My next step after a .22 will be another .22. At age 68 it finally became clear to me that I love a simple little .22. I don't hunt any more and a .22 is a highly accurate target or plinker rifle and that's all I want at this point in life. Let the kids fire the shoulder bruising noise makers with expensive bullets.

10-30-2007, 04:47 AM	#9
Big Dog Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Tallahassee, Florida Posts: 9,473	I'd go with a nice SKS - cheap fun! And . . . many installations DO have provision for inmates . . . uh . . . servicemen to have personal weapons stored on base in the armory. We had a couple guys on my ship that had their own pistols on board. You just have to roust a Gunny to sign them out to you to go shooting. Get to know the guys at the armory - take 'em shooting, buddy up to them - they can really help or hinder you. __________________ Moderator of: AR15/M16, M14/M1A, New/Beginning Shooters and Militaria/Collectables.

10-30-2007, 05:23 PM	#10
FutureMarine9 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: connecticut Posts: 174	thanks for all the feedback...the sks seems like a good option...not too expensive and a good step up...also considering 7.62 Saiga both look good(and also my friends dad has an ar so i can shoot that occasionally) __________________ Semper Fi Last edited by FutureMarine9; 10-30-2007 at 05:34 PM.

10-30-2007, 09:24 PM	#11
Cyrille Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: South Louisiana Posts: 775	I may be old fashioned but my next modern "rifle" after many years hunting with my .22 was the 30-30, darn good 'step-up' rifle IMO.

10-30-2007, 11:01 PM	#13
Dan22 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Central Florida Posts: 271	cyrile, Yes, a lot of people moved up to a 30-30. Most east-coast deer hunters have to contend with brush country and a 30-30 will slog through brush and keep on going. On the other hand, many western shooters moved up to a 30-06 for longer range shots. A 30-06 can be loaded heavy or light and would often be a great substitute for many of the more specialized rounds for specific game. If I could only have one rifle for large American game it would be a 30-06 and ammo is readily available. Last edited by Dan22; 10-30-2007 at 11:39 PM.

10-30-2007, 11:10 PM	#14
.22guy Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 3,636	Get a SKS, or maybe a Saiga in .223 or 7.62x39. __________________ Guns: they are like baseball cards except they are cool and you can kill things with em. -Billy

10-31-2007, 12:36 AM	#16
toolman Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: abilene,tx Posts: 4,498 Blog Entries: 14	A good Chinese or Russian SKS will serve you well. The recoil is not excessive to point of causing a flinch, and the ammo is the least expensive centerfire ammo on the market. I would suggest looking for a fiberglass stocked (not aftermarket!), Chi-Com with a screwed-in barrel. These are usually very accurate and dependable guns. __________________ Don't be messin' with my gun!

10-31-2007, 09:07 AM	#17
samuel Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 3,503	A .30-30 with 150gr bullets will deflect much easier than a .30-06 with the same weight. In the real world the faster a bullet is going the harder it is to deflect.As to heavy and light loads in one specific rifle,how do you handle the sightin problem? I have nothing against all of these spray&pray guns and can understand how people can have fun with them,but it is my sincere belief that if someone goes out and buys a spray&pray or for that matter any wae weapon that doesnt shoot close to 2" at 100yds they are going to be very dissapointed if they try to use it to take big game.And it is my belief the sickest round of all is the 7.62+39mm. sam.

10-31-2007, 09:23 AM	#18
Dan22 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Central Florida Posts: 271	I would hope that the shooter would sight-in his rifle with the ammo he will be using for a specific hunt. If the bullet weight changes, re-sight it. How about some other opinions on high-speed bullets vs lower-speed for deflection when hitting twigs.

10-31-2007, 10:28 AM	#19
Idaho Dave Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Idaho Posts: 404	I avoid shooting if there are twigs in the way. Just my nature __________________ Living the life

10-31-2007, 11:07 AM	#20
samuel Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 3,503	There is no other opinion.I didnt give an opinion. It is phisics.No matter which hits an object it will be deflected if it isnt dead center.But the fastest bullet will be deflected rhe least because it has the most energy and because the deflection has less time to work on it.A sidewind is a deflection.A faster bullet is deflected less because it has more energy and the wind has less time to push on it.Often bullets from high power rifles dont riccochette when striking water but slower rimfire bullets virtually always bounce.If you have a childs toy top get it spinning and touch it while it is spinning fast and then touch it when it has slowed down.At fast speeds it will deflect a little.At slower speeds it will go crazy.I am not trying to change the laws of phisics.A faster bullet will wade more brush than a slower one.Dont blame me,blame the laws of enertia. sam.

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