Range Rifle Caliber Choice

[RFBfromDE]

Why?

I have never been hunting. I have access to a 100 yard range.

 

[Park ranger]

22 long rifle. Cheaper yet

 

[DavidA]

Yep 22 lr


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[DavidA]

Yep 22 lr


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[smokey]

+1 for .22.... especially if all you have is a 100-200 yard range. If you can stretch the .22 to 200, it allows you to simulate longer range shooting with a proper rifle cartridge. You can start learning wind calls as well as matching elevation adjustments to target distance within 200 yards with a .22. So if you have a .22 and 200 yards you get ranging practice, wind call practice, and it will identify any weaknesses you have in technique(such as canting a rifle off to the side instead of keeping it level).

 

[jr88]

While .223 is fine if you want to go AR route, I have always been a .308 bolt action fan. You need to think more about characteristics you desire.

 

[FeelTheNoise]

Strictly a range gun? Yeah I'd go .223/5.56 mostly because of cost. Cheap enough to get plenty of shooting in but still a big enough bang to be fun and reach out a ways. Although even if you started bring in other applications like home defense/SHTF I'd say it's still relevant.

22 long rifle. Cheaper yet

But this is a solid competitor, something about plinking with .22LR is just too good. And the cost allows you to get tons of practice in.

 

[RJRjr]

Usually 22lr. But last 3 times to the range I've taken my 2 rifles in 6.5 Swede. An m38 husky and a m96.

 

[Doctor_M]

BTW depending on the county, you can use 7.62x39 and it is a fair deer round (there are shotgun only or straight walled cartridge only counties, so your choices are limited by where you hunt). I took my first deer as a youngster with an AK.

 

[RFBfromDE]

This would be in addition to the .22LR and 12ga shotgun I already have.

 

[RFBfromDE]

While .223 is fine if you want to go AR route, I have always been a .308 bolt action fan. You need to think more about characteristics you desire.

I never liked shooting off the AR platform. 40 years ago we were shooting 400 yard targets with it. (USAR) I can't even see that far with corrected vision any more!

It's unpleasant to shoot and butt ugly.

I'm a FUDD.

A used, wood .308 bolt gun would sure be purdy!

 

[FeelTheNoise]

I never liked shooting off the AR platform. 40 years ago we were shooting 400 yard targets with it. (USAR) I can't even see that far with corrected vision any more!

It's unpleasant to shoot and butt ugly.

I'm a FUDD.

A used, wood .308 bolt gun would sure be purdy!

With this info and knowing you already own a .22 and shotgun I think I would change my answer to something like a 7.62x39 AK or something fun like a lever gun in .357 just for kicks.

.308 bolt gun is also fun, even at 100 yards.

 

[RFBfromDE]

.... or something fun like a lever gun in .357 just for kicks.

You had to bring that up?

 

[smokey]

5.56 then, specifically with the new aac 77 gr load everyone is raving about. It seems you can get pretty decent results out of it with people reporting reliable .5moa-1moa out of good guns.

 

[FeelTheNoise]

You had to bring that up?

It's been on my "to buy" list for a while, and I talked myself out of buying one at a sale earlier this year, so maybe I'm projecting...

 

[RFBfromDE]

I dreaded cleaning the ARs back in the day.

Bolt guns are a breeze in comparison.

I won't be fending off zombie invasions with this.

 

[calicojack]

223/5.56, 22LR, 6.5 Grendel, 308 Win, 243 Win are my favorites. Occasional 7.62x39, 30-06, and 300 Blackout. Always shoot suppressed if the barrel is threaded.

 

[calicojack]

I dreaded cleaning the ARs back in the day.

Bolt guns are a breeze in comparison.

I won't be fending off zombie invasions with this.

You don't have to clean an AR to pass inspection. You can always dunk the BCG in brake cleaner or similar solvent soak.

When I was in ROTC we would clean our M16A1's in a 55 gal drum cut in half filled with gasoline as a solvent.

 

[RFBfromDE]

If I got an AR, I would just be another guy crying about how unreliable it is, all the moving parts they had to replace and "upgrade" then never shoot it.

 

[Uncle Duke]

This would be in addition to the .22LR and 12ga shotgun I already have.

.223 Remington. The perfect companion to 22lr and 12ga, and your initial center-fire rifle option that makes sense in terms of having an inventory of varied chambering selections that can collectively do many different things. From there, something in 6.5mm or heavier, to open other avenues still, if and when desired.