hi guys and gals
I'm new to shooting. I recently got my rimfire and centrefire longarm licences. I'm now going through the process of getting my handgun licence which will take a bout 6-8mths before I can buy my own.
my first purchase? a .22 calibre rifle which I can use at the local indoor range (50m). the gun club I joined do regular weekend day trips to an outdoor range so I'm thinking of getting something with longer legs but I'm not sure which way to go - 223 or 243 or 270 or bigger.
I'm not a hunter so the 'big' gun will only be used on a range and probably only a few days a year. when I get my handgun licence I will probably start doing my own reloading as this is the main type of shooting I want to do but in the mean time I'm limited to 22 revolvers but I can buy shoot virtually any cal long.
I know that centrefire rifles in 223 are cheaper/cheapest out of the above options when it comes to ammo costs but as it's only a few times a year that I'll be shooting the larger calibre the cost of ammo probably not something that will concern me too much, esp when I start reloading. as I'm in Oz the availability and cost of ammo may not be the same as the US.
I've read about barrels being burnt out, I don't want something that I can only shoot 1000-2000 times before the barrel needs replacing.
I think I would like to shoot 300-500 metres/yards at most. what do you think? go the 223 or a bit bigger? what about a 357 long? or a 44? are rifles accurate over distance in those calibres? my main wants are accuracy, longevity of rifle (if that's relevant, correct if I'm wrong), bang for buck (I can't own an AR or military grade rifles in Oz), something that's easy to shoot and fun and won't have me flinching and in agony from a smashed up shoulder, reasonably flat trajectory.
sorry for the newbie questions but I am a newbie. all responses are appreciated. feel free to mention specific gun models if you want to. I love gun pics!
I'm new to shooting. I recently got my rimfire and centrefire longarm licences. I'm now going through the process of getting my handgun licence which will take a bout 6-8mths before I can buy my own.
my first purchase? a .22 calibre rifle which I can use at the local indoor range (50m). the gun club I joined do regular weekend day trips to an outdoor range so I'm thinking of getting something with longer legs but I'm not sure which way to go - 223 or 243 or 270 or bigger.
I'm not a hunter so the 'big' gun will only be used on a range and probably only a few days a year. when I get my handgun licence I will probably start doing my own reloading as this is the main type of shooting I want to do but in the mean time I'm limited to 22 revolvers but I can buy shoot virtually any cal long.
I know that centrefire rifles in 223 are cheaper/cheapest out of the above options when it comes to ammo costs but as it's only a few times a year that I'll be shooting the larger calibre the cost of ammo probably not something that will concern me too much, esp when I start reloading. as I'm in Oz the availability and cost of ammo may not be the same as the US.
I've read about barrels being burnt out, I don't want something that I can only shoot 1000-2000 times before the barrel needs replacing.
I think I would like to shoot 300-500 metres/yards at most. what do you think? go the 223 or a bit bigger? what about a 357 long? or a 44? are rifles accurate over distance in those calibres? my main wants are accuracy, longevity of rifle (if that's relevant, correct if I'm wrong), bang for buck (I can't own an AR or military grade rifles in Oz), something that's easy to shoot and fun and won't have me flinching and in agony from a smashed up shoulder, reasonably flat trajectory.
sorry for the newbie questions but I am a newbie. all responses are appreciated. feel free to mention specific gun models if you want to. I love gun pics!