If I can have only one rifle, which should it be?

[BB57]

On the theme that a first / only rifle should be a .22 rimfire, I’d suggest one from one of four different classes:

1) a high quality .22 LR lever action like the (left to right) Winchester 9422 Trapper, Browning BL-22, Winchester 9422, and Marlin 39A.

2) a high quality gallery rifle like the (left to right) Winchester 1890, Winchester 1906, Winchester Model 62; or

a Remington Model 12 or 121.

3) a .22 LR training rifle such as (top to bottom) Springfield M2, Remington 513T, Mossberg 44US, Winchester Model 52A;

Remington 541T

Kimber Model 82G;

Or a entry level rimfire target rifle like the Remington 541X; or

Savage Anschutz Model 64 match.

4) a medium high quality bolt action sporter such as (top to bottom) the CZ 453 (or 452 or 455 or 457) American, the Ruger 77/22, or the Remington Model 5 (Zastava CZ 99 precision/ MP-22).

 

[Ματθιας]

I chose "none of the above".

I'd get a 10/22. They're cheap, cheap to shoot, accessories are plentiful and they are fun to shoot!

I have to ask, are you a collector or are you a shooter? It sounds like you're only dealing with one gunshop - if you are, you're missing out on all the stuff that's available online. It's not that difficult to buy and transfer it to the FFL of your choice.

 

[BabaBlueJay]

I chose "none of the above".

I'd get a 10/22. They're cheap, cheap to shoot, accessories are plentiful and they are fun to shoot!

I have to ask, are you a collector or are you a shooter? It sounds like you're only dealing with one gunshop - if you are, you're missing out on all the stuff that's available online. It's not that difficult to buy and transfer it to the FFL of your choice.

I'm a shooter, collecting is not interesting to me. If I buy a gun, I am going to shoot it A LOT. I buy from my LGS because they have been good to me and I prefer to support local businesses.

Ammo I'll buy online at times because they don't stock my preferred 357 magnum defensive ammo. I've told them what I use, but I don't blame them for not catering to me as one dude so I do go online for that.

 

[local_dirt]

BCM 16" AR15 with M-Lok. Put a scope, red dot or straight iron sights on it. Little recoil, accurate and will cover all the bases and be one helluva self-defense rifle, as well.

 

[6string]

Why put out such a broad question, and then include an absurd, myopic list in the form of a poll that doesn’t include either a write-in option or opt-out choice like “none of the above”?

 

[BabaBlueJay]

Why put out such a broad question, and then include an absurd, myopic list in the form of a poll that doesn’t include either a write-in option or opt-out choice like “none of the above”?

Because it's my poll and the options I want. I didn't want a write in poll with a bunch of guns I either can't own in my situation or have no desire to own. I like all 5 of the guns I listed, you may not and that's ok, but it's a list of guns I'm interested in.

 

[30-30remchester]

Good grief Charlie Brown, what terrible options we were given. Makes me think that them that come up with this list must be closet 6.5 Creedmore fans.

 

[reccpd101]

You need at least two and you can buy both for the same money as one. A cheap 22 bolt action and a reasonable bolt action 308 or 7.62 x 39 or 357 magnum. The training carries over from one to the other. You may like the historical 1903 but a good one and the ammo are both expensive. You can buy both as used Rugers cheaper and they are great guns. You will need to be patient and wait until hunting season and Christmas is over. Ruger makes a bolt action 357 if you want interchangeable ammo with your 686. Also learn to reload and you can cut your ammo cost on 38/357 greatly. Not all lever actions will feed 38 reliably but the Ruger 357 bolt will.

 

[Glenn R. McMannly]

‘03 Springfield.

It can hunt any game in North America. You don’t need anything else from a rifle.

 

[BabaBlueJay]

Thanks tor all the input. I think I'll have my work cut out for me but I'll definitely separate the training rifle in 22 from the rifle I want for myself. Can't get one to do both things.

 

[britbike1]

Here's a thought.

How about a Winchester 9422 and a Winchester 94 pre-64? One covers teaching the girls and the other covers both historical and practical shooting with the same type action. 30-30 = deer hunting, self defense with quick reloading as you fire, collect-ability, quality old american workmanship. Put a lyman peep on the 94 and your choice of peep or scope or red dot on the 22. A lot of fine shooting has been done with peeps even with older eyes. 30-30 can be reloaded cheaply also.

 

[BabaBlueJay]

I'm going to get wait and do more research

 

[fabricgator]

+++++UPDATE: After hearing you all out, I discovered once again that I was being too narrow minded. I will get a 22 because training my girls is the top priority. I will eventually convince my wife of the need for a rifle for me to reach lucky number 4.+++++

I whole heartedly agree

2. I am a historian ...

Have I got a great suggestion for you...

3. Range gun: I view my rifle as mainly a range gun for training and entertainment purposes.

22LR is cost efficient. I regularly attend marksmanship seminars where I shoot 500 rounds plus in a two day period of instruction.

The requirements for this rifle are...

1. Safe I plan on using this as a training tool for my daughters so it MUST be safe for their use

Agree with 22lr. A great versatile round for training newcomers...
22lr, again (See suggestion below!)

2. Reliable: In terms of function, reliability is king in my World. I want a gun that fires every time.

3. Accurate: While it does not need to winning any competitions I want this gun to be accurate enough to hit things easily within 100 yards consistently with little effort.

With skill and training, 100 yard bulls eyes are certainly obtainable by a young shooter with a 22lr.

7. Ammo availability/price: The ammo for this gun must be readily available and reasonably affordable (less than 1$ per round)

How about typically less than $0.10 cents per round?

If you made it through this dissertation of a post, I thank you for your time and input

Like this guy says... these make great LTR's.

I chose "none of the above".

I'd get a 10/22. They're cheap, cheap to shoot, accessories are plentiful and they are fun to shoot!

Thousands of potential iterations and accessories that won't break the bank account.
Fun to tinker with, modify, improve... I've bedded in my adjustable composite modern sporting style stock and now I have a contender of a tac driver for merely a few hundreds of dollars. (admittedly, I have more into it now, it is hard to resist... Like going to HFT for a wrench and before you know it I have a cart full at the register.

The LTR "Liberty Training Rifle"
The nation wide organization where I get two full days of marksmanship instruction with my 10/22 LTR is called "Project Appleseed"

OP mentioned he was a historian
Well here is why appleseed would be a great event to bring son's and daughters, wives and girlfriends alike... History of the founding of our great nation.

The principal is that the colonists used marksmanship to hunt and feed their family in a new and rustic land. Every shot was the difference between feast or potential famine.
Come April 18th, 1775.... it was the patriots ability to shoot that made the difference.

Project Apple Seed is about shooting safety and firearm handling.

Project Apple Seed is about marksmanship training.

Project Apple Seed is about history... as we train throughout the weekend, our marksmanship lessons are given an intermission when a volunteer(s) tell the story of Paul Revere and the events of Patriots Day

Two full days of instruction currently cost about $70 (*or could even cost less that that)

How many members here at smith-wessonforum.com have attended a PAS event?

I shot over a quarter mile on paper (well, electronic) with my AR-15 (any centerfire rifle)

I qualified "Rifleman" at 25, 50, 75, and 100 yards with my 10/22 (both were advanced seminar weekends)

I qualified as "Pistolero" at a weekend training event with my dad's 22lr High Standard with red dot, then qualified again the next day with the red dot removed and shot iron sights.
You could bring a wheel gun with a speed loader to "Pistol Seed" event.
I also shot .45acp and .38 on subsequent pistol events

ADMINS, please don't dismiss me (or this post) as SPAM, this has changed my life as a shooter, a marksman, a firearm owner, and even, as a person as a whole.... if you can't tell, I am very enthusiastic about Project Appleseed. Look it up for a monthly event being held near you...

I dare not post a link, but you can google to find out more.
I hope to see you at the range!

Tell em FabricGATOR sent ya'

 

[BabaBlueJay]

I'll just wait until the girls are older and get a 22 then. That gives me 5-7 years of time to think about it. I decided I won't get a rifle after all for me at this point. My revolver and shotgun cover most of my bases and I can spend more on my girls.

 

[BAM-BAM]

I'll just wait until the girls are older and get a 22 then. That gives me 5-7 years of time to think about it. I decided I won't get a rifle after all for me at this point. My revolver and shotgun cover most of my bases and I can spend more on my girls.

In the meantime educate and keep your eyes open over the "next few years"..... you can get some great bargains if you are knowledgeable.

Example I picked up a CZ 452 FS/mannlicher in .22lr used; bolt still in the sealed plastic bag and rifle still in the box for half the price of a new one at another shop across town.

a used CZ 527 .223/5.56 at a gun show ,as new in box, for $300 MSRP was about $700 at the time; Dude traded it , a "gift", for a Glock.

Watch for a used S&W 15/22....... AR understudy shooting at .22lr prices.

 

[fabricgator]

Savage 24c

I have a neat piece of survival heritage, a Savage model 24 Camp Gun

It is a breach loaded 22lr over a 20 ga shot gun.

Again, a neat little single shot 22 or 20 gauge shot at the flip of a lever on the hammer.

Now you probably couldn't qualify in a course of fire at an apple seed event, but it might fill the bill of having a shot gun and a rifle.

 

[GypsmJim]

I'll just wait until the girls are older and get a 22 then. That gives me 5-7 years of time to think about it. I decided I won't get a rifle after all for me at this point. My revolver and shotgun cover most of my bases and I can spend more on my girls.

I came across a deal in 2005 and bought 2 1903s from a gun shop that was going out of business for $200 each. At that time I figured they were worth ~$400 each, so I got 2 for the price of one.

Today, they are going for +- $1200, plus S+H plus FFL fees.

Your plan is a good one because your primary objective is kids and family. Just be sure to start saving up your pennies now because 1903 availability is declining and prices may soon be out of reach for the average shooter.

With a $30 investment for a C&R FFL in 1999, I was able to buy Enfields, Mausers, SKSs, etc. for $29 - $59, with free shipping. Those now sell for +-$700. The golden age of firearms is long past.

 

[BabaBlueJay]

I have a neat piece of survival heritage, a Savage model 24 Camp Gun

It is a breach loaded 22lr over a 20 ga shot gun.

Again, a neat little single shot 22 or 20 gauge shot at the flip of a lever on the hammer.

Now you probably couldn't qualify in a course of fire at an apple seed event, but it might fill the bill of having a shot gun and a rifle.

View attachment 651202

View attachment 651203

That is so cool I love history and it's easy to forget how long Savage has been around making fantastic rifles.

Thanks to all for being brutally honest with me, I have much to learn still. The good news is I have time.

 

[alwslate]

The Savage .22 and 410 or 20 gauge over and under shotguns were very common back in the 50s when I grew up. After a short time most of them had broken selectors and no longer worked. They were notorious for failing to work properly. I can't recall ever seeing one that actually worked.

 

[Sistema1927]

I can't imagine a future when I would be forced to have only one rifle.

However, in that dystopian future, I would want my Springfield M1A.