looking for my first rifle

[corrion]

yes i know im fresh meat to this gun world but i got a question that no one i talk to can answer, im left handed so every semi auto rifle i found hits me in the face when ejecting i like the feel of a 7.62x51 nato round for its stopping power and its accuracy but i haven't been able to find a rifle for me, every gun that ive seen meeting my standards arn't accurate enough for long distance shooting (sniping) any suggestions?

[Abel]

Please state your budget and your exact planned use.

[corrion]

i love going out to long range feilds (1000 to 1200yds) and shooting off a couple rounds but every gun that i like has that right side eject i was looking for something anywhere up to 2 to 3 grand.eventually i like to go deer hunting with.

[Abel]

Just buy a left handed rifle. For 1500 you can get Cooper Arms to build you a fine lefty bolt action. Or you could just get a Tikka T3 or a Ruger Hawkeye M77 in a left handed rifle for closer to 500 dollars.

[Art Eatman]

First ever rifle? I'd recommend a bolt-action .22 to practice with until you get really good with sight picture and eye-finger coordination on the trigger. You can always trade up or keep the .22 as a plinker.

It's a lot like car racing: Beginners don't start out in Indy cars. Just figure it as a learning curve. Nobody was ever born an expert anything, and it takes a while to learn.

[beardenbc]

http://www.savagearms.com/firearms/model/10FLCPK

[Idempotent]

If this is your first rifle I would highly recommend a bolt-action. Even if you don't get a lefty version, you can shoot it just fine; you'll just have to work the bolt with the "wrong" hand. Certainly there'll be no brass ejecting in your face.

Also, for your first rifle, you should get a .22 LR. It will be under $200 and the ammo cost is a couple cents per round instead of 40 cents per round like the 308 you're looking at. Wait until you get good at the .22 LR rifle, and then go out and buy the centerfire rifle of your dreams.

By the way, Remington makes several varieties of its Model 700 in lefty versions. That would be an excellent rifle to play with.

[mdd]

Corrion its highly ironic that your sig phrase mentions first learning the trade yet you want to drop $3k on a 1000+ yd capable semi auto as your first rifle. Perhaps your own hands have already typed the most succinct advice for your situation.

[themusgrat]

If it's your only rifle..... don't make it a .22. All the "vets" always say stuff like "start out small," and while it makes sense, it's no fun. Get whatever rifle you want to be hunting deer with. A .22 should be your second or third gun, after a hunting rifle and pistol. Get something you can actually use and shoot long range first, then go for something to practice cheap with.

That said, if you're going to spend thousands of dollars, a $150 10/22 shouldn't be that much of a squeeze...

[johnwilliamson062]

http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=390132&highlight=first

If you want to learn to be a good shooter get a 22.
If you want to send a lot of lead down range as fast as you can at great expense get a centerfire.

[starbuck125]

.22 LR or anything else, get a bolt action, i"m left handed, but all my rifles are right handed, not really a problem . after awhile you might learn to shoot left or right. i did, now i prefer right handed, but still can shoot just as good left.

[mdd]

Musgrat, I have to say your advice on this is terribly inaccurate and potentially detrimental to the OP's future enjoyment of the shooting sports. The reason everyone says to start with a 22 is because the lack of recoil and subdued muzzle blast facilitates concentration on proper mechanics at a very affordable cost per round. I've been shooting since I was 8 years old...started with a 22. Now I have a safe full of centerfires and my next rifle will be a ruger 77/22 mag so I can get back to basics in an effort to further sharpen my shooting skillset.

[NooYawkuh]

It's really not that difficult, it doesn't take long (depending on your age, I suppose) and it just makes life a lot easier with some things (particularly shooting).

When I was a kid, I did almost everything in sports right-handed, but I always "played guns", boxed and did many other things left handed. I'm left eye dominant. When I first started using a camera I used my left eye. But the way almost ALL cameras are made, your nose gets in the way. I re-learnt.

When I first started shooting as an adult, it was a real hassle. I was never in the military but I understand they strongly urge all but the most stubborn recruits to learn to shoot right-handed. I was in my 20s when I switched but it shouldn't be that much harder even if you're older. Bolt-actions are one thing but I don't think anyone even makes semi-autos in LH versions. It doesn't pay.

You're not a prisoner. You have a choice. You're in control.

[loverme85]

If you want to shoot long range I don't know why you would even want a semi auto. I know the cool factor comes into play with new shooters, but its not practical in my mind. Go bolt action

[RobertRogers]

My feeling is yes, start out with a 22 and move "up" from there. After all, you are going to want that caliber anyway and you can burn up alot of ammo without hurting your budget much - allowing you to acquire the gun of your dreams later on when you know more about what you are really in need of.

[mitchell koster]

I learn't with a .22 voere. Beautiful little German thing. The only way we were aloud to get a bigger rifle was to be able to head shot anything out to 100 meters. Go the .22 bolt actions, cheap ammo, cheap to run, heaps of fun!!:)