Im gonna be getting a rifle in the next few weeks. I've got a couple hundred dollars to spend and dont really know where to to begin. It will be used mostly for shooting prairie dogs and some target shooting just for fun. so please share your experiences and/or recommendations about what to look for, what is best for the money etc.

 

Will a 22 work or a 22 magnum? Really you need to budget scope too so 200 doesn't do much. I'd get a $100 22 from academy and a $100 scope. I think I have a couple Marlin brand (or some brand?) 22s from academy that load through a slide under the barrel. They are fun to pop off at targets or squirels. They cost about 100 a piece and I don't know how much the scopes cost.

 

Oh, otherwise look used. I picked up a .308 Remington Woodsmaster semi auto one time with a redfield scope that is in fair shape for $260 at a pawn shop. Works and groups up just great the scope is ok and worked in the short range opening I was in. They wanted $300 for it but I talked them down to 260 because I think it is worth 250 as is.

It's funny how I picked it up I just needed it for a one time use deal and was going to sell it to my friend with me for the price I bought it for but have kept it.

 

2nd the 22 rifle and scope. Ammo is cheap, fun to shoot. Might even look at a used one from a gun shop. Some Walmarts still sell rifles, or a big sporting good chain. Have fun.

 

Buy a .223 or 5.56...get a .22 if you are after small ammunition or small prey.

 

a 22 will do you good but make sure you look around. If you are going to get a rifle you might as well get a good one that will last and not some junk thats not accurate and will break in a couple of years.

 

My vote for best all around rifle would be Marlin 30-30. Buy a good used one with scope and view through mounts. They make a great brush gun, target gun, and with the new LeveRevolution rounds they are a great mid range deer gun.

 

thanks fellas, i can drop about 300-400 in it. what brands are better than others?

 

i like my marlin model 60 .22 rifle.about $120 at academy,and a decent 30mm scope.fires 14 rounds as fast as you can pull the trigger,and a box of 500 hollowpoints is cheap

 

If you want a good varmint/target rifle plan on spending $500+ for the gun and at least another $200 for the scope.

If you don't have that much then I would get a Ruger 10/22 and a decent scope for it. Then save up my money for a good quality rifle or look for something used.

My setup is a Remington 700 VS in .223 with a Simmons 6.5-20X44 scope. I tuned the trigger myself (pretty easy to do on a Remington) and it will shoot nice little groups.

 

My vote would be for a .22lr ive got a Ruger 10/22 and coulnt be more happy with it. Little recoil, low noise, cheap ammunition and with a diecent 3x9 or 4x12 scope I think that you could reasonably kill praie dogs out to 150yards or so. Ive had a Marlin mod 60 great but traded it for a Buck Mark .22 rifle however they are 400 plus just for the rifle. Anything past 150yrds I would look in to a .22-250, .223, .220 swift or .204 ruger but an afternoon of target practice isn't going to be anywhere near as cheap 1premium centfire bullet will get you a few clips worth of .22lr just my 2cents.

 

Ruger 10/22 all the way, I can shoot that thing all day, and ammo is cheap

 

I have a 10-22 and they are a great plinking and small varmit gun for the money.

If you want to spend a bit more money, CZ makes some 17HMR bolt rifles that shoot well, and do a number on varmits.

 

When your talking small bore I prefer the .17 over the .22 by leaps and bounds. They are a little higher right now but the difference in performance is worth it to me. They are .22s on steroids.

 

The .17 hmr has a velocity of 2530 at the barrel and energy of 242 compared to the little .22 being 1080 at the barrel and 104 on energy.