Re: Rifle advice - plinking

**CingularDuality** · 05-20-2007, 05:46 AM

Originally Posted by Strag

It sounds like you may get a .223 rifle later on down the road. Would this be for plinking only, or would you want to get more accuracy out of it at some point?

Regardless, I think the AR is the ultimate .223 rifle right now.

**Strag** · 05-20-2007, 01:26 PM

Originally Posted by CingularDuality

Regardless, I think the AR is the ultimate .223 rifle right now.

I agree, and was going to recommend that P8riot spend the extra money to get an AR in the first place, rather than wishing he'd gotten one when the Mini-14 became a disappointment. (Assuming he's going to get a .223 rifle, of course.)

**CingularDuality** · 05-20-2007, 06:26 PM

Originally Posted by Strag

I agree, and was going to recommend that P8riot spend the extra money to get an AR in the first place, rather than wishing he'd gotten one when the Mini-14 became a disappointment. (Assuming he's going to get a .223 rifle, of course.)

Yep, a cheap one for $500 for plinking, and can easily be upgraded with a new upper for another $500 to turn it into a tack driver.

**P8riot** · 05-21-2007, 08:57 PM

Hey - cool.. isn't the AR in a different class?

Yes, Eventually I want a .223 - but it isn't a priority right now.. although.. with my bonus check due this month... hrmmmmm.. No.. it's going toward my Budapest trip. My raise on the other hand... hrmmmm...

The Rossi I bought is very simple, clean and smooth.. I'm pretty surprised. Having the 410 barrel is kind of a bonus - it's good for a kid.

Now I need to get my own.. I am even looking into the Beretta/Sako line - the Quad is nice.. pricey.. but nice.

**E0_** · 05-21-2007, 09:07 PM

The .223 is certainly in a different class from the other rifles you are considering.

This is clearly off topic, but you metioned the Sako and I have to say I have a very high opinion of their rifles. About six years ago I bought a Sako Riihimaki .222 "flattop" from a close friend. I think is well over 30 years old, but it is in great shape and much to my surprise groups pretty well at 500 yards. The bullets are probably going sideways at that range, but it is still a lot of fun to shoot and deadly accurate up to 250 yards or so.

**Pompa** · 05-22-2007, 02:09 AM

Originally Posted by P8riot

Now I need to get my own.. I am even looking into the Beretta/Sako line - the Quad is nice.. pricey.. but nice.

Unless you really want a SAKO, get a CZ 452!
And just so you know, I'm not bashing SAKO, I've owned a Finnfire and I loved that little rifle.
Oh, and you mean a rifle in addition to a 10/22, right?

**MagnaCentipede** · 05-24-2007, 09:00 PM

I have a few 22 rifles, supercheap pawnshop stuff, but fine enough for killing cans. Really, I enjoy my pistol more. I have the Ruger 678 Mark II; at 50 feet, I use index cards for targets.

I'm wanting to get one of these: http://www.rockriverarms.com/item-de...ge=r308s07.gif

Problem is, they've been held up for over half a year now, thanks to some hardware revisions and Armalite's lawyers. (They spent three months aruging that LAR-10 was too similar to AR-10, despite the fact that Rock River bought the rights to the AR-10 design, so RRA had to change it to LAR-8. ™. gg)

**Boot** · 05-24-2007, 11:46 PM

So not to change the topic too much, but what are the common thoughts on ages to start kids with this type of activity? My boy just turned 8 and we started him with some target archery a couple weeks ago. We have a similar setup as P8riot, grandparents with plenty of backyard space, so it's more a matter of when not how.

**MagnaCentipede** · 05-25-2007, 12:09 AM

Age is meaningless, maturity is everything. In the end, you are trusting the kid with a weapon that kills people when fired at people. A 22 in the chest will gladly play pinball and take out a half dozen ribs, a couple major organs, and sever the spinal cord for good measure.

Archery sounds like a good start... safer than ammunition, and it'll teach the concenration and control necessary to handle a projectile weapon over a couple/few years.

Backyard space is important, but backstop space is more important.

Don't forget to look for a training course. The NRA offers "Basic Practical" training, which means for a bargain price, you get a nice handbook, safety information, range time, and even a certificate of completion. Plus, the old guys like to bring the fun toys out. When I went, they were playing around with the black powder antiques.

**Boot** · 05-25-2007, 08:11 PM

Originally Posted by MagnaCentipede

Age is meaningless, maturity is everything. In the end, you are trusting the kid with a weapon that kills people when fired at people. A 22 in the chest will gladly play pinball and take out a half dozen ribs, a couple major organs, and sever the spinal cord for good measure.

Archery sounds like a good start... safer than ammunition, and it'll teach the concenration and control necessary to handle a projectile weapon over a couple/few years.

Backyard space is important, but backstop space is more important.

Don't forget to look for a training course. The NRA offers "Basic Practical" training, which means for a bargain price, you get a nice handbook, safety information, range time, and even a certificate of completion. Plus, the old guys like to bring the fun toys out. When I went, they were playing around with the black powder antiques.

Okay, I'll reprhase my question then, because I'm not asking for anyone to judge my maturity level, that of my son, my capabilities to judge safe plinking ranges, the size of my parents' farm or anything else. What I'm curious about is when others started or allowed their kids to start this kind of activity.

I myself started with a BB gun and only occasionally did we use the .22s and then mostly for varmints that started regularly coming into the barn. We only used shotguns for hunting, which was only in deer season. I started trap shooting after college.

Other than thinking I was about 9 or 10 when I got the BB gun, I can't remember specifically when I was introduced to the other weapons. But from this thread I take it to be common in other parts of the country that these activities may be common at different ages. So that's what I'm interested in -- at what ages did you start?

**P8riot** · 05-25-2007, 11:02 PM

Thanks Boot - Appropriate thread change.

I was 9 or 10 as well.. 12 for a .22 and shotguns (410) somewhere in that range. When I did it the first time, it was the first time - real, simulated whatever.

IMO, It is a little different now. My son is a mature 7 and we monitor what he plays online and he is very close with us - he doesn't say "I want to shoot guns" - but he is exposed everyday to guns and the news and what goes on around him that is stuff I wasn't.

The purpose of my intent is to demystify the intent and purpose of weapons, teach him their mechanics and explain their intent - I know he'll get it and even better, respect it. Now, Boot, in your area you used .22's for varmints and pests. We don't have that purpose here at least not from his point of view - gun's just kill people in the news.. by accident and otherwise - oh, and a war.

Now, as a counterpoint to this weapons education, I am taking him to Arlington with me (Or the American Cemetery in France - whichever comes first) this year. I am doing because I know it will make the impression.. the impression.. Wars, guns, death.. it's all real - not just video games, TV and movies - the consequences are real.

Anyhow, I am rambling about exceedingly personal stuff.. just my point of view - but it's all part of a bigger picture.

**MagnaCentipede** · 05-26-2007, 05:48 AM

[Removed]

+R for Riot. I plan to visit Arlington sometime. A large chunk of my family tree I never met moved out there a number of decades ago.

**CingularDuality** · 05-26-2007, 06:13 AM

I don't think he took it as a personal jab. I think he just wanted to nip that line of discussion in the bud, as that's not the direction he wanted to go with it...

As for me, I grew up around family that hunted semi-regularly. Deer, mostly. (BTW, that's one thing that is NOT bigger in Texas.) I vaguely remember the first time my parents let me shoot their .22 when we went out rabbit hunting in Tucson. I must've been around 5 years old.

I first took my son to the indoor shooting range when he was six. Unfortunately, I don't know anyone with land where we can go out plinking, and public lands are either too crowded or not friendly towards target shooting anymore (or else I just don't know where to go), so I haven't been able to take my boy out plinking like I used to... That's also the only reason that I haven't gotten him his own rifle. I'm afraid that I won't be able to find the time to drive all the way to the indoor range when he wants to go shooting, and if he has a cool new rifle but never gets to go to the range to shoot it, well, I used to be a little boy and I know that's asking for trouble...

**MagnaCentipede** · 05-26-2007, 06:40 AM

Good point. I've been around too much web-forum sarcasam over the last decade or so to read anything without reading into it.

I've been through Dallas a number of times. It'll take you a few hours, but eventually you'll run out of City and find yourself surrounded by Texas.

You should seek any rifle clubs, NRA, whatever that's within telephoning distance and see where they shoot. Likely, someone owns land that they allow for range use.

**CingularDuality** · 05-26-2007, 07:47 AM

Originally Posted by MagnaCentipede

Likely, someone owns land that they allow for range use.

Yeah, there are clubs and stuff, but nothing really close to where I live...

Oh, I'll post this here and in the Google Maps thread: http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/showthrea.../page/0#524830

All of the known ranges that offer Highpower rifle competitions!

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