Newbie looking for advice

J

Jbat83

Guest
My name is Josh and I am wanting to get into the game. A friend, I met at the range, suggested I get on here and ask for advice. Unfortunately I am still a grad student and have limited funds to spread around; however, I was looking to get into shooting .22 rimfire if possible. Any suggestions of where I should start (gun, scope, etc.)? I have looked at other forums, which suggested savage btvs as a starter, as well as Anshutz. Any thoughts/advice?
 
Josh:

There is no way to sugar coat it.. If you are serious and want to get into .22 rf Benchrest, you had better plan on spending a minimum of $2500, and probably more, for equipment. This includes rifle, scope, rest and ammo. And that is getting an CMP 40X or Factory Suhl 150-1, Weaver Scope, two piece rest and a case of ammo. You can spend anywhere from $1500 - $3000 for just a competition ready rifle. Then you will need flags, bore guide, etc:. Check the Benchrest Central Classifieds and you will get an idea of what a rifle will cost..

I don't know what "limited funds" amounts to, but this is not a cheap sport.
You would be better off served, to get into .22rf silhouette shooting than benchrest..

Sorry to paint you such a dismal picture...

JMHO

Dave
 
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If you make your flags, you can get into them for about 50$. If you start with a 40X you will have a base that you can add to and refine as you can afford to upgrade. Buy the 6$ ammo for a year. You are learning to read flags and shooting technique. The rest depends on the association you choose to shoot with. If you go first line with anything, that would be what I would invest in. Shoot and ask questions.
 
jbat83,

Your friend is right, this is the place for great info......that said, I to am new to this sport. I have posted here a few times myself and got great responces. But if there is one thing I'v learned when you post on here is, " be specific ".
Look at the 2 answers you got. Both are true and both are very good answers but worlds apart.

Take the time and tell them what your looking to get for your $. Give them a ballpark money figure for them to work with. And let them know if you are just going to be shooting for your own pleasure, or if you want to shoot competitively.

Me I am just fine shooting my Anschutz 64 with my Weaver T-16 from the bench and standing....I love it. But not as much as I like shooting My new KID-22........sssshhhh!

Joe Lipari
 
jabt: If you are looking to get into "formal", competative benchrest shooting, you're looking at some serious spending. Dave's advice is right. On the other hand, if you want to start at the informal level; where competition is between you and some friends or just against yourself, I would suggest a CZ 452 or 453, a moderate scope like a Nikon 6X18X40 and some relatively good ammo like Wolf MT or ME. Over time, if you find that you really like this sport and want to upgrade, then do so. If not, then you have a terrific .22 that is very, very accurate for the money spent. Not competative mind you, just good quality equipment. Keep in mind, that you did not mention what your spendable funds are. If nothing else, buy the best you can for the amount of funds you have. This can be a very addictive hobby and has the potential to be quite spendy. Hope this helps.

Ken
 
I appreciate all the help/advice. I realize the spending can be infinite; on the other hand my funds are finite. I was considering a savage btvs with a weaver t36. That was about the price range I was looking at, but I didnt know if I was wasting my time and money with the savage. I could just take the hit and get a anshutz, if it is that much better. I just wasnt sure. I would like to use this set up for shooting by myself and potentially for local competitions, depending how I do.
 
The T36 will work fine but my point for the gun is that with the savage, you have limited potential but with a 40x, you will have the equal, as far as accuracy is concerned, the day you get it and you can upgrade it. The savage will need to be sold....as far as an anschutz is concerned, a new one (54 or 2013 action) is expensive and cost more to work on than the 40x. Once they have both been rebarreled, one has no advantage over the other.
 
Smarter than a Chicken!

Don is right on ! Spend every dime worth while, the 40X has only upside and you usally can get every thing invested back. I don`think any current production rifle has any upside on a 40X or Suhl 150 and can not come close to competing with either!
 
Serious thoughts for the experienced shooters who think

I shoot a rifle that I have upgraded. It has a reworked 40X action with it's third premium stainless steel barrel (Shilin Ratchet) and a Jewell trigger. It has a tuner and a Don Stith stock. I shoot black box eley which I buy by the case off of a Pappas one piece rest over four wind flags. I have a Weaver T-36 scope. Most of you shooters will agree with me when I say this rifle has most all the bells and whistles.

You shooters have a fair idea of what I have invested in my rifle because you all have invested similar amounts. Here is a collage graduate student wanting to get into the game. Shall we also tell him about the time that it takes to become a true competitor? He is surly a bright young man. This is a game that takes time and a certain amount of discretionary income as it is now. Many of us players in this game are getting long in the tooth.

At our club level, we should be prepared to offer competition for factory rifles like FUN-fire so more people can shoot with us. We have a great deal to offer anyone who would like to join our sport. Younger shooters are our future if we can get them interested and keep them. If we don't make a transition target as a stepping stone, I am afraid that benchrest 22, as we know it, will get smaller and leave with us.

Bill Wynne
Not Concho Bill just now
 
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jbat,

Here's my thought on the issue. You've stated that you are a college student and with limited funds, you are interested in the sport of 22 rf benchrest.

Good for you! It's a wonderful sport. Trying to help you decide between an Anschutz and a Savage is difficult -- probably as difficult of helping you decide between a Turbo, Hall, 40x etc. if you had unlimited funds.

I have 4 suggestions:

1. Go to a match -- ARA, RBA, IR50/50 -- talk with the folks and see what they are shooting.

2. Get a gun, scope, rest and ammo within your budget.

3. Start shooting at matches. IR 50/50 has begun offering the Fun-Fire target (thanks Bill) just for folks like you who want to see what this game is about.

4. MOST IMPORTANT -- enjoy yourself. Have a ball. Shoot against your own scores and not the competition.

You'll either get into it and build that dream custom gun after you graduate and starting bringing in the 6 figure salary... or you won't, and you'll try another game.

Best,
Michael
 
Greetings Josh. I'm certainly no expert, but I don't know that there's anything wrong with using a stock, older, used Match 54 or Suhl 150 to start. And you certainly can't beat the trigger on a 54. Put a Weaver T-36 on and away you go. Check with Mac Tilton at MT Guns for older 54's (And possibly Suhl's and Rem 40x)- http://mtguns.com/

Nothing wrong with a Savage, but I'd go with a used 54 over a new Savage for this game.

Cheers,

Mark
 
Josh:

There are two good BR rifles in the classifieds right now.. A Suhl 150 for $650.00 and a CMP 40X for $1000.00. If I were starting out, I would jump on that Suhl..

JMHO

Dave
 
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