Im relatively new to shooting but I have a few guns already. I'm interested in getting into target shooting and I was looking into getting a Savage 12flp in .223 to get started. How ever a couple more options have been offered and now I started thinking differently. I'm now not sure what I should do and was looking for the opinions of others with experience.
I apologize for the long wordy post but I have several options and explanations.
My original plan was to buy the Savage .223 and eventually get a nice scope and new stock for it. and shoot it for as long as i can until i need to re barrel or want to. I wanted to do this because it will be a low recoil rifle that is accurate and i would get to work up some reloads for it. It would also have more power than my .22s, be more accurate at longer ranges. Finally it would be cheaper than my .308
A note before i go on to my other options. the savage .308 i have is the 11 flns hunter model(centerfeed, 4.4” screw spacing, left handed.) it has been decent but I havent been able to shoot it as well as it probably could be. But the other day i was at the range and my friend couldnt get it to shoot and he is normally pretty good. I was going to change the bases rings scope and make sure everything was torqued right, then use a lead sled to take human error out of the equation as much as possible, because that is what i think is the culprit. I am also pretty sensitive to recoil so i think i need a light recoiling rifle to practice on in addition to my .22s. I’d like something with more power than the .22s so i can shoot further distances with more power and accuracy.
An other option I have is to take the savage .308 I have now and make it into a target rifle. I would get a heavy barrel, stock and eventually a nicer scope. I would want to have the least amount of recoil as possible while still shooting regular loads so i would get a muzzle break put on it. Because this is my main hunting rifle and i would not want to lug around a heavy target rifle in the woods i could use my winchester model 94 30-30 to hunt the with the few times that i do. (I'm not so much a hunter, I think id rather just target shoot more). This would be more expensive at first because id get a custom barrel and stock right away. I already have the reloading stuff for .308 so i wouldnt need to worry about that. But i wouldnt have to buy reloading stuff because i already have that.
Also how much would a good break reduce the recoil and would it make it that much louder?
A third option that i have is to do basically the same thing as the previous option but instead get the barrel chambered in .223 and get a new bolt along with reloading components. Also I would not get a break because the recoil should be plenty low enough.
The 4th option would be to buy a .22lr bolt action rifle such as a savage or cz, get a few upgrades possibly, then practice shooting that until i get good and can really move up to a larger caliber.
My 5th option would be to get a heavy barrel and new stock, etc for my ruger 1022 and try to make that into a good target rifle.
.22 pros.
No recoil
Cheap ammo
Overall cheaper too.
.22 cons.
-Not as accurate at longer distances.
-Cant reload them so no custom loads.
-
.223 pos
-Cheaper to load than .308
( Starts to get very noticeable after thousands of rounds.)
-Less recoil and noise than .308
-More accurate at longer range than .22
-Can reload custom loads.
-Could get a custom barrel if I switch my .308 to .223
.223 cons
-More expensive than .22
-Less range than .308
-Bigger up front cost if I switch my .308
-No reloading stuff yet
.308 pros
-Longer range than .223 or .22
-Already have reloading stuff
-
.308 cons
-More expensive
-More recoil and noise
-More expensive
-
If you guys have any opinions or ideas as to what I should do and have anything to change about the pros/cons please tell me. Also if you have questions about anything please ask. I’m sorry again for the long post but now I really have no idea what to do now.
I have about 1k to spend upfront for everything. I already have a Bushnell elite 3200 10x that i will use for the time being. Also I was looking at Manners Stocks, Stockade Stocks and the XLR Chassis.
I apologize for the long wordy post but I have several options and explanations.
My original plan was to buy the Savage .223 and eventually get a nice scope and new stock for it. and shoot it for as long as i can until i need to re barrel or want to. I wanted to do this because it will be a low recoil rifle that is accurate and i would get to work up some reloads for it. It would also have more power than my .22s, be more accurate at longer ranges. Finally it would be cheaper than my .308
A note before i go on to my other options. the savage .308 i have is the 11 flns hunter model(centerfeed, 4.4” screw spacing, left handed.) it has been decent but I havent been able to shoot it as well as it probably could be. But the other day i was at the range and my friend couldnt get it to shoot and he is normally pretty good. I was going to change the bases rings scope and make sure everything was torqued right, then use a lead sled to take human error out of the equation as much as possible, because that is what i think is the culprit. I am also pretty sensitive to recoil so i think i need a light recoiling rifle to practice on in addition to my .22s. I’d like something with more power than the .22s so i can shoot further distances with more power and accuracy.
An other option I have is to take the savage .308 I have now and make it into a target rifle. I would get a heavy barrel, stock and eventually a nicer scope. I would want to have the least amount of recoil as possible while still shooting regular loads so i would get a muzzle break put on it. Because this is my main hunting rifle and i would not want to lug around a heavy target rifle in the woods i could use my winchester model 94 30-30 to hunt the with the few times that i do. (I'm not so much a hunter, I think id rather just target shoot more). This would be more expensive at first because id get a custom barrel and stock right away. I already have the reloading stuff for .308 so i wouldnt need to worry about that. But i wouldnt have to buy reloading stuff because i already have that.
Also how much would a good break reduce the recoil and would it make it that much louder?
A third option that i have is to do basically the same thing as the previous option but instead get the barrel chambered in .223 and get a new bolt along with reloading components. Also I would not get a break because the recoil should be plenty low enough.
The 4th option would be to buy a .22lr bolt action rifle such as a savage or cz, get a few upgrades possibly, then practice shooting that until i get good and can really move up to a larger caliber.
My 5th option would be to get a heavy barrel and new stock, etc for my ruger 1022 and try to make that into a good target rifle.
.22 pros.
No recoil
Cheap ammo
Overall cheaper too.
.22 cons.
-Not as accurate at longer distances.
-Cant reload them so no custom loads.
-
.223 pos
-Cheaper to load than .308
( Starts to get very noticeable after thousands of rounds.)
-Less recoil and noise than .308
-More accurate at longer range than .22
-Can reload custom loads.
-Could get a custom barrel if I switch my .308 to .223
.223 cons
-More expensive than .22
-Less range than .308
-Bigger up front cost if I switch my .308
-No reloading stuff yet
.308 pros
-Longer range than .223 or .22
-Already have reloading stuff
-
.308 cons
-More expensive
-More recoil and noise
-More expensive
-
If you guys have any opinions or ideas as to what I should do and have anything to change about the pros/cons please tell me. Also if you have questions about anything please ask. I’m sorry again for the long post but now I really have no idea what to do now.
I have about 1k to spend upfront for everything. I already have a Bushnell elite 3200 10x that i will use for the time being. Also I was looking at Manners Stocks, Stockade Stocks and the XLR Chassis.
