Sniper Rifle for Beginners

[reccitron]

Again, I’m still a newbie to rifles so I just assumed they are called “sniper” rifles. I guess i’ve been watching too many movies...

As you are a newbie, please take a class or have an experienced person teach you firearms safety and the basics.

I've been around guns and hunting all my life but have just started into long range precision shooting. I have been reading "Long Range Shooting Handbook" by Ryan M. Cleckner and so far would highly recommend it. He goes into a lot of detail about ammunition and equipment before he even mentions the fundamentals.

But as I said learning firearm safety is the first step.

 

[ClutchyMcClutcherson]

If you are gonna do a savage, and have plans of changing the stock and such with aftermarket parts as you go I’d stay away from the axis. I don’t think there’s much aftermarket support. Save yourself from doing it over again, and buy an upgraded savage rifle from hog sniper here on the forum. He has good prices and did great for me and my father. Then save yourself some more and get an Athlon Argos. I recently looked through one and was impressed with the clarity and feel. You can tell it’s not a noghtforce, but for the price you can’t beat it.

 

[boothdoc]

Attend an Appleseed class. They will even lend you a rifle. Learn the basics and enjoy.

 

[Major03]

hello guys,

First off, let me apologize about the title came up to be and how most of you thinks i’m either trolling or seems fishy that should be reported.

Again, I’m still a newbie to rifles so I just assumed they are called “sniper” rifles. I guess i’ve been watching too many movies...

There’s been a lot of crazy things happening in the world lately, ( mass shootings, etc) but if you’re judging me based on my wording and the lack of knowledge i have in rifle makes me suspicious saying things like (who are you shooting, sounds like someone to be reported, etc) i don’t know what else to say.

i guess i made a mistake asking here in the forum, i just thought that people would kindly direct me to the right direction without being judge, guess this is how the world works now.


Again, thanks to those mature response and recommendations.

OP, people are just reacting to your choice of words. "Sniper Rifle" is the next "Assault Weapon." It's a way to make a perfectly normal bolt action rifle sound super scary to people who know nothing about such things. Surely nobody but the military and police need a "sniper rifle" unless they're looking to do nefarious things and snipe people... That'll likely be the next step with the gun controllers.

Please don't take offense, as a community we think it's important we guard against such things and do a better job at directing a narrative that is clearly against us.

As a community it's also important to not eat our own young so to speak...so welcome to the community! You'll find that shooting is an incredibly challenging and enjoyable sport, and the people that do it are generally really nice and helpful.

In regards to adding to the already solid recommendations, if you are a new shooter, might I suggest making an investment in a .22LR rifle. Savage MK II is a very accurate and inexpensive option.

Learning to shoot longer range has a lot to do with reading the wind, estimating distance and understanding trajectory. Shooting .22LR beyond 150 yds is a really great way to develop those skills without spending a small fortune on match ammo and developing a flinch (if you're a new shooter).

Last thought, if precision shooting is your goal, you'll want to invest in a decent scope. You don't have to spend thousands on a Hensoldt or Schmidt & Bender, but I'm also a believer of the buy once and cry once when it comes to optics.

In general, the more features the scope has (adjustable power, illuminated reticles, side adjustable parallax, "tactical" turrets, etc...) the more it will cost. If a scope has those things, and is inexpensive, they're cutting a lot of corners elsewhere. Usually in the quality of the glass. And the quality of the scope itself if it's really inexpensive.

If you start getting sticker shock over the price of some of the scopes, I'm generally of the belief that if you're budget conscious, you're better off getting a scope with minimal features but decent glass. A fixed power scope with decent turrets that can keep a zero after being manipulated will do you better than the latest deal advertised on Sportsman's Guide that has all the bells and whistles.

For $500 or under, my recommendation would be the SWFA fixed power scope line. Get HD glass if you can afford it.

If you have more to spend and money is less of an object, I have different recommendations.

Long range shooters will typically spend more money (sometimes much more money) on their optics than on their rifles. Just food for thought.

 

[89BSP]

The Savages with a number instead of a names aren't bad for the price, they can come with the accustock and accutrigger.

If you are gonna do a savage, and have plans of changing the stock and such with aftermarket parts as you go I’d stay away from the axis. I don’t think there’s much aftermarket support. Save yourself from doing it over again, and buy an upgraded savage rifle from hog sniper here on the forum. He has good prices and did great for me and my father. Then save yourself some more and get an Athlon Argos. I recently looked through one and was impressed with the clarity and feel. You can tell it’s not a noghtforce, but for the price you can’t beat it.

 

[axshon]

hello guys,

thanks again for all the recommendation. I have finally decided to invest on a cheap rifle (savage axis) for now so i can learn how to shoot it.
...
i guess i made a mistake asking here in the forum, i just thought that people would kindly direct me to the right direction without being judge, guess this is how the world works now.


Again, thanks to those mature response and recommendations.

Words matter and you appear to have learned a valuable lesson. A sniper is a military shooter who shoots people. There are folks here who are/were snipers. Being a sniper is not a real thing for civilians and non-LEO and makes the wrong kind of people take notice because it sounds like a feller is getting ready to shoot up something. Very bad mojo and a good way to get visited. Its an easy term to make a mistake about since we live in a video game age that makes it look easy and ok. It isn't and it isn't.

That said, if you want to shoot very small things at great distances, you are looking for a precision rifle and accompanying gear. It's an involved pass time that will take all your money and most of your time but can be a lot of fun. You will also learn that making that shot isn't easy and involves much more than picking up a nice rifle and plinking for a while. It's not rocket science but its also not color-by-numbers.

That said, you're doing yourself a service by purchasing inexpensive first and deciding what you really like/want/need for the kind of shooting you will do.

Welcome to the scene and don't let the trolls around here mess with you too much. A grain of salt is worth its weight in gold here.

My recommendation aside from what has been mentioned is to divide your funds into rifle and glass. Spend as much on the glass as you can afford. Vortex, SWFA, etc make nice scopes that will be transferable as you upgrade the noisy parts and won't cause you to miss a mortgage payment.

Also, stick around here and make some friends. Hit a local range, be friendly and listen more than you talk and someone will likely put you behind their rigs to see how they shoot. Good experience and good people around every corner.

My .02 YMMV

 

[axshon]

OP, people are just reacting to your choice of words.

Hah! I'm pretty sure you just said the same thing I said only a few minutes earlier...

 

[hi3cho]

Ruger Precision Rifle in 6.5CM for around $1000 and then spend around $1000 on vortex or Leupold scope. Good for a mile.

 

[axshon]

Someone is selling a Vortex PST FFP in classifieds right now. Good price. I’m not affiliated with seller.


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