Looking for other gun options.......
 

Hey guys, I now have my .308 bolt-action, I was thinking of what gun I would want next.

I am looking for a "fun gun" so to speak, I would think it would be a small caliber, fun shooting, and maybe quick to reload and not with a pricetag that's way through the roof.

I was thinking of either a Ruger Mini-14 or Ruger Mini-30. Also, is there an auto-loading .22 WMR? Is it any good? My main focus is a good shooting, and maybe a little varmit hunting rifle.

I am open to other suggestions.

Thanks,

Josiah

RE: Looking for other gun options.......
 

I also might even consider bolt-action varmit rimfire guns, like .17 HMR, or .22 WMR, or any other suggestions, I just don't know how much fun those are to shoot with open sights.

RE: Looking for other gun options.......
 

AR-15 in .223. WAY better then the Mini's. imo

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Cost alot, though, don't they?

RE: Looking for other gun options.......
 

No, not really. Probably a couple hundred more then a Mini, but in order for a Mini to be as accurate as an AR, it will cost a lot more to modify the Mini. You could get a pretty good AR for $600-1000, a stock mini would be around $600. And there are WAY more aftermarket parts for the AR.

RE: Looking for other gun options.......
 

It would mostly be a plinking gun, so I wouldn't need a scope or nuthin',but I'm not sure about all the high-tech cleaning stuff. I want a shooting gun that requires not much more care than an average gun of it'sgeneral type ofaction. I don't want to have tokeep spending money on it like crazy.

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Personally, I'd get a Ruger 10/22. 22LR ammo is a heck of a lot cheaper than 17 HMR and 22WMR ammo, and 10/22's are fun little guns. And with the money you save, you can purchase some upgrades/accessories for your gun. There are tons of them out there.

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x2

RE: Looking for other gun options.......
 

My dad already has a Marlin tubular magazine in .22 lr with the stainless barrel. He said a friend of his had a 10/22, and it jammed and wasn't as accurate, but he said that since the guy had a 50-round drum for it that might have contributed to it.

But the main thing is, we've already got a .22, give me a good reason I need another one.

I might get one when I go to college, but that a littleways off now.

RE: Looking for other gun options.......
 

Yeah, I'd recommend a 10/22 as well. It's a heck of a lot of fun to shoot, and bricks of ammo go quickly. You can fire as quickly as you can keep the sights on target. Some people have trouble with the hi-cap mags, so it's best to find something that has a reliable history, rather than pick up whatever looks cool. Franky, I stick with the 10-round factory mags most of the time.

AR-15s are also a blast to shoot, but they can get a little pricey. If you've got the money, I'd say go for it. Finding cheap .223/5.56 is easier said than done today, though, due to the war. It's getting pretty expensive in some parts.

I'm familiar with the Mini-14, but I'm just not that excited about it. Accuracy is better in the new models, but still, it's nothing to write home about. If I were you, I'd buy something inexpensive and fun and save the rest of my money for a good AR down the road.

Now that I think about it, the M1 Carbine might be something you should look into. You can get a new Auto-Ordnance model for roughly the same price as a Mini-14/30. To be perfectly honest, it doesn't outshoot the Mini-14, but's a piece of Americana that never gets old, and it's very light and handy. Makes a great home defense carbine as well.

Last, but not least, every think of picking up an SKS or AK clone? Cheap, cheap, and so is ammo.

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A plinker? You should look at the Marlin 917 17 HMR. Should be able to pick one up for around $200 give or take a few bucks.

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I thinkthemini-30 looks like a good option, since it fires the same cartridge as the SKS, which does have very cheap, and decentammo.I have family members who have SKS's, and they're okay, but you never know if they'll be dependable, accurate, etc.

I even heard there were smoothbore SKS's!!!!! There's a Soviet one my grandpa has, and it's the dirtiest gun you'll ever see, and the most accurate open-sights gun at 50 yards I've fired, which isn't much, I will admit, since we have scopes on most of our high-powered rifles.

Is there any cheap ammo in case I do get an M1 Carbine? I haven't looked for much .30 Carbine ammo, but I was wondering what would be a good place to get, decent quality, cheap ammo? Cabela's Bulk ammo costs almost a dollar a round, I think, right?

Otherwise, I'd be overjoyed if I could get an M1 Carbine, since I heard one guy whom I know wellsay it was a very fun gun for shooting, and serves as a short range, "Brush Gun", too.

If you could get back to me on those questions I have, I'd appreciate it.

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I know guys that have Mini 14 and love them, but mine would not hold a 6 inch group at 100 yards. I have heard others that have had similar experiences with theirs. AR-15's are definitely more accurate than Mini 14's (and probably many bolt guns in 223), but you are right about the price being a little high. You might can find a used Bushmaster or RRA for under $700, but you will have to shop around.

Ruger makes the 10/22 in 22 magnum, and they are fun little guns. I owned one when they first came out, and mine was very accurate. I have also had a stainless Ruger M77/22 magnum, and it was super accurate. I prefer the M77/22's over the 10/22, but that is just me.

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10/22 in .22 Magnum?

That sounds really cool, I'll put that on my list of consideration.

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10/22 in 22mag was discontinued. You might be able to find one in a gunshop somewhere, but the chances aren't very good. I know because I've been looking for a while, almost impossible to find one here.

I have a Mini14 and I would sell it if it wasn't a 200th year of liberty gun. Don't expect it to perform any miracles in the accuracy department. It will fling lead as fast as you can pull the trigger. Personally, I wouldn't waste the time and money on one.

The AR15 is a great choice, will cost you some more $$$ but it also will holds its value alot better than a Mini14 if you ever decide to get rid of it. The second you take a Mini14 out of a gunshop it automatically drops about half of its value if not more.

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Hmm, that's too bad,


Are they any other auto-loading .22 WMR's?

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Remington 597 has a 22WMR.

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personally i wouldnt look much into the m1 carbine. not worth much to me. i would look for something in 223 if you want fun and decent priced. the ar's are spendy but its worth saving for one of them over a mini. i have never seen a mini shoot overly well. i think there is a company something like olympic or olympia or something that makes an ar if im not mistaken. not the quality of bushmaster and some of them but still shoot pretty well. i think there is also something like sega. again dont know much about them but have heard pretty decent about them. something to look into at least

RE: Looking for other gun options.......
 

Take a look at the Kel-tec SU 16 series. A SU 16A is on my list. It is a little cheaper than the mini, reported to be more accurate, takes AR15 magazines, folds in half to fit behind the seat and holds up well. Some might bash Kel-tec, but I've heard many good things about this gun. It fits your definition of fun plinker, cheap ammo and not too expensive.

My $.02.

Spud

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The Mini-30 and the SKS shoot about the same most of the time, but the price difference is incredible. I picked up an unissuedYugo M59/66 for about $195 after shipping and FFL transfer. Shoots about 3-4 M.O.A.You can get a ton of cheap accessories for it, too.

Most SKS's aren't worth much past 250-300 yards, but you can put scopes on them. Some places send receiver covers with mounts already on them.

Check Cheaper Than Dirt and Sportsman's Guidefor ammo. Cabela's bulk prices aren't asbad as you'd though, though. They have 300 round for $100, 600 for $190, and 1,200 for $360.

You friend hit the nail on the head. Good luck finding that new rifle. Hope the info helps.