Trigger Talk ….Basic Rifles
A rifle is a great way to enter the shooting sports. The offerings available to the consumer today in terms of function, style, materials, caliber and price have never been greater.
As we discussed last month we need to look at the intended usage of the firearm. Some rifles calibers and designs are very versatile and can serve a training role as well as small game hunting, elimination of varmints, and even home defense. We also need to determine who the shooter is going to be. If you are going to be working with youth or small stature shooters then a youth model or one with adjustable stock may be beneficial.
We will start out with a basic model and a .22 Long Rifle (.22LR) caliber is a good choice. These rifles use the same ammunition as the basic handguns we reviewed last month, offering low cost, universal availability, and virtually no recoil. Basic 22 rifles can he found in several types:
- Single shot models in which you load each round individually
- Repeaters with a manually operated action (bolt, lever, or pump)
- Semi-automatic or self-loading models.
Repeating rifles allow more than one shot to be fired without reloading. A repeater will have a magazine that contains multiple cartridges or rounds. There are several types of magazines; some are tubular under the barrel or in the butt-stock and others are removable and snap into place underneath the action of the rifle. A removable magazine allows you to pre-load cartridges into additional magazines for faster reloads. Semi-automatic or self-loading rifles use some of the energy from firing the round to eject the spent cartridge from the rifle, pick up a new round from the magazine and insert it into the chamber. This allows you to continue firing without having to manually work the bolt / lever action or pump the slide to continue firing. A semi-automatic firearm will fire once for each pull of the trigger, and should not be confused with full automatic or “Machine gun”.
Since the 15th century most firearms were a combination of wood and steel, but today the use of synthetic materials is common providing low cost of manufacture as well as superior resistance to the elements. Some manufactures are offering basic .22 LR rifles styled after current military rifles. This offers several benefits that go beyond appearance. These smaller/lighter versions of M4 carbines offer adjustable stocks that allow the same gun to be use by shooters of different sizes. Additionally these guns have same the feel and operating controls of their larger counterparts making the transition to a full power cartridge rifle much simpler.
Rifles offer the option of different types of sighting systems. A good place to start is with the “open” or iron sights found on most basic rifle. Open sights will typically have a blade that sticks up at the “muzzle” or exit end of the barrel that is aligned with a notch in the rear sight when aiming at the target. I like to start with open sights when teaching because it helps student grasp the concept of “sight alignment and trajectory.
For longer distances, greater accuracy, or if you are like me and your vision is not quite as sharp as it used to be, I find a telescopic sight or “Scope” to be useful. A scope allows you to see and place accurate shots for longer range shooting and hunting. We will talk about different aiming devices and their use as well as larger more powerful rifles in future months.
When purchasing that first training rifle you will be looking for quality and reliability. Any manufacturer can build the occasional product with a problem but sticking with a major brand and a tried and true model will be a good starting point. One thing I’ve learned is that there will be many people on the web and in forums more than willing to share views on their favorite guns or the models which they have problems. Some of the people have valid information while others offer opinions with little or no hands-on experience.
There are some popular models that have been around for decades, and seem to get better and more versatile with age. I will list a few I have experience with but there are many others. Remember a trip to the gun store is in order to make sure your choice fits you well.
Youth Lever Action Bolt Action
Savage Cub Winchester 9422 Savage 93 and Mark II
Marlin XT Youth Henry H001 Winchester Wildcat
Remington Model 5 Marlin 39A Marlin XT
Semi-auto AR (Military Style)
Ruger 10/22 Smith and Wesson M&P15-22
Marlin 60 Colt M4 Tactical 22 (M2245050)
Savage 64 Ruger SR22
Unlike handguns you do not need to obtain “Permit to Purchase” to buy long guns. When purchasing from a licensed dealer you will need to fill out a form 4473 and a FBI NICS (National Instant Criminal Background Check System) will be performed.
Next month we’ll talk about shotguns. Future topics will include telescopic sights selection, personal defense training, “Concealed Carry” handgun and ammunition selection, gun cleaning, storage and more! Until then …….Safe Shooting
Dick Cupka is an NRA Certified Pistol, Personal Defense in the Home and Concealed Pistol License Instructor. You can reach him by e-mail at….. triggertalk.dc@gmail.com