I noticed some other gun threads and thought Id start my own to not get those off topic. I'm 20 (so hand gun is out of the quesiton) I'm not looking to hunt but would like to go to the range and target shoot. My roommate has done it for years with his grandpa and I have always been interested. First off does anyone know of any outdoor ranges near Columbus Ohio, I found one in New Albany but its only a 50yd max indoor range. Second what rifle do you guys recomend to start with seeing I have never fired a gun before. Also looking to only spend $300-$400 to see if I like it then I will upgrade later.

 

I would start with a .270 caliber bolt action rifle. It is a great caliber, you can just target shoot, or use it to hunt a range of animals from small things like rabbits to larger animals like deer and elk.

My Remington .270 is more than twice as old as i am, and has been passed down 3 generations, and it still shoots straight as can be and can drop a trophy buck at 300 yards with ease.

 

x2 on the .270, they are great for the midwest as you will not need ot be making 300 yard puls shots on large game animals. I shoot a .300 WIN MAG for the extra reach and knock down power, but the .270 should do you just fine.

 

Ruger 10/22:

http://www.ruger.com/Firearms/FAFami...ding&famlst=39

Cheap, fun, and you can mod the crap out of them...plus it's a caliber that most indoor ranges will let you shoot...being that is a rifle..

Craig

 

True, everyone should have a .22. That would't be a bad place to start. If you like it enough to want to start hunting just buy the .270 then.

 

22 shell are alot less expensive also. I like to shoot alot, for clay i buy the 100 shell 12 gauge and 20 guage bricks.

 

I don't hunt, i just enjoy shooting!

 

.270 great caliber... but he doesn't want to hunt. So I'd recommend something more shooter friendly. Less recoil and cheaper ammo. 26point2 said it best, Ruger 10/22. Everybody should have at least one of them in their collection, so why not start there? There are tons of options out there to make them more accurate, more fun to shoot, more attractive, etc. Simply put, its one of the best rifles ever made and well within your price range.

Don't get too macho and think you should get something bigger. I have several other rifles and none of them get as much trigger time as my 10/22.

 

X2 CDB

 

If your not hunting ,but want to use for target shooting and just shooting fun....

I would get a .223, it cheap, accurate, low recoil, alot of different variety of ammo, can be used to kill varmits and predators along with deer at close range < 150yds.

I would recommend a bolt gun, particularly with a bull barrel to make you more accurate and let you shoot more rounds before barrel start to get hot!

 

varmets can really jump if you accidentaly wingem

 

I second the .270 or the .223. For target shooting both would work great. I have a .223 AR-15 that is a blast!

 

First timer? No less than a .50 cal. It's good for varmets.

 

You can blow through an engine block of a Semi from over a mile away!