Comments on: Novice Shooters Deserve Accurate Rifles Too…

By: ted

ted — Fri, 22 Jun 2018 23:37:35 +0000

if you have crap a rifle and your new, how are you to learn to shoot if you don’t or can’t know if it’s you the rifle or the wind that’s responsible. I would say it’s the quickest way to to demoralise a new shooter

By: Wayne

Wayne — Fri, 22 Jun 2018 19:32:06 +0000

You can’t learn to be a 1/2 MOA shooter with 1 1/2 MOA rifle.

By: Eric

Eric — Thu, 21 Jun 2018 13:33:02 +0000

I routinely put new and newer shooters behind my target rifles. Especially one 6mmBR I have. I know how the rifles shoot, so I can tell the shooter with confidence that if the hole doesn’t appear where he or she thinks it should, it is them, not the rifle or ammo. This makes it a useful learning tool because corrections can be made easily as they learn what they are doing. I had one young lady who had only ever shot an open sighted Mini-14 at 100 yds get behind this 6mmBR at the 600 yard line. With relatively little coaching she figured out how to make corrections and soon was pounding the 10 ring. Moved her to the 1K line and repeated process. Made for an enjoyable day and she became another happy shooter.

By: js

js — Wed, 20 Jun 2018 23:53:08 +0000

I’m with Kurz.
My ambition is to help folks who want to get involved with shooting. It doesn’t do me any good to have several nifty long range guns in my safe when somebody else can make use of them.

I have loaned out nice accurate rifles to new shooters, along with loading bunches of ammo to support them. They eventually decided to go with their own gear – which I helped them build. But they would probably not have taken the leap to get involved if no one had helped out with the gear. It’s a pretty heavy lift if you don’t know whether you’ll like doing it.

Incidentally – they both wound up with 6.5 CM since neither had the time or inclination to handload, and Hornady sells pretty good factory ammo for that caliber. No point in pushing them to get a gun they can’t support over the long term (ammo-wise).

By: jon spencer

jon spencer — Sun, 28 May 2017 14:22:56 +0000

Why not start out with a accurate .22?
You don’t have to have a multi thousand dollar Bleiker or Anschutz either.
There are plenty of reasonable priced target .22’s out there that will be more accurate than the shooter.
And after a few thousand rounds with a .22 you don’t have to replace the barrel either, but you should be a better shot after firing those rounds.

By: Kurz

Kurz — Sat, 27 May 2017 12:28:35 +0000

“On some internet shooting forums, self-declared “experts” advise new rifle shooters to stick to low-end factory rifles.”

I personally have never read any such statement but I don’t get around to many forums, just the best ones!;)

What is usually described as an explanation is that the novice is encouraged to buy what they can afford and work with an experienced shooter to see if they really want sink a ton of money, time and effort into the pursuit of accuracy. Never have I seen any mention of starting with “…a low end factory rifle…”

Then the encouragement enters into the discussion of reloading since that will play a significant role in this pursuit. These two points along with explanations about competitions, travel and preparations usually make up the large portion of the discussion. The pursuit of accuracy in any format requires dedication, time and money.

But if a novice wanted to make the attempt, I would loan them a rifle and reload for them while doing some mentoring before making any suggestion of buying anything.

By: Henry

Henry — Tue, 30 Aug 2016 08:13:16 +0000

Two things:
I agree it’s time wasted shooting an inaccurate rifle but part of it assumes the novice shooter is going to shoot handloads, which is unlikely nor recommended without some experience. Help the new guys out and keep them interested.

Bunny-Hugger because she’s from CA? There are more firearm owners there than Texas. She’s more open minded than her Uncle. But he’s learning.

By: Rich Kayser

Rich Kayser — Mon, 29 Aug 2016 05:22:07 +0000

It makes sense to start with good equipment if:

IF you have a mentor who is as interested in your shooting as theirs.

If you have given enough consideration that is what you want to dedicate serious amounts of $$$$, blood sweat and tears.

I had a good friend that went with me to rifle matches for many year. He got interested in Hunter Bench Rest, and dropped two grand on a rifle and 6X scope, arbor press and dies, etc. Shot two matches, and then drifted off into other disciplines.

Rich

By: gerald malerba

gerald malerba — Sun, 28 Aug 2016 15:24:34 +0000

preacher was correct”
a new shooter should get the best equipment they can afford.

By: Jim22

Jim22 — Sat, 27 Aug 2016 23:53:34 +0000

Pretty Niece. She may or may not outgrow hugging bunnies but she now knows she can shoot well. She couldn’t do that with a stock factory rifle. Maybe she will be back.