Why "Entry Level",,, Why not just "Go for It"?

[C_Hallbert]

The cost for a good, dependable firearm is not prohibitive, but the potential for malfunctions, failure when needed in an emergency, poor operative performance and/or an unsatisfactory experience for the user is much more likely with cheap equipment. This also goes for scopes and other accessories. I think it’s comical when I see someone with a fine rifle such as a vintage Belgian Browning show up for a deer hunt with a Simmons Scope. I’d rather shoot with iron sights. Once my best friend (now deceased) who was an exceptional marksman was having a terrible time adjusting the windage on his scope. It turned out that the vertical crosshair was partially detached. I think it was a 3x9 Bushnell on a 338 mag rifle. Dang if he didn’t take it back and trade it for another one……and it happened again! The scope wasn’t made well enough to sustain the recoil. The rifle cost him well over $1000!

 

[Buck98]

Well, of course one "can" practice technique with a budget firearm,,,
But how do you know when your technique has improved?

Aarond

.

Mine improves when I say it improves!!LOL

 

[aarondhgraham]

I am still attempting to explain myself,,,
So here it goes again.

I have always advocated starting a young kid out,,,
With a decent single-shot .22 bolt action rifle.

This is as much to see if the kid actually likes shooting,,,
As it is about keeping the initial investment low.

But if you are certain you want to learn to shoot "tiny groups",,,
You should go ahead and spend the money on a rifle capable of shooting "tiny groups".

That way you can progress from shooting patterns, to 4" groups,,,
To 3" groups, to 2" groups, to 1" groups, then to "tiny groups".

It's very frustrating to progress from patterns to 2" groups,,,
And then never get any better results than that,,,
And always wonder if it is you or the rifle.

That's what happened to me with my Henry Acu-Bolt,,,
I progressed from patterns to 1.5" groups,,,
Then never got any better.

I occasionally shot a tiny group with the Henry,,,
But I always chalked that up to being an accidental fluke

I finally got to shoot a very precise CZ rifle owned by a friend of mine,,,
Imagine my surprise when I shot a slightly less than 1" group,,,
And was able to repeat that grouping several times.

My skills had progressed beyond what the limits of the rifle,,,
And if I hadn't been able to shoot that nice CZ-457,,,
I would have never known that I had improved.

My thoughts have evolved over the years I've been punching holes in paper,,,
I no longer suggest an "entry level rifle" as an absolute for beginners,,,
Now I am just as likely to suggest a proven 1-MOA rifle.

The difference in the price of an entry level Ruger 10/22,,,
Versus the price of something like my CZ-457 Pro Varmint At-One,,,
While substantial, was well worth the expenditure in that it took away the "wondering".

Wondering being; Is it me or is it my rifle?

I've used this term before but it always fits,,,
If you're serious about wanting to shoot tiny groups,,,
Go ahead and spend the money and buy a "No Alibi" rifle.

That way if you don't shoot a tiny group,,,
The blame is all on you, the shooter.

Aarond

.

 

[mr ed]

I am still attempting to explain myself,,,
So here it goes again.

I have always advocated starting a young kid out,,,
With a decent single-shot .22 bolt action rifle.

This is as much to see if the kid actually likes shooting,,,
As it is about keeping the initial investment low.

But if you are certain you want to learn to shoot "tiny groups",,,
You should go ahead and spend the money on a rifle capable of shooting "tiny groups".

That way you can progress from shooting patterns, to 4" groups,,,
To 3" groups, to 2" groups, to 1" groups, then to "tiny groups".

It's very frustrating to progress from patterns to 2" groups,,,
And then never get any better results than that,,,
And always wonder if it is you or the rifle.

That's what happened to me with my Henry Acu-Bolt,,,
I progressed from patterns to 1.5" groups,,,
Then never got any better.

I occasionally shot a tiny group with the Henry,,,
But I always chalked that up to being an accidental fluke

I finally got to shoot a very precise CZ rifle owned by a friend of mine,,,
Imagine my surprise when I shot a slightly less than 1" group,,,
And was able to repeat that grouping several times.

My skills had progressed beyond what the limits of the rifle,,,
And if I hadn't been able to shoot that nice CZ-457,,,
I would have never known that I had improved.

My thoughts have evolved over the years I've been punching holes in paper,,,
I no longer suggest an "entry level rifle" as an absolute for beginners,,,
Now I am just as likely to suggest a proven 1-MOA rifle.

The difference in the price of an entry level Ruger 10/22,,,
Versus the price of something like my CZ-457 Pro Varmint At-One,,,
While substantial, was well worth the expenditure in that it took away the "wondering".

Wondering being; Is it me or is it my rifle?

I've used this term before but it always fits,,,
If you're serious about wanting to shoot tiny groups,,,
Go ahead and spend the money and buy a "No Alibi" rifle.

That way if you don't shoot a tiny group,,,
The blame is all on you, the shooter.

Aarond

.

1. Aarond your preaching to the spray and pray crowd and the rich guys with too much money.
2. You buy what you can afford. Putting thousands into a rig for a certain discipline is ridiculous.
3 start cheap and work up.
You may find you sank a ton into a discipline that's not for you after a couple trips to the range.
4. Some people just have too much money.

 

[ronny]

Aarond, I like your thinking so much that I will use it as the basis for my suggestion. Borrow from friends, relatives, whoever until you find the one you shoot best with. No, that's not all that crazy unless your relatives, etc. are all jerks. Then, I'd suggest a full-blown version of Aarond's plan.

 

[kwaynem]

Just reload and shoot tiny groups from all of them lol

 

[GaryOkie]

I’m all for staying within your budget (not for me of course, but for normal people). I started out with entry level stuff and sold it all. That was back when the economy was a lot better, so I never had a problem selling. Now though, I do my research, watch a lot of people I trust on YouTube and I buy guns that I think are going to be the best for me. Normally higher tier stuff that I know I’ll never sell. That is kinda my motto now. If I buy it, I’m keeping it (all except for 1 gun I just bought cause I gotta a wild hair, but that’s inexpensive). Although I’m now at the point of buying my grail gun (my final gun), then I’ll just shoot, no more buying.

 

[Ready_fire_aim]

We’re blessed with decent cheap guns nowadays. A savage axis is generally good enough for the average shooter/deer hunter. Plenty of affordable semi-auto pistols available, the cheap .22lrs are pretty reliable, etc… Keep in mind, the majority of people who start shooting aren’t necessarily going to get big into the whole tiny groups side of the hobby

I’d say don’t buy junk, but starting mid-tier works well. Then sink more money later as you learn and grow in the hobby.

I bought some cheap guns back when I was starting out. As @GaryOkie mentioned I also got rid of most of the cheap stuff and upgraded. But it works out fine because cheap guns are easy to sell!