first gun!!- .223 please help

[b23ball23]

i have been searching probably for a month now for a gun suitable for my groundhog/ target needs.....and i have gotten lots of help...but for some reason just cant get anything that fits into my criteria

this will be my frist rifle (i'm 15), i need it to be rather inexpensive, too

i have around 730$ total to spend on...

1--rifle in .223
2--scope (i was thinking bushnell bannor 6-18x40-130$)
3--flip open scope covers
4--anything needed to mount scope
5--bipod
6--gun cabinet to put in my room (doesnt need to be big or fancy) Ifound       one for 90$
7--500 rounds of bulk ammo (i was thinking wolf) 65$
8--)something i'm missing)

this is a lot, but i'm sure there is a setup that will work for me...any suggestions on any of the items are very helpful!!!!!

any help is appreciated

GOD BLESS

BEN

[Blaster50]

i'm looking at these two...

http://www.savagearms.com/st_200short.htm

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?product_id=2685717

------------------

then ya have this one to make ya think...

.223/scope/sling
http://www.savagearms.com/10gxp3.htm

[mjbgalt]

dont just buy one kind of ammo...buy a box of at least 3 different kinds so you can see what your gun likes best. sometimes ammo brand can make a huge difference in the way your gun shoots.

you dont have to buy it all at once...see what you like and then worry about the case and cabinet and etc.

my grandpa still uses a closet for this gun safe lol. only for about 60 years now  

youre going about it the right way, not jumping into it before you know what you want.

-Matt

[coyote 2]

I agree with mjbgalt. The Savage is about as good of a weapon as you can get. They are very accurate right out of the box and with the new trigger system - you will really like it. The ammo is very critical. There is a type that your new guy will love and others that it will hate. You have to experiment with the ammo and pick the best.
Good luck.
Oh yes......500 rounds of bulk ammo (i was thinking wolf) 65$ - be careful of this ammo - if it has the lacquerer finish on it - say as far away as you can. I use Black Hills ammo - and all three of my 223's love it...

[beemanbeme]

sounds like you're on the right track.  I too would scratch the gun cabinet.  If its your first rifle, I doubt you'll have it put up enough to need a cabinet.  :grin:  
I've never used any but I have heard some bad tales about Wolf brand ammo that would shy me away.  There is quite a bit of good surplus ammo on the market.  Just be sure to match what you buy with the twist of your rifle.  Most commercial rifles favor a bullet in the 50-55gr range.

[mjbgalt]

winchester makes a white box 40 count box of .223 ammo that seems to shoot really well in most people's guns and doesnt cost much either. you might wanna start there.

-Matt

[mountainview]

I am not a big fan of Wolf ammo either. Rem and Fed both make good quality promo ammo (UMC and Eagle brands) that are not expensive and shoot well. Definitely get a couple different boxes of ammo and see what works best. Would not be good to spend $60+ only to find out that the ammo you have a ton of doesn't perform well.

Even though you are on a budget (and provided you are not looking for something to tote around all day), I'd look at the heavy barrel rifles and good scope/mounts and get this first with the other items as the funds come available. I have a 12 FV Savage and it is mine and my son's favorite (price is not bad either). With the heavy barrel you can shoot more before the barrel gets too hot and starts walking the shots.

Whatever you get, don't store your rifle in a hard case with the styrofoam padding since that traps moisture and will rust the metal.

[b23ball23]

ok, scratch the  wolf ammo...and the gun cabinet...that gives me an extra 90$$ to spend on the gun

this is all extremely helpful, keep it comin

thanks

will do some research when i get home from school

BEN

GOD BLESS

[myarmor]

Ok lets see:
- Stevens 200 in 223                       = $ 280 ,around that
- Bushnell Legend 5-15x40 Mil Dot    = $ 175 Optic Zone
  or Meuller Eraticator 8.5-25x50      = $ 199 Optic Zone
- Shooters Ridge Bi-Pods (Walmart)  = $ 45
- Flip up Covers (Walmart)               = $ 12-15
- Weaver rail and Quad Lock rings    = $ 15-
- Locakabe Hard Cover Gun Case     = $15-20
                                       TOTAL  $ 542-600+

This is on a good budget mind you. And it's not to say anyone of these items is better than anyone elses. And as far as ammo goes, I suggest the same. Go buy a couple different types and see what your rifle likes before buying a whole buch that might end up shooting worth crap.
Wolf ammo isn't exactly precise measured ammo. I have shot it in my 223 and SKS. It performed ok in my 223-about 2" groups normal at 120 yards- not real good considering it's a varmint caliber that should shoot Sub MOA. But I wasn't expecting the Wolfs to perform that way.
 Thats where your more precise handloading comes in or some good factory ammo. And it shot ok in my SKS no jams. I never put it on paper because I don't see the need.[/u]

[7x57mm]

:grin: Just a couple more suggestions. The gun cabinet, like the others stated, really is not needed at this time. You can do just as well by buying a trigger lock device from a sporting goods dealer. Wally World has the Stevens 200 for $268 and if you live in an area where there is a Dick's Sporting Goods, Gander Mountain or a Bass Pro Shop you can even pay less. The scope, a Bushnell Banner is an adequate choice. You can get a set of scope caps, the bra-type or Burris type for just a few dollars and save a couple of dollars there. I would recommend getting a set of Stoney Point Shooting Sticks rather than the bipod. As far as that goes, you can even make a set of shooting sticks and save even more money. I have a set of the shooting sticks and they are really worth it, but I have seen sets of shooting sticks on the forums that forum members have made and those more than do the job. The bipods I have seen have been anything except what was advertised and they had to be removed when trying some serious sandbag rest shooting. One thing which was not on your list is a good rifle cleaning kit. I would not buy a kit that has a three-piece cleaning rod. I have broken so many of them that the only thing I will buy now is a one-piece cleaning rod. I think if you call Stevens the company can tell you with sets of bases will fit on the rifle for the scope mounting. The only other thing you will beed is a set of rings and the Weaver rings are inexpensive and the things work. The suggestion on different types of cartridges is a very good one. The Winchester White Box ammo, 40 rounds and about $13 from Cabela's and 15 from Wally World, is a good start. Experiment because you can buy a Stevens 200 in .223 and it will shoot the White Box Winchester stuff exceptionally well.  A week later you can buy another Stevens 200 in .223 and it won't shoot the WhiteBox ammo worth a darn. Rifles are strange that way. Good luck and welcome to the shooting world. Tom Purdom

[pffft]

Sometimes I wonder how many people still have their first rifle?
Probably not many. I don't have mine either, probably not getting the idea that I was just giving this stuff away needlessly at around my tenth firearm purchase.
What I'm saying is that the first purchase could just as well be a used rifle, which can often save $$$ and even get a scope in the package. But used rifle purchases are risky, for obvious reasons.
Regardless, the 223 can use a smaller framed lightweight rifle because it has no measurable kick to be concerned about.
The 223 is available in every type of action I can think of, so there is an excellent variety of them out there.
Better to not get in a hurry (yeah, yeah, sure, sure). If you get one of the full-scale bolt-action rifles, you may be haunted by some concern that, "Well, if I would have just waited and spent a little more...", and are more likely to eventually sell it in preference for a better one when you have more money to spend.
Now having no less than five 223s in various configurations, such concerns don't exist, but I still don't have my very first one either...
Darn!

[mjbgalt]

if you want a trigger lock just use the one in the box with the rifle.

the bases you need are weaver 46's. and the rings i used are millet but i would recommend weaver if youve never mounted a scope before.

-Matt

[b23ball23]

thanks guys, this help is very useful information

*****Does anyone have experience with a stevens 200?? how did it perform at the range???*****

alright, now the shooting sticks sound like agood money saver, but where do you store them during the hunt/ how do you use them during a hunting adventure?

this is really helping me out

so far:

gun-stevens 200 .223(anyone used one) 280$
scope- bushnell bannor or mueller eraticator 120$-199$
shotting sticks- possibly make my own or buy some  -30-40$
weaver rail and quad lock rings- $15?
dunno about gun case (moisture problem) so i dunno there..i already have a soft case for a scoped gun
bullets of various brands---60$

total (estamite)-- somewhere in the low 600's

This is sweet guys...keep the help coming, let me know if you have any info on the stevens/ or any savage around 350$


*****any reccomended gun cleaning kits...?*******

BEN

GOD BLESS

[beemanbeme]

Why would a bi pod cause problems shooting off of bags??  I've never had any problems.  Then too, taking the bi pod off the rifle is the work of a minute.  
Very much yes to the one piece cleaning rod AND be sure and get you a bore guide.  Having learned the hard way, I'd clean my rifles with a bore snake alone before I'd clean one with a cleaning rod and no bore guide.

[b23ball23]

Well guys, did some searchin today....these stevens 200's are perfect for me......accurate, and cheap

Anyone have one in .223?

90% sure that this is my gun choice!!!

well you can see my upper post to see what else i'm pondering


BEN

GOD BLESS

[mjbgalt]

i have a stevens 200 in .243 and its amazing how accurate it is. my encore cost almost twice what it did...and it shoots better than the encore.

-Matt

[myarmor]

Ask Norseman112, he has one in a 223. From what he tells me it's one of his best rifles, and at half the cost too. I have yet to buy one, but have been looking at one chambered in 223. I say it's a very good bet you would be more than satisfied with it for what you are looking for.

[BlakeCottrill]

Hello, I have a 223 in savage, I love it. The winchester white box stuff is cheap and shoots great. I have the Simmons 44 mag 6-20 x 44 illuminated mildot retricle on mine. It works well for the money ($100).

[b23ball23]

does anyone know if you can pick a stevens 200 up at Bass Pro?


thanks for the help

looking for a scope........

Bipod or shooting sticks...cant decide

Thanks for the help

BEN

GOD BLESS

[b23ball23]

anyone have a suggestion on a scope for my g-hog needs.....for 200 or less

i was thinking mueller eraticator


thanks guys


BEN :-)

[Simple Man]

Here is my $.02 for what it's worth.

Give the CZ 527 American a serious look. This is a great light weight carry rifle, shoots extremely well, has one of the best adjustable triggers out there, and is a very nice looking rifle. I was hooked on these rifles after I shot my first one and have became a CZ nut. Check it out here.
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?product_id=3869130

[Simple Man]

Check out this scope. I have this scope on 3 of my rifles and they have done me very well.

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=473558

[Simple Man]

BTW - you can pick up the Cz's off of gunbroker.com for less money that what that price is above.  

[mjbgalt]

thats what i have on my stevens 200 also. good scope, but not as nice as the bushnell banner on my encore. the one you listed there, that i have, has an odd problem with focus when i shoot at 100 yards, it focuses only part of the picture, the target is in focus but the outer areas are blurry.

at 3 power at closer range i get a bright ringaround the picture. very odd.

i would recommed the banner 3-12x40 with the bell focus like on my encore, for the same price, better picture.

-Matt

[b23ball23]

ok, seems weird...i've heard they were just as good as the bushnell 4200

mueller does have a lifetime warranty too

maybe not worth it though.....

thanks for the heads up

BEN