Newer shooter with questions

[Pinchecharlie]

Ok , so I research a “training” rifle a little and it’s a deep hole too. Talked to my gun friend and we kinda agreed to just get a decent .223 bolt gun and then maybe after iam a little better mess with a custom-ish rifle on a 6 or 6.5 or something hand load and fast and fun. Anyway so do you guys have any recommendations on a training rifle? I went looking around today and didn’t really find much but iam going to drive a town over tomorrow to a big gun store and look there. I see tikka has a 16 1:8 or a 20 1:12 . I want to suppress it cause it’s just nicer to listen too but dunno if it matters to have a 16 or 20 inch barrel or the twist? I could also buy a tikka action with barrel from a vendor on this site for around a 1200 and do a mdt stock for under 300 if that would make a better rifle ? or I could just buy another brand rifle too? My friends dad told me to buy a weatherby and my buddy said maybe a cz but they just said a solid rifle like I’d know ? I went and held a few and I just can’t do a ruger American cause it just feels like junk. I dunno I just thought I’d ask since I started this thread.ill copy cat a nrl hunter winner later after I can shoot past 200 lol! I won’t buy a thousand dollar tri pod though cause that is just to much lol! So any one wanna hold my hand on the training rifle deal?

 

[wesfromky]

Ok , so I research a “training” rifle a little and it’s a deep hole too. Talked to my gun friend and we kinda agreed to just get a decent .223 bolt gun and then maybe after iam a little better mess with a custom-ish rifle on a 6 or 6.5 or something hand load and fast and fun. Anyway so do you guys have any recommendations on a training rifle? I went looking around today and didn’t really find much but iam going to drive a town over tomorrow to a big gun store and look there. I see tikka has a 16 1:8 or a 20 1:12 . I want to suppress it cause it’s just nicer to listen too but dunno if it matters to have a 16 or 20 inch barrel or the twist? I could also buy a tikka action with barrel from a vendor on this site for around a 1200 and do a mdt stock for under 300 if that would make a better rifle ? or I could just buy another brand rifle too? My friends dad told me to buy a weatherby and my buddy said maybe a cz but they just said a solid rifle like I’d know ? I went and held a few and I just can’t do a ruger American cause it just feels like junk. I dunno I just thought I’d ask since I started this thread.ill copy cat a nrl hunter winner later after I can shoot past 200 lol! I won’t buy a thousand dollar tri pod though cause that is just to much lol! So any one wanna hold my hand on the training rifle deal?

Threaded tikka in .223, suppressor, swfa 3-9/maven rs1.2, 77gn tmk - aka the rokslide special (rss).

 

[mtnbound]

Ok , so I research a “training” rifle a little and it’s a deep hole too. Talked to my gun friend and we kinda agreed to just get a decent .223 bolt gun and then maybe after iam a little better mess with a custom-ish rifle on a 6 or 6.5 or something hand load and fast and fun. Anyway so do you guys have any recommendations on a training rifle? I went looking around today and didn’t really find much but iam going to drive a town over tomorrow to a big gun store and look there. I see tikka has a 16 1:8 or a 20 1:12 . I want to suppress it cause it’s just nicer to listen too but dunno if it matters to have a 16 or 20 inch barrel or the twist? I could also buy a tikka action with barrel from a vendor on this site for around a 1200 and do a mdt stock for under 300 if that would make a better rifle ? or I could just buy another brand rifle too? My friends dad told me to buy a weatherby and my buddy said maybe a cz but they just said a solid rifle like I’d know ? I went and held a few and I just can’t do a ruger American cause it just feels like junk. I dunno I just thought I’d ask since I started this thread.ill copy cat a nrl hunter winner later after I can shoot past 200 lol! I won’t buy a thousand dollar tri pod though cause that is just to much lol! So any one wanna hold my hand on the training rifle deal?

Check Eurooptic for a Tikka. You can buy it and have it shipped to your dealer. 1-8 twist barrel is best, IMO, and I would do a 16-18-inch barrel. A gunsmith can cut and thread the barrel if it is not already threaded. Tikka 223 magazines are questionable in the 6-round size. There are other mag options, but all are expensive. Switching to a different stock with AICS mag compatibility is one option, as is installing a Waters Rifleman AICS bottom metal.
For a scope, SWFA is a good choice and is affordable. Maven RS1.2 is very popular.

If you search for "Trainer rifle" or "Rokslide Special," you will find a lot of info.

https://www.eurooptic.com/tikka-t3x-rifles?f=X3JwcF89NDgmYmdfZmNoXz1NYW51ZmFjdHVyZXJzJTNFVGlra2ElM0VUaWtrYStUM3grUmlmbGVzJmZpbHRlci5jdXN0b21fY2FsaWJlcl9vcl9nYXVnZT0uMjIzK1JlbSZwYWdlPTE%3D

 

[Jimss]

I have a tough time figuring out how a 270 with a quality muzzy break has any kick? The first thing I would try is a high quality muzzy break! If you can't afford one, maybe borrow one from someone. My 300 Win Mag with a muzzy break hardly even kicks! My muzzy break is an Area 419 Sidewinder. Take a look at the youtube videos for that muzzy break. It is pretty amazing! My guess is that your 270 with a Sidewinder will kick less than a 223 that you are considering buying.

 

[Pinchecharlie]

Yeah I dunno? Like I said I tried shooting it without for two years and now it has a break on it. Maybe iam just not into the noise or i should have done a break from the start? It’s tame to you old salts and iam sure it’s just me. I ordered another tikka in .224 today and I was actually just reading about muzzle breaks. I don’t think mine is a quality one. My friends are unfortunately kinda tough old guys that think it’s fun to shoot big cannons and so iam sure iam just anticipating the noise. I’ll be building the new rifle into a trainer so I can try a nice muzzle break or a combo suppressor and see . I ordered another not stock for Black Friday so maybe that will help too? Dunno? Just need a exspensive scope some hookers and blow and iam all set! (Joke)

 

[35WhelenAI]

Like I shared in post 17 on the first page, I had a 300 Win Mag with a muzzle brake and recoil was not the issue. It was the muzzle blast and percussion, along with the noise that made me choose to sell that gun and pick up a 300 Win Mag without a muzzle brake and I enjoyed shooting that a lot more.

 

[Pinchecharlie]

Well maybe I should just try a suppressor to see? I have been successful in my o n way and it’s killed everything I’ve aimed at. I would just like to be more comfortable. I’ve looked and most all the competitive shooters have recoil management and shoot sight (that what they call it) as a priority. I’ll make up a rifle or two just for fun and see. Iam in contact with some instruction too so maybe the instructor can make me a better shooter. I went and shot today and it was fun. I think for me the key is shooting steel now groups lol!

 

[35WhelenAI]

You said your flinching with a brake on the gun is that correct? You need to get rid of that Flinch before anything's going to start coming around for you. That's my opinion and experience of watching others that had the same issue.

 

[Pinchecharlie]

I’ll tell the instructor about it and hopefully they can help me with drills or something? I’ve seriously been dry firing it a zillion times and that’s helped I think but today when I was firing the pistol I was turning my head and wincing a little and I had to concentrate on being still and trying to be surprised by the shot. That’s all I know and that’s pretty bad but at least Iam trying! Seen some really bad hunters in the woods and seen some pretty sketchy dudes at the range so iam at least honest and willing to learn! I think this 223 will be easy to shoot ! Maybe not easy to be good but not a terrible blast like this one lol! I’ll post a video of me shooting the .270 and you guys can critique me and make fun of me and till I kick rocks! Yahaha!

 

[elsb0048]

I’ll tell the instructor about it and hopefully they can help me with drills or something? I’ve seriously been dry firing it a zillion times and that’s helped I think but today when I was firing the pistol I was turning my head and wincing a little and I had to concentrate on being still and trying to be surprised by the shot. That’s all I know and that’s pretty bad but at least Iam trying! Seen some really bad hunters in the woods and seen some pretty sketchy dudes at the range so iam at least honest and willing to learn! I think this 223 will be easy to shoot ! Maybe not easy to be good but not a terrible blast like this one lol! I’ll post a video of me shooting the .270 and you guys can critique me and make fun of me and till I kick rocks! Yahaha!

Honestly I highly recommend a suppressor.

At least for me the blast has as much effect as the recoil. Adding a suppressor onto my .243 / .270 makes a BIG difference to shootability in my opinion. I'm sure I am blinking but it feels as if I can keep my eyes open through the recoil. Not sure about spotting impacts yet as I like you am still doing a lot of learning but shooting with a suppressor definitely made a big impact on reducing flinch I had on my 30-06 and correspondingly reducing group size to 1-1.5MOA 10 shot groups.

 

[Castle Rock]

Yeah the rifle has a break on it now .!

Throw that friggin brake away and I’ll bet you shoot that rifle just fine

 

[goalie]

If you don't like shooting a rifle, you won't ever get "good" shooting that rifle.

I'm not exactly recoil sensitive, and moving down to a heavy 6 creed and a 5.56 (both suppressed) made a huge difference for me.

 

[Pinchecharlie]

Ok just to clarify the best I can, I don’t dislike firing this rifle or the few others I’ve fired. I actually like it but iam a bit intimidated by them and their power. I just can’t see my shots at all and I’ve missed a deer before that was pretty close so I figured I was flinching or moving at the last second? . I just want to be like other guys where the rifle just goes back and is steady. I feel like mine jumps up . I have to look over my rifle and re acquire my deer and re set up. I’ve been pretty lucky so far and most times they are dead but I missed one last year and it was dusk and we looked for awhile to make sure I didn’t wound it and it was stressful. I shot an antelope last year. It was the first animal and long hunt I’ve done alone. I shot at a little under 200 and there was a group of maybe 12. I shot off a knee and the tripod and after i shot I lost the sight picture and they all ran off and then stopped. I couldn’t see that the antelope was dead he was out of sight in a swell and so I was like ,”shit did I get him or did I miss. Should I shot again.” I know it’s dumb but i didn’t like that I wasn’t sure. My buddy says since this is my first few years of hunting and shooting that iam basically like a 13 year old lol! Iam sure your 13 year old is a better shot and hunter! Yahaha! I decided today I’ll go to the expert shop here and ask for help. I haven’t gone because I feel stupid and ask dumb questions and these bearded tattooed military guys are scary too! lol. This shop has courses and good equipment so I’ll get dialed on the rifle. Iam the guy that gets nervous and says iam just browsing. Who says browsing anymore? Stupid. They have a rifle course . Would you do a course that costs 2500 dollars? That seems really excessive to me and iam not ever going to be a sniper? I’ll see what they say though. Maybe they have a less expensive option. They have a cool bear handgun course with a mechanical bear lol! I’ll do that lol.

 

[wesfromky]

Ok just to clarify the best I can, I don’t dislike firing this rifle or the few others I’ve fired. I actually like it but iam a bit intimidated by them and their power. I just can’t see my shots at all and I’ve missed a deer before that was pretty close so I figured I was flinching or moving at the last second? . I just want to be like other guys where the rifle just goes back and is steady. I feel like mine jumps up . I have to look over my rifle and re acquire my deer and re set up. I’ve been pretty lucky so far and most times they are dead but I missed one last year and it was dusk and we looked for awhile to make sure I didn’t wound it and it was stressful. I shot an antelope last year. It was the first animal and long hunt I’ve done alone. I shot at a little under 200 and there was a group of maybe 12. I shot off a knee and the tripod and after i shot I lost the sight picture and they all ran off and then stopped. I couldn’t see that the antelope was dead he was out of sight in a swell and so I was like ,”shit did I get him or did I miss. Should I shot again.” I know it’s dumb but i didn’t like that I wasn’t sure. My buddy says since this is my first few years of hunting and shooting that iam basically like a 13 year old lol! Iam sure your 13 year old is a better shot and hunter! Yahaha! I decided today I’ll go to the expert shop here and ask for help. I haven’t gone because I feel stupid and ask dumb questions and these bearded tattooed military guys are scary too! lol. This shop has courses and good equipment so I’ll get dialed on the rifle. Iam the guy that gets nervous and says iam just browsing. Who says browsing anymore? Stupid. They have a rifle course . Would you do a course that costs 2500 dollars? That seems really excessive to me and iam not ever going to be a sniper? I’ll see what they say though. Maybe they have a less expensive option. They have a cool bear handgun course with a mechanical bear lol! I’ll do that lol.

Get a suppressed .223 tikka rss, maven rs1.2, and buy a shit ton of cheap ammo like the aac 77gn otm. read up on scope mounting on here. check out the practice threads. do the work. it won't take long and you will feel much more confident.

 

[ResearchinStuff]

Dry fire won't fix a flinch, it might actually make it worse. Put your 270 in the safe. Go shoot a could thousand rounds of 22 lr, then a couple thousand more suppressed 223. Then go hunt with the 223 because you live in a free state and can do that. Try the 270 in a year or two, with your suppressor.

Also, seriously look into the shoot 2 hunt course, it will greatly accelerate your learning

 

[Pinchecharlie]

Is it just me or does it just seem crazy that these shooting classes that are very often only two days cost 2500-4500 dollars? In my other world I run very challenging white water. I’ve done most all the challenging multi day trips including 27 days on the Colorado in the grand canyon and many class 4/5 day runs that are super life threatening. There is no way anyone would pay for that kinda instruction. You can do a 6 day guide course that includes first aid and swift water rescue for 600-800 bucks. I can buy 6 of the rifles I ordered yesterday for two days of hiking with a heavy pack in the snow in big timber. Lol. Iam not saying they arent awsome or they aren’t worth every penny of it (to their wives) but who the F can afford that? And if you can afford that you dont need that or you can hunt on private and they can dress your elk for you. I dunno. Just kinda shocking to think that blue collar kids are shooting 10k dollar rifles at a 5k dollar one day courses ? Wtf? Shit i bought my very first home for 17 grand lol. Just a rant but the whole para-military weird money thing seems a bit un healthy a little. Shit you’ll ruin a young guys marriage with those prices lol!

 

[SloppyJ]

Take your tikka and buy a new stock, barrel, and suppressor. Buy a good reliable scope as well if you don't have one. Find a cartridge in .223 or 6mm that you want to hunt with. Shooting accurately out to 500yds is just going to require some practice and learning.

Alternatively, you could pick up another tikka in .223 and have a dedicated training and deer rifle.

 

[eric1115]

Ok just to clarify the best I can, I don’t dislike firing this rifle or the few others I’ve fired. I actually like it but iam a bit intimidated by them and their power. I just can’t see my shots at all and I’ve missed a deer before that was pretty close so I figured I was flinching or moving at the last second? . I just want to be like other guys where the rifle just goes back and is steady. I feel like mine jumps up . I have to look over my rifle and re acquire my deer and re set up. I’ve been pretty lucky so far and most times they are dead but I missed one last year and it was dusk and we looked for awhile to make sure I didn’t wound it and it was stressful. I shot an antelope last year. It was the first animal and long hunt I’ve done alone. I shot at a little under 200 and there was a group of maybe 12. I shot off a knee and the tripod and after i shot I lost the sight picture and they all ran off and then stopped. I couldn’t see that the antelope was dead he was out of sight in a swell and so I was like ,”shit did I get him or did I miss. Should I shot again.” I know it’s dumb but i didn’t like that I wasn’t sure. My buddy says since this is my first few years of hunting and shooting that iam basically like a 13 year old lol! Iam sure your 13 year old is a better shot and hunter! Yahaha! I decided today I’ll go to the expert shop here and ask for help. I haven’t gone because I feel stupid and ask dumb questions and these bearded tattooed military guys are scary too! lol. This shop has courses and good equipment so I’ll get dialed on the rifle. Iam the guy that gets nervous and says iam just browsing. Who says browsing anymore? Stupid. They have a rifle course . Would you do a course that costs 2500 dollars? That seems really excessive to me and iam not ever going to be a sniper? I’ll see what they say though. Maybe they have a less expensive option. They have a cool bear handgun course with a mechanical bear lol! I’ll do that lol.

Quick question, what sort of magnification are you shooting at? Lots of shooters (especially new ones) use way too much. I like to be around 1-1.5x per hundred yards generally (so 4x-6x at 400 yards). I see so many guys cranking up to 10x or more at 200-300 yards, that will make spotting and reacquiring much much more difficult.