Trainer Rifle vs Just more ammo

[mtnbound]

I'm a new hunter, and I’ve been mulling around the concept of a “trainer rifle”.

I currently have a Howa 1500 in .308 with a SWFA 3-9x42 SS. It’s been great on the one hunting trip I took it out on, I bagged a doe. I plan on doing more hunts with it until I feel the need to upgrade to something “nicer”.

But I want to do a lot more purposeful training around increasing distances, understanding my holds, wind management etc… and a thought occurred that I could shoot the cheaper and more available .224/5.56, which I have a lot of.

The question: Is it worth it to buy a .223 bolt action rifle and slap on the exact same scope and train. Learn the ins and outs of both shooting but also the scope. Then move the scope to my main hunting rifle a month before actually doing a hunt to get dialed in.

Or should I just focus on buying more .308 ammo (the recoil doesn’t bother me) and keep practicing on the rig I already have?

I think the 308 is just fine as a training round but that being said once you have a 223 trainer you will find yourself wanting to shoot more and more, buying or building a training rifle is worth every penny.

 

[TheViking]

So I went down this rabbit hole a while back, purchased a trainer rifle, loved it, but eventurally sold it.
Let's do some math -
Tikka 223 - $800
UM Scope Rings - $150
Trijicon Credo HX - $850
200 rounds of 223 ammo - $175
Total Cost - $1975
You can tweak some of those numbers however you like. This is buying everything new or lightly used. If you have some of the components, subtract that amount.

$2k is a LOT of ammo to burn.
I think this depends on how much you shoot per year, and also cost of ammo.
Do you have a low cost rifle (308, 6.5 CM, etc), or do you shoot 28 nosler or something exotic?
Do you reload or do you buy locally?

Tons of factors in whether it's worth it for you or not.
Trainer rifles are amazing to have, they will defintely get you more rounds down range.
But the answer to 'is it worth it' isn't so simple.

 

[Kyguy]

You can make arguments either way, to suit your fancy. For me, it's the same argument about reloading VS factory ammo. People reload and don't take their TIME into account. Figure in all the time you spent doing it, load development, etc, it may not quite be a wash, but it's close enough.

I would also contend that if you have a rifle chambered in a factory cartridge that won't shoot any factory ammo well, and you have to reload for it, it's a shitty rifle. That's a different argument though. LOL

 

[Fireflyfishing]

The correct answer is both. Buy the 223 bolt gun and more ammo…for both rifles.

 

[Turkeytider]

@Turkeytider and @LongWayAround what .223 did you get? Part of me is looking at both the Tikka T3x Ranahan versus the Howa mini .223 (to save a couple hundred $$$)

I have two .223 rifles, both are range rifles that I use primarily to shoot at small targets at 500 yards ( 2”-4” target gongs ). The first I bought three years ago. It’s a Savage Model 12 LRPV, 7 twist. VERY accurate rifle, has been functionally flawless through 2,000+ rounds. Because of the performance of my other range .223 rifle, I very recently rebarreled the LRPV with a Shilen select match 26” 7 twist bull barrel. Only 50 rounds through that barrel but early indications are most encouraging.
My other .223 range gun, and I have to say my favorite range rifle, is something of a “ composite “. I very much liked the action of a Savage 110 hunting rifle that I had just sitting around. I pulled the action, dropped it into an MDT field stock, added a Shilen barrel ( see above ) and an Arken EP-5 scope. My intention from the outset was to put together a reasonably inexpensive yet capable fun range rifle. It has more than met those expectations.
Also have a Tikka Super Varmint in 6.5 Creedmoor. Typical Tikka, very accurate, smooth action ( amazingly, have to say that the 110 action rivals it ). It’s a fine rifle, but I’ve just found that I enjoy shooting.223 more.

 

[CMcCormick1805]

What kind of accurate 223 ammo are yall shooting to make an entire rifle affordable Vs 308 ammo?

I shoot whatever I can get my hands on for cheap. I like to see what various factory ammo does in my .223. When I go to 300+ yards I use 73 grain ELD Match. Because it shoots good and is available at the local farm store. It is also what my rifle is doped to. I am a huge fan of drills like the 21 dot drill in any variation and sometimes I’ll just shoot a group at the start of the session to do it as training.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

What kind of accurate 223 ammo are yall shooting to make an entire rifle affordable Vs 308 ammo?

Frontier 5.56 62-grain FMJ is really cheap and accurate in my T3. It was about $0.45/round last time I bought some.

The ADI 55 or 69-grain can be had for about $0.70/round.

Frankly, even in a properly weighted sporting rifle (~9#), there’s no way I would shoot enough 7.62 NATO to improve my shooting. Maintaining a base level of proficiency, sure, but not really getting better. A hundred rounds of .308 (or similar) in a session just isn’t very fun.

If you are doing the math on whether it makes sense to buy another rifle, it probably doesn’t. But if you really want to improve, it takes regular practice. And I can justify any purchase to myself as long as I use it. On the list of rifles I should not have purchased, my Tikka .223 is down near the bottom.

 

[DangerRanger]

Frontier 5.56 62-grain FMJ is really cheap and accurate in my T3. It was about $0.45/round last time I bought some.

The ADI 55 or 69-grain can be had for about $0.70/round.

Frankly, even in a properly weighted sporting rifle (~9#), there’s no way I would shoot enough 7.62 NATO to improve my shooting. Maintaining a base level of proficiency, sure, but not really getting better. A hundred rounds of .308 (or similar) in a session just isn’t very fun.

If you are doing the math on whether it makes sense to buy another rifle, it probably doesn’t. But if you really want improve, it takes regular practice. And I can justify any purchase to myself as long as I use it. On the list of rifles I should or have purchased, my Tikka .223 is down near the bottom.

I haven’t personally noted wanting to shoot less on practice days with my creed and i pick it over my ARs, but I could totally see a 308 being over the limit on a long day

Wouldn’t mind a link on that .70cpr aid, I’m seeing it for more like a $1

 

[flyfisher117]

Got my first .223 bolt gun before it was trendy. It’s still one of my favorites. Outside of Rokslide it gathers quite a few odd looks and snide remarks.

Currently trying to talk myself out of getting a Tikka 223. A light weight hunting rifle trainer and a heavier precision rifle trainer would be sweet.

 

[tstowater]

I'm into quality trigger time. I like to shoot low recoiling rifles with a good trigger whether it be a rimfire or small caliber centerfire based on either a 221 Fireball, 222 Mag or 223 Rem in 17, 20 or 22 caliber. I like the 220 Swifts and 22-250's, but you will notice the recoil after an extended shooting session.

I like "reactive targets", primarily prairie dogs. You learn in a hurry about target acquisition, wind and mirage reading and trigger squeeze. I always have a good set of binoculars and most of the time a rangefinder. Distance judging and holdover or dial becomes second nature. The key is quality in volume.

Unless your trainer/practice gun is identical to your hunting rifle, you still need trigger time with your hunting rifle. So, the short answer to the OP is, yes you should get a low recoiling rifle with lots of ammo and quality trigger time.

 

[lefthandedasian]

@Turkeytider and @LongWayAround what .223 did you get? Part of me is looking at both the Tikka T3x Ranahan versus the Howa mini .223 (to save a couple hundred $$$)

From my limited understanding after reading this forum for a little, is if you're getting a trainer, set it up as close as you can to what your hunting rifle is, purely for consistency's sake. If you train on a tikka but your hunting rifle is a howa, the safety operation, bolt operation, length of pull, stock geometry, yada yada yada will be different and it won't be a seamless transition when you get into the field to use your hunting rifle. My guess would be to stick with a howa mini for a trainer unless you are going to make the swap to a tikka hunting rifle one day.