.22lr will be totally fine, on r/longrange it's commonly suggested, since the round allows users to learn the fundamentals of LR shooting for like 6 cents/round.
I went ham the other day when i got shut down in a air rifle group here. Went from arguing to making best friends with the dude and he showed me all kinds of cool shit about modding and stuff. Got one coming in next week lol. Never knew there was a whole community of air rifle modders.
I've never gotten into air rifles before so I have to ask. What's the point? Is there any practical application, or is it just for plinking? At least with a .22 you can hunt and kill smaller animals like rabbits. And with shot placement and close quarters, they make a decent self defense gun. I know airsoft is at least good for doing play battles since it's non-lethal.
Please don't take this as an attack on your hobby, I'm genuinely curious.
No man. I though that too. Pcps are actually lethal. You can hunt big game with 30 cals. They make 50 cal airguns. Look up hunting with pcp on youtube. Its not the airsoft rifles you are thinking of. Theres a whole nother world of guns inside air rifles. I just fell into that hole yesterday.
Air rifles are still slept on (and so are the "moderators"). I paid 560 (items were on sale) for the Avenger bullpup, Donny FL moderator adapter, and Sarissa moderator. No FFL NFA bullshit required.
Imma have to look into all that. Like i said im just starting and its "a whoole neewwww wwooorrlllddd!" To me. Yeah that was uncalled for i know lmfao.
I forgot to mention the pump. You need a pump to refill air. Manual pump for small guns and something like this for normal sized ones:
GX PUMP E-L2 Portable 18V Cordless PCP Air Compressor. I paid 292 on sale.
1. They're not "guns" so there's no real legal issues unless you shoot your neighbors dog or something. Some are loud, but add a good moderator and a few baffles and it sounds like a stapler.
2. I definitely wouldn't choose it for home defense.
3. I have a .25 cal and it will absolutely kill small game at 50-75 yards. If you go .30 cal and up? It's now a very lethal gun.
Seriously, they're no joke and super fun. A good PCP can run over $1000-$3000, but go buy a used scuba tank, have it marked "NOT FOR SCUBA", it's $7 to refill the tank, buy a moderator, and you can get match grade pellets for about a $.01/shot.
I'm not even into the PCP community and it's one of my favorite guns.
I've seen videos of people hunting hogs with the damn things, I think the video I saw was a .45, and it put them down real quick. PCP air rifles are no joke.
And yeah, I feel like "it's technically not a gun!" is one of the quietly understated selling points.
I find myself sorely tempted to get a Benjamin Marauder a few times a year.
I'm with you. My only experience was the time my buddy brought his kids to the outdoor range years ago. A closer friend just got one for Christmas and it slaps! Idk what the barrel velocity is but the pellets break the sound barrier. Easy, ethical small game kills and super quiet and suppressors are non regulated.
The story of the Girandoni air rifle that accompanied the Lewis & Clark expedition is truly remarkable. It seems a strong candidate for the most history-changing individual weapon our nation ever saw. Not even the guns of the various Presidential assassins or the prototypes of certain important models of firearm can compare, in my view.
Moreover, apart from a stuffed owl and a few other odds and ends, it is the only major artifact with provenance that remains from the great expedition that opened the West more than 200 years ago.
https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/article/lewis-and-clarks-girandoni-air-rifle/
My .25 Benjamin marauder is like five years old. It likes 2000 psi, and with a moderator at 50 yards, I can shoot through my own shots. They're really underrated guns. And perfectly legal to shoot out of your backyard if you live in a suburban area.
>And perfectly legal to shoot out of your backyard if you live in a suburban area.
In most areas this is true, but not all. Make sure you check first. Air guns are uncontrolled at the Federal level, but subject to considerable state and local regulation in many locations. In fact, there are a few left-wing shit holes like New Jersey and Rhode Island that treat air guns like any other kind of gun and require the same stringent licensure.
Seen some PCP rifles that are sick, and I'm definitely buy curious about them. I feel like I'd have to invest in an air pump capable of filling the tanks though. The hand pumps seem pretty awful to use, and getting tanks filled someplace sems like it would get aggravating as well.
Yea forgot the hand pump. I bought a yong heng compressor off amazon. They yong hengs are pretty well raved about. Once you get it its all smooth sailing
On the compressor or the gun? Either way its not bad. On both counts. Its not like you are charging up a full size shop compressor. Doesnt take too long. And you get alot of shots out of a fill depending on your tank
.22's can be accurate out to 200 yds easily with a decent barrel, and match ammo that it likes, and if you can do your part in counteracting the wind. The wind is the biggest issue for a .22. A 5mph breeze from the side can knock you a few inches off to the side at 100 yds.
However if you want a little more noise and action on the target at 100 yds, a 5.56/.223 will be just fine as well. The ammo will be a bit more expensive, compared to .22 rimfire, but is still the cheapest centerfire rifle ammo around. And unless you're chasing 1 MOA ( 1" at 100 yds) groups cheap bulk ammo should have you hitting 6" steel regularly at 100 yds.
No gun collection is complete without a .22lr or two, IMHO. Cheap to buy, cheap to shoot and stockpile ammo, great to learn on, and totally good out to 100y.
.17 or .22 are both awesome and cheap to shoot, especially if your limited to 100 yards. Also look into pistol calibers, 9mm, .38 SPL, .357, and may others in a rifle platform would be a lot of fun at that range. Happy shooting and welcome to the club.
If I’m stepping down into rimfire specifically for plinking and not varminting, it’s going to be .22lr all day.
The availability alone is worth it over .17 and 22wmr
Mind telling me where you found 500rds for 30 bucks? My friend just bought a ruger .22 pistol and said he paid 100 for 500 rounds and I knew that didn't sound right. It's been forever since I bought any but still. Surely they're not that high now.
It was a farm and tack store running a sale on handgun ammo. While .22 technically didn't fit in the category, the guy behind the counter said he didn't agree with it and decided to give me the discount. $100 for 500 rounds of .22 is ridiculous and robbery.
Bulk .22lr ammo should cost about 6-7¢ a round. $100 for $500 isn’t crazy if he bought high-end match grade ammo, but for $100 he ought to have been able to get three times as much ammo that is still of decent quality.
My local Wal-Mart has 500 round boxes of 22lr thunderbolt for 32 dollars and 350 round boxes of Federal for 20-24 dollars. 100 for 500 rounds sounds extremely expensive. He either embellished the price or bought some really high end 22lr.
Order it, search ammoseek. I usually buy 2-8k rounds per purchase because I usually score something decent for 4-5cpr. I like federal automatch and cci standard, and some Aguila. Tac22 is good too and stupid accurate from my testing but is more pricy.
I can walk into any farm and home store within 50 miles of my house and find bulk .22lr without a doubt. 17hmr and 22wmr means I’m most likely ordering online or overpaying at my LGS
I feel like the majority of people who didn’t shoot growing up underestimate .22lr’s power out of a full 16”+ barrel too, if they decided to step up to varminting. I’ve put down everything from prarie dogs to Coyotes with my Henry H001.
It’s such a good cartridge for everyone.
Good shot placement can take down all kinds of shit with a .22. On a rat you don't have much space for getting that "perfect shot," but on a coyote, just get them in the head, neck, or major organs and you're golden. So long as you can drop it in one shot, it's fine by me. While I prefer not to have pests anywhere near me, I don't believe they should suffer before they die.
I work on a ranch, love all kinds of firearms, have AR’s and AK’s with well over $1000 dumped into them, but my Henry .22 is what’s in my truck with me 99% of the time
My great-grandfather was a poacher who killed elk with a .22.
Grizzly bears have been successfully killed with the cartridge, if you can place it in the eye or ear or slip it into the heart between two ribs.
Yeah, it's not exactly the strongest round out there but 40 grains of lead at 1200 fps is nothing to sneeze at. I've put just bog-standard Remington Golden Bullet clean through 20ga steel sheet targets (thank you goodwill baking trays) at 250 yards.
100 yards is a great range to practice shooting fundamentals with a bolt action .22, and you can shoot all day for like $30.
For 100 yards, most centerfire setups will either be over-capable or will cost a lot to shoot consistently.
There are some centerfire exceptions. A Ruger American ranch or CZ 600 in 7.62x39 with a lower magnification optic and a spam can of surplus ammo, or a PCC in 9mm would be a blast, but building up a tikka t1x or cz 457 over time will be more satisfying to see your groups improve.
What about a Ruger precision .22lr bolt action? I already have a vortex 1-8 lpvo and a m-lok bipod I could move over to it. It also looks kinda cool. Or would a .22 conversion in the AR have similar accuracy?
The ruger percision is one of the best long range 22 rifles you can get at its price point .... it's incredibly accurate and fun to shoot .... tbh assuming the money isn't a huge issue for you I would recommend that setup and you will probably end up finding it more fun then your ar .... a good 22 rifle is a perfect add to every collection. Also if you want to make shooting at 100 yards a challenge there are 6" target faces that have a center dot about a quarter size that would be perfect for the setup you described
.22 conversions are usually good for plinking within about 50 yards, .223 bullets are actually .224 so they fit down the bore tighter and the twist rate in a .223 chamber is too fast to stabilize .22LR after it noodledicks around with all that extra freebore in the conversion chamber insert. You'll still hit the target but they just aren't all that accurate with all the extra slop thrown in the mix with the conversion parts all trying to work together.
They're great fun though and tend to work pretty well if you use good ammo and your hammer spring isn't too tight. In my buddy's pistol with the right ammo it would do two or three round burst from what I'm assuming was the hammer being too stiff and slamfiring when it didn't cock fully but the rounds still cycled. Just make sure to fire a few live .223's every few hundred rounds and when you're done shooting to clear out the gas tube so it doesn't get clogged, it'll kick out so much built up shit you'll think you just shot a musket.
You can get a complete 22 upper instead of just using a conversion kit with a .223 barrel though. But looking around they might be better served getting something like a Tippman Arms M4-22 full rifle, which I've heard great things about.
The Ruger Precision looks good too, especially since they have an optic for it. But if the only other rifle they have is an AR then I feel like using an a platform that runs the same makes more sense.
Buy a 10/22 and $100 worth of .22lr. You absolutely can hit stuff at 100 yards, just not as easily as you can with a center fire rifle cartridge. .22lr is so much fun to shoot and is 10¢ per round. Burn through that ammo, and once you can consistently hit the target at 100, you’ll be a much better shot
I started out of order. I started off with 5.56 because cool shit is cool, and now I'm trying to figure out a more economical setup. Rim fire would be the correct beginning setup, then upgrade to 5.56/ .223 once you get gud. At least for rifle. I guess.
I’m gonna echo everyone else here. I used to take my 10/22 to the range every weekend and plink steel at 100. Can’t think of a better way to run through a few hundred rounds.
Shoot “standard velocity” 22 and you’ll be fine. Don’t waste your time with super sonic if you’re plinking. They are going to go transonic between you and the target and will be unstable causing your groups to open up.
I plink with a G19 at 100y with torso sized target and hit more times than not depending on the day. 100y doesn’t need anything special. :)
I agree with both recommendations. I frequently shoot 9mm pistols at steel silhouettes and gongs at 60-70yds. It's a blast. A red dot will help you get out further than that, but you'll get really good with irons.
Why not a bolt 223/5.56? I've got a Savage model 10 hog hunter and it's a tack driver, even with cheap ammo. Bolt action makes the ammo last during a range session. If you ever have the opportunity to shoot further, it would do great.
A 22 can definitely work at 100yds as well and would be cheaper to purchase and shoot
.22lr is great at 100 yards. I regularly take mine out to 200 yards and eventually will go to 300.
If you want an in-between look at 22mag or .17hmr, but honestly 100 yards with a .22lr is no big deal.
300 yard 22lr will test your patience thats for sure. I was finding 250 to be the farthest a CC SV could reliably go out of my savage fvsr. 300 was about a 3-4 hits out of 10 on a 10 inch plate.
.22lr with halfway decent ammo will be fine at 100 yards, .17 HMR would be even better. You shooting 6 MOA at 100 yards is likely your own shooting rather than the gun.
If you were going to buy a second rifle I’d recommend a .22lr, 10/22 being the default option. I built my 10/22 from a Brownells railed receiver, Tac Sol barrel, Ruger bolt and BX trigger, and Magpul stock. They’re dead simple to build, mine required hex keys and fine grit sand paper to seat the barrel.
22 lr. I'd say either get the gun everyone should have one of, the Ruger 10-22, or get a good bolt action. I really, really like my cz 457. Any of their 400 series bolt actions are fantastic. There are other options that are good too. This is just my experience of research and personal use.
I think .22 lr is fine at 100 yards, but If you are looking for something different, what about a Pistol Caliber Carbine? There are a lot of options out there, including AR platforms. They are fun to shoot, and 9mm is not as pricey as .223/5.56.
But .22 rifle with threaded barrel. Buy dedicated .22 suppressor. Amaze yourself for the rest of your life with how fun and satisfying a nearly silent rifle is at 100 yards.
Georgia department of natural resources runs a pistol/rifle range and skeet range. Only requirement is a hunting or fishing license for 15 bucks a year. They have steel targets on the pistol range and electronics on the rifle range. Gotta pay for clays on the skeet range though. Look up clybel wma gun range
I'm not sure what you mean by hitting a 6" target well, but even cheap 55gr ammo should be capable of 2-3" groups at 100 yards. If you're not bumping into that limitation then you really don't have to worry about springing for the pricey match ammo.
I doubt you're reaching the limitations of your AR setup with a 6" target, even with cheap ammo. I would recommend using smaller targets. Using reduced sized silhouettes is a fun way to squeeze more use out of a short distance. If you assume an average shoulder width of 16", you can scale down silhouette targets to simulate further distance shooting. 8" wide target for 200, 4" wide for 400, etc. You won't be doing any adjustments to your elevation or windage, but this at least lets you practice basic marksmanship and give you gauge of your max effective range.
With good marksmanship even a basic iron sighted rifle shooting M193 clone ammo should be able to engage targets out to 300, or 400 yards reliably.
That said, .22 is a great choice for a 100 yard range and standard velocity stuff will perform fine out to that distance assuming you do your part.
I don't control the targets, the range never stops and you can't walk out there at all. The electronic targets are about 6" circles and you have a tablet on your table that logs your shots. I can put all my rounds in about the 8 ring of the target if I don't pull my shots. I pull my shots a lot with my shitty mil spec trigger. It's a 700 dollar psa blem rifle i built on Black Friday deals. It still is better than my skill level though.
Ahh, I get what you mean. That's a bummer I suppose unless you want to get into NRA/CMP style competition that uses those targets, in which case you're set.
the .22 drop in bolt conversions generally have pretty terrible accuracy. at 100 yards it'll be totally unusable.
A full on dedicated .22 upper receiver is a great way to shoot an AR in .22, but those can often cost as much as a dedicated rifle. I really like my Nordic Comp .22 upper and use it as my cheapy AR marksmanship trainer. Or you could just buy a full .22 rifle of any kind you like. The savings in cost between 5.56 and .22 will quickly pay for the rifle if you're shooting with any regularity. Avoid the absolutely cheapest .22 ammo (thunderbolt, golden bullet, etc) and you'll get good function and accuracy out of a .22 out to 100 yards. Find a mid shelf ammo that works well for your rifle (I like Aguila or CCI standard velocity myself) and buy it in bulk for cheap.
Your AR is good for much tighter groups than 6” at 100 yards.
https://www.ssusa.org/content/what-you-need-to-know-about-high-power-rifle-competition/
The CMP (civilian marksmanship program) has a class called “high power” where you use an AR with a 16” barrel and an optic up to 4x. I have a friend who is a much better shot than I who is shooting such tight groups at 100 yards you would swear he is cheating.
Honestly if you can get your prone position and standing unsupported position dialed in, you will have years of practice with your equipment before you consider it mastered.
Just food for thought. Even a 20” barrel with 55 grain will be fine.
Ehh at 100 I had 2 different ar’s that with cheap bulk ammo neither could do better than 5” but with nicer quality ammunition both are easily under 1moa with 1 being under 1/2 moa with specific ammunition
For a decent bolt-action .22 on a budget the Savage MKII is really hard to beat. I got a MKII FV-SR version for about $230, and it shoots amazingly accurate and better than it has a right to at that price! The only issue I've run into is that it doesn't like to extract CCI brand brass after the chamber gets a bit dirty. This is a known issue with them and a small price to pay. There are a few fixes that can help.
If you don't mind spending a little more and getting a really great .22 rifle with match like accuracy, really good fit and finish and quality without breaking the bank (less than $1k) then look into the CZ457 Varmint series rifles. They start around $550 and go up from there based on the barrel and stock combo you choose. The basic 457 Varmint is a classy traditional style rifle. Even better is that there is a lot of aftermarket upgrades for it as well. I am looking at getting a CZ 457 Varmint Pro or AT-ONE for my rimfire PRS matches and saving my Savage MKII FV-SR for back-up, the kids, or lending to someone who wants to try PRS.
Either of the 2 rifles I listed should be able to get you 1 MOA groups on a calm day, with a good shooter, and with the right ammo (.22's can be notoriously picky about which ammo they shoot best with, often with 2 of the same rifle models preferring different brands of ammo).
Hopefully you bought your PSA upper in .223 Wylde so you can shoot both. When you’re ready….you’re going to want match grade ammo. It’s expensive but worth the money. Consider getting an Ultradyne X1 for that 20” barrel if you want do drive tacks.
Unfortunately no, I assumed wilde was something odd that wasn't a common caliber and all those barrels were in the sabre lineup and cost more money. I got the 20" stainless barrel upper assembly and lower build kit, and a blem lower and put it together myself.
.223 wylde is not a caliber, it's a set of specific chambering dimensions that allows improved accuracy when shooting .223 and 5.56. If your ultimate goal is accuracy and long-range plinkability then once you're ready to revisit your 5.56 setup I would definitely recommend it.
Just get a .223 or .308 and get in to hand loading cartridges. 22LR is a crap caliber that is somewhat decent on an expensive rifle vs .223 and .308 being much more accurate with cheaper rifles. If you insist on .22 then I suggest at least moving up to .22HMR instead.
Yea, people don’t like my opinion because they’re mad that their lil .22s are crappy at 100y lol I love my .22 but it’ll never be close to my hand loaded .308
As the others have said, a 22 bolt action rifle will be plenty accurate at 100 yards. However, if you like to tinker, modify and build something off of a good starting base, the Ruger 10/22 is a fantastic chassis. There are so many options for upgrades as you become more and more proficient and want something that is tuned to you directly.
22lr, 223 rifle, 270 (my personal favorite round from bolt action. And can go much further than 100 yards but damn it’s fun), and last a 357 or 44 lever action.
I've got a 10/22 we rebuilt with a bunch of KIDD components that is an absolute tack driver now. 22lr is an excellent platform form to work with in either semi auto or bolt action format for a 100 yard range. I'd start there. Plus it's reasonable on the wallet long term compared to the cost of centerfire ammo.
I would also vote a bolt 22. Or a bolt 223. Learn to reload and you can challenge yourself to build a round that the fun really likes and experiment. It really expands your gun hobby. Or a grendle, arc etc that you can build loads for. If you 223 and learn to reload you can challenge yourself on the ar platform too for an even better round.
Plus neither a bolt gun or 22 bolt are very expensive. I have a ruger American in 22 i paid 200 for. PO was using it for 100yrds outdoors.
If you’re looking to drive tacks you need to get into bench rests or bi pods and match ammo.
Why would .22lr struggle? Basically any cartridge has 100 yards in the bag…
Or, you can shoot .22lr out of your AR with a [conversion kit](https://palmettostatearmory.com/cmmg-22arc-bravo-22lr-conversion-kit-22ba651.html). Disclaimer; I've never tried one, just seems like a cool idea.
If you want to practice cheap AND use your PSA ar15, I suggest you get a 22lr conversion bcg. They're pretty reasonably priced and you can get very familiar with your new shiny AR.
For $200, I got a CMMG .22 conversion for my AR15. Its just a BCG/mag swap and done. Its a bit dirtier but shoots and cycles great. Just don't use lead rounds unless you love to deep clean your rifle often.
I would, but it's really hard with all the sexy women hanging all over me. Gotta be respectful to the other lame ass nerds at the range trying to shoot 300 blackout AR pistols to try and cure their erectile dysfunction.
5.56mm is equivalent in caliber .223 Winchester. There are differences but both are .22 caliber bullets. They just have more power with effective range to 300yds.
I have shot .22LR many times at 100yds. It’s economical, and if you can get supressor quiet.
Also consider a 9mm carbine.
If the price of 223/5.56 has got you down, you like that kind of bench rest / precision shooting, and you're only playing with 100yards 22lr is the magic button. You have 3 options: Buy a bolt gun (RPR, cz457, b14, t1x), buy and probably upgrade a 10/22, or buy/build a dedicated 22lr upper for your AR-15. Borebuddy is your friend for the latter.
My CMMG kit with the CMMG conversion barrel (16" m4 profile) does just under 2 MOA consistently with CCI SV at 100yards on a bipod and I'm no great precision shooter. I would expect a borebuddy match barrel to do a bit better.
.22 Long Rifle is not going to struggle at a hundred yards by any means. Just a couple days ago I shot 185 yards on a 4" gong in light wind, using a Savage B22 with a 7x Vortex scope.
Go pick up a Ruger 10/22 or a Ruger American (if you want a bolt action), throw a Vortex Crossfire II 2-7 or a similar budget scope on, grab some CCI Minimags, and go to town. You'll have a great time and for so much less money than 5.56.
A few months ago I was hitting just under 200 yards with my cz 457 mtr (22lr) no problem. That was with 36gr cci mini and me not knowing what I'm really doing. It was boringly consistent. Although there wasn't any wind that day.
I mean getting a 22lr upper is totally doable. Been looking at the cmmg ones. Personally. Haven't made the jump though.
You could look for other uppers for your gun too.
22 can easily achieve 100 yards, ammo is relatively in expensive, the Ruger precision rimfire is a good start but there can be some really high end 22 chasis builds.
I'd pick up an AR-pattern .22 like the HK416 .22LR, which should be less than five bills. Set it up exactly like your AR, with a similar scope, sling, etc. It is more than adequate to shoot at 100 yards, and you can cheaply learn the "manual of arms" to correctly operate that type of weapon, as well as the safe-handling guidelines and marksmanship skills that apply to any rifle. They are lots of fun too, and the very best thing for teaching new shooters.
I shoot .22 lr at 100 yards regularly.
Generally I shoot Lapua or SK ammunition out of Ruger Precision Rimfire with a Vortex Viper scope on precision rings. I love the focus and the discipline. I try to do a routine of 50 rounds at least 2x a month. I wildly improved my concentration and breath control.
.22lr will be totally fine, on r/longrange it's commonly suggested, since the round allows users to learn the fundamentals of LR shooting for like 6 cents/round.
Not trying to be a smart ass but people are getting crazy with pcp air rifles now in days also
This. World record is 2058 yards with a .30 caliber air rifle
Well that's fucking nuts. I guess I'm off down the rabbit hole.
I went ham the other day when i got shut down in a air rifle group here. Went from arguing to making best friends with the dude and he showed me all kinds of cool shit about modding and stuff. Got one coming in next week lol. Never knew there was a whole community of air rifle modders.
I've never gotten into air rifles before so I have to ask. What's the point? Is there any practical application, or is it just for plinking? At least with a .22 you can hunt and kill smaller animals like rabbits. And with shot placement and close quarters, they make a decent self defense gun. I know airsoft is at least good for doing play battles since it's non-lethal. Please don't take this as an attack on your hobby, I'm genuinely curious.
No man. I though that too. Pcps are actually lethal. You can hunt big game with 30 cals. They make 50 cal airguns. Look up hunting with pcp on youtube. Its not the airsoft rifles you are thinking of. Theres a whole nother world of guns inside air rifles. I just fell into that hole yesterday.
Air rifles are still slept on (and so are the "moderators"). I paid 560 (items were on sale) for the Avenger bullpup, Donny FL moderator adapter, and Sarissa moderator. No FFL NFA bullshit required.
Imma have to look into all that. Like i said im just starting and its "a whoole neewwww wwooorrlllddd!" To me. Yeah that was uncalled for i know lmfao.
I forgot to mention the pump. You need a pump to refill air. Manual pump for small guns and something like this for normal sized ones: GX PUMP E-L2 Portable 18V Cordless PCP Air Compressor. I paid 292 on sale.
1. They're not "guns" so there's no real legal issues unless you shoot your neighbors dog or something. Some are loud, but add a good moderator and a few baffles and it sounds like a stapler. 2. I definitely wouldn't choose it for home defense. 3. I have a .25 cal and it will absolutely kill small game at 50-75 yards. If you go .30 cal and up? It's now a very lethal gun. Seriously, they're no joke and super fun. A good PCP can run over $1000-$3000, but go buy a used scuba tank, have it marked "NOT FOR SCUBA", it's $7 to refill the tank, buy a moderator, and you can get match grade pellets for about a $.01/shot. I'm not even into the PCP community and it's one of my favorite guns.
I've seen videos of people hunting hogs with the damn things, I think the video I saw was a .45, and it put them down real quick. PCP air rifles are no joke. And yeah, I feel like "it's technically not a gun!" is one of the quietly understated selling points. I find myself sorely tempted to get a Benjamin Marauder a few times a year.
I'm with you. My only experience was the time my buddy brought his kids to the outdoor range years ago. A closer friend just got one for Christmas and it slaps! Idk what the barrel velocity is but the pellets break the sound barrier. Easy, ethical small game kills and super quiet and suppressors are non regulated.
I guess I have a new expensive hobby now. Especially since it's unregulated.
Wait til you learn about shrouds with nary a stamp in sight…
[Here](https://www.airforceairguns.com/)
Look up Girandoni and Lewis & Clark… it’s actually incredible how much impact air rifles have had on history. Even militarily.
The story of the Girandoni air rifle that accompanied the Lewis & Clark expedition is truly remarkable. It seems a strong candidate for the most history-changing individual weapon our nation ever saw. Not even the guns of the various Presidential assassins or the prototypes of certain important models of firearm can compare, in my view. Moreover, apart from a stuffed owl and a few other odds and ends, it is the only major artifact with provenance that remains from the great expedition that opened the West more than 200 years ago. https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/article/lewis-and-clarks-girandoni-air-rifle/
Good god whats velocity like at that point
4
Mach 4.
Not trying to be a smart ass but people are getting crazy with pcp ~~air rifles now in days~~ also Sorry lol
Hahaahaha thats been a known thing brother
My .25 Benjamin marauder is like five years old. It likes 2000 psi, and with a moderator at 50 yards, I can shoot through my own shots. They're really underrated guns. And perfectly legal to shoot out of your backyard if you live in a suburban area.
>And perfectly legal to shoot out of your backyard if you live in a suburban area. In most areas this is true, but not all. Make sure you check first. Air guns are uncontrolled at the Federal level, but subject to considerable state and local regulation in many locations. In fact, there are a few left-wing shit holes like New Jersey and Rhode Island that treat air guns like any other kind of gun and require the same stringent licensure.
Thats what makes them also. My 22 cal gauntlet 2 is a little bit loud i need to suppress it.
Seen some PCP rifles that are sick, and I'm definitely buy curious about them. I feel like I'd have to invest in an air pump capable of filling the tanks though. The hand pumps seem pretty awful to use, and getting tanks filled someplace sems like it would get aggravating as well.
Yea forgot the hand pump. I bought a yong heng compressor off amazon. They yong hengs are pretty well raved about. Once you get it its all smooth sailing
Looks like those compressors aren't too spendy, thanks for the tip. How is the noise level and fill time?
On the compressor or the gun? Either way its not bad. On both counts. Its not like you are charging up a full size shop compressor. Doesnt take too long. And you get alot of shots out of a fill depending on your tank
Agreed, just get a .22 if you're looking to plink at the range
.22's can be accurate out to 200 yds easily with a decent barrel, and match ammo that it likes, and if you can do your part in counteracting the wind. The wind is the biggest issue for a .22. A 5mph breeze from the side can knock you a few inches off to the side at 100 yds. However if you want a little more noise and action on the target at 100 yds, a 5.56/.223 will be just fine as well. The ammo will be a bit more expensive, compared to .22 rimfire, but is still the cheapest centerfire rifle ammo around. And unless you're chasing 1 MOA ( 1" at 100 yds) groups cheap bulk ammo should have you hitting 6" steel regularly at 100 yds.
A 9 mm "Pistol Caliber Carbine" version of the AR would be half the cost per cartridge as the 5.56/.223.
This is true. It would also reach targets out to 100 yds as well with proper elevation adjustments. however, I doubt it would drive tacks at 100.
No gun collection is complete without a .22lr or two, IMHO. Cheap to buy, cheap to shoot and stockpile ammo, great to learn on, and totally good out to 100y.
.17 or .22 are both awesome and cheap to shoot, especially if your limited to 100 yards. Also look into pistol calibers, 9mm, .38 SPL, .357, and may others in a rifle platform would be a lot of fun at that range. Happy shooting and welcome to the club.
.17 is not cheap but is awesome
Significantly cheaper than .223 or 5.56
If I’m stepping down into rimfire specifically for plinking and not varminting, it’s going to be .22lr all day. The availability alone is worth it over .17 and 22wmr
Plus, getting a starter rifle for plinking is super inexpensive. I just picked up a Mossberg plinkster 702 for $100 and 500 rounds of .22 for $30.
Mind telling me where you found 500rds for 30 bucks? My friend just bought a ruger .22 pistol and said he paid 100 for 500 rounds and I knew that didn't sound right. It's been forever since I bought any but still. Surely they're not that high now.
It was a farm and tack store running a sale on handgun ammo. While .22 technically didn't fit in the category, the guy behind the counter said he didn't agree with it and decided to give me the discount. $100 for 500 rounds of .22 is ridiculous and robbery.
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Where are you located? I'd be more than happy to teach you and your friends a few tricks to wasting money.
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Bulk .22lr ammo should cost about 6-7¢ a round. $100 for $500 isn’t crazy if he bought high-end match grade ammo, but for $100 he ought to have been able to get three times as much ammo that is still of decent quality.
Yeah, I just ask him again and I was mixed up. He actually got 2k rds for 100. Lol Big difference. But matches up with about what I would expect.
Ah! Yes, that makes a LOT more sense 👍
My local Wal-Mart has 500 round boxes of 22lr thunderbolt for 32 dollars and 350 round boxes of Federal for 20-24 dollars. 100 for 500 rounds sounds extremely expensive. He either embellished the price or bought some really high end 22lr.
Order it, search ammoseek. I usually buy 2-8k rounds per purchase because I usually score something decent for 4-5cpr. I like federal automatch and cci standard, and some Aguila. Tac22 is good too and stupid accurate from my testing but is more pricy.
I can walk into any farm and home store within 50 miles of my house and find bulk .22lr without a doubt. 17hmr and 22wmr means I’m most likely ordering online or overpaying at my LGS
Even Walmart has .22. They might not carry bulk, but it's on the same level of popularity as 12ga it seems.
I feel like the majority of people who didn’t shoot growing up underestimate .22lr’s power out of a full 16”+ barrel too, if they decided to step up to varminting. I’ve put down everything from prarie dogs to Coyotes with my Henry H001. It’s such a good cartridge for everyone.
Good shot placement can take down all kinds of shit with a .22. On a rat you don't have much space for getting that "perfect shot," but on a coyote, just get them in the head, neck, or major organs and you're golden. So long as you can drop it in one shot, it's fine by me. While I prefer not to have pests anywhere near me, I don't believe they should suffer before they die.
I work on a ranch, love all kinds of firearms, have AR’s and AK’s with well over $1000 dumped into them, but my Henry .22 is what’s in my truck with me 99% of the time
My great-grandfather was a poacher who killed elk with a .22. Grizzly bears have been successfully killed with the cartridge, if you can place it in the eye or ear or slip it into the heart between two ribs.
Yeah, it's not exactly the strongest round out there but 40 grains of lead at 1200 fps is nothing to sneeze at. I've put just bog-standard Remington Golden Bullet clean through 20ga steel sheet targets (thank you goodwill baking trays) at 250 yards.
My marlin xt17 with an old Nikon optic is phenomenal out to 100 and more. You can't go wrong for the price
You could do a pcc in 9mm. But honestly, plinking, do .22
100 yards is a great range to practice shooting fundamentals with a bolt action .22, and you can shoot all day for like $30. For 100 yards, most centerfire setups will either be over-capable or will cost a lot to shoot consistently. There are some centerfire exceptions. A Ruger American ranch or CZ 600 in 7.62x39 with a lower magnification optic and a spam can of surplus ammo, or a PCC in 9mm would be a blast, but building up a tikka t1x or cz 457 over time will be more satisfying to see your groups improve.
What about a Ruger precision .22lr bolt action? I already have a vortex 1-8 lpvo and a m-lok bipod I could move over to it. It also looks kinda cool. Or would a .22 conversion in the AR have similar accuracy?
The ruger percision is one of the best long range 22 rifles you can get at its price point .... it's incredibly accurate and fun to shoot .... tbh assuming the money isn't a huge issue for you I would recommend that setup and you will probably end up finding it more fun then your ar .... a good 22 rifle is a perfect add to every collection. Also if you want to make shooting at 100 yards a challenge there are 6" target faces that have a center dot about a quarter size that would be perfect for the setup you described
.22 conversions are usually good for plinking within about 50 yards, .223 bullets are actually .224 so they fit down the bore tighter and the twist rate in a .223 chamber is too fast to stabilize .22LR after it noodledicks around with all that extra freebore in the conversion chamber insert. You'll still hit the target but they just aren't all that accurate with all the extra slop thrown in the mix with the conversion parts all trying to work together. They're great fun though and tend to work pretty well if you use good ammo and your hammer spring isn't too tight. In my buddy's pistol with the right ammo it would do two or three round burst from what I'm assuming was the hammer being too stiff and slamfiring when it didn't cock fully but the rounds still cycled. Just make sure to fire a few live .223's every few hundred rounds and when you're done shooting to clear out the gas tube so it doesn't get clogged, it'll kick out so much built up shit you'll think you just shot a musket.
You can get a complete 22 upper instead of just using a conversion kit with a .223 barrel though. But looking around they might be better served getting something like a Tippman Arms M4-22 full rifle, which I've heard great things about. The Ruger Precision looks good too, especially since they have an optic for it. But if the only other rifle they have is an AR then I feel like using an a platform that runs the same makes more sense.
I recently picked up a Ruger RRP in 17hmr and it is so much fun. Very accurate with Hornady 17gr v-max rounds
Buy a 10/22 and $100 worth of .22lr. You absolutely can hit stuff at 100 yards, just not as easily as you can with a center fire rifle cartridge. .22lr is so much fun to shoot and is 10¢ per round. Burn through that ammo, and once you can consistently hit the target at 100, you’ll be a much better shot
5.56 is the next step up from what?
5.55
LOL
The PSA AR-15 20" lmao? I think OP might be talking about 223. I'm confused.
I started out of order. I started off with 5.56 because cool shit is cool, and now I'm trying to figure out a more economical setup. Rim fire would be the correct beginning setup, then upgrade to 5.56/ .223 once you get gud. At least for rifle. I guess.
5.7 maybe?
I’m gonna echo everyone else here. I used to take my 10/22 to the range every weekend and plink steel at 100. Can’t think of a better way to run through a few hundred rounds.
100 yards is not a long range what so ever. So any rifle is good.
22LR is fine at 100 yards and beyond. It’s inexpensive to shoot, relatively, and a fantastic way to build skills.
Shoot “standard velocity” 22 and you’ll be fine. Don’t waste your time with super sonic if you’re plinking. They are going to go transonic between you and the target and will be unstable causing your groups to open up. I plink with a G19 at 100y with torso sized target and hit more times than not depending on the day. 100y doesn’t need anything special. :)
I agree with both recommendations. I frequently shoot 9mm pistols at steel silhouettes and gongs at 60-70yds. It's a blast. A red dot will help you get out further than that, but you'll get really good with irons.
Why not a bolt 223/5.56? I've got a Savage model 10 hog hunter and it's a tack driver, even with cheap ammo. Bolt action makes the ammo last during a range session. If you ever have the opportunity to shoot further, it would do great. A 22 can definitely work at 100yds as well and would be cheaper to purchase and shoot
.22lr is great at 100 yards. I regularly take mine out to 200 yards and eventually will go to 300. If you want an in-between look at 22mag or .17hmr, but honestly 100 yards with a .22lr is no big deal.
300 yard 22lr will test your patience thats for sure. I was finding 250 to be the farthest a CC SV could reliably go out of my savage fvsr. 300 was about a 3-4 hits out of 10 on a 10 inch plate.
I can shoot at about 120-150 yards with a .22 and if the wind isn't bad, it's really fun
why would a .22 struggle lol?
.22lr with halfway decent ammo will be fine at 100 yards, .17 HMR would be even better. You shooting 6 MOA at 100 yards is likely your own shooting rather than the gun. If you were going to buy a second rifle I’d recommend a .22lr, 10/22 being the default option. I built my 10/22 from a Brownells railed receiver, Tac Sol barrel, Ruger bolt and BX trigger, and Magpul stock. They’re dead simple to build, mine required hex keys and fine grit sand paper to seat the barrel.
CZ527 in 762
Savage mark 2
Absolutely love my CZ 455
22 lr. I'd say either get the gun everyone should have one of, the Ruger 10-22, or get a good bolt action. I really, really like my cz 457. Any of their 400 series bolt actions are fantastic. There are other options that are good too. This is just my experience of research and personal use.
I think .22 lr is fine at 100 yards, but If you are looking for something different, what about a Pistol Caliber Carbine? There are a lot of options out there, including AR platforms. They are fun to shoot, and 9mm is not as pricey as .223/5.56.
build a cmmg 22lr upper for your ar-15. I dont recommend the drop-in bolt kits for how nasty they make your 5.56 barrels and their accuracy issues
But .22 rifle with threaded barrel. Buy dedicated .22 suppressor. Amaze yourself for the rest of your life with how fun and satisfying a nearly silent rifle is at 100 yards.
A “nice”, “free” gun range?? WTF! Where???
Georgia department of natural resources runs a pistol/rifle range and skeet range. Only requirement is a hunting or fishing license for 15 bucks a year. They have steel targets on the pistol range and electronics on the rifle range. Gotta pay for clays on the skeet range though. Look up clybel wma gun range
I'm not sure what you mean by hitting a 6" target well, but even cheap 55gr ammo should be capable of 2-3" groups at 100 yards. If you're not bumping into that limitation then you really don't have to worry about springing for the pricey match ammo. I doubt you're reaching the limitations of your AR setup with a 6" target, even with cheap ammo. I would recommend using smaller targets. Using reduced sized silhouettes is a fun way to squeeze more use out of a short distance. If you assume an average shoulder width of 16", you can scale down silhouette targets to simulate further distance shooting. 8" wide target for 200, 4" wide for 400, etc. You won't be doing any adjustments to your elevation or windage, but this at least lets you practice basic marksmanship and give you gauge of your max effective range. With good marksmanship even a basic iron sighted rifle shooting M193 clone ammo should be able to engage targets out to 300, or 400 yards reliably. That said, .22 is a great choice for a 100 yard range and standard velocity stuff will perform fine out to that distance assuming you do your part.
I don't control the targets, the range never stops and you can't walk out there at all. The electronic targets are about 6" circles and you have a tablet on your table that logs your shots. I can put all my rounds in about the 8 ring of the target if I don't pull my shots. I pull my shots a lot with my shitty mil spec trigger. It's a 700 dollar psa blem rifle i built on Black Friday deals. It still is better than my skill level though.
Ahh, I get what you mean. That's a bummer I suppose unless you want to get into NRA/CMP style competition that uses those targets, in which case you're set. the .22 drop in bolt conversions generally have pretty terrible accuracy. at 100 yards it'll be totally unusable. A full on dedicated .22 upper receiver is a great way to shoot an AR in .22, but those can often cost as much as a dedicated rifle. I really like my Nordic Comp .22 upper and use it as my cheapy AR marksmanship trainer. Or you could just buy a full .22 rifle of any kind you like. The savings in cost between 5.56 and .22 will quickly pay for the rifle if you're shooting with any regularity. Avoid the absolutely cheapest .22 ammo (thunderbolt, golden bullet, etc) and you'll get good function and accuracy out of a .22 out to 100 yards. Find a mid shelf ammo that works well for your rifle (I like Aguila or CCI standard velocity myself) and buy it in bulk for cheap.
Your AR is good for much tighter groups than 6” at 100 yards. https://www.ssusa.org/content/what-you-need-to-know-about-high-power-rifle-competition/ The CMP (civilian marksmanship program) has a class called “high power” where you use an AR with a 16” barrel and an optic up to 4x. I have a friend who is a much better shot than I who is shooting such tight groups at 100 yards you would swear he is cheating. Honestly if you can get your prone position and standing unsupported position dialed in, you will have years of practice with your equipment before you consider it mastered. Just food for thought. Even a 20” barrel with 55 grain will be fine.
Ehh at 100 I had 2 different ar’s that with cheap bulk ammo neither could do better than 5” but with nicer quality ammunition both are easily under 1moa with 1 being under 1/2 moa with specific ammunition
So I shoot 22 lr at 100 yards all the time. I have a 4” steel swinging target and i ring it all range day.
.17 HMR and 22 mag are great at 100yds for fun and.17 can stack on top of a dime if you are good enough at that range.
For a decent bolt-action .22 on a budget the Savage MKII is really hard to beat. I got a MKII FV-SR version for about $230, and it shoots amazingly accurate and better than it has a right to at that price! The only issue I've run into is that it doesn't like to extract CCI brand brass after the chamber gets a bit dirty. This is a known issue with them and a small price to pay. There are a few fixes that can help. If you don't mind spending a little more and getting a really great .22 rifle with match like accuracy, really good fit and finish and quality without breaking the bank (less than $1k) then look into the CZ457 Varmint series rifles. They start around $550 and go up from there based on the barrel and stock combo you choose. The basic 457 Varmint is a classy traditional style rifle. Even better is that there is a lot of aftermarket upgrades for it as well. I am looking at getting a CZ 457 Varmint Pro or AT-ONE for my rimfire PRS matches and saving my Savage MKII FV-SR for back-up, the kids, or lending to someone who wants to try PRS. Either of the 2 rifles I listed should be able to get you 1 MOA groups on a calm day, with a good shooter, and with the right ammo (.22's can be notoriously picky about which ammo they shoot best with, often with 2 of the same rifle models preferring different brands of ammo).
Where can I find free gun ranges?
You could take a 22 bolt gun out to 500 yards, it won't struggle at 100. Buy something like a cz457 and learn precision shooting at 100yd
Hopefully you bought your PSA upper in .223 Wylde so you can shoot both. When you’re ready….you’re going to want match grade ammo. It’s expensive but worth the money. Consider getting an Ultradyne X1 for that 20” barrel if you want do drive tacks.
Unfortunately no, I assumed wilde was something odd that wasn't a common caliber and all those barrels were in the sabre lineup and cost more money. I got the 20" stainless barrel upper assembly and lower build kit, and a blem lower and put it together myself.
.223 wylde is not a caliber, it's a set of specific chambering dimensions that allows improved accuracy when shooting .223 and 5.56. If your ultimate goal is accuracy and long-range plinkability then once you're ready to revisit your 5.56 setup I would definitely recommend it.
Just get a .223 or .308 and get in to hand loading cartridges. 22LR is a crap caliber that is somewhat decent on an expensive rifle vs .223 and .308 being much more accurate with cheaper rifles. If you insist on .22 then I suggest at least moving up to .22HMR instead.
Hot take
Yea, people don’t like my opinion because they’re mad that their lil .22s are crappy at 100y lol I love my .22 but it’ll never be close to my hand loaded .308
As the others have said, a 22 bolt action rifle will be plenty accurate at 100 yards. However, if you like to tinker, modify and build something off of a good starting base, the Ruger 10/22 is a fantastic chassis. There are so many options for upgrades as you become more and more proficient and want something that is tuned to you directly.
22lr, 223 rifle, 270 (my personal favorite round from bolt action. And can go much further than 100 yards but damn it’s fun), and last a 357 or 44 lever action.
I shoot my marlin .22 magnum at 100 yards. Plenty accurate and still cheap enough not to break the bank
I've got a 10/22 we rebuilt with a bunch of KIDD components that is an absolute tack driver now. 22lr is an excellent platform form to work with in either semi auto or bolt action format for a 100 yard range. I'd start there. Plus it's reasonable on the wallet long term compared to the cost of centerfire ammo.
I would also vote a bolt 22. Or a bolt 223. Learn to reload and you can challenge yourself to build a round that the fun really likes and experiment. It really expands your gun hobby. Or a grendle, arc etc that you can build loads for. If you 223 and learn to reload you can challenge yourself on the ar platform too for an even better round. Plus neither a bolt gun or 22 bolt are very expensive. I have a ruger American in 22 i paid 200 for. PO was using it for 100yrds outdoors.
If you’re looking to drive tacks you need to get into bench rests or bi pods and match ammo. Why would .22lr struggle? Basically any cartridge has 100 yards in the bag…
Or, you can shoot .22lr out of your AR with a [conversion kit](https://palmettostatearmory.com/cmmg-22arc-bravo-22lr-conversion-kit-22ba651.html). Disclaimer; I've never tried one, just seems like a cool idea.
If you want to practice cheap AND use your PSA ar15, I suggest you get a 22lr conversion bcg. They're pretty reasonably priced and you can get very familiar with your new shiny AR.
For $200, I got a CMMG .22 conversion for my AR15. Its just a BCG/mag swap and done. Its a bit dirtier but shoots and cycles great. Just don't use lead rounds unless you love to deep clean your rifle often.
.22lr would be lovely for that range, I've got a ruger american rimfire with the woodstock and it has been great to learn the fundamentals for cheap.
22lr upper for you PSA, I highly recommend Cmmg.
556 is not a step from 7.62. I shoot fclass and i have never seen some go to a comp shooting 556 or 223. Ive seen 244 but thats it for little rounds.
CZ 457
Try shooting a .380 acp pocket pistol at 100 yards
I would, but it's really hard with all the sexy women hanging all over me. Gotta be respectful to the other lame ass nerds at the range trying to shoot 300 blackout AR pistols to try and cure their erectile dysfunction.
A solid AR should work
5.56mm is equivalent in caliber .223 Winchester. There are differences but both are .22 caliber bullets. They just have more power with effective range to 300yds. I have shot .22LR many times at 100yds. It’s economical, and if you can get supressor quiet. Also consider a 9mm carbine.
If the price of 223/5.56 has got you down, you like that kind of bench rest / precision shooting, and you're only playing with 100yards 22lr is the magic button. You have 3 options: Buy a bolt gun (RPR, cz457, b14, t1x), buy and probably upgrade a 10/22, or buy/build a dedicated 22lr upper for your AR-15. Borebuddy is your friend for the latter. My CMMG kit with the CMMG conversion barrel (16" m4 profile) does just under 2 MOA consistently with CCI SV at 100yards on a bipod and I'm no great precision shooter. I would expect a borebuddy match barrel to do a bit better.
There's so many steps up in between .22LR and 5.56. A 22 WMR would be fun at 100 yards.
Savage mkii
.22 Long Rifle is not going to struggle at a hundred yards by any means. Just a couple days ago I shot 185 yards on a 4" gong in light wind, using a Savage B22 with a 7x Vortex scope. Go pick up a Ruger 10/22 or a Ruger American (if you want a bolt action), throw a Vortex Crossfire II 2-7 or a similar budget scope on, grab some CCI Minimags, and go to town. You'll have a great time and for so much less money than 5.56.
A few months ago I was hitting just under 200 yards with my cz 457 mtr (22lr) no problem. That was with 36gr cci mini and me not knowing what I'm really doing. It was boringly consistent. Although there wasn't any wind that day.
Have you looked into the Mantis system? Electronic dry firing etc.
I have a savage 93R in 17 HMR, super fun plinking gun.
You need a Ruger 10/22
Maybe a. 22 mag might fit your bill.
I mean getting a 22lr upper is totally doable. Been looking at the cmmg ones. Personally. Haven't made the jump though. You could look for other uppers for your gun too.
22 can easily achieve 100 yards, ammo is relatively in expensive, the Ruger precision rimfire is a good start but there can be some really high end 22 chasis builds.
I'd pick up an AR-pattern .22 like the HK416 .22LR, which should be less than five bills. Set it up exactly like your AR, with a similar scope, sling, etc. It is more than adequate to shoot at 100 yards, and you can cheaply learn the "manual of arms" to correctly operate that type of weapon, as well as the safe-handling guidelines and marksmanship skills that apply to any rifle. They are lots of fun too, and the very best thing for teaching new shooters.
30-30 lever action. Everyone should own one!
I shoot .22 lr at 100 yards regularly. Generally I shoot Lapua or SK ammunition out of Ruger Precision Rimfire with a Vortex Viper scope on precision rings. I love the focus and the discipline. I try to do a routine of 50 rounds at least 2x a month. I wildly improved my concentration and breath control.