Cheap-to-shoot range Rifle for 50, 100 and 200 yards

[Armored farmer]

That sounds like fun. What's 100 yard accuracy like?

Mmmmm
Off the bench?
I shoot inch in competition at 65yds , so I guess 2 inch at 100yds open sights.
.....Ish

 

[Mosin77]

Cheap to shoot these days means .223, 7.62x39, or maybe .308 or 7.62x54r if you want something “full powered.” Or of course .22lr is generally the king of the hill for economy.

I have a CZ-527 bolt gun in 7.62x39. I don’t have to reload for it because it’s quite affordable.

I have an AR in 5.56, which can also shoot .223, and it’s cheap, except that being semi auto you also tend to go through ammunition a lot faster.

But when I really want to feel like I’m shooting guilt free I shoot .22lr through a bolt action. Very cheap. I love my CZ-452 but you can find a vintage American bolt action from Winchester or Remington for $100-250 that will do just fine.

Black powder flintlocks are another option. The guns themselves aren’t too cheap if you want quality, and holy black isn’t incredibly cheap either (although if you are inclined, you can make your own to save a lot of money) but since I have over 20lbs of the stuff stockpiled…. It’s hard to make much of a dent in that when you have to reload at muzzleloader speed. Opt for a .32 to .40 instead of a .72 cal. so she isn’t so greedy for components.

Of course you can reload, but when the primers cost $0.10 apiece these days, and a jacketed projectile is $0.30 and up, and powder might well be $0.25+ per shot as well, plus the time involved…. Not so cheap at the moment. Pistols using lead projectiles would be cheaper.

Which brings up 9mm and pistol caliber long guns. If a step down from .223/7.62x39 is ok, a 9mm is really second only to .22lr in being cheap to feed these days.

 

[243winxb]

The 17HMR rifles , about $275. Savage Axis 2 about $450.

Ammo $.30 cents each 17HMR. 223 Factory ammo- $.37 each

HM2 cheaper https://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2022/06/17-mach-2-17-hm2-more-affordable-alternative-to-17-hmr/ $.20 each.

223 reloads , you do the math.

Best price- https://ammoseek.com/

 

[Dr T]

You have a seriously underperforming 788 in 6 mm Remington.

I suggest that you re-mount the scope bases (get good bases), get a decent scope with good new rings, and float the barrel--then retest it.

With the stock trigger and my best load, mine will shoot 0.5" 5 shot groups at 100 yds.

With the original packaged scope it did not do as well (I bought mine new in about 1975).

 

[Smaug]

You have a seriously underperforming 788 in 6 mm Remington.

I suggest that you re-mount the scope bases (get good bases), get a decent scope with good new rings, and float the barrel--then retest it.

With the stock trigger and my best load, mine will shoot 0.5" 5 shot groups at 100 yds.

With the original packaged scope it did not do as well (I bought mine new in about 1975).

There seems to be fine variability in quality of some of the barrels in them.

Check out this thread:
https://forum.accurateshooter.com/threads/6mm-rem-load-recommendations.3801525/

 

[Bcwitt]

My Marlin 880 will hit 3 or 4 out of 10 on an 8" plate @ 300yd. With the cheapest hi vel ammo available.(Rem golden). @ 200 yd i cannot imagine a performance/cost/fun ratio better then that.

 

[DMW1116]

It’s not for everyone but I can reload cast 30-30 rounds for $0.23 per round, even with buying the bullets instead of casting my own. I’ve only shot it to 50 yards but my plan is to go to 200. They’re moving slow so it takes a sight with impressive vertical adjustment.

 

[Remington1911]

One thing you will learn shooting those little rim fire bullets is you will learn to read wind real well. The fatter and faster bullets like the more porky 223 bullets generally used for range will buck the wind a tick better over a slower and lighter rimfire bullet.

One thing you need to think about if thinking about the centerfire side of life is what kind of twist do you want....this will have something to say about what bullet your gun will like.

I have a 1:9 CZ in 223, and have shot bullets in the 70 grain range and done just fine with them. But these are hand loads, not sure if you want to go down that road, or even if you are already reloading.

Shooting rimfire is fun, and about as cheap and easy recoiling as you can get.

 

[Turkeytider]

One thing you will learn shooting those little rim fire bullets is you will learn to read wind real well. The fatter and faster bullets like the more porky 223 bullets generally used for range will buck the wind a tick better over a slower and lighter rimfire bullet.

One thing you need to think about if thinking about the centerfire side of life is what kind of twist do you want....this will have something to say about what bullet your gun will like.

I have a 1:9 CZ in 223, and have shot bullets in the 70 grain range and done just fine with them. But these are hand loads, not sure if you want to go down that road, or even if you are already reloading.

Shooting rimfire is fun, and about as cheap and easy recoiling as you can get.

Rimfire is indeed fun, and challenging, particularly at 100 yards. While I certainly like my .223 bolt gun, in some ways I enjoy more my 17HMR at the range.

 

[Remington1911]

Rimfire is indeed fun, and challenging, particularly at 100 yards. While I certainly like my .223 bolt gun, in some ways I enjoy more my 17HMR at the range.

My home range tops out at roughly 100 yards. No matter what I bring down there I will always bring a rimfire of some kind.

I shoot in a bit of a hollow, in the wet season it is basically marsh, now you can drive the short way there. I don't deal with much wind, good in the winter, sucks in the summer as the heat just hangs.

Even at 100 yards things like 22 long and sub sonics take a sec for them to get to the plate, I generally don't shoot with ears on these rounds (do as I say not as I do children) and it is enjoyable to pull the trigger bang.......ting. not sure why but just fun.

The wildlife back there is basically tame as well. I have sat back there and watched owl and a red tail just sit and watch me. They get use to the gun fire. The club had to halt fire because 4 deer showed up on top of one of the berms. They get use to it, but somehow know when season is open as they all vanish.

 

[TonyAngel]

Informal shooting at 200 yards? .22 is a hoot for that. My goto for that sort of stuff and cheap entertainment was CCI Standard. These days I've been shooting Norma .22 at $40 a brick. It's a lot of fun. Kinda like shooting .308 past 600.

If you want more thump and predictable results, .223. I quit reloading when covid hit. Sourcing components got to be too much of a PITA. Pick a bolt gun from a reputable manufacturer that you think looks sexy and go with it. I don't shoot bulk out of a bolt gun. I typically go with the V-Max stuff from either Black Dot Ammo or Freedom Munitions. It shoots sub MOA out of my Remington and my ARs. It's actually cheaper than bulk ball ammo, unless you're burning steel cased stuff.

 

[JFrank]

50-200 yards, my mind goes straight to 22LR.

I wouldn’t be terribly convinced that a 22WMR is really going to feel like a change of pace - just incrementally so - compared to 22LR. Same said about 17HMR - and I would expect 17HMR to shoot smaller than 22WMR, so between the two, I’d get a 17HMR over a 22WMR. I WOULD expect the Ruger Precision Rimfire to shoot smaller than the 77/22 - and frankly expect the Ruger Americans, with at worst a little stock work, to shoot smaller than the typical M77 Hawkeye.

But really, if you’re shooting 22LR already at 200, I’d recommend a larger step in performance and pick up a 223rem. Louder, flatter, faster, and I’d expect most 223’s to shoot smaller groups than most 22wmr’s.

Were it my money, wanting to shoot small groups at 50-200yrds for low cost, I’d look for a Savage 12 BVSS in 223rem - which is what I DO shoot when I want to shoot small groups at 200yrds for low cost…

With that beautiful factory stock and chambered in that caliber I can envision an outstanding combination and just plain fun to shoot.

 

[BigAlShooter]

I'd go 223 as it is the cheapest to shoot accurate. 22Mag is great too, but rimfire is not accurate unless you find the right ammo and usually it is the most expensive ammo. I have CZ 22Mag that is very accurate, but only with CCI V Max, which is very hard to find now and it ain't cheap, like almost $0.50 a round. It will do under an inch at 100 yards all day with this ammo, but with the cheapest ammo, it is 3 inches average. Not fun for accuracy. I've had other 22Mag rifles and they were the same.
I think you can find a cheap 223 / 556 ammo that will shoot 1MOA pretty easily with most good bolt guns. I don't have a 223 bolt gun, but my AR-15 will do 1MOA with different cheap ammo. I would think a bolt gun would be even better.

 

[Remington1911]

I am in the process of burning several thousand rounds of steel case 225. I can ding the 8" plate at 100 with the stuff 90% of the time. Using the loads I worked up for it the 3" plate is zero challenge, and the little 1" tear drop plate is really what you shoot at. Same goes with the AR.

I guess what I am trying to say is if you go centerfire there are things you can do to make it better, and the first step is ammo, not unlike the rimfire example above.

 

[Turkeytider]

I'd go 223 as it is the cheapest to shoot accurate. 22Mag is great too, but rimfire is not accurate unless you find the right ammo and usually it is the most expensive ammo. I have CZ 22Mag that is very accurate, but only with CCI V Max, which is very hard to find now and it ain't cheap, like almost $0.50 a round. It will do under an inch at 100 yards all day with this ammo, but with the cheapest ammo, it is 3 inches average. Not fun for accuracy. I've had other 22Mag rifles and they were the same.
I think you can find a cheap 223 / 556 ammo that will shoot 1MOA pretty easily with most good bolt guns. I don't have a 223 bolt gun, but my AR-15 will do 1MOA with different cheap ammo. I would think a bolt gun would be even better.

Really depends on the rifle, even with bolt guns. My Savage 110 in 223 struggles to get to 1MOA with cheap FMJ rounds. OTM and hunting rounds? Whole different story.

 

[valnar]

Great post, and I will add that the reason I haven't been here in 10 years (until the past couple weeks) is that I've been shooting air rifles. The pre-charged pneumatics (PCP) in particular are amazing.

Normally I wouldn't reply about airguns here, but you are the OP and brought it up!

I've been shooting my two PCP's far more often lately myself, especially since my house backs into the woods and critters are common. After a few trial and error purchases, my two beauties are a Brocock Concept Lite XR and Taipan Veteran, both in .22

 

[Space Ghost]

I also love my 77/22 but 200 yds isn't so easy because the little sounds can get pushed around by the wind so easily. You have to really pay attention. I got myself a .223 bolt gun a while back to do some shooting with, but ended up not keeping it. I wasn't doing any really long range or super precision work with it, and it really couldn't do anything my Larue Tactical Stealth 2.0 couldn't do.

 

[Smaug]

I also love my 77/22 but 200 yds isn't so easy because the little sounds can get pushed around by the wind so easily. You have to really pay attention. I got myself a .223 bolt gun a while back to do some shooting with, but ended up not keeping it. I wasn't doing any really long range or super precision work with it, and it really couldn't do anything my Larue Tactical Stealth 2.0 couldn't do.

If you could do that purchase again, would you get a 22 WMR instead of the .223, or just stick with the AR? Seems like a good bolt gun would put rounds on target better (albeit slower) than an automatic...

 

[Barnfixer]

Cheap ammo and fun to shoot and a reasonably priced gun. This savage in 17hmr is a accurate little gun at those ranges. . It does like some brands better than others though.

 

[Smaug]

Update: I bought a pound of IMR 3031? (red label) last night. Bass Pro didn't have the more accurate powders that fill the case more, so I had to settle. I've got cases, bullets and primers ready. UPS tells me my Midway order arrived with the powder trickler, scope mount, rings and new Lyman book. I think my bullets are all around 100 gr., which is on the heavy side, but I want to shoot them up before I go down to lighter bullets.

In other news, I picked up my LCR yesterday too; gonna try and get out shooting Sunday.

 

[Varminterror]

If you could do that purchase again, would you get a 22 WMR instead of the .223, or just stick with the AR? Seems like a good bolt gun would put rounds on target better (albeit slower) than an automatic...

Commenting more thoughts towards the two decisions you’re weighing in this post:

• In general - which is to say ALMOST unilaterally - a centerfire bolt gun will outshoot an AR of the same price point and relative quality. Sure, a bunch of us might build cheap AR’s and then slap in a spring kit, polished trigger, and a $300 barrel, totaling around $800 to get sub-MOA groups, but give a bolt gun a custom barrel and it’ll shoot smaller too… but after building and rebuilding and buying literally hundreds of AR’s, and competing with and against them, I’ll confirm the legend- overall, dollar for dollar AND in maximum potential comparison, bolt guns shoot smaller than AR’s.

• Shooter influence & shootability: It’s very, very hard to shoot small with an AR compared to doing so with a stickshift. I’ve taught marksmanship and long range rifle courses off and on for almost 20 years, including a niche class I offered in which students built and learned to shoot precision/LR AR’s. It’s remarkable 1) how much easier it is to coach new shooters to excel with a bolt gun over an AR, and 2) how much greater success is achieved in earlier phases of the learning curve with a stickshift than a gasser. So much to the point that I hang entirely different classes of target sizes in front of AR shooters (the same concessions, although not as extreme, as I’d make for shooting Rimfire at long range).

• Despite how much some of us do enjoy 22LR at 200-300 yards, it’s a much, much more difficult task. Drop and drift for 22LR is actually worse at 250yrds than 223 at 800. By 300yrds, 1mph wind error is worth more than 1moa, while for 223, 1mph error is a hair less than 1/4moa… 4.5x greater wind sensitivity. Might not matter if you live somewhere which rarely even has a gentle breeze, but I’ve shot at 300yrds a few times with 22LR in Midwest winds that could ebb and flow enough to jump subsequent shots from one side to the other of a full size IPSC. That just doesn’t happen with 223rem at these ranges.

• 22WMR isn’t THAT much less sensitive to wind than 22LR. Less drop, certainly, but drop is just a matter of math - wind corrections require accurate estimation, so greater errors are inherent… and the WMR really isn’t much less sensitive to wind than LR. In other words, shooting 22WMR in the wind is not really easier than 22LR.

• I’m a firm believer that everyone should have a 22LR, and in general, I see that as most valuable as a scoped rifle AND most scopes would allow a 22LR to get out to at least 200yrds before running out of turret… so even if you do buy a 223, having a 22LR which could also play the game when and if desired makes a lot of sense to me.