"Fun Gun" Recommendations

[Olympus]

I'm looking for my next "fun gun", something that serves no other purpose than to take to the range and enjoy. If it can be used for a specific task or function also, then so much the better! I have ARs and an AR SBR, and while they are pretty fun, they are starting to lose their "fun factor" to me. Not to mention, everyone and their brother has one so it's not something people are dying to get a chance to shoot.

I've somewhat started with some initial ideas and they may very well be poor choices, but at least you can get a sense of where I'm going here.

Option 1: Century C308. Cheapest way to get into the HK91 style platform. Good market for accessories and dirt cheap mags. Gun is probably the cheapest price of all options. Range ammo cost of about $0.36/round.

Option 2: PTR 32 KFR. HK91/G3 style platform in 7.62x39 instead of 308. Uses most AK mags, so pretty cheap. Gun is likely higher quality than the Century C308, costs about $250 more, but ammo is a good bit cheaper. Range ammo cost of about $0.23/round.

Option 3: M1 Carbine. Always wanted one, love the platform, and love the caliber for a plinkerer that's a step up from 22LR. Likely the most expensive option in terms of gun price. Range ammo cost of about $0.28/round.

 

[chris in va]

I don't have any of those, however...

My most 'fun' long guns are my twin CZ Carbines in 5.56 and x39, and for pure all out grin factor my Beretta CX4 in 9mm. Everyone wants to shoot that sucker.

Then there's my M1 Garand. Where do I start with that one?

I agree about the AR's...mine just isn't all that fun. I cringe knowing a 20rd mag gets emptied in no time.

 

[David4516]

I don't have any experience with the first two but I can say with certainty that the M1 carbine is alot of fun and would highly recommend it

 

[Neo-Luddite]

Add the M-1 Garand to your list for consideration. Still available via CMP, as is ammo:

http://thecmp.org/cmp_sales/rifle_sales/m1-garand/

Makes a quite a fun range toy, still not super expensive and will retain its value.

 

[figment]

Pps-43

 

[bannockburn]

Second the notion of an M1 Carbine but make mine the M1A1 Paratrooper variant.

 

[Deog]

Gotta agree with Chris in VA. Beretta cx4 Storm 9mm carbine is a fun gun.

 

[R.W.Dale]

Get a rolling block

I'm serious. Out of all the guns I own nothing provides the sheer joy of manipulating the action than my roller

None of the guns on your list fundamentally do anything different than the guns you're already bored with.

 

[theleo]

A 45-70 lever gun.

 

[Nature Boy]

I've been having the same itch. A recent thread here got me wanting one of these for my 1911

http://www.mechtechsys.com/1911.php

If you have a 1911 or a Glock it might be the ticket

 

[chris in va]

I failed to mention my Henry 22 lever action. It really makes cans dance!

You may enjoy a lever in 357 or 45 Colt. My friend has one, we had a hard time putting it down.

 

[Newtosavage]

Lever action .357 would be pretty darn fun IMO.

 

[adcoch1]

Any lever gun in a pistol caliber, I love my 44mag Rossi M92. Or a cz527.

 

[agtman]

Would also recommend a CMP-certified M1 Garand, ... of whatever grade or "Special" edition.

It's a total "fun gun," as well as historically significant.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

Carbine

-Very fun
-Will still kill if hunted with with reason
-Very, very easy to re-load for
-The popularity of regularly released .30 Carbine firing firearms tells me the ammo will come down still more
-Easy recoil
-Easy report
-Easily handled

For my part, I'm biased and want as many people as possible to climb onboard to get the industry to increase offerings and ramp up ammo production.

Todd.

 

[Steel Talon]

My fun guns are my Mini 14 Rancher, my SKS., and m : y Ruger Single Six 22or pistol for "slip shooting"

 

[readyeddy]

The Desert Eagle handgun makes a good range toy. It's cool looking, very accurate, makes a big boom, bangs the gong nicely, and is very low recoiling in 44 Mag.

All the complaints that the DE is too heavy, too big and totally impractical go out the window when the sole criteria is to be a range toy, fun gun, which is perhaps its only reason for being.

 

[Olympus]

The Desert Eagle handgun makes a good range toy. It's cool looking, very accurate, makes a big boom, bangs the gong nicely, and is very low recoiling in 44 Mag.

All the complaints that the DE is too heavy, too big and totally impractical go out the window when the sole criteria is to be a range toy, fun gun, which is perhaps its only reason for being.

My dad has one in 44 mag. My size medium hands just have a hard time getting a decent grip on the gun. I was thinking either some kind of rifle, but for pistol I would want a 9mm 1911. Had a couple and sold them both and do miss them.

 

[Olympus]

I failed to mention my Henry 22 lever action. It really makes cans dance!



You may enjoy a lever in 357 or 45 Colt. My friend has one, we had a hard time putting it down.

I have a Henry in 22. Great little gun, but I don't think I'd care for one in 357. Or maybe I would for a decent little woods rifle for deer season. I'll have to look up some 357 rifle ballistics.

 

[Olympus]

A 45-70 lever gun.

I'm recoil sensitive, so big bores are out.

 

[readyeddy]

I forgot this was rifle country. My mistake.

 

[Olympus]

None of the guns on your list fundamentally do anything different than the guns you're already bored with.

The gun doesn't have to "do" anything different. I'm looking at a different platform and/or a different caliber.

 

[R.W.Dale]

The gun doesn't have to "do" anything different. I'm looking at a different platform and/or a different caliber.

After awhile you figure out that a different caliber doesn't do anything but go BANG and put a hole in a piece of paper just exactly like all your other calibers.

 

[Olympus]

After awhile you figure out that a different caliber doesn't do anything but go BANG and put a hole in a piece of paper just exactly like all your other calibers.

If that were the case, then everyone would only own one single caliber.

 

[theleo]

I'm recoil sensitive, so big bores are out.

Load with Trail Boss at 800-900 fps. It'll push you, but the recoil is really pretty tame.