While most people would think that hunting is only for serious sportsmen, recreational shooting should change their minds. Recreational shooting includes the sport of trap and skeet shooting as well as the popular paint ball and air gun variations. Sling shot shooting is also part of this category along with soft air gun shooting.
Trap and skeet shooting is the sport of shooting clay targets by using a shotgun. These clay targets are called clay pigeons and are released into the air at high speeds. Originally using live pigeons, this sport changed the targets to clay discs for a more reliable and humane target. Trap and skeet shooting equipment, include, aside from a high quality shotgun, target throwers, clay targets or discs and of course, shotgun ammunition.
Paintball shooting or simply known as paintball is a recreational shooting sport where competitors try to eliminate each other from the playing field by shooting each other with paint filled gelatin capsules. Using a compressed gas-powered gun or known to paintball enthusiasts as a marker, these paint-filled balls are shot at opponents at an estimated velocity of 300 feet per second, as per safety standards. Paintball hits are painful at any velocity or distance, hence the implementation of safety rules and gear. One safety precaution is in the mandated use of a paintball mask and goggle system. These safety accessories are usually sold as a set and may go for $24.99 to $69.99. Other equipment required for this sport include the marker and the paintballs. Markers sell for somewhere between $99.99 to $299.99, depending on the brand. Paintballs are sold at prices that range from $11.99 to 34.99, depending on the number of balls in the package.
Air guns are pneumatic guns which use compressed air to propel a projectile through the air. Air guns, more popularly known as BB guns, come in rifle configurations. These air rifles come in calibers that include .177 inch or 4.5mm, .20 inch or 5.0 mm, .22 inch or 5.5mm and .25 inch or 6.35 mm. Rifles for this sport usually come in the price brackets of $29.99 for the least expensive model to the top of the line cost of $479.99. Accessories for air guns or air rifles are gun scopes, shooting glasses and of course, ammunition pellets available according to the gun’s caliber designation.
Soft air guns are a tamer and softer shooting version of the air rifles. Airsoft, as it is more popularly called, is usually used in war simulation tactical games or war games. As with paintball, airsoft games require a certain amount of protective gear to minimize injury. Impact-rated goggles are a must for this sport and the goggles usually used for paintball is often used here as well. Soft air guns can also be used alone with stationary targets.
Slingshots have come a long way from the old wooden prong and rubber band attachment used to launch stones and other projectiles. The modern slingshot is now composed of a steel prong with a molded plastic handle. While still using the basic principle of the old slingshot, modern sling shots offer a more accurate and controlled shot. These are also sold with their own glass ammo.
Peter Gilbert
http://www.articlesbase.com/internet-articles/recreational-shooting-127449.html
December 20th, 2009 at 4:50 am
What is a good rifle for recreational shooting?
I am thinking about purchasing a rifle for recreational target shooting at the range. I need something with a bit of power while having cheap ammo. Does anyone have any recommendations?
December 20th, 2009 at 9:52 am
The only "cheap" ammo anymore is a .22 LR. everything else is expensive and hard to find. Could try a .22 Magnum or even a .17
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December 20th, 2009 at 9:54 am
First choice is a Ruger 10/22 with CCI stinger as a powerful 22LR.
If that is too small then a SKS or AK-47 with the surplus Russian/Chinese 7.62×39 ammo being "cheaper" than factory American ammo.
A higher quality rifle would be one of the AR-15 family of fine firearms. Some surplus ammo is still available.
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FFL Dealer
December 20th, 2009 at 9:56 am
I would say a Ruger 10/22, chambered in the popular .22LR cartidge.
OR
A Mosin Nagant, chambered in the abundant 7.62×54R mm cartridge.
OR
An AK-47, chambered in the abundant 7.62×39mm cartridge.
OR
An AR-15, chambered in the popular and abundant 5.56×45mm or .223 (or both) cartridge(s).
I hope this helps!
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December 20th, 2009 at 9:58 am
barret xm 107 w/ a 2$ cartridge
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December 20th, 2009 at 10:01 am
Just as a lark, but how about a Ruger Mini 14. The gun won’t cost you a major car down payment, it shoots the 223 (like the M16), they are a barrel of monkeys to shoot, and they are moderately accurate to about 200 yards. There are also a bucket load of goodies you can buy down the line to improve accuracy out to 600 yards.
Think practical, think economics.
Oh, yeah, and with a well placed neck shot, you can hunt Texas sized deer with it as well.
Hope this helps.
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Interior, Exterior and Terminal Ballistics, plus thirty years as a gunsmith.
December 20th, 2009 at 10:03 am
If you want more distance than a .22 LR, I would go with a Ruger Mini-14 in .223. If you want a bolt action, I would look at the Tikka T3 in .223.
Tikka T3 – http://www.tikka.fi
Ruger Mini-14 – http://ruger.com/Firearms/FAFamily?type=Rifle&subtype=Autoloading&famlst=20
Ruger 10/22 – http://ruger.com/Firearms/FAFamily?type=Rifle&subtype=Autoloading&famlst=39
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December 20th, 2009 at 10:05 am
Remington or Savage Brands in a 22 long rifle, or 22 Magnum, or 243 Winchester.*
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* Run like a Deer.*……………….Fly like an Eagle.*~~
December 20th, 2009 at 10:07 am
AR-15. or ruger 10/.22 i have both.
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December 20th, 2009 at 10:09 am
You can’t go wrong with the russian style stuff for fun. SKS shooting the 7.62×39. If you want accuracy, try Savage rifles for centerfire cartridges. Lately .223 is scarce, so is .308. Try a .17 HMR for the light recoil and accuracy to 200 yds. If .223 wasn’t so scarce I would say get something chambered in that. .22LRs are relatively cheap compared to the other rounds but also shorter ranged. Marlin makes good .22LR rifles, so does Ruger with its 10/22 but Marlins are more accurate and durable.
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December 20th, 2009 at 10:11 am
Marlin model 60. .22LR has enough power to have fun. Anything more, then it gets expensive to blow through a hundred rounds (unlike a .22 where you can get a brick for around $12). If you want power/recreation, then get a shotgun, and find those bulk-packs of birdshot. You will be set for busting tin cans, all the way up to bunnies, should you decide you are hungry.
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Avid shooter.
December 20th, 2009 at 10:13 am
other than 22LR, ammo isnt cheap anymore. So if you just want to plink, id go with a 22 rifle like a Ruger 10/22.
For more power, id get a 9mm carbine. Im sure 9mm will be 20 bucks per 100 back in stock at walmart again soon. A hi point 995 is a good plinker, and can be a home defense gun as well. There is a new model with a Target stock and rails available now that you can customize up and make it really fun. Just avoid the 15 round promags as they are junk and stick with factory 10 rounders.
A step up, id get maybe an AK47, SKS or a Saiga rifle. 7.62×39 is still not as expensive as .223.
There is a new saiga rifle available in 5.45×39 which is a great round and is cheaper than 7.62×39. You can find it at centerfiresystems.com.
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December 20th, 2009 at 10:15 am
Marlin 795 about $120 after $20 rebate
http://www.marlinfirearms.com/Firearms/SelfLoading/795.asp
Savage 64 about $130-140
http://www.savagearms.com/64f.htm
Mossberg Plinkster 702 & 802 about $120 to 170 depending on version.
http://www.mossberg.com/products/default.asp?id=9
http://www.mossberg.com/products/default.asp?ID=30
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December 20th, 2009 at 10:17 am
I need some more information:
what would you like to shoot?
what is your budget?
is this your first rifle?
what style of rifle interests you?
which state/city do you live in? (this really does matter, what is legal for someone may not be legal for you to have)
can you mail-order ammunition to your house? (this is banned in a number of counties, for example, Los Angels County, CA)
Is there a Walmart nearby?
I have some generic suggestions:
Ruger 10/22 (autoloading .22LR $230)
Marlin 795 (autoloading .22LR $170)
Marlin 39a (lever action .22 rifle $370)
SKS (military style self loading rifle, 7.62×39mm caliber, $250 to $400)
WASR-10 or similar rifle (Military style semiautomatic rifle, 7.62×39mm caliber, $500)
Kel Tec SU16 (sporting semiautomatic rifle, .223 Remington only, $515)
Mosin Nagant 91/30 or M44 (WW2 bolt action rifle, 7.62×54mmR, $50 to $100)
Saiga 223 (sporting-patterned semiautomatic rifle, .223 Remington only, $350)
Saiga 762 or 308 (sporting-patterned semiautomatic rifle, 7.62×39mm or .308 Winchester, $525)
AR15 something or the other (Military style semiautomatic rifle, 5.56×45mm and .223 Remington, $700 and up)
Hi Point 995 (military-styled semiautomatic carbine, 9×19mm, $165 to $220)
if this is your first gun, I highly recommend starting with a .22LR rifle. it doesn’t need to be the three is suggested, there are many makes and models available. .22LR is by far the cheapest caliber to shoot. It also happens to be the weakest of all the other suggestions listed, but it doesn’t matter. If you are a beginner a .22LR rifle is perfect to learn how to shoot with. it doesn’t have much recoil (if any at all), the rifles are generally very inexpensive, most are simple and reliable to use, .22LR rifles are great to get the basics of shooting down with.
If this is not your first rifle or you already have a .22LR rifle and you do not wish to have another one I would suggest the next level up in terms of recoil, firepower, or caliber would be either a .223 caliber rifle or one of those inexpensive 7.62×39mm caliber rifles.
If you are in one of those states with an assault weapons ban still in effect, some of the suggested rifles may be banned or significantly more expensive to own due to issues with "evil" features or the need to buy expensive special low-capacity magazines.
For the most part, the most inexpensive places to get ammo and the prices:
.22LR- Walmart, $13.97 per 550rd brick or around $140 per case of 5,500 rounds.
9×19mm- Walmart, Army-Navy stores, online stores, as low as $13 per 50rd box.
.223 Remington- online, gun shows. the cheapest brand- Wolf, as low as $260 per case of 1000.
5.56×45mm- gun shows, online, other places. use only if rifle is specifically chambered for 5.56×45mm. $450 per 1000 average.
7.62×39mm- gunshows,online, Wolf brand at $229 per 1000.
7.62×51mm (.308 Winchester)- online, various local store deals, Barnaul brand $225 per 500.
7.62×54mmR- gunshows, online, $60 per 300 (cheapest)
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