Do you want to hunt, 3 gun competition, home defense, zombie apocalypse?
Hey! I think I've seen this before.

 

I think the OP answered his own question in the first 1/4 of his post.

The replies actually helped me decide.

I was originally looking at the 223 but am now planning on the 30-06 first. Looking at different 30-06 hunting rifles -- so many to choose from!

30-06 never seems to disappoint any of my hunting buddies

sorry rookie question here....

why do people buy 22lr to practice with besides it being cheap ammo? Wouldn't it make sense to get a larger caliber to practice with since that is what you intend to use?

I was thinking of getting a 22lr bolt but after adding up the costs I could use that money towards another caliber....

no intention other than wanting to understand.....

sorry rookie question here....

why do people buy 22lr to practice with besides it being cheap ammo? Wouldn't it make sense to get a larger caliber to practice with since that is what you intend to use?

I was thinking of getting a 22lr bolt but after adding up the costs I could use that money towards another caliber....

no intention other than wanting to understand.....

For me, it's to build the fundamental skills cheaply and painlessly.

I can sit one of my boys down and get him going on the paper right away and working towards grouping with a .22... I throw him behind a Garand or Mauser first or too soon, and I start to see bad habits forming  to anticipate and compensate for the recoil.

sorry rookie question here....
why do people buy 22lr to practice with besides it being cheap ammo? Wouldn't it make sense to get a larger caliber to practice with since that is what you intend to use?
I was thinking of getting a 22lr bolt but after adding up the costs I could use that money towards another caliber....
no intention other than wanting to understand.....

cheaper and less barrel wear

sorry rookie question here....

why do people buy 22lr to practice with besides it being cheap ammo? Wouldn't it make sense to get a larger caliber to practice with since that is what you intend to use?

I was thinking of getting a 22lr bolt but after adding up the costs I could use that money towards another caliber....

no intention other than wanting to understand.....

By being inexpensive, the 22LR is good for training. If the ammo is too expensive, you may not shoot or practice as much.  There's a lot of marksmanship fundamentals to learn... Knowing your equipment, breath control, holding the rifle steady, pressing the trigger, adjusting for distance and wind, grouping, etc... All these transfer to the larger calibers also. If you can do good groups at 100 yards with the 22LR, then you can start practicing with the larger calibers.

Having less recoil, the 22LR is also good for training.  The lack of recoil helps you avoid bad habits, kind of like switching to a 22 pistol if you're not hitting anything with the 45.  Additionally, the larger 30 caliber ammo may beat up your shoulder, so if you're not used to it, you may stop after a bit.

Lastly the 22LR is not as loud, especially for the young ones. Kids may feel more comfortable learning on it than on a large 30 caliber rifle.

If your looking for a good bolt gun, check out savages. You can get a pretty good package model that is will shoot at least 1moa for about $500. As far as a caliber, right now, what ever caliber you can find ammo for. Without bullets, a rifle is just a stick. With that said 30.06 is still pretty easy to get and is still the same price. My theory is not to buy anything these inflated prices so unless you can find a pre panic priced ar style rifle don't bother. Build your collection with what you can get now. Everyone needs a good bolt gun and there are plenty out there a bargin prices (Savage Throphy Hunter, Mossberg ATR). Better to have a gun now with ammo than not having one and holding out for the perfect rifle. Trust me there is no perfect rifle. That's why I have several

I normally shoot about 200 rounds 60% .22lr/40% other stuff whenever I'm shooting rifle or pistol at koko head.  Mainly to save money, but also a good warmup to practice fundamentals like what was said earlier.  Allows me to get more practice in for the money.  If you shoot twice a month it equals to:
2,880 22lr rnds x $0.05 and 1,920 .223 rnds x $0.60 = $1,296 per year in ammo
vs.
4,800 .223 rnds x $0.60 = $2,880 per year in ammo

Get the same training and save $1600 .

And also save wear and tear on the gun.  a 22lr barrel and action will last almost forever and costs just $275 for a standard ruger 10/22.  An AR15 usually costs about $1,000 with barrel changes every 7,500 to 15,000 rounds.

Does the wind really affect the 22lr at 100 yards? For a 22lr is a longer barrel improve accuracy? 16" vs 21"?

Wind wil affect the .22 due to it small size and light weight.   At a 100 yards not to much but there is some drop and pitch.

Longer barrels with .22 is more accurate lower volociety.
A 16" barrel will hold the highest volociety but loose accuracy.   The best lenghts mix are 18-20 for the ruger 10/22 the most popular .22 lr.  They make bench barrels in 28" but lower power but very accurate get guys getting 5 shots under a dime in 10/22 builds for about $6-700

And also save wear and tear on the gun.

Yep, save the serious gun for serious needs.  Big calibers be $$ right now too.  I am hoarding mine.

Other than we freaks that were trained on heavy calibers, it makes great sense to learn and practice rifle fundamentals on a low recoil, low report firearm. 

Multiple days of "snapping in" with a DI and other instructors hovering over you makes the transition to the recoil and sound of actually firing a .308 not so shocking.  A relief in many ways.  In retrospect the training methods are so clear, but no way could you get civilians to follow that program.

Hence, the light recoil and sound of the .22 will suffice to gain the fundamentals and feedback without doing it the hard way.  Bad habits from flinching are hard to overcome.

Does the wind really affect the 22lr at 100 yards? For a 22lr is a longer barrel improve accuracy? 16" vs 21"?

Yes, one time when the wind was blowing really hard at KHSC, I was aiming at the right post of the 50 yard rifle target frame in order to get the bullets to land on the middle of the target.

Does the wind really affect the 22lr at 100 yards? For a 22lr is a longer barrel improve accuracy? 16" vs 21"?

Generally, shorter barrels have simpler harmonics for a given thickness than longer barrels, and thus better accuracy. But if you use iron sights, longer barrels allow for a longer sight radius. In other words, moving the muzzle by a certain number of angular degrees will result in the front sight moving a greater linear distance with a longer barrel than a shorter barrel, allowing you to see your point of aim more precisely. Competition shooters also sometimes use longer barrels so that the extra weight stabilizes the gun when shooting unsupported.

If the pressure behind the bullet is still building when it exits the muzzle, the shot’s accuracy will be strongly affected by the uniformity of the bullet’s base. .22 bullets will be highly irregular at the base, but you don’t need to worry about this since 16 inches gives .22’s powder plenty of time to burn.

As for .22 at 100 yards, keep in mind that almost all .22 loads will go subsonic before they reach 100 yards. When the sonic wave front collapses, it destabilizes the bullet. Thus, most target/competition loads will start out subsonic to avoid that transition. Also, don’t worry about a longer barrel slowing the bullet down – the difference will be minor with off-the-shelf barrel lengths.

To the OP, did you ever decide what to get?  I've been looking at the 30-06 bolt action rifles, and was just wondering.  I was thinking about going to a semi .308, but I think it's just a bad time for that.  Maybe some time in the future.  There is this: 

http://www.offthegridnews.com/2012/03/12/the-10-best-hunting-rifles-the-browning-bar-30-06/

I was eye balling for a while online.  I need to start looking to handle one if any LGS have.  I'm still not sure if I want  a semi or bolt action.  I was watching this thread for a while, as I am kinda in the same situation...  I've always kinda been a AR platform guy... Looking to change it up.

Get a 7.62x39 AK type rifle.

Used ones can be had for 600-700 dollars.

They're reliable, cheap and very inexpensive to feed.

They only go up in value.

2nd that notion.

7.62x39 best bang for the buck. 

Prices on this caliber didn't double like .223 5.56 did. 

Plentiful, common and tapered cartridge aids reliability. 

To the OP, did you ever decide what to get?  I've been looking at the 30-06 bolt action rifles, and was just wondering.  I was thinking about going to a semi .308, but I think it's just a bad time for that.  Maybe some time in the future.  There is this: 

http://www.offthegridnews.com/2012/03/12/the-10-best-hunting-rifles-the-browning-bar-30-06/

I was eye balling for a while online.  I need to start looking to handle one if any LGS have.  I'm still not sure if I want  a semi or bolt action.  I was watching this thread for a while, as I am kinda in the same situation...  I've always kinda been a AR platform guy... Looking to change it up.

Hi ImKu -- I decided to go for the 30 caliber hunting rifle rounds as a second rifle caliber, specifically the 30-06.  I figured that stocking up this caliber will allow me to get rifles for the two things I wanted it for:  (1) hunting anything and (2) puuloa range target shooting.  As for what rifle, I figured that it would have to be 2 different ones..   an M1 Garand from CMP for the Puuloa and a Tikka T3 Lite for hunting.  Why not the Remington 700?  If i was going to be lugging the rifle around, a light rifle would be better than a heavier one.  Otherwise, if I was mostly going to be benching it and carrying it from car to bench, then a Remington 700 sounds like a really good option.

What about the 308?  I found out that OGC actually has tons of 308's on stock.  They are selling bulk 1K rounds for $800, so if you want to get that caliber, OGC is the place to go.  The 30-06 bulk ammo would still be cheaper though and is plentiful at most gun shops.  So I think the 30-06 would be a cheaper for practice purposes.  I love the idea of getting the Gunsite Scout for a bush gun.   Unfortunately, it is only in 308 caliber.  I figured that if I was going to get a Gunsite Scout, I might as well get an AR or AK carbine at that point. 

My 3rd rifle caliber will either be a 223 or a 7.62x39 but I haven't decided yet and that will have to wait a bit.  I haven't jumped on the AK platform yet as I went to the different stores to look and have not found an AK for under $1000.  Where would one get a sub-$700 WASR as mentioned by I Hate Communists and Pit808 anyway?   I don't see one anywhere and I suspect that KK is buying them all up.    
 

By being inexpensive, the 22LR is good for training. If the ammo is too expensive, you may not shoot or practice as much.  There's a lot of marksmanship fundamentals to learn... Knowing your equipment, breath control, holding the rifle steady, pressing the trigger, adjusting for distance and wind, grouping, etc... All these transfer to the larger calibers also. If you can do good groups at 100 yards with the 22LR, then you can start practicing with the larger calibers.

Having less recoil, the 22LR is also good for training.  The lack of recoil helps you avoid bad habits, kind of like switching to a 22 pistol if you're not hitting anything with the 45.  Additionally, the larger 30 caliber ammo may beat up your shoulder, so if you're not used to it, you may stop after a bit.

Lastly the 22LR is not as loud, especially for the young ones. Kids may feel more comfortable learning on it than on a large 30 caliber rifle.

As a new shooter I went straight to 5.56/7.62.  I got the 22 much later......  what a mistake! 

One 4 hour session at the silhouette session, 400 rounds.....my groupings on larger calibers are much much better! Breathing, trigger control, flinching, focus, everything improves.   Night and day difference, and I'm consistent if not perfect now.  Get a 22, you'll be glad you did.