Best Starting Rifle for Hunter Class

sshooter · Post by **sshooter** » Sun Aug 20, 2006 8:05 pm

I'm just starting silhouette and am wondering which rifle to buy. I want to keep things simple so I'll be shooting the hunter class only. I want to be competitive but I'm on a budget. Can I get by with a 10-22 with an aftermarket sporter contour barrel and a better stock? How about the CZ 452 or one of Savage's .22's. Any advice would be appreciated.

genphideaux · Post by **genphideaux** » Mon Aug 21, 2006 4:28 am

sshooter,

CZ 452 american, weaver silhouette special 24x with 1/2 min dot 1/4 min clicks, sk jagd, american eagle or wolf ammo (test differant lots) and shoot it in both classes.

Just my .02 cents

ajj · Post by **ajj** » Mon Aug 21, 2006 5:21 am

What Dawg said, all in one sentence, too.

papabear · Post by **papabear** » Mon Aug 21, 2006 5:52 am

What Dawg said is a good starter set, just add a lot of practice and patience and that should do the trick.

Why only hunter class, your gun will qualify for standard class as well?

Koldkut · Post by **Koldkut** » Mon Aug 21, 2006 6:25 am

ditto on what the Dawg said, I took his advice and the CZ 452 american is a sweet gun for the money, mine shoots SK standard plus very well. third match for me and I put up an 18/40 unofficially. Thats with 2 practice sessions a week shooting between 50-100 rounds. My scope is only an $80 trashco, but it works for getting used to this sport enough for me to be seriously looking at the weaver t24 series....

GeoNLR · Post by **GeoNLR** » Mon Aug 21, 2006 8:10 am

genphideaux wrote:sshooter,

CZ 452 american, weaver silhouette special 24x with 1/2 min dot 1/4 min clicks, sk jagd, american eagle or wolf ammo (test differant lots) and shoot it in both classes.

Just my .02 cents

Ditto.

Keep in mind, if you have a scope that will not track reliably it will make this game much harder than it already is. Buy good glass, take care of it (don't scratch it, ding it, wipe the coating off the lens) and you can sell it later if you device to get into fishing or something....

BTW> I can sell you one of those scopes cheap..LOL

Also it may be worth your time to price the rifle at Whittakers and shipping + local FFL. They are the largest CZ seller in the country and their prices reflect that...

Koldkut · Post by **Koldkut** » Mon Aug 21, 2006 9:27 am

GeoNLR wrote:Also it may be worth your time to price the rifle at Whittakers and shipping + local FFL. They are the largest CZ seller in the country and their prices reflect that...

X2 on Whittakers, http://www.whittakerguns.com/ this is where I ordered mine from.

genphideaux · Post by **genphideaux** » Mon Aug 21, 2006 10:17 am

Chickster,

you wrote

"you can sell it later if you device to get into fishing or something....

"

What pray tell is a device for getting into a fish.......is it called a billschat....

LMFAO

Jetmugg · Post by **Jetmugg** » Mon Aug 21, 2006 12:45 pm

There is a 452 American with a Mueller 3x10 scope and BKL rings for sale on Rimfire Central right now, if it hasn't already been sold.

SteveM.

slowstdy · Post by **slowstdy** » Mon Aug 21, 2006 12:52 pm

It's no good for Silhouette it's .17hmr

GeoNLR · Post by **GeoNLR** » Mon Aug 21, 2006 1:01 pm

genphideaux wrote:Chickster,

you wrote

"you can sell it later if you device to get into fishing or something.... "

What pray tell is a device for getting into a fish.......is it called a billschat....

LMFAO

Well, you caught me twice...1. = Decide, 2. = Billshat (I was wondering if anyone was going to catch that)

genphideaux · Post by **genphideaux** » Mon Aug 21, 2006 4:17 pm

Chickster,

Billschat is Billschat

consider yourself caught........LMFAO

sshooter · Post by **sshooter** » Mon Aug 21, 2006 6:26 pm

Thanks for the responses. I'll be looking at the CZ.

BlauBear · Post by **BlauBear** » Mon Aug 21, 2006 7:26 pm

My suggestions are just a little different.

Unless you're accustomed to high power scopes, a Weaver V16 may work better for starters. It's hard to steady on target and high magnification makes it worse in the beginning. A variable power scope lets you step into it as you're ready.

A CZ 452 Silhouette has a synthetic stock, rubber butt pad, cheek piece and a lighter trigger out of the box. It can be made better but it's closer to right for Silhouette than the American.

Jason · Post by **Jason** » Mon Aug 21, 2006 7:32 pm

I'd agree that the Silhouette is a better starter gun than the American because of the stock shape. I don't think the triggers are any lighter, though, as I've handled and shot probably 40+ of the 452s now of various models and haven't noticed a difference. According to CZ-USA, the 452 triggers are all the same on all models, also. I most definitely agree that a 24-power scope is a LOT of power for a new silhouette shooter to deal with. I'd go with a good quality (not BSA, Tasco, etc.) variable in the 4-16 or 6-24x range. If you get something like the Elite 4200 in the 6-24x model with the dot reticle, you can just move it to any silhouette gun you get in the future if you get more interested in the sport. It's good enough to take you through right up to master class on a custom gun. As has already been said, good quality scopes that are taken care of hold their resale value very well if you decide you want a different scope later or just decide that silhouette isn't for you.

Best Starting Rifle for Hunter Class

Best Starting Rifle for Hunter Class

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