Really cool sight here ! I find myself wanting to shoot a small bore match here in Arizona . My local range has these once a month & I have decided to try the next one . Not sure what rifle I'm going to use . I have several .22 rifles at this time but find myself without a bolt action . I think I am going to shoot this match with a 1953 Marlin 39a . I know , I know but this is the most accurate .22 I have . It will shoot one ragged hole from 50 yards all day long with bulk ammo & the cheap Simmons scope it came with . Having said this .......
If I find I enjoy this little game I would find myself in the market for another bolt action .22 . Funds are limited so a 1712 is out ;)
Question # 1 : Is a CZ 452 Trainer a good entry level option ? They are available for a decent enough price .
Question # 2 : Would my money be better spent picking up a Savage & having more money to spend on glass ?
Question #3 : Would an older Marlin bolt action with decent glass be out of the question ? Im very familiar with these as far as tweeking triggers & squeezing the most out of them .
Not looking to take the world by storm , just want to have fun . If I find myself hooked a better, more suitable rifle could be had a ways down the road .
Thanks in advance for considering my questions ,
Al

Now everyone will have their own opinion, but one thing I think most of us agree on is that a good scope and mediocre rifle will go further than a good rifle and mediocre scope. Spend your money on glass.

My vote for a true "budget" rifle, right now, is the Ruger American Rimfire.
http://www.steelchickens.com/forums/vie ... f=1&t=8366

Trent wrote:Now everyone will have their own opinion, but one thing I think most of us agree on is that a good scope and mediocre rifle will go further than a good rifle and mediocre scope. Spend your money on glass.

My vote for a true "budget" rifle, right now, is the Ruger American Rimfire.
http://www.steelchickens.com/forums/vie ... f=1&t=8366

I agree with Trent on this one.... A good scope and a good set of rings will get you a long ways....

Let me add - we have a smallbore Cowboy Lever Action Silhouette match this weekend - but, you'll have to shoot it without the scope. Tucson Rifle Club in 3-Points, Saturday 8:00. We shoot Pistol cartridge and small bore at the same time (the .22 targets are lighter). The 2nd match is standard CLA (.30-30s etc) but a couple of guys don't like to walk 200 yards and simply shoot the small bore targets twice. http://www.tucsonrifleclub.org/

And a CZ 452 is a fine rifle - I'm sure the Annie crowd will argue that point, but it is a fine rifle and you can always buy a "more expensive" one if you start shooting better than the rifle does. The Marlin is a favorite of the Lever action group and with good glass it should make a fine Hunter's class rifle...you won't be embarrassed to shoot in in a small bore match I've seen far less rifles give shooter a lot of joy.

Check out the Ben Avery schedule http://www.azgfd.gov/outdoor_recreation ... hedule.pdf (and http://www.azgfd.gov/outdoor_recreation/ben_avery.shtml) and the schedule for the range at Rio Salada http://www.riosaladosportsmans.com/

After these three I'm out of locations for you.

Michael

+3 on good glass.... rifle can be a lazer but if the glass doesn't do it's job it's for nought. You can shoot well into AAA with a average rifle and good glass, the glass will transfer to a new better rifle later.

Thanks for the feedback everyone . I will shoot this upcoming event with my Marlin & see how I like it . Can't see how it won't be fun . Looking to keep my shooting hobby interesting & break away from the same old targets out in the desert . I think the route I will go will be shoot what I have for now with the intention of picking me up a bolt gun around the holidays ;) A 452 if I can swing it .
Michael ,
A cowboy smallbore match sure does sound fun ! I have a skinner sight on order for my 39a Once I get that & the front sight options ironed out I think a trip to Tucson will be in order . I'm about a 90 minute drive away . I shoot at Rio Salado when I Need to sight something in or shoot in the shade . Thanks for the links !
Al

There is nothing wrong with a CZ. I used one when I first started as did many others. The 1712 will not make you a better shooter than a CZ will. I think what many fail to realize when they start this game and look around at equipment is that the majority of people shooting custom 1712s and 54.18s are well into this sport as their hobby. As such many will end up getting their ultimate rifle after awhile and then there is nothing else to get except more ammo. It is just like any other hobby. There is entry level equipment and then there is the higher end for those that want it once they are hooked on something.

I have fly rod setups that cost less than $75 for the rod and reel combined and I have rods and reels alone worth hundreds each. I can catch just as many fish with the cheaper rod and reel but the nicer rods have a better feel and cast to them and better reels are smoother and more refined. But it is still up to me to make the cast and work the fly in the right manner to entice a fish to bite. They don't know if I am using a $75 combo special or a deluxe $750 combo, only I do.

So the equipment costs are all relative to you involvement in the hobby or sport. If you are just a newbie trying things out start with the entry level stuff and decide if this is your thing. Then if it is and you want to move up go ahead and make the jump to the end game and cry once.

Dee

+1 to what everyone on here said. I am also new to the sport having started at the beginning of this summer. Your rifle will be good to try it out, I still shoot iron sights and will for some time more. If you are in the Phoenix valley, there are matches at Ben Avery. I do not know who runs the cowboy action matches but the standard smallbore and highpower is run by the Hassayampa Club: http://phoenix.riflesilhouette.com/welcome.html

Great people and all were very friendly. There is another smallbore this coming Sunday.

Dee wrote:I have fly rod setups that cost less than $75 for the rod and reel combined and I have rods and reels alone worth hundreds each. I can catch just as many fish with the cheaper rod and reel but the nicer rods have a better feel and cast to them and better reels are smoother and more refined. But it is still up to me to make the cast and work the fly in the right manner to entice a fish to bite. They don't know if I am using a $75 combo special or a deluxe $750 combo, only I do.

Dee

What is a fly fisherman doing trapped in middle-Louisiana?

I fish for very discerning fish and they'll not bite unless my equipment costs total a minimum of $750. Very picky fish they are. (That's what I tell my wife anyway )

I'm going to Belize for 2 weeks in December. It's a family vacation. Little does my family know that I will be fly fishing every available minute. Pretty excited!

[/quote]

What is a fly fisherman doing trapped in middle-Louisiana?

I fish for very discerning fish and they'll not bite unless my equipment costs total a minimum of $750. Very picky fish they are. (That's what I tell my wife anyway )

I'm going to Belize for 2 weeks in December. It's a family vacation. Little does my family know that I will be fly fishing every available minute. Pretty excited![/quote]

Trent you have evidently never wet a line in the Sportsman's Paradise of South Louisiana. I guarantee a nice fat bull redfish will put lead in your pencil on the fly. Cajun Bonefish we call them when fly fishing for them. Sure we don't have the little river trout but I have fished for them before and while scenic the lack of a screaming reel with most of the fish caught left a little to be desired. But I am spoiled growing up fishing the marshes and swamps of La.

I hear Belize is a fishing mecca you should have a blast. About 10 years ago I managed a week in Walker's Cay for a vacation anniversary trip. Pure fishing bliss and scenic! I am sure Belize will be the same and I hope to get there one day myself.

Dee

Ever cast to red tailing reds in a back-bay along the gulf?
A couple of years ago a guy was fighting something big just off one of the bridges in Corpus Christi - brought traffic to a complete stop and got me back into flyfishing... never did see what he hooked but his 10wt was putting up a good fight for the 20 minutes I was stopped there.

I envy your trip to Belize

Michael

Dee wrote: I am sure Belize will be the same and I hope to get there one day myself.

Dee

Do they have a big silhouette match there? If so, I'll go with you and we can shoot and you can fish. I'll even bring the family and knock out a family vacation while we're at it.

Dustin

snaketail2 wrote:Ever cast to red tailing reds in a back-bay along the gulf?
A couple of years ago a guy was fighting something big just off one of the bridges in Corpus Christi - brought traffic to a complete stop and got me back into flyfishing... never did see what he hooked but his 10wt was putting up a good fight for the 20 minutes I was stopped there.

I envy your trip to Belize

Michael

I went to Panama City last month to target tailing reds but with all the rain the water quality was crap... literally. (poopy) I'm going to get back down there and catch some though.

Ahh. Bring back the good ole days of 1993 in Rockport TX. We literally ran over herds of reds with the tunnel hull boat that would cover an acre. We'd kill the engine and drift and within 20 min would limit out on legal fish. One day, my buddy and I caught 47 reds before 10 am and kept 6 for the freezer.

Aw, man, I really miss salt water fishing in the Gulf. I tried San Diego two weeks ago - not the same, although the Navy SEAL did put up a pretty good fight.