One of the reasons for not wanting a left handed rifle right now is I want to be able to be able to handle any rifle I come across. One of the great things I have seen in the firearms community is how willing people are to let other people shoot their guns. I personally want to have a certain level of comfort with a right handed configuration before I would be willing to take someone up on their kind offer.The Annoyed Man wrote:I'm just curious why you don't want a left-handed one for yourself.
Another reason is having moved here from NY, my out of state friends who visit are from NY, my family is all originally from NY, and living right outside Austin, even most of the local people I know are transplants. Odds are when I take someone I know to the range they will have very little if any experience with firearms. Having a rifle configuration most people can use and being competent in it's use myself I think makes sense for me.
I may have worded it poorly in my original post, and I am not writing off the idea of ever owning a left handed rifle. Once I get a some range time and get a better idea of the specific things I want in a rifle I am sure I will want to upgrade and I would be very open to buying a left handed rifle then.
A number of people have suggested the Ruger 10/22 and I will definitely pick one up at some point. From my understanding no gun safe is complete without one.Pawpaw wrote:As for the 22, I would consider getting a 10/22 instead. It will cost less money and, being semi-auto, allow you to focus totally on the mechanics of shooting without the distraction of working the bolt.
As a side benefit, the 10/22 is the most customizable 22 rifle in the world. As you grow and get into the shooting sports, you can customize yours pretty much any way you want.
My only experience with a bolt action was shooting a few rounds from an old beat up Mosin. It was loud, kicked like a mule, and neither ergonomic nor comfortable would be words I would use to describe it. Not the rifle I would give to a rookie, but I suspect it was more about them wanting to see my reaction than anything else. That being said, working the action on it was really enjoyable. I have a M&P 15, and I enjoy shooting it, but it just doesn't appeal to me in the emotional way a bolt action does. Even if I could get a cheaper, more accurate and more reliable semi-auto rifle I'd still want a bolt action, for no other reason than it's a bolt action.
Once again thanks everyone for the feedback, and I will check out the other brands of rifles people have suggested.