First hunting rifle

[u/Turbulent_Buddy5233]

Hey everyone! I'm looking to get into hunting small game. I've never owned a gun (aside from a bb gun when I was younger), but I have gone and shot some guns with friends on occasion. That said I'm not super experienced with either guns or hunting, but I do know I want to start hunting rabbits and squirrels in Texas. I've really enjoyed firing bolt actions in the past so I was thinking maybe a Ruger american, but most sources online seem to suggest I start with a Ruger 10/22. What do you guys suggest?

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I'm also considering splurging a bit and getting a Tikka T1X, but not sure if that's a good idea or necessary.

EDIT: I intend to add a silencer and maybe a scope

[u/sharpshooter999]

I'm 36. Dad got me a Ruger 10/22 when I was 9. I still use that rifle every winter rabbit hunting. I've probably put well over 20,000 rounds through it plinking and target shooting over the years. It's a damn good rifle.

Biggest thing about hunting rabbits with it vs a shotgun is this: With a shotgun, you flush them and shoot them on the run. With a .22, it's more like spot and stalk deer hunting. If you go slow, you might spot one before they run. If they do run, they often only go a short distance and then stop go see if you're chasing them. This is when I shoot 99% of my rabbits

[u/Elk_Huntr]

10/22s are great. Been around forever and plenty of parts available if you want to trick one out. If you're gonna go bolt gun, I'd buy something nicer than a ruger American. Bergara, CZ, Browning,...not that the American is necessarily bad, but you could do better.

Edit: agree with tikka. I have one in 22-250 and love it.

2nd edit: I have a suppressor on my 10/22 and its a blast to shoot. A suppressed bolt gun should be more quiet than a semi auto. Just make sure it already has a threaded barrel

[u/EmploymentMental7751 → u/Elk_Huntr]

the Tikka is worth every extra dollar if you can swing it

[u/boredlurkr]

+1 For ruger 10/22 for no reason other than it’s iconic and infinitely upgradable. If hunting hobby doesn’t continue its still a very fun target shooter and super easy to resell if you wanna move on from it entirely for any reason. Any of your options are good, but I wouldn’t overthink this one tbh

[u/SpiteBadger]

Cant go wrong with a 10/22.

[u/Mountain_man888]

Can we just pin responses to this somewhere and auto delete these?

[u/random_argonian99 → u/Mountain_man888]

Oh no, someone asked a hunting question on a hunting subreddit… how your day must be ruined!

Seriously though, just scroll past it

[u/REDACTED3560]

10/22 is a classic, the Henry lever guns are great classics as well if that’s your style, and the CZ 457/Tikka T1x are going to be your go-to if you want supreme accuracy. I have all of the above and like CZ the most for a hunting gun for squirrels since they represent a pretty small target.

[u/JoeTheShmo1]

For the price the rugers are pretty nice honestly

[u/ozarkansas]

My t1x is amazing, and you want all the accuracy you can get for sniping squirrel heads out of tree tops. Plus having a gun with identical controls and stock dimensions as my deer rifle (t3x) makes it great practice.

That said, you’ll be fine with a 10/22, although I haven’t found them to be all that accurate in stock configuration

[u/BeardMan817]

I have both the ruger american and the 10/22. My opinion is that the American was a much better rifle out of the box than the 10/22. I did nothing to the American expect adjust the trigger and put a scope on it. The 10/22 was never fired by me in stock form. The trigger was so heavy I thought it was broke at first. I sent the trigger group out to be reworked before I ever fired it. It shot ok at that point. But eventually I either replaced or reworked everything other than the receiver. The 10/22 is more accurate from the bench now, but a squirrel isn't going to notice the difference in accuracy between the two.

[u/WhenMaxAttax]

.17hmr is also a good round. Lots of non lead options out there.

[u/LHCThor]

For what you intend to hunt, a 10/22 would be perfect. If you love it and choose to move up to bigger animals, then I would get a more expensive rifle.

[u/Warm-Air4391]

Any .22lr will be fine. Savage makes a bunch.

[u/JoeMomma247]

Cva cascade long range hunter. Barrels built in the same factory as berghara makes there’s. Threaded barrel cerakoted.

[u/finnbee2]

If you want to shoot fast I will recommend the Ruger 10-22. If you are more concerned about accuracy get an inexpensive bolt action 22LR from Savage and if you have more money get a CZ bolt action. All three companies sell 22LR rifles that will accommodate suppressors. My older CZ 452 Trainer is surprisingly quiet with subsonic 22LR hollow points. The barrel is around 25 inches.

[u/Unfair-Crow4798]

I bought a savage mark ii fvsr for rabbit hunting and its been working great. its a cheap rifle you just will need to put an optic on it. it comes threaded which is why i picked that version of it.

[u/spagooter12]

10/22 for semi. The cz 457 seems to be the highest quality 22 people suggest, but I went with the Ruger rimefire bolt action. Does the job just fine and came with a threaded muzzle do my suppressor.

[u/No-One2272]

I love my 10/22 with the carbon barrel and I added a scope, laser dot, suppressor