What makes a rifle a *"beginner"* gun?

What makes a rifle a "beginner" gun?

Posted by eta_carinae17@reddit | Firearms | View on Reddit | 21 comments

I am shopping for my first AR, or rifle in general. I do own a beretta pistol for protecting myself and family in a dangerous area, but in my research I see "good for "beginners" a lot. I don't understand how this term applies to a firearm. I own a beretta, it is carried by professionals- police, the army, etc. but it cost no more than the average pistol. What makes say an m&p sport II/III or a palmetto state "beginner"

Are they less modifiable? Cheaper manufacturing/materials? This is an honest question and not a rant, I am just trying to genuinely understand the concept of beginner rifle, when most are milspec, etc. I want to make sure my purchase is sound, safe and durable.

Thanks in advance for entertaining the dumb question!

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Outrageous-Basis-106@reddit

I would say its fairly pleasant to shoot such as recoil, flash, and sound. Easier to maintain and requires less maintenance. Parts need replaced less, easier to replace, and are easier to source. Easier to use. Reliable. More people can advise on it and advise correctly. Etc.

Cheap (cost) is a plus but at the same time if someone has the money, it doesn't necessarily matter if they are a beginner. Just like if they don't have the money then it doesn't matter how advanced they are. Cheaping out when its not necessary can go against things like reliability, ease of maintenance, repairs, etc which are more important.

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Stevarooni@reddit

Cost is one thing, but also sophistication. This thinking is fading a bit, but iron sights would be considered a "beginner" thing for both handguns and rifles. A lot of people might suggest a .22lr as a "beginner" thing, as it has easier recoil and it's cheaper to train with. For collectors, a "beginner" rifle is going to be something pretty cheap and readily-available, because you probably shouldn't buy something that's hundreds of thousands as your first collector rifle.

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Lower-Ad-1300@reddit

Ya wanna spend a buck per round or 10-12 cents ? Get a Ruger 10-22. So much fun and cheap

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N0V-A42@reddit

Easily obtainable ammunition for training.

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OldGamerX79@reddit

I would suggest you start with the Ruger 10/22. Easy to maintain. Easy to shoot. Easy to customize. You can compete with it as it at Rimfire Challenge matches or Steel Challenge matches. Easy to find ammo for and overall great rifle for target practice, small game, and competition.

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W1ldT1m@reddit

A beginner gun is one that is relatively inexpensive, reliable, and ready to use right out of the box.

As you get more experience you might want more expensive features. You might want to build your own gun from parts. You might want more power.

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loki993@reddit

< What makes say an m&p sport II/III or a palmetto state "beginner"

They're affordable and they work. Thats pretty much it. You can try one out without having to make a huge investment if you don't like it for some reason.

They're reliable so they wont give you trouble that you have to figure out. You can generally just take it out an shoot it.

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ArceusTwoFour_Zero@reddit

An AR is a nearly perfect beginner rifle.

Ammo is cheap and common.
Customizability. Mounting optics or other attachments is simple. Most have a retractable stock, which means you can make the length of pull perfect for someone who is 6'5, or someone who is 5'0 in an instant.
Aftermarket support. Magazines and parts are common.
Recoil is light, which is great for teaching new rifle shooters.
Lightweight. The AR-15 platform in 5.56 is ridiculously light and handy, especially compared to the average shotgun.
Ergonomics. The location of Everything on an AR is almost perfect, the grip, mag release button, charging handle. The AR is almost perfect in terms of ergos, (in my opinion).
Disassembly and reassembly is dead simple. I watched a video once, and have never needed one since. The takedown is very simple and reassembly is also simple.
The 5.56 cartridge is actually great for home defense purposes. When using frangible ammo, it penetrates less interior walls compared to even 9mm. Evidence, https://youtu.be/j3BlRPtCj2E?si=X4z2bcIQpro-vIzr
Use cases. You can get a 10.5 AR pistol for home defense, or get a 20 inch barrel m16 type clone for drip. One can trick out an AR to their specific need. Wheatejr that be LARP, home defense, precision, or hunting
Inexpensive rifles. Depending on your budget, you can get a PSA m4 clone for 350-400 bucks on a holiday sale, relatively inexpensive and will serve most people well. Or if your budget's high, you can get a Daniel defense or a KAC if you hate money.

The AR nearly checks every box for a gun to have, easy to modify, great ergos, low recoil, cheap ammo, available and common parts, and fits a wide range of budgets.

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SmoothSlavperator@reddit

11.) It was designed from the ground up to be a "beginner rifle". Cold War fears of WWIII required a rifle you could hand to any draftee, have it be ergonomic and intuitive enough that they can shoot it effectively with a minimum amount of instruction, Light and low recoil enough that people of all body types can carry an maneuver with it, and then be easy enough to maintain in the field with the fewest number of tools.

I have an ongoing study thats probably around 20 people male/female from like 9 years old to 30 at this point where I take someone that has NEVER fired a gun before, grab my A2 build, draw a proper sight picture in the dirt with a stick, spend less than 5 minutes coaching them on proper hold, stance, breathing, and trigger squeeze, have them dry fire a few times....and then place a beer can at 25 yards, chamber 1 round and have them shoot off hand. Out of those 20 or so, no one has missed.

If you can do that and hit beercans at 25 yards off hand, that's the epitome of a "beginner's gun". Scale that out, what is that a man-sized target at 200?

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Big_Hat1751@reddit

I’d say it’s what comes with the gun. More expensive guns do tend to run better, but it’s something you don’t really need unless you’re a high level competitive shooter or LEO/Military.

Side note: don’t buy a complete gun, it’s easy to get a kit and build it yourself. You understand the gun a lot better if you build it yourself and have you don’t really need tools besides a castle nut wrench.

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factorV@reddit

On a beginner rifle, both the safe and dangerous ends are clearly labeled.

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Imaginary_Relief7886@reddit

A 16 inch 5.56 rifle, mid length gas tube. M lok handgaurd A red dot. Something like a sig Romeo 5 and a set of back up irons.

Get some ammo and start practicing

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Somersetkyguy@reddit

there is no such thing. its just a bunch of wanna be armchair warriors telling you that you are not good enough because their gun coasts more. most of them have never even fired a full box of ammo nor fired anywhere other then an indoor range. they live in a fantasy world where they will engage an entire army fire off 100,000 rounds eradicating the army then be lifted upon high and celebrated. in reality they are 250lbs over weight with diabetes and an anxiety disorder. any gun that is reliable is a good gun.

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FearWont@reddit

I’ll say bang for the buck. To try and elaborate on everyone saying price. An inexpensive gun that is also reliable. Inexpensive to shoot. And is easy to operate. That’s a good beginning gun. Once you know what you do and don’t like about your beginner gun. You can modify it or purchase a different gun that will remedy your last concern.

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Diligent-Parfait-236@reddit

It's 95% price, besides price there's also size, caliber, and general usefulness. In a rifle a short barrel will generally be extremely loud, the sound alone can injure you, this breeds fear and bad habits. Full power cartridges are harder to control and even louder when made short. General usefulness can mean a lot of things but for example a 28" barrel 20lb bolt action isn't a bad gun per.se but it's only really suited to sit on a bench and shoot a single target when a beginner is more likely to need a do it all solution.

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Stogie__Monster@reddit

Cost

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glassyshmassy@reddit

This really is a much bigger consideration than most people realize when starting.

If youre actually looking to shoot your gun regularly, ammo cost should definitely be the main factor when deciding. Its very easy to blow through a few hundred rounds in an hour. Like, that isnt even an exaggeration at all. The average AR mag holds 30 rounds and can be fired in single digit seconds.

Of course, that same mag can last as long as you'd like it to, but from my own experience, and the others ive seen at the range, it seems like its rare for it to take longer than a minute until youre empty.

So shooting 10 to 20 magazines in an hour isnt some rapid fire exercise or anything. It goes quick.

And many rifle cartridges can be a dollar or 2 per round or more. Even 556 or 762 is around 50 cents or so. Yes, they can be had for less, but for the sake of easy math.

That means even 10 mags in an hour will cost you 150 bucks in ammo alone.

TLDR: really consider if youre wanting to shoot a lot of just here and there. Nothing wrong with either choice. But if you want to shoot a lot right away to get the basics down, consider a .22 and save for whatever else next. Something like an MP sport 22 has all the same controls as any AR and will let you get comfortable with all the basic skills. And you can shoot all day for 100 bucks.

Good luck, buy what you want, just be safe and HAVE FUN!

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