3 shades of grey! Now what to fill them with?

[Mikaveli]

I've had to fit another safe (in addition to my existing Brattonson and new ammo storage) to meet the requirements set by my FEO. All grey, but none of them match - see what I did there . In fairness, I did need some additional capacity - I just didn't expect to have everything granted on a first FAC, so I assumed my existing gunsafe would be enough.

Anyhoo, my certificate is due for delivery by the end of this week apparently, so I thought I'd ask for some general advice on what to fill my slots with, based on the disciplines I'll be shooting.

Here's what I've been granted:

2 x .22 LR Rifles - One will be for either BR or prone, the other will be for LSR, PS and / or GR.
1 x .357 Rifle - This will be an underlever for GR - I don't intend on fitting a scope (for the class I want), so a top ejector would be fine.
1 x .357 LBR - Again, for GR. My choices seem to be limited to either a Taurus or Uberti Buntline by default?
1 x .223 / 5.56 Rifle - This'll be for CSR / PR, and just for aesthetic purposes - probably some form of AR clone.
1 x .308 / 7.62 Rifle - For TR or MR, haven't entirely decided yet.
1 x .44 Muzzle loading revolver - For ML comps, obviously.

I'll happily take any suggestions for good, cheap and cheerful options or perhaps something more expensive but worth the extra. I'll be looking to spend around £400, give or take £200 on each bit of kit (with the exception of my .22 semi and .223 AR thingy, which I know I'll need to cough up more for).

[Dangermouse]

You have done well to get all that on your first fac - what firearms team do you come under?

DM

[John25]

A spare barrel for your .308. (inflation beater)

[Mikaveli]

You have done well to get all that on your first fac - what firearms team do you come under?

DM

Cambridgeshire. My FEO was happy that I'd demonstrated that I had a good reason for each and that they're all usable at my main club.

I already had a SGC, so maybe that helped? I was still surprised though - I'd stuck in a 'would be nice' in case I had to negotiate down, so I've ended up with a lot of shopping to do.

[Mikaveli]

A spare barrel for your .308. (inflation beater)

Would I need another slot for the spare? Would it really save me much in the long run?

[John25]

You only need a slot if the barrel is chambered. If it is not chambered it is just a lump of steel.

The amount of use/abuse you give it will determine how long it lasts you.

I shoot 6.5/284 and have a spare barrel chambered for the action, ready for when it goes, as it will - just like that ha-ha!

The cost of a replacement has gone up fifty quid since I bought it.

[Dougan]

Many, many options there

With that budget (though considerable in total) I advise patience, as at £400/600 you could find some nice second hand pieces...

For the lever - If you want to compete then you need a Marlin (I'm preparing now for incoming) ...you might find a nice 'pre-Remington' one that's already had work done to it (trigger kit etc.) for £500/600

If you want a .22 galley rifle, again you might find a nice Ruger 10/22 that has been modified for competition for £600...or just start with a basic 10/22 for £200/300

You're going to struggle to find a decent TR/MR rifle for less than £1000 - But there are some real bargains around for Muzzle loading pistols...

I don't know much about LBR or ARs; but I'm sure someone else can give you an idea for those.

[Thomas Turner]

I've had to fit another safe (in addition to my existing Brattonson and new ammo storage) to meet the requirements set by my FEO. All grey, but none of them match - see what I did there . In fairness, I did need some additional capacity - I just didn't expect to have everything granted on a first FAC, so I assumed my existing gunsafe would be enough.

Anyhoo, my certificate is due for delivery by the end of this week apparently, so I thought I'd ask for some general advice on what to fill my slots with, based on the disciplines I'll be shooting.

Here's what I've been granted:

2 x .22 LR Rifles - One will be for either BR or prone, the other will be for LSR, PS and / or GR.
1 x .357 Rifle - This will be an underlever for GR - I don't intend on fitting a scope (for the class I want), so a top ejector would be fine.
1 x .357 LBR - Again, for GR. My choices seem to be limited to either a Taurus or Uberti Buntline by default?
1 x .223 / 5.56 Rifle - This'll be for CSR / PR, and just for aesthetic purposes - probably some form of AR clone.
1 x .308 / 7.62 Rifle - For TR or MR, haven't entirely decided yet.
1 x .44 Muzzle loading revolver - For ML comps, obviously.

I'll happily take any suggestions for good, cheap and cheerful options or perhaps something more expensive but worth the extra. I'll be looking to spend around £400, give or take £200 on each bit of kit (with the exception of my .22 semi and .223 AR thingy, which I know I'll need to cough up more for).

I'm encouraged by this thread, I'd allready decided I want an 8 gun safe to allow for a small collection, space issues mean I have to sort that area out long before going for a licence, the 4 of us have figured out we need individual safes, and it will take us years to fill them on a budget of about £300-400 a year myself for guns and as has been said second hand for many, the kids may well have a bigger budget and with the advantage as we can all get different ones and share at the range ( I think) and as they do a clay shoot a couple of times a year I/we may as well get a SGC too.
It's early days yet that's for sure but safe to say every type of gun we try, we want :roll:

[Mikaveli]

Many, many options there

Thanks for the reply.

With that budget (though considerable in total) I advise patience, as at £400/600 you could find some nice second hand pieces...

For the lever - If you want to compete then you need a Marlin (I'm preparing now for incoming) ...you might find a nice 'pre-Remington' one that's already had work done to it (trigger kit etc.) for £500/600

If you want a .22 galley rifle, again you might find a nice Ruger 10/22 that has been modified for competition for £600...or just start with a basic 10/22 for £200/300

You're going to struggle to find a decent TR/MR rifle for less than £1000 - But there are some real bargains around for Muzzle loading pistols...

I don't know much about LBR or ARs; but I'm sure someone else can give you an idea for those.

One of the advantages of having to wait a good few months to pass a club probation, then the lengthy FAC process is it gives you time to save, if nothing else.

I'm not going to buy everything straight away, so if it's better to spend a little more to get much better kit, it'll be worth the wait - plus I haven't factored in how much of my savings I'll start sending down the range after I've made my first purchase or two. :lol:

So what makes the Marlin the de-facto comp gun?

I like the 10/22, but I don't think I'll get one. There's already a few at the club (including a club gun), so I'll probably get something different, just for the sake of variety. If I had the cash, it'd be the Lantac Raven currently in the for sale section...

I've had a few offers of cheap-ish MR and TR rifles - I don't expect to buy a comp winning rifle for my budget by any means - just something to learn the trade and improve my shooting. I'll upgrade later if my ability merits it.

I've also seen a few nice ML revolvers, they're cheap, but it looks like I'll also have to buy a fair bit of kit. How much corrosion / pitting should I expect to see if I buy secondhand?

[Mikaveli]

I'm encouraged by this thread, I'd allready decided I want an 8 gun safe to allow for a small collection, space issues mean I have to sort that area out long before going for a licence, the 4 of us have figured out we need individual safes, and it will take us years to fill them on a budget of about £300-400 a year myself for guns and as has been said second hand for many, the kids may well have a bigger budget and with the advantage as we can all get different ones and share at the range ( I think) and as they do a clay shoot a couple of times a year I/we may as well get a SGC too.
It's early days yet that's for sure but safe to say every type of gun we try, we want :roll:

Everyone will say it, but get the biggest safe you can first time.

I bought a 5 gun safe when I got my SGC, thinking it'd be future proofed.

Now I've had to buy another cab (this time a 9 gun), but it's meant I've had to take up the skirting board again, buy more rawl bolts and redecorate the aftermath...