Rifles
A rifle is a long gun fired from the shoulder. Spiral grooves inside the barrel, called rifling, spin the bullet like a football, so it flies straight and far: 100 to 500 yards is normal, and much more with practice.
The parts of a rifle
Types of rifles
| Type | What it is | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Bolt action | Work the bolt by hand between shots | Hunting and long range: the most accurate for the money |
| Semi-automatic | One shot per trigger pull; reloads itself | Practice, varmints, hogs, home and ranch defense (AR-15, Ruger 10/22) |
| Lever action | Swing the lever to reload | Deer in the brush, nostalgia, fun |
| Single shot | Load one round by hand | First rifle for kids, simple hunting |
| Rimfire vs centerfire | Rimfire (.22) has the primer in the rim; centerfire has it in the middle of the base | Rimfire is cheap practice; centerfire is for hunting and defense |
Common rifle calibers
| Caliber | Good for | Recoil | Ammo cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| .22 LR | Practice, squirrels, rabbits | Almost none | Lowest |
| .223 Rem / 5.56 NATO | AR-15s, coyotes, varmints, hogs at close range | Light | Low |
| .243 Win | Deer for young or small shooters, varmints | Light | Medium |
| 6.5 Creedmoor | Deer, long-range target shooting | Mild | Medium |
| .308 Win | Deer, hogs, elk at moderate range | Moderate | Medium |
| .30-06 Springfield | Deer to elk and moose | Moderate to stiff | Medium |
| .30-30 Win | Lever-action deer rifle, close range | Moderate | Medium |
The best three rifles
One for each job most people start with.
Ruger 10/22 Carbine (.22 LR)
About $300 (MSRP $389)
The most popular .22 rifle ever made. Semi-automatic, a 10-round rotary magazine, very reliable, and endless accessories. Perfect for learning, teaching kids, and small game.
Ruger American Rifle Gen II (bolt action)
About $600 (MSRP $729)
Accurate, light and affordable, in calibers from .243 to .308, 6.5 Creedmoor and .30-06. Add a 3-9x40 scope and you are ready for deer season.
An AR-15 such as the Ruger Harrier (.223/5.56)
About $700 (MSRP $699)
Light, low recoil, easy to customize, and good for practice, coyotes, hogs and defense. The Harrier replaced Ruger's popular AR-556. Check your state: some restrict AR-15s and magazines.
Also worth a look: Tikka T3x Lite (about $825, a smoother premium bolt action), Henry Golden Boy (.22 lever action, about $520), Savage Axis II (budget bolt action, about $400). Prices are typical November 2026 street prices.
Sights and scopes
| Sight | Good for | About |
|---|---|---|
| Iron sights | Learning, close range, backup | Included on many rifles |
| Red dot | Fast shooting out to about 100 yards; AR-15s | $100 to $500 |
| Scope (3-9x40 is the classic) | Hunting and anything past 100 yards | $150 to $600 for a good first scope |
| Rings or a mount | Holds the scope; buy quality ones | $40 to $150 |
Spend about as much on the scope as on the rifle for a hunting rifle. A cheap scope that loses zero ruins a hunt.
Cleaning and maintaining a rifle
You need: a one-piece cleaning rod or a pull-through cable in your caliber, a bore guide, a jag and patches, a bronze bore brush, bore solvent, gun oil, and a soft cloth. A caliber-specific kit costs $20 to $60.
- Unload and check twice. Remove the magazine, open the action, look and feel in the chamber. Keep all ammo out of the room.
- Remove the bolt (bolt action) or open the rifle as the manual shows.
- Clean the bore from the chamber end when you can: a wet patch of solvent, 5 to 10 passes with the brush, let it soak a few minutes, then dry patches until they come out clean.
- Clean the bolt and action with a rag and a little solvent; an old toothbrush helps.
- Oil lightly: one dry-ish oiled patch through the bore, and a thin film on metal parts. Too much oil collects dirt.
- Check screws on the scope rings, action and sling swivels.
- Store it in a safe, muzzle up or level, not in a foam case for long periods (it traps moisture).
When: after every range trip or hunt, right away after rain, and a deeper cleaning every few hundred rounds. A .22 LR can go a few hundred rounds between cleanings.
Shooting a rifle
| Step | What to do |
|---|---|
| 1. Get steady | Shoot from a bench with a rest or sandbags at first; later prone, sitting, or with shooting sticks |
| 2. Fit the rifle | Butt firmly in the pocket of your shoulder, cheek on the stock, eye 3 to 4 inches behind a scope |
| 3. Line up the sights | Front sight in focus (iron sights), or the crosshair on the target (scope) |
| 4. Breathe | Breathe normally and fire in the natural pause after you breathe out |
| 5. Press the trigger | Straight back, slowly, so the shot surprises you. Don't jerk or flinch |
| 6. Follow through | Keep your eye on the target and the trigger pressed for a second after the shot |
Sighting in a scope (zeroing)
- Shoot a 3-shot group at 25 yards to get on paper.
- Move to 100 yards and shoot another group.
- Turn the elevation and windage knobs toward where the group should go. Most scopes move 1/4 inch at 100 yards per click.
- Repeat until the center of the group is where you want it, usually 1 to 2 inches high at 100 yards for hunting.
The right ammo for rifles
| Kind | Use it for |
|---|---|
| Full metal jacket (FMJ) | Practice and target shooting; cheaper; does not expand |
| Soft point or polymer tip | Hunting: expands for a clean, humane kill |
| Match (hollow point boat tail) | Best accuracy for targets and long range |
| Solid copper | Lead-free hunting; required in some places, such as California |
Use only the cartridge stamped on your barrel. A .223-only rifle should not fire 5.56 NATO, though most 5.56 rifles can fire .223. See the ammo guide for where to buy and how to store it.