The number of states in which 18 to 20-year-olds can legally purchase a long gun is beginning to dwindle. First, The Gunshine State, home to Broward County’s amazing leader, Sheriff Scott Israel, raised the legal age for acquiring a rifle or shotgun to 21. Now there are similar efforts afoot in Washington state, Vermont, California, Delaware and plenty more.
So we thought that the 11 million or so people in the US who are over 18 but under 21 might want to consider dipping into their savings or using their tax refund to buy a rifle or two. Now. While they still can. Toward that end, here are a few suggestions of some worthy long guns than any under-21 American would be proud to own.
Everyone should have a good, reliable .22 rifle. They’re relatively inexpensive to buy (this one’s under $500), fun to shoot, great for building your shooting skills and ammo is cheap. The CZ 455 is nicely built and will let you terrorize paper targets, can, squirrels and rabbits out to 100 yards and beyond.
Palmetto State Armory 16-Inch Freedom Rifle
If you’re going to run out and buy a rifle before the politicians tell you that you can’t, you might as well make it an AR-15, amiright? Eugene Stoner’s meisterwerk is America’s favorite long gun for good reason.
It’s light, infinitely configurable, and versatile. Palmetto’s Freedom Rifle lets you bring home an AR that you can then customize, if you want, for a little over five bills. While it’s probably not your forever AR (buy an FN if that’s what you want and you have the scratch). But the Palmetto Freedom Rifle is a great entry level AR most 18 to 20-year-olds will have fun shooting and be able to afford.
If hunting’s your thing, you won’t go wrong with something from Mossberg’s MVP line (that’s the MVP Varmint above). With their laminate wood stocks, they have that traditional vibe to them. Best of all, they’re affordable and available in 5.56, 6.5 Creedmoor and .308 Win. to handle just about any kind of game you’ll be stalking.
Maybe you’ve been shooting a while and a precision bolt gun has been languishing on your list. Well, before the politicians drop the ban hammer on you, check out the Ruger Precision Rifle in 6.5 Creedmoor (you can also get one chambered in 6mm Creedmoor and .308 Win.).
For a little over a grand, you’ll have yourself a flat-shooting, infinitely configurable tack driver out of the box. Find its favorite load (or work up your own), outfit it with a can and the RPR is a rifle that will let you quietly reach out and touch just about anything out to a mile.
Remington 700 5R Stainless Threaded Gen2
If a chassis gun like the RPR isn’t your thing, but accuracy is still all-important, the Remington 700 5R Gen2 is just what the doctor ordered. You can get them in 20-inch or 24-inch barrel models (the longer versions also come chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor, .300 Win Mag).
It features an HS Precision fiberglass stock and comes threaded for a suppressor out of the box. For about $1000, you’ll have yourself an uber-accurate bolt gun that will let you reliably ring steel or take whitetail just about as far out as you like.
Or, you know, whichever five long guns you want.
Yeah, why limit the long gun to rifles? I’d put a Mossberg 500 at the top of any long gun list, purely for practicality.
Then I’d probably go with a Ruger MPR 556, great deal, its an AR, kewl.
A 10/22, any of them, but a take down preferably. I’d probably say this one first, but it seems 22’s are excepted in most of the “assault rifle” limitations proposed.
Then any of the Savage 308’s with the accutrigger.
Ruger PC carbine. Jeez, that’s a lot of Ruger’s, that’s fine, great company, I guess you could swap the Savage for a Ruger American and have a clean rifle sweep.
A Ruger 10/22 needs to be in everyone’s gun rack or gun safe.
A fun gun for sure, but the CZ is an absolute tack driver. I plan to upgrade my older Savage .22 bolt gun when finances allow, and the CZ would be a great choice. It is either that or one of the new Savages, which now comes equipped with the AccuTrigger and a better stock.
Shotgun list out tomorrow.
1. SCAR17
2. KAC SR-25
3. LWRC DI
4. KAC SR-15
5. BCM KMR-A
Not sure many 18-20 year old can afford SCARs.
That 18 year old must have a pimpin bank account.
Exactly. Tried to keep the guns affordable for that reason.
I’m not sure at 18 I had quite that much disposable income but when I was young I certainly had much more disposable income than I do now being married and having 2 daughters. Unfortunately most of that disappeared into bottles instead of something that would hold/gain value like firearms.
I was spending too much and emptying bottles to fast myself, it’s why I switched to McCormicks instead of Grey Goose.
I find that Skyy gets me just as mellow as Grey Goose, and is much easier on the wallet.
You do have more disposable income, but it’s you wife and daughters who are in charge of disposal!
That made me laugh John Clark… and possibly tear up a little also.
“That 18 year old must have a pimpin bank account.”
That was kinda… Rude.
I’d say the young man was a “hard-working go-getter” than to slur him as a “pimp”… 🙂
Dan Z – For the daily digest – http://dailycaller.com/2018/03/25/report-march-for-our-lives-crowd-count-low/
And – https://pjmedia.com/trending/parkland-survivor-dont-use-sister-push-gun-control/
You ever trip a stretch in a pimp’s heels? A good pimp is a hard slappin’ service dispatcher. Slur, my posterior.
May as well get a few AR-10/15 lowers or 80% lowers, then customize all you want, until they start banning young adults, middle aged adults, elderly adults from buying AR uppers and parts…
they’re working that issue (Assault Rifle ban)
https://www.nraila.org/articles/20180309/antigun-politicians-aim-for-america-s-most-popular-firearms-with-expansive-ban
Ak
Yeah, it would be nice if there was an AK-platform rifle listed.
This list should be all scary semi-autos because a Dem Congress overriding Trump’s veto on another AWB (if he even vetoes it) is quite possible if POTG keep sitting on their hands and lamenting all the old sellout RINOs and Trump’s “6D Chinese checkers” instead of putting in new, consistently pro-gun Repubs in or flooding the old guys with nasty letters. My list would Barrett or a Serbu .50 (not like any 18yo or 21yo has that kind of money, but whatever; one of my friends in college got an M82A1 as a college graduation present from his dad, and I saw an M99 single-shot .50 down to $2k in my LGS when I was 19), a .308 AR of some sort, a 5.56 AR with an extra .22 conversion bolt, a WASR or N-PAP, and a 9mm carbine (as long as you buy ammo from a place that only sells ammo and not guns, it doesn’t matter if it’s “pistol ammo” and you’re under 21). I would have put a scary mag-fed semi-auto shotgun on my version of the list, but I’m not sure what’s out there anymore since Saigas and Veprs are banned from import.
It is easy to imagine that 2020 will be the last year any private citizen can buy MSRs and .50s. I am eyeing Serbus and Safety Harbors like my dog eyes stinky things that fit in her mouth. I got caught flat footed in ’94 and really don’t want to repeat that.
Don’t discount the Republican Party yet. None of my friends thought Trump could beat Clinton. Don’t believe the fake news or the scare tactics. Get out and vote.
You hit it on the nose. Get out and vote and get someone else you know to vote with you. Bitchin about any of it on a pro gun forum does zero good.
How could the democrats override a presidential veto? Math says that’s not possible.
After very blue midterms and or with Republican (big “R”) assistance.
Especially after POTUS says ‘we have to get rid of the filibuster rule’ and mive the senate ‘to 51 votes.’ That makes it very easy to pass just about anything.
Um, you need 2/3rds congress, 66 votes in the senate and 287 in the house, to override a veto. A filibuster is for prolonging discussion prior to a vote for cloture. The senate only needs a majority to pass a law, the 3/5ths vote is only for cloture.
The “nuclear option” has nothing to do with overriding a veto.
I suppose that if every senate race, and house race goes the other way. Not likely but I guess a few republicans may cross, so that would be a hundred house seats and 20ish senate seats.
Because the RINO s vote with the democommies.
Hmmm maybe the 18-20 year olds don’t have that kind of discretionary imcome…here are some less expensive options
1. Savage 10/110 series
2. Ruger 10/22.
3. Mossberg 500
4. PSA AR 15 (watch the sales).
5. 80% lowers in 556 and 308 sizes
The Savage rifles are an excellent value, and as good as the Remington for half the price.
$500 is “relatively inexpensive?”
Compared to a $10k Barrett 50, $3000 SCAR, or $2000 ACR, yeah.
Yeah.
If you can’t scrape together $500 for something important, you need to take a really close look at where your money is going.
18 year olds must have a lot of spare cash these days.
I started at that age buying a lowly SKS. Still got it. Great rifle.
What I’d love to see is an AR15 manfacturuer have the balls to offer a rebate for 18-21YO’s.
Double bonus if you’re military.
Say that it was soley preciptated by the anti-constitutional emergency being imposed by an overbearing government.
That would make the gun-grabbers head explode.
I second this notion.
I felt so cool when I bought my first 91/30.
I haven’t been 18-20 in some 44 years. I had a wife and kid when I was 20 and couldn’t afford a damn thing…BTW even if some kid gets one of these spiffy rifles what happens when a shite state(like Illinois) bans possession by 18-20year olds?!? Instant felon…
I’d add a Mini-14 or -30, which has pretty much the capabilities of the “evil” guns, but gets largely ignored for past and proposed bans. You can dress them up like an “evil” gun if you want. The MVP and 700 fill the same role, so switch one of those out. The Ruger Precision Rifle is a good rifle, but too specialized (range toy or competition use, too heavy for hunting) and too expensive $1600 MSRP for an 18-20. An 18-20 would get more use from a 10/22 or L1A1/SKS and still be able to afford ammo. Unless they really want to compete in Precision Rifle competitions or feel the need for a counter-sniper rifle, their money is best spent elsewhere.
There’s news on the Mini-30 –
Ruger now makes a Mini-30 in 300.BLK with a threaded barrel and the gas block set up for sub-sonic ammo.
And they include a Picatinny rail piece to keep it from spitting gas in your face when shooting suppressed.
Video of it at the very bottom of the page :
https://ruger.com/products/mini14RanchRifle/models.html
TTAG – Can you request a T&E on that Mini-30 Tactical .300 BLK?
Good idea. I will tell Jeremy.
Damn you! I was going to say Mini-14/mini-30 LOL.
Don’t forget about good lever rifles:
Marlin 1894 .357magnum 9 + 1 rounds
Marlin 336 30-30
Henry golden boy .22
Henry lever action (any)
————————————————–
SKS
Mosin nagant
lee enfeld
ruger 556
What the 18-20 yo group should do is form an advocacy group of their own.
‘We can’t be trusted with a rifle, we refuse to serve in the military until we are 21.’
“so send me a welfare check.”
“the Remington 700 5R Gen2 is just what the doctor ordered”
Yeah, it’s also just what the bankruptcy judge ordered.
Don’t be surprised if you need a doctor when you try to use your new Remington.
I found this out today about the militia of the USA.
Section 311 of the US code 10
“(a) The militia of the United States consists of all able-bodied males at least 17 years of age and, except as provided in section 313 of title 32 , under 45 years of age who are, or who have made a declaration of intention to become, citizens of the United States and of female citizens of the United States who are members of the National Guard.
(b) The classes of the militia are–
(1) the organized militia, which consists of the National Guard and the Naval Militia; and
(2) the unorganized militia, which consists of the members of the militia who are not members of the National Guard or the Naval Militia.”
TTAG legal folks – Would this be worthwhile to pursue to get that law overturned?
And has section 311 of the US code 10 been superseded?
As per the government,as of 2011
https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/USCODE-2011-title10/html/USCODE-2011-title10-subtitleA-partI-chap13-sec311.htm
So 17 year olds should be allowed to buy rifles. They are the militia, so the 2nd A applies to them.
Back in my day “We the People” could buy any rifle or pistol @ any age.
Just have it shipped to a local western auto store for pick-up.
I would recommend that 18-20 year olds should be buying semi-auto guns as these could be banned later on to people regardless of age.
Ruger 10/22 rifle is a starter.
AR-15 lowers for sure.
Mossberg 930 shotgun.
Remington 870 – and the “new” ones are still okay – or Mossberg 500/590.
Ruger 10/22 just because everybody needs one
Inexpensive 5.56 AR – Ruger, Smith, or whatever is available. You can always upgrade later. Even if parts aren’t available you have a pretty solid rifle in a caliber that you can buy, pick up, or steal.
Pistol caliber lever rifle in .38/.357 or .44 special/mag. Should serious firearms restrictions ever happen I think that Grandpa’s lever gun will be reasonably safe. A pistol caliber carbine works well out to 150-200 yards and a well trained shooter can put 10 rounds of powerful ammunition into a 3″ circle in a couple of seconds
WW2 vintage full bore battle rifle. The only rifles that are available these days are Russians and they’re even getting expensive. A hot military ball round will penetrate almost everything short of an M-1 tank
Go to an Appleseed shoot, save up for a discounted CMP Garand.
For people under 21, I’d say a S&W M&P15, a Ruger 10/22 or Mossberg Plinkster, Maverick 88, a Pietta 1858 Sheriff and .45 Colt conversion cylinder, and an NAA Companion cap and ball revolver and you’re pretty much covered until you turn 21.
Load up on AR lowers. Buy cheap ones. $500 for one budget end AR will get you 10-13 Anderson’s, or something equivalent.
Either way, 5 standard lowers from a reputable manufacturer will end up being $500, and then take your time buying parts as necessary.
I would say get the barreled upper assemblies over the lowers, the lowers can be made from a block of wood, a quality barrel, thats a little harder.
An enterprising rifle mfr. or dealer would start advertising to this age group! With significant discounts!
1. CZ 455. Great survival gun that can swap from 22lr to 17 hmr or 22 mag. Very cheap fun.
2. AK variant. Great shtf gun and the mag alone can be used as a weapon. Can be used to hunt anything in north America that isn’t a bear or a moose since 7.62×39 is pretty similar to 30-30. Nothing more reliable.
3. AR 15. Takes care of you if you take care of it and can change calibers with a magazine and upper swap.
4. Remington 870. Great for hunting and home defense and a good shotgun.
5. Anything from Kel Tec. Great gun to surrender to the police if guns are ever confiscated. If you aren’t willing to fight, this can serve as a decoy to feign compliance and keep your other guns.
Definitely a 10-22 if they’ve had some trigger time behind a single shot….. I’m quite concerned about all this gun ban , rights restrictions going on.Not many years ago the government respected ,We the People, it doesn’t seem that way now. Even the police force respected the law. Not so much anymore. The people in authority talk like street thugs, it’s not professional. Perhaps therein lies some of the problem, from president on down, they do not respect their profession. America where we heading?
Smith and Wesson M&P 15 Sport II are a good choice. Be sure to buy several 30 and 20 round Magpul magazines and plenty of ammo. Gun shows usually have good pricing too.
Better hurry if you want a Remington. Fox News is reporting the company just filed for bankruptcy protection.
Which doesn’t mean they’ve ceased operations or are going to.
According to the gun grabbers anything with over ten rounds is an “assault weapon”. Well that Hi point carbine with a 20 round magazine (9mm & 45acp) qualifies. And its a little over just two bills in cost.
The new 10mm carbine I’m sure will have a 20 round magazine in the very near future.
The 60s radical commie hippies went from the mud of Woodstock to working the levers of Deep State govt and academia, and having kids. Their red diaper babies got high tech silicon valley jobs, and jobs in the media and entertainment, and had kids. Its this current batch of Antifa millennial soyboy and gutter girl commies that is leading us down the path of Civil War2. But they were 50 years in the making.
Kel-Tec RFB18 Bullpup ore for price issue Springfield M1A Bullpup – .308Win
and an Saiga 12 for enough power 🙂
Ruger 10/22 – Marlin 795 – Savage Bolt 22 – Mossberg Maverick 88 –
Some of the most likely candidates if 18-20 year olds are as financially muscular as I was at that age.
Ruger AR or S&W M&P Sport (If they can find one) would have been at the top of my range.
school me if i misunderstand. these new laws prohibit purchase, yes? a slap in the face to those with no parental monetary support, but this doesn’t ban posession or ownership, eh? i hate that these rights are being usurped from our citizens who have been deemed adults, but take small solace in the fact that gifting is still allowable.
Comments are closed.