Hey everybody, i am new at hunting and have always loved it but nevfer had a chance to go. I was looking to get a couple of guns and wanted some help. I am looking for a rifle a shotgun and a handgun. My friedns sometime go hunting for boar. and different types of birds, please give me some advice on what i can buy.
Looking to get a gun
- Thread starter john1199
- Start date
sir_n0thing
New member
First thing... take a firearm/hunter safety course.
for someone just starting out wth minimal investment, I'd look at the following options..
Marlin XS7 in . 243. Inexpensive and accurate. The . 243 should cover you from varmint to hog to whitetail deer, the ammo is widely available and the recoil is friendly for asomeone new. Do not let anyone tell you that you "need" something bigger like a . 30-06 or heaven help us, a big magnum.
For handgun... what will it be used for? My idea of a basic hangun is a 9mm. Fun and reasably cheap at the range, and with good ammo a servicable self defense weapon.
Shotguns aren't my realm of knowledge, but i know i had awesome Success when I was young dove hunting with a basic 20ga pump.
Good luck and remember SAFETY first!
for someone just starting out wth minimal investment, I'd look at the following options..
Marlin XS7 in . 243. Inexpensive and accurate. The . 243 should cover you from varmint to hog to whitetail deer, the ammo is widely available and the recoil is friendly for asomeone new. Do not let anyone tell you that you "need" something bigger like a . 30-06 or heaven help us, a big magnum.
For handgun... what will it be used for? My idea of a basic hangun is a 9mm. Fun and reasably cheap at the range, and with good ammo a servicable self defense weapon.
Shotguns aren't my realm of knowledge, but i know i had awesome Success when I was young dove hunting with a basic 20ga pump.
Good luck and remember SAFETY first!
pabuckslayer08
New member
For something to start out with and do hunting all around I would buy a .22 pistol to practice, Browning makes some nice ones for around 300 bucks, they are great for practice. For a shotgun id invest in something like a Mossberg 500, you can get a combo deer barrel and 26" ribbed for like 400 bucks. For a rifle I would invest in something like a T/C venture in 30-06 or .270. Something that can be used almost anywhere you go and ammo is very easy to find for them. I would top it with a Nikon Prostaff or Redfield which is 150 bucks plus a 400 dollar gun. For everything you could get 3 good guns plus a rifle scope for around 1250-1400 dollars and I dont think I would go any cheaper. Thats the best stuff for the money going these days
Safety is surely the number one priority. Before buying a handgun, I would first get more experienced with long guns. Handguns are very easy to be careless with if you haven't had the proper training or aren't in the habit of handling guns.
If your local wal mart sells firearms you may want to check out some sales they may have on rifles or shotguns. They usually have a decent selection of Remington 700, Savage, or Weatherby Vanguard rifles in popular calibers (243, 270, or 30-06), sometimes at great clearance prices (less than $400). They also have decent shotguns such as Remington 870, Mossberg 500, or even semi autos for bargain prices. I'm going to go against others here and advise a 12 guage. It is the most popular and has all the power you need for everything from dove to turkey to deer. You will get used to the recoil.
If your local wal mart sells firearms you may want to check out some sales they may have on rifles or shotguns. They usually have a decent selection of Remington 700, Savage, or Weatherby Vanguard rifles in popular calibers (243, 270, or 30-06), sometimes at great clearance prices (less than $400). They also have decent shotguns such as Remington 870, Mossberg 500, or even semi autos for bargain prices. I'm going to go against others here and advise a 12 guage. It is the most popular and has all the power you need for everything from dove to turkey to deer. You will get used to the recoil.
thesheepdog
New member
How does that work if you have never gone? Go to a safety course, get a .22 rifle and learn the basics of firearm safety and go from there.
I agree with the safety course. I would also make sre you get a .22lr. They are fun to shoot, great for practicing, and cheap to shoot. The Ruger 10/22 is the gold standard but I have a Mossberg Plinkster and love it. Our WalMart has a stainless steel & polymer 10/22 for $229. My Plinkster is $129.
I'd also get a .22 pistol like the Ruger 22/45. I've got a 9mm pistol and a 30-30 Marlin lever action for when I want to go BOOM! but I'd pick the .22s any day for just plain shooting.
I'd also get a .22 pistol like the Ruger 22/45. I've got a 9mm pistol and a 30-30 Marlin lever action for when I want to go BOOM! but I'd pick the .22s any day for just plain shooting.
I'm not sure that's true. You can kill bigger things at longer range (ducks, geest) with a 12 than you can with a 20. And you can use light loads in a 12 that get almost as light on your shoulder as a 20.
If a 12 is too big for you, get a 20. But eventually, you'll want a 12.
Everyone loves the 870 pump, and I love mine, but my favorite scattergun is a side-by-side double with twin triggers. It just more versatile. Put a light load in the near barrel, and a heavier load in the far barrel, and you've got options. Options are always good.
pabuckslayer08
New member
Hey Dave did you ever have 2 high loads in the chambers and pull the trigger. If you have im sure you wont do it again but dont, its enough to make a old man cry. But your right, get the 12, 20s are fun to shoot but a good 12 semi kicks like a .22. I shot nearly 6 boxs of low brass in about a hour 1 day with no plugs or anything and didnt have any effect
sir_n0thing
New member
As I mentioned earlier, safety first. Finding a mentor, as mentioned by Doyle, is also great advice.
Careful about your selection of caliber in all three categories. For someone with no experience in firearms, going straight to a larger caliber can be a real shocker. Easy to develop bad habits/flinching, etc.
Start out reasonable and work your way up as you get experience and find a desire for something bigger.
My .270 has a fair amount less pop than a .30-06, and it'll wear me out after a box of shells at the range.
I can't tell you how many guys I know that shoot .30-06 and up when hunting and they only have to fire the thing a couple times a season, but when they go to the range it's .223, .243, 6mm, etc. All that recoil simply isn't that fun for most people.
You mentioned hogs earlier. .243 is a great round for that, and deer as well. Proper shot placement is more important than a bigger hole in most cases.
Careful about your selection of caliber in all three categories. For someone with no experience in firearms, going straight to a larger caliber can be a real shocker. Easy to develop bad habits/flinching, etc.
Start out reasonable and work your way up as you get experience and find a desire for something bigger.
My .270 has a fair amount less pop than a .30-06, and it'll wear me out after a box of shells at the range.
I can't tell you how many guys I know that shoot .30-06 and up when hunting and they only have to fire the thing a couple times a season, but when they go to the range it's .223, .243, 6mm, etc. All that recoil simply isn't that fun for most people.
You mentioned hogs earlier. .243 is a great round for that, and deer as well. Proper shot placement is more important than a bigger hole in most cases.
not a big fan of .243. in my opinion, there is more animals lost to this cartridge than any other cartridge ever made. yes thats a bold statement. don't intend to offend anyone, and i know some is already going nuts in their head, but i seen it many times. yes shot placement is ALWAYS number 1. ALWAYS. i much prefer a 7mm-08 or a 25-06. both of these rounds have a good deal more knockdown power than a .243 and recoil is very mild. in my very biased opinion these are the two best rounds for women, children, newbies, or anyone who realizes they don't need a 300 grain bullet traveling at 3500 fps to kill a deer! the .243 is a great round for coyotes and other varmints but if you are hunting thick skinned hogs and even deer, go for something a hair bigger than a .243. marlin makes the xl7 in 25-06 and the xs7 in 7mm-08. both of these guns are great shooters, and very budget friendly. shotgun i love my mossberg 835 for best patterns, but i do feel like a Remington has a more comfortable length of pull. i would go with something that chambers 3 1/2 inches in case if you ever want to use it down the road. i always use 3 1/2 inch loads on turkeys and i know some do on geese.