Best beginner rifle (Vanity)

Vanity ^ | 10-18-03 | Me

[dogbyte12]

I am about to finally leave the urban jungle of Los Angeles and move down to both Louisiana and South Carolina. While I do fish out here, I have only gone hunting a few times with borrowed equipment.

I am interested in starting to hunt, and would love for any freepers to give me recommendations on a good beginner rifle, something that isn't so pricey, but reliable, as well as any other gear that I will need as a beginner.

I am not a stranger to handguns, or to military rifles, I qualified expert on both a .45 and an M16, so I am not starting from scratch, but I am looking for a rifle for deer hunting basically that will not set me back too much money, yet still be a decent value. I plan to not spend that much money so it can be economical. I do know how to fabricate a carcass, and would love to hunt for meat, without the cost of hunting making it more expensive than going to the supermarket.

Any help in this regard, web sites, consumer reports, etc, would be much appreciated. Thanks all.

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

Ruger 10/22 are good little rifles.

[mad_as_he$$]

As noted by others, tough question. My 19 year old daughter has broght down several large Mule Deer with her 243 -typically 150-200 yards shots. Very good flat shooting caliber. I use a 7mm Mag Sako and it also has never failed me. But in woody areas I would go with other recommendations such as 308. I would pass on any 30-30 for anything. It was my first gun and I chased more deer shot with that POS than any other round I have had. Of course there is nothing wrong with the old deer slayer 30-06. Many guns and factory ammo is still budget priced. FWIW if you qualed on M-16 then any lighter "deer" caliber will be a piece of cake. My hunting buddy uses a 6mm Sweedish and gets excellent results.

Find a gun you like and try it if it doesn't feel good you will never shot good.

Good luck and when you need venison recipes I am sure there are many available on FR.

[mad_as_he$$]

lol but the guy wanted some left to eat!

[TexasCowboy]

I'm jist a-joshin' you, dogbyte.
Unless you're hunting terrorists, you don't need a .50 caliber.

It really depends on what part of Louisiana you intend to hunt.
In North Louisiana you'll have shots in the piney woods through some brush, but it's not as thick as it is in the marshes of South Louisiana.
I've hunted both places. I used a 30.06 in North Louisiana with a 4X12 scope for the shots between the trees, and I used a 12 gauge with double "0" buckshot for the marshes of South Louisiana.

For anyone who hasn't been carrying a rifle since they could pick one up, I personally wouldn't recommend a .22 rifle for anything bigger than a beer can.
There's been more game wounded and lost with a .22 than with any other gun.

[dogbyte12]

Another question, kinda related.

What is the cost/benefit ratio to hunting, if you are being frugal, and you harvest the carcass very well. Do you actually save money when substituting venison for beef? Or are you spending more money in the long run?

[mad_as_he$$]

sorry "SHOOT GOOD" -fingers not up to speed yet today

[chadwimc]

Mossberg 500 or Remington 870. Flip a coin...

[dogbyte12]

I was quite a natural in the military with the M16. Obviously it only relates so much. I will be hunting in southern Louisiana. I will be living in Ascension parish, so I will be driving from there to where I hunt.

[Dick Vomer]

I agree with the .22 suggestion as far as learning how to shoot. What would you recommend as far as a good scope for a customized 10/22 Ruger with bull barrel. I'd like to know what power and what brand.

As for the main question I like a 30.06 for deer hunting. I learned to shoot with a .22 at school and went from that to 30.06 (old M-1)

[lazysob]

If I was just starting this would be my choice.
http://www.gunsamerica.com/guns/22415533.htm

[Lee Heggy]

Lots of good advice here.I don't hunt nearly as much as I would like but the two rifles I use cover pretty much any game I might be going after. One is a Savage, model 24 over and under-22 LR on top and 410 on the bottom. Excellent for small game as well as birds. The other is an 1873 Springfield trapdoor 45/70. Great for deer or just about anything else. Packs a big punch. I know these guns are maybe hard to find but they are what I like.

[patton]

Um, you bring up an interesting question, here...

See, I buy beef by the side. I mean, a few hundred pounds per purchase...averages out to about $2.25/lb. But thaty is 1/3 hamburger, 1/3 steaks, 1/3 roasts (as in standing rib roast).

Venison can cost as little as $1/100 lbs - if no permit is required, if you dress it yourself, etc.

Your results may vary.

[Rebelbase]

The Outdoor Channel had a woodland duck hunt show last night. They set up in a cypress swamp, called to the ducks who then came in close and got dropped within 20-30 yards of the set up. In one set, a group of ducks landed about 30 yards out. The guys shouted, the ducks flew, and never made it more than 10' off the ground.

[Squantos]

Only for Hunting in dense swamp or woods ???........Lever gun like a Marlin 336...Winchester 94 or a Ruger Number 1 . Ruger makes a stainless 45-70 I recently purchased that is an extreamly accurate hunting rig.

If just for hunting in those areas I'd also consider a Thompson Contender Rifle as the ability to swap barrels to shotgun, rifle and muzzle loader makes that pretty much a game getter for different seasons in that region.

Again theres nothing in that region IMO that can't be taken with a handgun either.

Stay Safe Patton !

[VOA]

I am about to finally leave the urban jungle of Los Angeles and move down to
both Louisiana and South Carolina.

My apologies in advance if someone has already mentioned this...
Although I don't own one, you might think about including a 12-guage shotgun for
shooting slugs.
I wouldn't be suprised if the thick underbrush in parts of Louisiana
(the other "LA"!) and S. Carolina might make such a implement very useful
in hunting deer.

IIRC, the biggest buck taken in Oklahoma one year was done by a youngster (age 13-16?)
with a shotgun slug. I think the young shooter got the buck with a single slug that
gave an instant knock-down kill (quick and humane in this case).

Although you can probably only get decent accuracy out to 40-60 yards, at least with
a shotgun slug, you won't have a missed shot kill somebody/thing in the next county.

[Lurker]

Mossberg 500 or 590.

L

[Hugin]

One thing about buying a high (but not ultra-high) velocity round like a .270 or .308 is that it will work equally well close up or at a distance. So for a first time hunting rifle, why not get a cartridge that will do it all? Later on he could always get specialized guns for specific situations.

[patton]

Dang stainless guns are good for about 1000 rounds. PFUII!

[Lurker]

I don't know.

I've got a Colt Commander that has well over 10,000 through it and I'll I've ever had to replace was a firing pin.

I've got a Mini-14 in Stainless that has at least 10,000 rounds through it and I haven't had to do anything but clean it.

Granted it ain't the most accurate rifle in the world, but it's a hell of a lot of fun. The wife loves it.

Keep them clean and there's no reason any modern firearm won't last you a lifetime.

L

[Rebelbase]

Rossi makes a bunch of matched pair interchangable barrels in various calibers. http://www.rossiusa.com/ I think these are made in Brazil.