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.

[longrider]

I've got a NEF single shot 45/70 used for $176.00. It will roll you back a little, but doesn't kick you like a 303 I have. You fire a clip in that gun and you will want to quit for the day.

[TexasCowboy]

I told someone one time about sneaking up on those ground tanks in West Texas and peeking over the top to gauge how many mallards or teal I could get with one or two shots before they got off the water.
He said, "You mean you didn't fire one in the air to make them fly first?"
I said, "No, I already knew how well they could fly. I wanted to know how good they tasted."

[TC Rider]

If you can acquire a taste for Nutra, all you'll ever need in Louisiana is a .22 rifle and a good little 4x scope.

You'll never go hungry.

[Double Tap]

Not trying to tell you what to do, or mind your business, but as a cautionary note, shooting big game with a 22lr. is illegal in Texas.

[dogbyte12]

Nutria grows like grass where I am moving. You can not evade them. I will tell my wife it's something else when I fix it.

[Marauder]

My favorite hunting weapon is my old No.5 Mk1 British .303 Enfield, commonly called the "jungle carbine." It's dead-on accurate and easy to carry and clean.

Cheap to acquire, if you avoid the "collector" types. Mine is stamped "FTR" which stands for "Factory Through Refurbish" and as such is not a collectible, but a sweet shooter nonetheless. There are scope mounts available that don't require drilling or tapping, but the peep sight is on the money.

[Varmint Al]

The Remington Model Seven...a great place to start

The Seven Project Part I Quick Detach Mount System

The Seven Project Part II Handload Development

'The Seven Project Part III - even more development

The link I posted above about the Rem Model 7 has been changed. The table has a good description of the Rem Model 7

Good Hunting... from Varmint Al

[lodwick]

Cob, you've been shooting with Christine, I believe. She and her husband, Bill, went to stay with Rick Stanley and his wife this weekend...

A little bit ago, law-enforcement of some kind were chasing Christine, Bill, Pam and Rick in their vehicle. They crashed into their vehicle trying to stop it, then crashed into it again when Rick was trying to turn into his home to get them to safety. Dozens of armed law-enforcement caught him in the open with guns drawn. Christine, Bill and Pam released, but Rick was taken. Christine says they do not want help as far as a seige go, but want council. Any Pact member, or non-pact member with law experience is requested to contact Christine, Bill or Pam, however you can. As for those that will respond as a Pact member, or non-Pact as well, you know what to do. And you know who are responsible. Do what you feel you must. Anyone that has access to the SCOOP software needs to post this information there.

Our governments are losing their minds over an armed population.

Stay safe, stay armed.

Wake up, America.

[Eaker]

And always remember, first, last, and foremost, there is never under any circumstance any such thing as a unloaded gun, "EVER".

Mine are indeed unloaded when I clean them.

This is the same idiocy as the zero tolerance policies. My Glocks and several other defensive weapons are loaded. My AR-15 and several other weapons are not.

This is a matter of personal responsibility not mind numbed robotics. You should know whether a gun is loaded or not. When the goblins are at the door don't aim a "always loaded" weapon at them that really might be unloaded.

Bottom line is to police your weapons and know the truth.

[Eaker]

I would not recommend a 30-30 for any purpose. Unless you like rainbows, because that is all a 30-30 is good for.

[TexasCowboy]

Thanks, Double Tap.
I'm talking twenty-five years ago, but I'm glad it's illegal.
Most people wouldn't be as careful as me to make sure of a killing shot.
It's one thing to talk about a big fish that broke your line and got away; it's entirely different to shoot a deer and know it's lying in the brush somewhere dying a horrible death, and you can't find it.

[I got the rope]

I agree. My Winchester Model 94 is pretty to look at, but it is by far the most inaccurate weapon I've ever fired. The ammo sucks too. I been threatning to reload it, but what's the use. I heard a rumor that the Marlin was a little better...but not much.

[TexasCowboy]

Well, Jim, this is shocking news to say the least!

I wonder why they were chasing them in the first place?
Had they been to the range? They go sometimes on Saturday.

What in the Sam hell is going on??
Has the whole damn world gone crazy??

[yarddog]

My old Daddy used to trap quail. It was probably illegal but I guess the statute has tolled by now.

He would take a Luzianne Coffee can ( the tall ones) and cut out both ends. He would bury the can even with the top of the ground. The can would be used as a tunnel with dirt dug out for about a foot on each side leading into the tunnel and out.

He would make a box out of wood slats stacked with slots every other layer.

He would lead a trail of cracked corn into the can and into the box. He would literally trap every one in a covey. I have no idea why they would go in the can but not go out.

[Eagle Eye]

The cost/benefit will vary greatly from hunter to hunter and the game involved, but just like reloading, fishing, or making your own brew, the first one is the most expensive. It goes down from there.

[Willie Green]

.308 Remington 700 ADL
3-9 x 40 variable scope

[cajun-jack]

for small game henry repeating arms has a .22 magnum lever action for $225.00 new....great rifle...

[El Gato]

For duck, you will of course need a shotgun. You can find lots of good ones, but even in the less expensive arena, the Remington 870, Mossberg 500, and Winchester (1500?) are all good. Remington is the lightest I think, but probably also the most expensive. I've got a Browning BPS which is a bit pricer, but not so very much, after years, decades really, with a J.C. Higgens(Sears "house brand", yes they really did not only sell guns, through a mail order catalog no less, but also had their own brand of both guns and ammunition so Did M. Wards, and at least Sears was not limited to shotguns and .22s, they had handguns in that catalog as well IIRC) , which my Dad bought me for Christmas just after I turned 15. His J.C. Higgens is much older. Mine was really a Hi Standard, and I think his was too, although a different model. Whatever you get, don't get one with a fixed barrel, as my JCH was. You'll want to move on to dove and quail, not to mention clay target shooting, and one barrel, even with interchangeable chokes (screw in, you want those too, and they don't add much to the cost) just doesn't hack if for all the different types of wing shooting, although you can "make do" with a 26 or 28 inch barrel for all the sports. For that matter you could get a rifled barrel and use it for those deer, with slugs. (or a cylinder choked barrel for use with rifled slugs)

[TexasCowboy]

I've trapped quail in a similiar fashion.
I'm sure it's illegal, but so are a lot of things we used to do.
That's one of the big reasons I quit hunting - just too much hassel.

[lodwick]

That's all I know, Cob.

I'll either frmail, or email you any further developments,
as they may come in.

The land of the free, and the home of the brave, uh huh.