First gun reccomendation

[LostInBoston]

I'm buying myself a gun and looking for suggestions for which would be a good one to start out with. Looking at semi-auto rifles and shotguns now. Would like to do some wild boar hunting in the future as well.

 

[D Chapman]

First gun = .22 I like the Rugar 10-22.

Wild Boar = something bigger. Depends on the area and how far you're going to shoot. .223 comes to mind. But a .243 would probably be a better choice.

 

[Rugbier]

if you are looking at a reservation ( I do ) for your Wild Boar, I was required to have a .270 as min cal. ( PA )

I second the rec on first rifle Ruger 10/22 tons of accessories ( from hi cap mag to fluted, bull and threaded Barrels ) that will make you keep that rifle forever and toy with it. ( I have taught my boy on one of them )

You can pick a used 10/22 for 125.00 or new fron 225.00

Good Luck

EDIT: forgot the shotgun, for a first time shotgun, I will go with a 16 gauge, or go with a 12 and use soft shells.
In my opinion for hunting over/under or sidexside are the best, I am not crazy about the pumps ( have one fored maybe 2 times )

 

[quick128]

some sort of AR. buy a built lower and you can buy various caliber uppers over time. start with 5.56. there are 3 or 4 calibers that will work on the 5.56 lower.

 

[Steve]

some sort of AR. buy a built lower and you can buy various caliber uppers over time. start with 5.56. there are 3 or 4 calibers that will work on the 5.56 lower.

While you are at it, buy a couple of spare stripped lowers (~$85 each) before they are made illegal permanently.

 

[Leslie]

While you are at it, buy a couple of spare stripped lowers (~$85 each) before they are made illegal permanently.

Think you can find a stripped lower for that at the moment???

 

[quick128]

good luck finding a stripped lower for less than $125. Essential Arms was the cheapest at $90 but they are sold out and don't plan on having any available for a while. DPMS are selling for around $200. The last DPMS I bought was $105 in March.

 

[stolenheron]

i just bought a remington 597 .22 mag. worked perfect for hog hunting last weekend. a really fun gun, really simple. comes with a 10 round clip, semi automatic. fun for targets, but the mag round gives it just enough stopping power to use for hunting stuff like smaller hogs.

the only crummy thing is that is has a nonadjustable trigger and when you break the gun down completely its a bitch to reinstall the springs...

 

[KevinNY]

And now for something completely different. A 44 Mag. Marlin levergun. Ammo is common and more reasonable than most rifle cartridges, it's not too loud, doesn't kick bad, and kills all out of proportion to to it's paper ballistics.

 

[stolenheron]

oh if you do get a shotgun, find yourself one with several barrel options so you can try various things (skeet, duck hunting, hog hunting, slugs, etc). I've got an ithaca 16g and a winchester 12g (has 2 barrels). The winchester is a solid gun and we've got a barrel for skeet and another barrel, but no slug barrel....which would be perfect for hogs. buckshot will work to.

 

[I HATE PONIES]

T.C. Encore. It will do all of the above mentioned. The only down fall is the single shot capacity. I recomend it because I think in terms of one shot one kill. Not having the instant followup shot will teach you marksmanship.

 

[dave]

First gun = .22 I like the Rugar 10-22.

Wild Boar = something bigger. Depends on the area and how far you're going to shoot. .223 comes to mind. But a .243 would probably be a better choice.

I am also a big fan of some sort of rimfire as a first firearm, cheap to buy and even cheaper to shoot. The 10/22 is a awesome rifle to go with if you want to modify it but you may want to look at some of the Savage rimfire rifles if you just want to buy it and shoot it as is for years.

Here is our 10/22, the page is a bit out of date, the only OE part on the gun now is the receiver..everything else has been changed. Shoots very tight groups at 100 yards

http://www.davet.net/ruger

 

[stolenheron]

sweet looking 10/22. how is the accuracy with that short of a barrel? i was holding a modified 10/22 tonite with a grip just like that in a sporting goods store, felt pretty nice. i'm tempted to buy a ergo-stock for my rem 597 mag...but i'm not sure if its worth the money.

 

[Steve]

Think you can find a stripped lower for that at the moment???

You are right, that was my cost for Stags from a friend who is a dealer. Still, wherever you can find them at whatever cost, it isn't a bad investment right now.

 

[Andrew Homan]

And now for something completely different. A 44 Mag. Marlin levergun. Ammo is common and more reasonable than most rifle cartridges, it's not too loud, doesn't kick bad, and kills all out of proportion to to it's paper ballistics.

X2 good advice

 

[dave]

sweet looking 10/22. how is the accuracy with that short of a barrel? i was holding a modified 10/22 tonite with a grip just like that in a sporting goods store, felt pretty nice. i'm tempted to buy a ergo-stock for my rem 597 mag...but i'm not sure if its worth the money.

Thanks for the compliment.

We don't often get a chance to shoot at really long range, but with the way the 10/22 is setup right now it will easily shoot sub 1" groups at 100 yards with Wolf Match ammo. It for sure easily outshoots me and my Wife, but she is actually closer to using all its potential, I just cant sit as still as she can. I built it to be my wifes rifle so going with a light weight barrel was important, and the stainless Green Mountain 'Aero' barrel seems to really perform despite its weight and length. Of course..the barrel cost almost as much as the stock 10/22...but its a joy to shoot. The trigger setup breaks crisp at about 1.5lb, so fun to crank of a triple tap with it Its also fun to put a red-dot on it and shoot tennis balls at our local indoor range. You never miss since its so accurate, but its still fun.

For me the thing about the 10/22 that is fun is changing parts and tweaking the setup to see how it affects the way it shoots, I have learned a lot playing with it. The most recent mod was going with a Kidd custom bolt, pinning the trigger housing, and a Skeeter v-block...very good results from those changes.

 

[dave]

I get "Gun Tests" magazine and they recently sent out their guns of the year mag and it had a rifle in there that would be ideal as a first rifle, the Marlin Model 60. They can be had for under $200 and are very accurate for the money invested:

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/manufacturers_id/19/products_id/41049

One thing to consider with a first rifle (or pistol) is the cost of ammo, and frankly for the cost of a few hours of center fire shooting you could buy a rimfire rifle like the Marlin. In fact, I think its easy to argue that with the rising cost of ammo that everyone should own a rimfire...500 rounds of 'good enough' ammo from Walmart at $15 is hard to beat atriot: I must admit that I shoot a ton of rimfire pistol and rifle due to the cost...we go shooting once a week so the rimfire keeps me out of the poor house...

 

[JohnK]

I get "Gun Tests" magazine and they recently sent out their guns of the year mag and it had a rifle in there that would be ideal as a first rifle, the Marlin Model 60. They can be had for under $200 and are very accurate for the money invested:

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/manufacturers_id/19/products_id/41049

One thing to consider with a first rifle (or pistol) is the cost of ammo, and frankly for the cost of a few hours of center fire shooting you could buy a rimfire rifle like the Marlin. In fact, I think its easy to argue that with the rising cost of ammo that everyone should own a rimfire...500 rounds of 'good enough' ammo from Walmart at $15 is hard to beat atriot: I must admit that I shoot a ton of rimfire pistol and rifle due to the cost...we go shooting once a week so the rimfire keeps me out of the poor house...

That was my first rifle. Isn't it also called the Glenfield? I could shoot all day for a few dollars. Hollow points would jam in it though. It cost less than $100 with a scope in the late 1970s. I wouldn't want to face a charging boar armed only with it.

 

[bovw]

My first rifle at 13 was a Marlin 30-30. I loved that thing and still have it 26 years later.

 

[stolenheron]

Thanks for the compliment.

We don't often get a chance to shoot at really long range, but with the way the 10/22 is setup right now it will easily shoot sub 1" groups at 100 yards with Wolf Match ammo. It for sure easily outshoots me and my Wife, but she is actually closer to using all its potential, I just cant sit as still as she can. I built it to be my wifes rifle so going with a light weight barrel was important, and the stainless Green Mountain 'Aero' barrel seems to really perform despite its weight and length. Of course..the barrel cost almost as much as the stock 10/22...but its a joy to shoot. The trigger setup breaks crisp at about 1.5lb, so fun to crank of a triple tap with it Its also fun to put a red-dot on it and shoot tennis balls at our local indoor range. You never miss since its so accurate, but its still fun.

For me the thing about the 10/22 that is fun is changing parts and tweaking the setup to see how it affects the way it shoots, I have learned a lot playing with it. The most recent mod was going with a Kidd custom bolt, pinning the trigger housing, and a Skeeter v-block...very good results from those changes.

where did you buy the barrel and stock?