Best starter guns for an adult newbie

[tigris115]

So I'm interested in taking up hunting one day. However, like a lot of people, I didn't learn from my family as my parents aren't big on the idea of hunting. So I'm wondering what's the best group of rifles to look into if I ever want to get serious about hunting.

I'm fairly heavy so I THINK I can handle some recoil with practice but nothing obscene and my most likely quarry will be deer of the whitetail size range (maybe elk if I ever feel like going out West).

 

[Newboomer]

30-06 or7mm Remington magnum for US game and African plains game.

 

[Shootist43]

Tigris115, I'm making an assumption that you are a woman. If that is incorrect please forgive me. However your question about a good starting rifle caliber is relevant regardless of your sex. Your first rifle should probably be a 22 L.R. why, ammo is cheap and every lesson you learn is applicable to a larger caliber. A 308, 7mm - 08, 6.5 x 55 or similar will get you started.

 

[mark-hunter]

You need bolt action. A bit thicker barrel to allow sustained fire during training at range, and vanlilla caliber with enough power for hunting with cheap ammo in local shops..
All in all, 308 win. And some varmint type bolt action rifle. You can use then military surplus ammo for training practise.

 

[Joker12]

I would normally suggest either a 270wcf or a 30'06 in a good bolt action rifle such as a Winchester M70 or a Ruger M77 Hawkeye. These are not normal times as to ammo availability though so with that in mind consider the same rifles chambered for the 308win. It will do all of what you mentioned wanting to do.

 

[LivingTheDream]

@tigris115 as long as you have been on this forum and you are just thinking about it. Lol. This is a bit of a loaded question and you are going to get a ton of answers. Which the research part is all part of the fun. Feel free to PM me if you need help or direction.

 

[BourbonTrail]

To get started? A simple bolt action (.22lr or 223) and a copy of the Complete Outdoor Encyclopedia by Vin T. Sparano. Also an attitude of dedication and humility don’t hurt because hunting is rife with failure and steep learning curves.

 

[Brian]

I agree with the above comment, Get a 22 rim fire to practice on and 308 or 7-08 to hunt with. When it is hunting time, sight your rifle in with good ammo that uses a GOOD bullet like Swift. The bullet is the deal breaker not the rifle or the calibre. ( The bullet is the only thing that touches the animal.)

Also,
- Most of the lower price rifles are excellent hunting rifles.
- A two inch group off the bench at 100 yds is "good to go".

Enjoy the sport of shooting and hunting, and please don't listen to half of the advice you will get.

 

[LivingTheDream]

Enjoy the sport of shooting and hunting, and please don't listen to half of the advice you will get.

This is probably the best advice you will get.

 

[Rare Breed]

So I'm interested in taking up hunting one day. However, like a lot of people, I didn't learn from my family as my parents aren't big on the idea of hunting. So I'm wondering what's the best group of rifles to look into if I ever want to get serious about hunting.

I'm fairly heavy so I THINK I can handle some recoil with practice but nothing obscene and my most likely quarry will be deer of the whitetail size range (maybe elk if I ever feel like going out West).

30-06 is the single most versatile gun ever made. 125 grain to 220 grain available. There is no other gun that has this wide of available bullets. Any store will always have this caliber. I have owned over 30 calibers of rifles and if I had to select one it would be 30-06 hands down

 

[Bert the Turtle]

Enjoy the sport of shooting and hunting, and please don't listen to half of the advice you will get.

This is probably the best advice you will get.

Now you just need to figure out which half!

 

[Hogpatrol]

Total newbie? A bolt action .22 rimfire with iron sights.

 

[JimP]

A problem with limiting yourself to something like a 22Lr is that you are limited to the animals that you can hunt with it, and it doesn't include any of the larger game animals such as deer.

A 30-06 is what I cut my teeth on, but then I did have access to a 22Lr but it was that 06 that I really learned how to shoot further than 25 yards with.

 

[Rem700stw]

Buy two rifles. First get the best full sized .22 rimfire you can find /afford. Buy all the .22 ammo you can find/afford. Shoot and repeat. Use the same type sights/scope you plan to use with your centerfire rifle. Use GOOD hearing and eye protection. Repeat using field positions and bipods/tripods/sticks until you are proficient.

Then go buy a modest recoiling centerfire and lots of ammo. 7mm-08. .270, .280, 7x57 or similar will do just fine. Shoot a lot. When flinch or bad habits rear their head go back to the .22.

Practice, Practice, Practice. Once the mechanics of sight alignment, getting steady, and trigger control are second nature and ingrained in muscle memory go forth and hunt, a lot.

 

[dailordasailor]

I started hunting after college. Parents didn’t hunt but we always had guns around so wasn’t foreign to me. My first purchase was a Remington 700 in 30-06. Can hunt any game and can get reduced recoil loads if needed. 30-06 or 308 is great all around.

If new to guns as well, a 22 bolt action savage will run you ~$150 or so and can get all the process of shooting in for dirt cheap. Then pick up a 308/30-06 scoped package from a cabelas or wherever for $300 or $400 and good to go. Strongly recommend joining a gun club or finding a family friend that can help you over the issues of basics hunting. You can cut out years of mistakes (I’ve made them all) by having a mentor

 

[Tundra Tiger]

There are a lot of good caliber suggestions, and frankly, across the range of suggestions, any will work. I think every bit as important is using good, quality bullets (hunting big game, whatever species it might happen to be) and putting in time at the range. With those two in place, I don't think it matters a whit if it's a .270 or a .308 or a .30-06 or whatever.

 

[shootist~]

Start with a "good" 22 LR Rimfire such as a Tikka T1X, 20" barrel to learn the basics - especially safety. Add a variable optic - possibly a mid priced suitable for range or hunting. Shoot n See targets will help. The Tikka (probably others as well) comes with a shorter stock suitable for a junior or most women. Add a standard 1" rubber recoil pad for regular length stock.

Order something like Federal's Auto-Match training ammo (my last case came directly from Federal.com.) Low cost enough for plinking, but accurate enough to shoot to 200+ Yards.

Then (probably weeks, if not months later) add a centerfire rifle that's at least one or two steps up from an entry level rifle. Try to shoot a number of rifles first to see what you like.

Asking questions and explaining your (newbie shooter) situation to people at your range - who appear to know what they are doing - will likely get you a few invitations to try theirs. If they do, offer to pay for a few rounds of ammo. You will be there with your new 22 - so Pick some Brains.

Try to shoot the moderate recoiling, standard (non magnum) hunting calibers. Such as 308 Winchester & 30-06; also lighter recoiling calibers such as 243 Winchester, other 6mm, 6.5mm (Creedmoor or Swede), 7mm8, and 280 Rem should you come across one.

Ask the owners about long range (usually heavy barrel) target configurations vs hunting rifles. All are fun, btw, including the semi-auto types.

But most importantly, be safe and have fun with it. Seek instruction from someone if needed - and be sure you have Quality hearing protection (AMHIK), along with proper eye protection.

 

[BRICKBURN]

........ Your first rifle should probably be a 22 L.R..........

After that, I'd tell you to get a .270 Win. (It's personal)
Then work your way up to some other caliber you fancy.

 

[Wyatt Smith]

I suggest that you learn how to shoot with an iron sighted 22 rim fire. Learning to use a scope after that will be easy, but it’s hard going the other way. I would hunt small game with for a couple years and shoot about 5000 rounds through that before I bought a center fire.

 

[rdog]

A Howa 1500, in 308 Win very good quality low cost rifle in a caliber you can get ammo
almost everywhere.