Rifle or shotgun?

Millie

Get on with your life!!!
Supporting Member
Joined
Oct 7, 2017
Messages
11,536
Location
NC
Rating - 100%
1   0   0
As a newbie hunter (eventually) what should my first hunting gun be: rifle? shotgun? What kind? What make?

I need something I can get deer with, and maybe other things. (Can you tell I've never been hunting?)

What would be a good all-around first gun for me? (Be as specific as possible, and keep in mind, if you've seen me shoot, I have limited skills with a handgun, and none with a rifle. Yet.)

(This should be an interesting and lively discussion!)
Have at it! lol.
 
As a newbie hunter (eventually) what should my first hunting gun be: rifle? shotgun? What kind? What make?

I need something I can get deer with, and maybe other things. (Can you tell I've never been hunting?)

What would be a good all-around first gun for me? (Be as specific as possible, and keep in mind, if you've seen me shoot, I have limited skills with a handgun, and none with a rifle. Yet.)

(This should be an interesting and lively discussion!)
Have at it! lol.

My dear, your first hunting gun should be whatever you want, depending on how well it suits you and its intended use(s). There is no magic answer. I could make a compelling argument for any number of weapons (not all of them firearms), but while the discussion here may prove "interesting and lively", I'd love to see anyone provide a single irrefutable argument for one particular weapon. I guess we'll see - there are some pretty smart folks here.
 
Also depends on what “other things” are going to be.

Doubtful many would recommend the same gun if it was deer and larger animals vs deer and smaller animals.

The AR platform would allow you to have a rifle in multiple calibers...which could be an advantage.
 
So this is really going to have to break down by what you want to hunt.

Deer: centerfire rifle or shotgun (slugs/buck)
Squirrels: rimfire rifle or shotgun (number 6-7.5 shot)
Dove/quail: Shotgun (number 7.5-8 shot)
Rabbit: Shotgun (number 5-6 shot)
Turkey: Shotgun (hi brass number 4-6 shot)

So as with all things, pick where you want to start....

Specific recommendations to start your shopping:

Centerfire Rifle: Ruger American or Savage Axis in whichever caliber suits you. You're in the eastern part of the state so you'll have a lot more open fields than we do here, so flatter shooting cartridges are a plus (.243 Win, 7mm-08, 6.5 Creedmoor). Top it with a good Vortex scope. I like their Diamondback line personally for a no frills hunting rig.

Shotgun: Remington 870 or Mossberg 500. Go handle a few and see which fits you best. Shorter LOP stocks are probably going to be your friend.

Rimfire Rifle: Marlin 60 or Ruger 10/22. Top it with a decent 4x fixed power rimfire scope and you'll have a squirrel slaying machine.
 
My dear, your first hunting gun should be whatever you want, depending on how well it suits you and its intended use(s). There is no magic answer. I could make a compelling argument for any number of weapons (not all of them firearms), but while the discussion here may prove "interesting and lively", I'd love to see anyone provide a single irrefutable argument for one particular weapon. I guess we'll see - there are some pretty smart folks here.
Exactly!
I'm sure someone here knows, or knows of, an older lady new hunter, and what they tried out before settling on a gun.
I want as much info as I can get. That way I'll know what to try out, and then I can decide on one.
(Which I'm guessing will be different from a gun I'd use in a match? I have no idea. I hope to borrow a match gun. If I decide I want to hunt, then I'll have to eventually get my own. But I'm just gathering info now, I've never even been "out with" a hunter yet. I might hate the whole idea, and the whole out in the woods in the cold experience!)
But yes, there are lots of smart people here!
 
  • Like
Reactions: JT
So this is really going to have to break down by what you want to hunt.

Deer: centerfire rifle or shotgun (slugs/buck)
Squirrels: rimfire rifle or shotgun (number 6-7.5 shot)
Dove/quail: Shotgun (number 7.5-8 shot)
Rabbit: Shotgun (number 5-6 shot)
Turkey: Shotgun (hi brass number 4-6 shot)

So as with all things, pick where you want to start....

Specific recommendations to start your shopping:

Centerfire Rifle: Ruger American or Savage Axis in whichever caliber suits you. You're in the eastern part of the state so you'll have a lot more open fields than we do here, so flatter shooting cartridges are a plus (.243 Win, 7mm-08, 6.5 Creedmoor). Top it with a good Vortex scope. I like their Diamondback line personally for a no frills hunting rig.

Shotgun: Remington 870 or Mossberg 500. Go handle a few and see which fits you best. Shorter LOP stocks are probably going to be your friend.

Rimfire Rifle: Marlin 60 or Ruger 10/22. Top it with a decent 4x fixed power rimfire scope and you'll have a squirrel slaying machine.
Excellent info, and thanks for the specifics on what to look at as I begin handling some guns. I knew I'd get some good starting points here!
 
A shotgun (slugs and shot) can do it all when it comes to taking game. Visit a skeet range and study some of the lady shooters to see what is involved to mount a gun a hit a moving target then you'll know how easy it is to hit. If you pay attention to the rifle shooters they will have you hanging off a tree limb freezing your extremes hoping something comes your way to blast. Not much chance of that, but freezing is assured. A day afoot in the field is worth more than all the days in a stand.
 
A shotgun (slugs and shot) can do it all when it comes to taking game. Visit a skeet range and study some of the lady shooters to see what is involved to mount a gun a hit a moving target then you'll know how easy it is to hit. If you pay attention to the rifle shooters they will have you hanging off a tree limb freezing your extremes hoping something comes your way to blast. Not much chance of that, but freezing is assured. A day afoot in the field is worth more than all the days in a stand.
Excellent advice, to go watch other women shoot!
And I'm not fond of heights, so wasn't exactly thrilled at the thought of sitting high in a tree! I still want to go out and see what it's like, though.
 
I'd love to see anyone provide a single irrefutable argument for one particular weapon. I guess we'll see - there are some pretty smart folks here.

A double barrel shotgun cause Uncle Joe said that's all I'll ever need.
 
As a newbie hunter (eventually) what should my first hunting gun be: rifle? shotgun? What kind? What make?

I need something I can get deer with, and maybe other things. (Can you tell I've never been hunting?)

What would be a good all-around first gun for me? (Be as specific as possible, and keep in mind, if you've seen me shoot, I have limited skills with a handgun, and none with a rifle. Yet.)

(This should be an interesting and lively discussion!)
Have at it! lol.

Hey Lady, I just want to congratulate you on your chutzpah (sp) for being willing to take on a completely new sport (way of life really) for you with the zeal of a teenager.

Nice to see!
 
Last edited:
Hey Lady, I just want to congratulate you on your chutzpah (sp) for being willing to take on a completely new sport (way of life really) for you with the zeal of a teenager.

Nice to see!
I like challenges and I wasted a lot of time! LOL. Playing catch-up now. If things get crazier in the world, I may need to find my own food....hence the class and the license and all the questions.
Hope to do a 2gun match in a year or so, and then eventually a 3 gun.
 
I like challenges and I wasted a lot of time! LOL. Playing catch-up now. If things get crazier in the world, I may need to find my own food....hence the class and the license and all the questions.
Hope to do a 2gun match in a year or so, and then eventually a 3 gun.

With that in mind, build yourself an AR and use it to deer hunt as well.
 
RRs post above sums up the standard tool use very well. But unless I missed it you need to specify what you are going to be hunting. Deer? Build a nice AR, you would learn a lot, have a great home defense weapon, impress the local male population, and be able to hunt anything in our part of the country. Birds? A decent shotgun isn't all that expensive, and can be used (depending on ammo) on anything from 2 legged bad guys, rodents, all the way up to deer. If you don't have a .22, you need one because...well we just do.
 
I saw one of these (I think) in action at my range. Huge fire was shooting out the end, and I got video. It was great! LOL. I think the young man said it had a 12" barrel.
I need to see what they have for rent there besides the Uzi.
(Which was awesome, but expensive to shoot for 5 minutes....lol.)
 
I saw one of these (I think) in action at my range. Huge fire was shooting out the end, and I got video. It was great! LOL. I think the young man said it had a 12" barrel.

5.56 is a relatively small cartridge. It does get the job done on deer. I'm sure it'll work on larger deer with good placement. Also works on Yotes and other varmints (2 or 4 legged).

As for what was at the range you saw, probably in a 'pistol' configuration (shorter than 16").
 
Last edited:
RRs post above sums up the standard tool use very well. But unless I missed it you need to specify what you are going to be hunting. Deer? Build a nice AR, you would learn a lot, have a great home defense weapon, impress the local male population, and be able to hunt anything in our part of the country. Birds? A decent shotgun isn't all that expensive, and can be used (depending on ammo) on anything from 2 legged bad guys, rodents, all the way up to deer. If you don't have a .22, you need one because...well we just do.
Deer mostly.
Dad had a .22, but I have no idea where it is....it's in the house, that's all I know. So that's covered, I guess?

Not sure I can actually build something like a gun, but I'll look into it. You guys seem to love doing it! If I've rebuilt a carb, and done other stuff on (older) cars, can I build a gun? LOL.
 
Look, Millie, "building" aint technically what most of us do. We assemble. We buy a lower receiver, then the parts kits. Then we watch YouTube videos on putting the pieces together. A few basic tools...non-marring mallet, pliers, some punches and bada bing bada boom...AR. Im not only convinced you could do it, I am convinced that you would do it multiple times like the rest of us addicted fools.
 
I've built a dozen or more ARs and they've all run without a hitch and I can hit man sized targets out to 500 yds with them.

I've rebuilt the carburetor in my Kawasaki Mule twice, and then bought a new carburetor.

You wanna know why? Rebuilding a carburetor is harder to do.....
 
Get a lever action in 30-30 because no matter how many you end up with, you should own one of those.
 
Millie, again personal preference and shot what you can get your hands on. My vote as far as direction to head though is a bolt action of some flavor. My go to bolt gun is not something I’d recommend know because the Remingtons of today are not the same as when I bought mine (Freedom Group ownership sucks!) and I’d go different if I had to buy today. Your budget would be next to say next directional guideline ... Savage makes a pretty accurate rifle right out of the bot a fair price. Caliber would be kinda driven by what recoil you will put up with ... but a .45acp shooter should be fine with most anything normal here in NC (.243, 7mm-08, 6.5, etc along with my old boring .308 choice).

IF I were to recommend one thing without really you getting hands on it would be a Savage Trophy Hunter package ... rifle and 3-9x40 Nikon scope with rings. The 11/111 line is allows it to be fairly budget friendly especially with a synthetic stock at $450ish. The AccuTrigger is very good and will be far more enjoyable than most other stock triggers in that price range. It also comes in a Lady Hunter or Youth model to fit smaller framed shooters ... basically shorter length of pull ... so it’s easier to shot.

Again shot what you can get your hands on for input and don’t rush. Also a nice little bolt action rimfire makes for cheap and fun practice and longer distances are not available.
 
So this is really going to have to break down by what you want to hunt.

Deer: centerfire rifle or shotgun (slugs/buck)
Squirrels: rimfire rifle or shotgun (number 6-7.5 shot)
Dove/quail: Shotgun (number 7.5-8 shot)
Rabbit: Shotgun (number 5-6 shot)
Turkey: Shotgun (hi brass number 4-6 shot)

So as with all things, pick where you want to start....

Specific recommendations to start your shopping:

Centerfire Rifle: Ruger American or Savage Axis in whichever caliber suits you. You're in the eastern part of the state so you'll have a lot more open fields than we do here, so flatter shooting cartridges are a plus (.243 Win, 7mm-08, 6.5 Creedmoor). Top it with a good Vortex scope. I like their Diamondback line personally for a no frills hunting rig.

Shotgun: Remington 870 or Mossberg 500. Go handle a few and see which fits you best. Shorter LOP stocks are probably going to be your friend.

Rimfire Rifle: Marlin 60 or Ruger 10/22. Top it with a decent 4x fixed power rimfire scope and you'll have a squirrel slaying machine.
agree with the .245 for a 1st deer rifle, but the the .270 is alos a good option.
 
See?? All these responses are getting me ideas on where to start, from people who have the experience.

I will take my time, as was mentioned above, and try to get my hands on more rifles/shotguns as I go along. I've shot a few rifles, but not sure if any were hunting-oriented, but I can find out.
 
Before you go crazy trying to digest all this stuff get yourself an inexpensive single shot rifle. Get it with a scope. Maybe a 3x9. Don’t sell the farm to afford it either. You may hate hunting.

Not sure of your stature or tolerance to recoil but try looking at .243 or .3030 (.223 if you can’t handle the others) or in .270 if you have the shoulder.

Learn your equipment, become proficient to the point of boredom.

Watch a bunch of youtube video’s on the subject and hang out with someone that actually knows how to be successful.
 
I don’t hunt. So my advice might suck. I’d buy a 22 bolt action first and see how you like rifle shooting. Gun, scope and ammo won’t break the bank and you’ll get more trigger time. If you like that you can use it for fun and small critters. Then buy a centerfire for deer. I’ll let the hunters guide you there.

And as always, CZ is always the answer.


https://cz-usa.com/product/cz-457-american/
 
I don’t hunt. So my advice might suck. I’d buy a 22 bolt action first and see how you like rifle shooting. Gun, scope and ammo won’t break the bank and you’ll get more trigger time. If you like that you can use it for fun and small critters. Then buy a centerfire for deer. I’ll let the hunters guide you there.

And as always, CZ is always the answer.


https://cz-usa.com/product/cz-457-american/
Not sure what action Dad's .22 has, I need to find it! The few rifles I've shot, I've liked. Haven't run into anything I hated yet.
 
My input would be either a Marlin 30-30 or a bolt action in .243 with a 4x scope.
Those would cover anything you want to hunt on the East coast.
 
@Millie

There are way better write-ups out there, and lots of videos. I like the ones on Brownell’s site. But this one can give you an idea of what it takes to assemble an AR from a rifle build kit. Very little difference in the process if you wanted an AR pistol with a <16” barrel.

https://www.carolinafirearmsforum.c...nd-stripped-lower-to-functioning-ar-15.44122/

You can also buy the two halves fully assembled and it’s juat two pins to connect them. Or buy a complete AR rifle/pistol.
 
Back
Top Bottom