Hello, first I would like to apologize for being completely ignorant. I've lived in the city my whole life and I have started to think about how important guns/rifles are as tools. I have never fired a gun before and I feel as though it is ridiculous to not be familiar and useful with such an important tool.
So I was hoping you members here could school me a little bit on what firearms and methods would be useful in the pursuit of learning how to be competent and proficient with firearms.
Ultimately the goal I suppose for me is the learn the art of using a gun. Or if society were to break down and I needed to hunt for my own food that I would be capable. (I am sure the answer to learning that skill is to GO HUNT!)
Hopefully the members here are be willing to help me figure all of this out. I want to have a plan of action to learn more and become competent with a gun and there may be a brand new hunter to join in with the rest of the discussions here when I am done. Thank you all for your help in advance.
BEst thing you could do for yourself is to either take some classes, your state should offer hunter safety courses or other firearms courses or to find a (RESPONSIBLE) friend to teach you things and to take you shooting. I, an most of us here probably, learned to shoot and hunt from a relative or a friend. Good luck!
-Jake
__________________
In your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your heart and be silent.- Psalms 4:4
"One accurate shot fired with deliberate precision is worth more than a hundred fired without control." -Major John Foster
In God We Trust
I started hunting when I was 9, so using a gun is second nature to me...
I believe everyone should start with small game hunting...Some of the most fun you can have is squirrel hunting with a .22 rifle...It's also great practice...In order to get really proficient with a firearm you have to shoot a lot...
I also love to dove hunt, this is done with a shotgun...In fact, I was in my late 20s before I ever shot skeet...My first round of skeet, I went 23 for 25...Hunting is a great sport and it also leads to guys learning how to clean and cook game for the table, which is a good thing...
Start slow, get some instruction, be safe and have fun...
Second, seek out proper training from a certified instructor if at all possible. The NRA offers many courses for rifles, shotguns, muzzle loaders and handguns. Here is a link to the NRA website for courses. http://www.nrainstructors.org/searchcourse.aspx
No, you do not need to hunt to learn how to shoot. You can learn how to shoot and shoot only paper targets and clay pigeons. I do hunt, but I do not feel that hunting is for everyone or every gun owner. Hunting should be done primarily to help provide a healthy balance of animals and for food. The sport of hunting is a byproduct of this. Ethical hunters don't hunt to kill something - they hunt to help the balance of nature and for food. They also do not take a shot unless it is a safe shot and within the limits of their skills and the firearm or bow being used.
One thing I cannot emphasize enough and that is to NOT rush out to purchase a firearm until you have some knowledge of firearms, what you will be using it for, what type you should be buying and where you can shoot it. IMO, a rifle in .22 Long Rifle with open sights, bolt action and detachable box magazine or single shot is a great rifle for which to start. However, you can also start with a pellet gun. Start with something that has low recoil, less expensive ammo and can be shot at the local range. Buyer Beware - a lot of salesmen do not know firearms that well. Many who do will push you to buy what gives them the largest profit or what they are having a hard time selling.
Ethical hunters don't hunt to kill something - they hunt to help the balance of nature and for food. They also do not take a shot unless it is a safe shot and within the limits of their skills and the firearm or bow being used.
RR, I thought you worked on new loads, new firearms, scouting, practicing and just being out in nature for this. If you wait for hunting season, you can be waiting a very long time if you fill your tags early.
well ya gotta have some excuse for fall, lets get this right.
spring- turkey hunting
summer- load developement, practice
fall- preseason scouting
hunting season.........well
winter-.........really sux, ya gotta freeze to get away from her!
RR
Location: S.W. Pa.-- Heart in North Central Pa. mountains-
Posts: 2,508
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ridge Runner
well ya gotta have some excuse for fall, lets get this right.
spring- turkey hunting
summer- load developement, practice
fall- preseason scouting
hunting season.........well
winter-.........really sux, ya gotta freeze to get away from her!
RR
.... Hey RR.. Ya know how to turn a fox into a moose?.......Marry her!! OK, that's it.. sorry... I'm outta here....
Welcome to the forum! my advice is like what everyone else is saying find a hunter safty course in your area. I believe that the art of shooting or even owning a gun is SAFTEY! There are people on here that are a lot more experienced than me and i respect their opinions but mine is join the NRA and visit their safty courses. Shooting and huntin are my form of stress relief! So find yourself a good used .22 and learn to shoot it well and safely then move up with a shotgun at a trap range loads of fun and builds your confidence in your shooting and dont get upset if you a lot remember every one of us that shoot or own a gun have had to miss in order to learn how to shoot well! Good luck!!!!
__________________ Do it right shoot the big guns first! If all else fails a 1911 wont!
Learning the art of the gun
If you wait for hunting season, you can be waiting a very long time if you fill your tags early. 
Do it right shoot the big guns first! If all else fails a 1911 wont!
