ORIGINAL: Folically Challenged

Just a couple o' questions first...

1) Have you ever shot a rifle before?
2) If so, was it a rimfire or centerfire?
3)How did you feel about the recoil? The muzzle blast?
4) What style was it - pump, semi auto, bolt, single shot, etc.?
5) Do you have anynostalgia for a certain kind of gun, like a lever action?
6) Do you/can you/would you ever reload your ammo?
7) Would you spend more on ammo. to have a more specialized cartridge?
8) Is this only a boar-and-smaller gun, or would there ever be larger critters on the menu? How often?
9)Will there ever be smaller critters on the menu: varmints, rabbits, squirrels, etc.?
10) Will thisbe a brush gun, or will you ever get some 200+ yard shots?
11)Do you hunt in chronically rainy areas?
12)Do you treat your tools with kid gloves, or are you rough on them?
13)Do you like wood or plastic/composite?
14) Would you cry if you scratched the stock on a wood gun?
15) Are you looking for a small initial investment, or would you like to get a lifetime gun right away?
16)Have you been to a gun store to hold several different kinds of rifles? Which ones did you like? Which ones liked you?
17) Do you have any strongbrand loyalty among gun makers?
18)How often will you practice shooting?
19)How often will you actually hunt?
20)(There HAD to be 20 questions, dontcha know!) Will you be carrying the rifle for long periods o' time, perhaps in the mountains/hills, or will you find a rest or a stand, & shoot from there?

I could throw out no end of suggestions, and the ones already mentioned may be just the ticket. If you can give us a little more information, we'll get you "dialed in", as it were.

Take Care,

FC