New Hunter
 

Hi all-

I am brand new to hunting and firearms in general. I'd like to get involved however, so I joined up here.

I want to know what type of gun I should start off with? Here's a few details....

I have never hunted before.
The only weapon Ive ever fired was a civil war musket loader, and that was 15 years ago. Though I do know HOW to shoot.
Iam interested in huntingdeer, hog and turkey.
I'd be doing all hunting with my dog. (dont know if that matters)
I am looking to purchase one gun that is adaptable to all 3 kinds of hunt.
I'd rather not spend more than $500

Thanks everyone for your help. Also I am from Virginia and would like to hook up with people that wouldnt mind showing me the ropes.

Thanks. -Rob

RE: New Hunter
 

if you are going to hunt with a dog best thing to use is a good shotgun, 12 or 20 gauge it all depends on your peference.

RE: New Hunter
 

Hey, welcome to the forums!

Throwing turkeys in there makes things a lil trickier. If it were just deer and hogs I'd suggest something like a 30-30 as well as some other calibers. BUT turkey are hunted with shotguns. You could get a 12gauge pump with an a regular barrel and a slug barrel and take care of all three animals for under $500. I would price the single shot break-open shotguns for turkey (I'm thinking they usually run right around $100)..make sure it either has "choke tubes" or comes in full choke. Then take the remaining money and by a rifle and lots of ammo to practice.

30-30, seems like an ideal caliber because its easy to find in a wide variety and at good prices...it's not heavy on recoil (which really helps new shooters) and it's proven as a deer and hog gun. It's not a 'long range' caliber but as a new shooter you probably don't need to be taking 'long range' shots. Besides, leveractions are just plain fun...which means you'll practice more. If you find a deal on a gun and aren't sure about just post questions...there are tons of good deer and hog calibers...too many to list.

RE: New Hunter
 

thanks for the info... I didnt know Turkey hunting could only be done with a shotgun...Im learning already. Someone I worked with mentioned the .243 and .270 caliber rifles for a first timedeer or hog hunter... (im not putting much stock into what they said just yet) what do you think about these guns? I briefly looked at some prices for these rifles and I saw a few in my price range.

RE: New Hunter
 

For hunting deer or hogs with dogs,the 7mm-08 or the 308win would be fine choices.But when you include turkey,a shotgun is the best choice.

RE: New Hunter
 

Your co-worker is right...a 270 or 243 would be fine for deer or hogs. If you are only going to get one gun for all 3, I recommend a 12 gauge shotgun. The remington 870 would be in your price range. Get a fully rifled barrel for slugs (deer and hogs) and a smoothbore barrel with full choke for turkeys.

Good luck in your new pursuit.

RE: New Hunter
 

a mossberg 835 ulti-mag is a good choice in a 12 guage pump as well. well below 500 bucks. you can get a 835 with a smoothbore and a rifled slug barrel for 399 at wally world.

RE: New Hunter
 

I would look at the Benelli Nova. It is under your budget and works great. Other wise try the Rem. 870 Exp. Good luck.

RE: New Hunter
 

For deer and hogs I would go with a .270 Win., and for turkey a 12 gauge. Good luck.

RE: New Hunter
 

Rob who said that you have to huut turhey with a shotgun I have been shooting them with a 22. mag for years. and if I have my 6.5 you head shoot them I still don't know why every body need to shoot 12 bb size shot at a turkey and put a lot of holes in it when you can do my motto one shot one kill. I know in a lot of states you have to use a shotgun but not where I live.

RE: New Hunter
 

Um, because it's ILLEGAL!!!!!

RE: New Hunter
 

Younggun I don't know where you are from but befroe you make a statment like that you should check the laws of diff. states I will repeate the statment for you sence you did not read it the FISRT time the state that I kive in you CAN hunt turkey with a .22 . God I wish people would READ the post before they shoot there mouth off.

RE: New Hunter
 

I think that in spite of the fact that it is legal in your state to hunt turkey with a .22, it would be better to use a shotgun because alot of states only allow shotguns, and in a region the state laws can vary tremendously on most aspects of hunting laws.
For example, on treestand laws, in Alabama I believe it is that you are only required to wear hunter orange headwear, but in Tennesse, you still have tohave 500 square inches of hunter orange(maybe it was 400) on you in the treestand. There are similar situations in turkey hunting. From what I understand, moststates require you to use a shotgun, and if youwant to be able to hunt turkeyanywhere inamerica, youshoulduse a shotgun.
Correct me if I am wrong, but there is no turkey hunting law that states that you can't hunt with a shotgun. I guess a plus of having a .22 would be that you wouldn't have to dress up in so much camo as you would with shotgun hunting. However, as I stated before, if you want to hunt anywhere you want to for turkey, get a shotgun.

RE: New Hunter
 

here it is again this is the post for you to READ!!!!!

Quote)Rob who said that you have to huut turhey with a shotgun I have been shooting them with a 22. mag for years. and if I have my 6.5 you head shoot them I still don't know why every body need to shoot 12 bb size shot at a turkey and put a lot of holes in it when you can do my motto one shot one kill. I know in a lot of states you have to use a shotgun but not where I live

The bottom line states that a lot of states do NOT let you hunt with a 22. But I know of at least 7 states that you can use a 22 .

That is the end of this post for me. God what a meat head

Rob check the laws in you're state and hunt with what you want and don't worry about what this guy said.. Good luck hunting



By the way welcome to the forum younggun

RE: New Hunter
 

Maybe you didn't read my last post,
I quote:

"From what I understand, moststates require you to use a shotgun, and if youwant to be able to hunt turkeyanywhere inamerica, youshoulduse a shotgun.
Correct me if I am wrong, but there is no turkey hunting law that states that you can't hunt with a shotgun."

You have showed me that there are 7 states that do allow rifle hunting for turkey, and I have absolutely no argument to that.

What I say to Rob is this : Because you can legally hunt turkey with a shotgun in every state in the United States, if you would want to hunt turkey in any state you want, you should get a shotgun, because only 7 states in America allow hunting with a .22.

I am just saying that if you want to hunt in any state, including ones that don't allow turkey hunting with a .22, which are the majority, you should get a shotgun, which is accepted as a method for harvesting turkey in all states.

I hope this clarifys everything, and I do sincerly thank you for welcoming me to the forum, you are the first one, and I am privileged to be able to be in such an excellent hunting community.

God Bless!

RE: New Hunter
 

Hunting turkey with a rifle is a bad idea, not because you can't kill a turkey with it but because you risk killing other hunters.On public land it is very often that multiple hunters appreach the same gobbleing turkey. I would much rather be shot at 100 yards with #4 turkey load than 22 Mag, or god forbid 243.

RE: New Hunter
 

I have done the .22 thing on my property, but illegal on FL WMA's.

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RE: New Hunter
 

I hope you aren't suggesting that he gets a .270 for hunting turkey.
That would go straight through the turkey and hit another hunter 50 yards away, if not closer. It would work good for hogs and deer, but for turkey it's out of the question.
I frankly am not a fan of Savage, I hate their bolts on the bolt actions, heck, you have toSPLAP the bolt up in postition in order to pull it back.[:@]
Very accurate rifle though, good for those who only live by "one shot, one kill" (I'm not saying one shot,one kill is bad mind you ,renfrowridge.)

RE: New Hunter
 

younggun No problem we each have our way of hunting. I look at hunting a little different because I own my own land about 200 acres and most people don't have that and must hunt on public land or get a lease where they are a lot of people hunting. But yes I agree the .270 is not a turkey gun for sure.

RE: New Hunter
 

Remington 870 12 gauge shotgun or a mossberg 500 (even cheaper). This is all you will need for turkey, deer, hog's. the big thing is you won't be able to take long shots for deer but again as stated, you probably won't be doing that right away anyways. Get a rifle later on when you get a few years under your belt.

I started out hunting with a 12 ga myself and it worked very well for a woods gun. the only time i felt undergunned so to speak was in a tree stand overlooking a field. But truth be told, i have gotten more deer in the woods where a shotgun shines then over fields.

RE: New Hunter
 

A different approach might be buying a Rossi/BrazTech, I believe they sell Rifle shotgun combos, i think they have a 12 gauge that you can get with additional rifle barrels chambered in the popular hunting callibers, a 12 gauge barrel with an interchangeable.308 barrel under $300, that doesnt sound like to bad a dealto me, again you are stuck with that one shot one kill deal, but i personally love the idea of only one shot, might bot be the best route but at least thought id suggest it,

RE: New Hunter
 

Um, Not necessarily

RE: New Hunter
 

HEY ROBq....FIRST.....hunters safety course.....then....listen to these guyz