Most common gun used at ranges? First time gun buyer.
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Jaywmustang
.308 Win
22lr
BDinPutnam
.475 A&M Magnum
50 BMG.
And a Swiss P210.
And a Swiss P210.
meketrefe
.450/400 Nitro Ex
At ranges you see all sort of things, people enjoying certain disciplines and guns and learning and then
at the other hand a lot of people doing stupid things w/o really knowing why. just burning ammo including
popular calibers.
I guess the key question is what do you think you would enjoy more? Do you like to challenge yourself to
improve accuracy and study some accuracy and techniques? Or you prefer to shoot random targets at known
or unknown distances and perhaps enjoy the report from plinkin steel?
or do you see yourself tracking clays and busting with a nice shotgun?
Or perhpaps you just want a gun for show and tell and take a few selfies and shoot a few paper dinner plates
call of duty style?
I guess before worrying about the "how" decide "what" is you want to do and "why" and then the how that is the gun
and ammo, equipement and training choices becomes the easy part.
Join some training sessions in the gun club and see if with some defense and or ballistics seminars get an idea of what
you realy like.
With all that said there is always a room for a 12ga and a 22LR in any home but not sure if that is what you like.
The 12ga will be more oriented towards clays targets, bird hunting and home defense. While the 22LR carbine will be more like
a target but also can be used to pop small varmints and pinking and defense in a pinch and with some limitations.
at the other hand a lot of people doing stupid things w/o really knowing why. just burning ammo including
popular calibers.
I guess the key question is what do you think you would enjoy more? Do you like to challenge yourself to
improve accuracy and study some accuracy and techniques? Or you prefer to shoot random targets at known
or unknown distances and perhaps enjoy the report from plinkin steel?
or do you see yourself tracking clays and busting with a nice shotgun?
Or perhpaps you just want a gun for show and tell and take a few selfies and shoot a few paper dinner plates
call of duty style?
I guess before worrying about the "how" decide "what" is you want to do and "why" and then the how that is the gun
and ammo, equipement and training choices becomes the easy part.
Join some training sessions in the gun club and see if with some defense and or ballistics seminars get an idea of what
you realy like.
With all that said there is always a room for a 12ga and a 22LR in any home but not sure if that is what you like.
The 12ga will be more oriented towards clays targets, bird hunting and home defense. While the 22LR carbine will be more like
a target but also can be used to pop small varmints and pinking and defense in a pinch and with some limitations.
Toecutter
.308 Win
What is this gun going to be used for?
Have you any experience at all shooting?
Have you any experience at all shooting?
I’m very interested in being accurate and possibly shooting clay targets down the line as that is what I remember most of my relatives doing when I was growing up.
Nothing specific but snother poster mentioned clay target practice which definitely always interested me. No experience shooting though.
meketrefe
.450/400 Nitro Ex
I would say if you don't get a shotgun perhaps a good move is to have the first gun in a service caliber.
Simple reliable guns in service calibers are always a good bet and if nothing else one can resort to those to find ammo everywhere.
what about a 223 bolt action that is economic and accurate to start with?
It is very accurate, affordable, plentiful, forgiving to reload and can shoot far with a the right loads and rifle.
If so get a least a 8 twist in a popular reliable action. perhaps an action that you can swap calibers between seasons with a simple barrel
and bolt head swap.
I like 3 things on a gun, accuracy always first, reliability and versatility.
simple is better and less is more in the end.
Good post, but you gonna give the new guy a migraine talking about action, twist, bolt, and headspace lol.
Marine Cpl
.577 Tyrannosaur.
I would recommend the Ruger Pistol Calibered Carbine in 9mm for a number of reasons.
1. It’s fun to shoot at the range up to a little over 100 yards.
2. Recoil is nonexistent. Almost like shooting a .22.
3. Ammo is cheap. You can buy lots of it.
4. Excellent for home defense. No excessive noise, concussion, flash, and recoil. The whole family can use it if they had to. Even the little ones.
1. It’s fun to shoot at the range up to a little over 100 yards.
2. Recoil is nonexistent. Almost like shooting a .22.
3. Ammo is cheap. You can buy lots of it.
4. Excellent for home defense. No excessive noise, concussion, flash, and recoil. The whole family can use it if they had to. Even the little ones.
spat
.700 Nitro Express
Shotguns are the most versatile. They can change roles by just swapping ammo.
They are not the best at anything except shooting flying targets, but they can do it all.
They are not the best at anything except shooting flying targets, but they can do it all.
Carlos Hathcock
.450/400 Nitro Ex
When you meet someone do you just March up to them and start talking or do you introduce yourself?
kev74
20×102mm Vulcan
It doesn't matter. Once you get one you'll want more.
Toecutter
.308 Win
I dunno skeet shooting and shotguns may not be great for a first timer . Especially if we are talking 12 ga. He should learn putting holes in paper , a 22 would be be good, cheap and easy to shoot.
Now an AR would be great too it’s easy to shoot, maintain and will be a rifle you won’t grow out of, you can shoot paper, or if need be defend you property or hunt . the down side is price of the rifle and ammo .
Now an AR would be great too it’s easy to shoot, maintain and will be a rifle you won’t grow out of, you can shoot paper, or if need be defend you property or hunt . the down side is price of the rifle and ammo .
Blimey
.450/400 Nitro Ex
Every guy should get a 12 gauge pump gun first, IMO. You can get a mossberg 500 for ~$300. It will take thousands of rounds flawlessly. You can indeed shoot clay with it (it's not going to compete with $2000 trap guns, but it's certainly fine for fun), shoot turkeys, put slugs in it and shoot deer. You can also put buck shot in it and calm anybody down in a self defense scenario.
Even in the worst ammo shortage post-SAFE act it was still very easy to get target ammo for a shot gun and that stuff will still kick plenty of ass if your life is on the line.
Even in the worst ammo shortage post-SAFE act it was still very easy to get target ammo for a shot gun and that stuff will still kick plenty of ass if your life is on the line.
Toecutter
.308 Win
Agreed a 12 ga pump is a great gun to have , my point is he may put 3 shells through it and never want to shoot a gun again. If he said I m afraid of the current situation and need home defense gun a shotgun makes more sense .
He has never shot a gun before. A first time shooter shouldn’t be sweeping a shotgun around trying to hit moving targets . He should be seated at a bench shooting paper with a low recoil rifle loading one at a time.
He has never shot a gun before. A first time shooter shouldn’t be sweeping a shotgun around trying to hit moving targets . He should be seated at a bench shooting paper with a low recoil rifle loading one at a time.
First,
How much gun experience do you have?
What is your purpose for intent in owning the gun?
Be careful it can become an addicting hobby
Like Everyone else it's just an opinion. Here's mine.
A few great choices are start with a .22lr or .223/5.56 AR. A Ruger 10/22 is a great choice for .22lr.
I typically don't recommend brand new shooters to shotguns first because they can be intimidating and may discourage a new shooter from getting into the hobby. .22lr and ARs are super fun, relatively cheap ammo and very easy to control, operate and improve your skills upon. ARs are louder than a .22lr but the recoil is totally manageable and not at all intimidating.
if your county pistol permit office is still open, start the application for that as well.
IrishMick
.44 mag
Why not get a .22 and a Shotgun? There still may be Ruger 10//22s available in stores as well as Shotguns in hunting configurations. You can get out the door for 5-600 dollars with a Ruger and a Maverick 88. .22 ammo and target loads are still available. Each one is good choice; the .22 for practicing marksmanship skills (without spending a fortune) and small game hunting, the Shotgun for clays and larger game and bird hunting. While neither is great for the job, either can be pressed into service in a home defense role. A whole bunch of .22s coming at you is a lot of angry bees and as Clint says shooting someone in the face with birdshot will dick 'em up and stop the threat.
BDinPutnam
.475 A&M Magnum
I feel like "your first post should be in introductions" should be a rule.
I do think we may see a lot of new legit members here soon and it is a potential opportunity for us to move the needle ever so slightly in the conversation in this state?
Sorry for the hijack.
As much as people dismiss .22lr for being under powered, I don't see anyone standing there while rounds are coming their way.
.22lr can and will kill.
It's not the ideal choice but it's 100% better than a bat, knife or a larger gun you are too intimidated by to use effectively.
I suggest a .22LR or/and 18ga shotgun. Once you get some experience and know you want to continue shooting then look at other platforms and calibers.
S&W Fan
.450/400 Nitro Ex
No reason at all to shy away from a shotgun. I cut my teeth on a shotgun before shooting much of anything else. They’re Not scary and with a little direction are easy to acclimate to. There are a ton of decent 20 ga. Pumps on the market that will get the job done, wether that be clay bird shooting, self defense or hunting.
S&W Fan
.450/400 Nitro Ex
18 ga.?
I don't know if he has every shot a gun before or not. I don't know if a 12ga will put him/her off of shotguns. So I suggested something that would be less of a kick.
A Ruger 10/22 ( or three! ) it's the law (JK)
I would think that no matter what and how many centerfire rifles and pistols or shoties most of us have, we all still have a shoot 22 rimfires it's all about trigger time!
Also welcome to the forum, I see your from long Island I left Smithtown just over 20 years ago for Saratoga County.
I would think that no matter what and how many centerfire rifles and pistols or shoties most of us have, we all still have a shoot 22 rimfires it's all about trigger time!
Also welcome to the forum, I see your from long Island I left Smithtown just over 20 years ago for Saratoga County.
S&W Fan
.450/400 Nitro Ex
I think that you meant 16 ga. Right ? There are no “ 18 ga. “ Shotguns out there that aren’t rare and antique.