Choosing the Right Gun for Hunting

Buying the right gun can be one of the most important things that you can do to prepare for hunting season. There are a lot of things to consider to ensure you get the right gun for you, and your hunting situations.

First, you must consider what game you will be pursuing. If you are looking to hunt small game, including rabbits, squirrels, or birds, you should consider a shotgun in either 20 or 12 gauge. There are other gauges, but ammunition for them is more difficult to find. You can then decide on what type of action you would like. Go to a reputable dealer, and pick up different models, so that you can identify one that fits you well. Single shots are the most inexpensive, but have the obvious drawback of having no quick follow up shot. Double barrel shotguns are also a good choice. You can choose a side by side model, or an over/under model. Be forewarned, double barrel shotguns can be very expensive. Most people will choose either a pump action shotgun, or an auto-loading shotgun. These have quick follow up shots, and can be purchased for a reasonable price.

Another good choice for small game animals (but not birds) is a .22 caliber rifle. The .22 may be the most used gun in America. Ammunition is very cheap, so practicing is easy to do. Hunting small game with a .22 rifle can help prepare you for hunting big game with a rifle.

If you are going to be pursuing big game, the first thing you need to do is examine your state game laws, and find out what type of firearms are legal. Many states have shotgun only laws even for big game. If you live in a state with these limitations, then you will have to choose a shotgun with a slug barrel. This is a rifled barrel, designed to fire shotgun slugs. In most shot gun only states, muzzleloaders are also legal. You will have a bit more range than with a shotgun, but will be limited to one shot, and very slow reload rate. With the technology today, a muzzleloader is a very good option, as many are accurate out to 200 yards.

If a rifle is legal, and you decide that is what you are looking for, you have a huge selection to choose from. The first thing to consider is fit. You need a rifle that will be comfortable for you to shoot. Pick up different brands and models, until you find one that has the right feel to it. It should sit comfortably against your shoulder, and you should be able to reach the trigger without stretching.

There are many different models of rifle available as well. You can choose from single shot, bolt action, auto-loading, or pump rifles. Bolt action and single shot rifles tend to be the most accurate, but any one of the actions available will serve you well if you buy a good quality rifle. Any rifle should be relatively accurate to a distance of at least 200 yards.

Next, you will want to decide on a caliber. Smaller calibers will have less recoil, and a flatter trajectory, but will have less knockdown power. On the light end for deer sized game, the .243 is a good caliber. The .270 is also a good caliber, but has a little more "kick" to it. The 30-06 is also an excellent all around caliber. If you are planning to hunt larger game, such as elk or moose, you may want to step it up another level and go for something like a .300 Winchester magnum. With a lighter bullet, this is a fine deer gun, and with a little heavier bullet, it works well for larger game as well.

Recoil can be a major consideration, especially if you are new to hunting, or purchasing a gun for a young hunter. Too strong of a recoil can make a person flinch upon firing the gun, which obviously will affect accuracy. You do not want to make a new or young hunter afraid to shoot his gun! Start with something with light recoil, and then move up if you need something with a little more power.

Finally, one must consider the price of a gun. Most people will be limited in what they buy based on what they can afford to spend. As with most things, when it comes to firearms, you get what you pay for. However, you will not need the most expensive, custom made rifle (unless that is what you want). Most manufacturers have reasonably priced rifles in different models, actions and calibers. I like Remington rifles, as they are very accurate right out of the box. I also like the Thompson Center Encore. It also offers a lot of flexibility, as the barrels are interchangeable. This means you can buy one action, and then buy different barrels of different calibers. This is particularly beneficial as you can have a rifle barrel, a shotgun barrel, and a muzzleloader barrel, which can be changed based on the season.

There are many different things to consider when looking for a new gun. Hopefully, this article has given you some information to help you get started in finding the right gun for you. When you find the right gun, it will become one of your most prized possession. A good rifle can be an heirloom that you can hand down to your children.