Time for a gun...help me choose the right one?

[groundpecker]

I suggest a .22 or .22 mag and possibly a scope for small game. I would also suggest going to a local hunting store for your purchase. The hunting store prices will be around the same or a bit higher.. The hunting store can fill your needs and price range with knowledgeable information and a better gun plus service later on if needed.

For large game hunting, you will have to buy a bigger gun and that can be purchased later.

 

[Back on the Farm]

go with the 22 for now. I also recommend like a previous poster-go to a gun shop. More personalized service, to at least get you started. They will help you choose the right gun for your needs & ability. They also will help you down the road if you have questions or need service. You can always buy your ammo at wal-mart. Practice is important.

 

[cadams]

A 10/22 will kill anything from a wild boar to a skunk in a trap. and the 12 ga with a rifled slug will take care of anything else. the biggest boar I've caught in a trap is three hundred lbs and dropped him like a brick with my .22 but he was in a trap. walmart sells a nice 12ga for 175.00 the maverick i think its called .

 

[demerson]

Honestly if this is to be your first gun , or if you have little experience with firearms then a .22 will be your best choice.
Shotgun for an animal in a trap is just a bad idea.
With a .22 , and I will add to that a BOLT action .22 you can develop proper shooting skills ... a ruger10/22 is fine but is a semi auto and the urge to pull the trigger several times sure is hard to overcome!
.22 ammo is cheap so you can shoot alot .... more shooting is a great way to get good
.22 ammo has no recoil per say and you will not develop the "flinch"
A bolt action rifle(or lever action) is 1. more accurate by design than a semi-auto . and 2. slows down the process of firring allowing the shooter to develop a better form.

A .22 is not a good choice for deer or hogs ... but for most all your problems a .22 is fine a 40g piece of lead in an animals head will pretty much stop its existence.
I've hunted and shot competitively for 25+ years alot of high power and long range experience , tactical matches .... etc. .. and I still find the .22 the gun we most shoot around the home ... its fun and cheap.

As for a brand ... A Savage MK2 bolt action is an inexpensive and SUPER accurate firearm ... they make one called a MK2 TR-SR that is short and quick to bring up , is light , and is accurate.... The stocks on the savages leave alot to be desired but as a work gun they are fine.

 

[Nambroth]

Practice well, and be safe. If handled safely 100% of the time, a gun is not dangerous. Just remember that even a 'little' 22 round can travel over a mile! Always have a backstop.

 

[lolita117]

If you are looking for a good predator gun that you can use both to kill an animal that has been caught or to kill them from a distant I would recommend a .204 or a .223. My husband just bought me a Thompson Center Venture Predator .223. Its light weight and a wonderful gun for coyote hunting and whatever suits your needs. My husband always has a .204 in his truck but not sure what brand it is but its a very heavy gun, but he wouldn't trade it for anything. I've seen him shoot coyotes with it at incredible distances. He got me the lighter gun because I hate packing that heavy gun around.

Here is a picture of my gun, I also got the scope too. (BTW just cause I'm a girl doesn't mean I don't know my guns! And my husband says that whenever I'm not hunting with it, he will be)



Also, this is a great gun to start out with. A .22 caliber gun does not pack enough punch to kill anything besides something that is really close distance, like something in a trap. A .223 is still a .22 caliber bullet but it has more powder to pack a bigger punch. Which equal more distance and more accuracy at that distance. Eventually you can move up and get a .243, which is also a great choice for a predator gun. Personally I think you need to get a gun bigger than just a .22 because you are really limiting yourself on what you can use it for.

Here is a comparison of bullets. The .22 being the smaller and the .223 being the larger, of course.


(These picture are larger than life size)

 

[Bullitt]

If you can only buy one gun to shoot predators, deer, hogs, and turkeys, I would suggest a .223 bolt-action rifle. The .223 ammunition is fairly cheap and this round has enough power to kill larger game. You should check your state laws to make sure you can hunt deer with a .223 in your state. Some states do not allow deer hunting with a .22 caliber rifle.

If you are going to be shooting at less than 100 yards you will be fine with open sights. If you plan to shoot at greater distances you probably want to get some kind of scope on the rifle. But you could add a scope later.

You can get a new Savage .223 rifle for less than $300.

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/ItemListing.aspx?sort=priceLow&catid=7672

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

A 223 is a poor choice for hogs and deer.

Will it KILL them?
Yes, with PERFECT shot placement and LOTS of luck

Will it do it RELIABLY?
No

 

[pips&peeps]

I disagree, a .223 is perfect for killing deer. Have always used one and have had no problems with it. Even took down a buck at over 500 yards.

 

[Bullitt]

A 223 is a poor choice for hogs and deer.

Will it KILL them?
Yes, with PERFECT shot placement and LOTS of luck

Will it do it RELIABLY?
No

This debate happens all the time on the gun forums. A .223 will kill a deer or a hog pretty reliably. Would it be my top choice? No. But the guy is asking for a suggestion for one gun for predators, deer, hogs, and turkeys.

If it were me, I would have a .22 for shooting trapped animals and predators at close range, a 12-guage shotgun for shooting turkeys and predators, and a .308 for shooting deer and hogs.

When a person wants one gun for all uses, there will always be limitations. But many people can't afford an arsenal of guns.