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

[Apyl]

Personally I like my 22LR and 20 ga. Both are old hand me downs but do the job. I have them on a rack above the door. Depending on what the predator is depends on what gun I grab. If I want to hunt small game I just take my 22. out back. I placed an order today for a new 22LR its a Remington 597 but its pink and mossy oak so you may not be interested in that one lol.

 

[jspitzer221]

Are you sure you don't need something bigger?

Do you have mountain lions or bears in your area?

Haha, no, no. It's just the one I grabbed to put there. I will probably switch it out with the .17

 

[chigger bait]

Since you have several bills to fill, maybe this would best fit needs.

http://www.tcarms.com/firearms/encore.php

 

[3 H Eggfarm]

This is what I used and it worked for both racoons and possums, Twinkies the cream filled cake. I have traped many of both with them. Now I don't know about the wild cats maby cheap cat food?
Good traping.
The egg man

 

[RMBGKY]

You can buy a .410 shotgun at Walmart for under $100. It will kill anything up to a dog size. You possibly can buy slugs which would give you a little more distance, but reduce accuracy. The problem with a .22 is that the target has to be sitting still for most of us to hit it.

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

Quote: The same applies to slugs in a shotgun, and using birdshot, you're just as likely to kill your own animals as you are to shoot a predator that is among them, plus birdshot is useless against most larger animals.

Even buckshot is more likely to miss at any range past 25 yds.
The "kill zone" on most common predators is not very large

Most predators focused on your animals will present a standing shot if you're smart about how you approach them
You only need a few seconds to make a killing shot

 

[chigger bait]

The same applies to slugs in a shotgun, and using birdshot, you're just as likely to kill your own animals as you are to shoot a predator that is among them, plus birdshot is useless against most larger animals.

Even buckshot is more likely to miss at any range past 25 yds.
The "kill zone" on most common predators is not very large

Most predators focused on your animals will present a standing shot if you're smart about how you approach them
You only need a few seconds to make a killing shot

Most vermin that I have killed, while they were in pursuit of live stock, I have been able to walk with a few short yards of them because of their target fixation.

 

[Shawnee_b]

Being a Fed licensed firearms dealer presenty and most my life I hear this question alot. Also hunter over 50 years and competition the past 43. I like guns I had Expert Rifleman under my belt at 15 and never stopped.

OP didn't mention price range so here's a few bargains for the beginning shooter. Hunt the used racks, sometimes the dealer will let you test shoot it out back, I do.

22 first gun. Semi autos are fun, you spray lead all over hoping you hit something. Bolt single shots you'll learn to shoot proper and better. Or bolt with a mag, pump or lever gun.

Gotta have an semi-auto?
Model 60 Marlin/Glenfield 22cal semi auto, 25% less cost than a 10/22 and with the button rifling it is more accurate. I won't argue that, I'll just take your money. You won't lose your magazines in the snow and if you lose the tube, give up. take up knitting. The money you'll save with the M60 will buy you 5 bricks ammo, then PRACTICE. That said I have 2 10/22 also, good guns and 2 pictured below and a 223Howa also (yes cans legal).

Next, shotgun. Birdshot for small game, buck or slug for larger game or home defense. Have those 2 guns you're covered.

Shotgun? Single barrel 12 or 20. 410 is hard to be good with, 16ga is expensive rounds. Double even better and the inexpensive Mossbergs are a bargain, Maveric is a Mossy to lessor specs.

Why single? Same as the 22 also under $100. Remember they didn't make double barrel shotguns for a 2nd shot, they were made for 2 birds, 2 ducks, 2 rabbits.

Deer rifle? Nevermind the "you CAN use a 22 or 223" and I have but well placed head shots. Forget the can and go with should. 243, 308, 30-06 but hit that 243 mark at least and anything inbetween 243 and 30-06 like 270. Good quality for the prices, Savage, Howa, Weatherby Vanguard run $400 and Savage has some package guns with scope $300.

The bargain deer gun? Mosin Nagant 91/30 or M44. $100, 5 shots. Uguly? To some I guess. It's 7.62 x 54R (308 is 7.62x51) It's Russian, it's been around since 1891 and the round is still a popular big game cartridge all over Europe. It's got 5 shots of 30-06 equivlent power and will dump anything you're going to come across. Accurate? For a joke I shot a M39 (Finnish modified 91/30) with iron sights in a scoped event at 200 yards at steel shoebox size targets. It was a turkey shoot and the other 9 guns were scoped. I took 2nd place and did t again the next year cause the 8 who waddled away with tails tucked called it a fluke. 1st place was a sig police sniper rifle at over 25X the price of mine. The ammo for these can be had in soft tip for hunting the same price as any other or you can buy surplus ammo and PRACTICE.

Good luck, gain a lifetime of great shooting experiences, hunts and stories.

 

[Bullitt]

The guy asked for a suggestion for one gun to meet his needs. Which one of those guns are you recommending?

 

[chigger bait]

Being a Fed licensed firearms dealer presenty and most my life I hear this question alot. Also hunter over 50 years and competition the past 43. I like guns I had Expert Rifleman under my belt at 15 and never stopped.

OP didn't mention price range so here's a few bargains for the beginning shooter. Hunt the used racks, sometimes the dealer will let you test shoot it out back, I do.

22 first gun. Semi autos are fun, you spray lead all over hoping you hit something. Bolt single shots you'll learn to shoot proper and better. Or bolt with a mag, pump or lever gun.

Gotta have an semi-auto?
Model 60 Marlin/Glenfield 22cal semi auto, 25% less cost than a 10/22 and with the button rifling it is more accurate. I won't argue that, I'll just take your money. You won't lose your magazines in the snow and if you lose the tube, give up. take up knitting. The money you'll save with the M60 will buy you 5 bricks ammo, then PRACTICE. That said I have 2 10/22 also, good guns and 2 pictured below and a 223Howa also (yes cans legal).

Next, shotgun. Birdshot for small game, buck or slug for larger game or home defense. Have those 2 guns you're covered.

Shotgun? Single barrel 12 or 20. 410 is hard to be good with, 16ga is expensive rounds. Double even better and the inexpensive Mossbergs are a bargain, Maveric is a Mossy to lessor specs.

Why single? Same as the 22 also under $100. Remember they didn't make double barrel shotguns for a 2nd shot, they were made for 2 birds, 2 ducks, 2 rabbits.

Deer rifle? Nevermind the "you CAN use a 22 or 223" and I have but well placed head shots. Forget the can and go with should. 243, 308, 30-06 but hit that 243 mark at least and anything inbetween 243 and 30-06 like 270. Good quality for the prices, Savage, Howa, Weatherby Vanguard run $400 and Savage has some package guns with scope $300.

The bargain deer gun? Mosin Nagant 91/30 or M44. $100, 5 shots. Uguly? To some I guess. It's 7.62 x 54R (308 is 7.62x51) It's Russian, it's been around since 1891 and the round is still a popular big game cartridge all over Europe. It's got 5 shots of 30-06 equivlent power and will dump anything you're going to come across. Accurate? For a joke I shot a M39 (Finnish modified 91/30) with iron sights in a scoped event at 200 yards at steel shoebox size targets. It was a turkey shoot and the other 9 guns were scoped. I took 2nd place and did t again the next year cause the 8 who waddled away with tails tucked called it a fluke. 1st place was a sig police sniper rifle at over 25X the price of mine. The ammo for these can be had in soft tip for hunting the same price as any other or you can buy surplus ammo and PRACTICE.

Good luck, gain a lifetime of great shooting experiences, hunts and stories.

Nice looking cans you have mounted on your rifles.