Re: need help choosing deer rifle
Okay, you have been given a lot of the basic info about rifles, different tyes, etc. Another thing to think about is recoil! How much the gun kicks! There are a lot of reasons why a gun will "kick" you in the shoulder more than others, like a heavier gun will kick less than a lighter gun, how the gun is made, the amount of powder and type of powder in the casing, etc.<br /><br />But the louder the gun, and the more it kicks, can effect your accuracy and enjoyment of the sport.<br /><br />So, are you hunting in fields, open woods, or thick brush. Will you be hunting mountains, or hills and plains? This determines how much you need a bullet that will reach out 200, 300, or even 500 yards and still have enough energy to penetrate a deer and drop it in its tracks.<br /><br />The farther out you are shooting, the more a slight flinch will effect your bullett placement.<br /><br />My suggestion? Learn to shoot well with a .22 or .22 mag. Maybe even the newer .17's. Once you are accurate with one of these, then borrow some of your buddies guns. Avoid the .30-06 at first. Start off with some target and varmint hunting with a .220 Swift, or a .223, or a .22 hornet. Most of these are not excessively loud, and don't kick. (Use ear plugs or muffs when shooting). Then you can work your way up. If you can borrow a .243, or a .257 Roberts, or a .25-06 the first year, that might be a good idea. Be really carful with your shot placement. Make sure you are hunting with someone that is knowledgeable and can teach you the signs of the woods, shot placement, stocking, and tracking after the shot.<br /><br />Once you are sure you are going to enjoy the great outdoors, and you know a little more about your terrain, then you can decide what gun will be best for you.<br /><br />For me, I take the gun that suits my feelings for the day and the area I am going to hunt. My guns of choice are the .220 Swift, 6MM, .243, .257, .270, .32 Remmington, .35 Remmington, and on occasions a .270 mag, 20 guage with slugs or 12 guage with slugs.<br /><br />I like the .30-06, I just haven't found a real steal on one I like yet. Many on these boards will say some of my lighter calibres are too light for deer, but I have had more run from the larger cals than the smaller ones. I guess I am more careful with the smaller calibres, and I like them because for the most part they will not tear up the deer as much, leaving more of the yummy meat for me to enjoy.<br /><br />So that is my .02 cents, and I know that 2 pennies aren't worth a whole lot, unless they are a collector's prize, so you get to decide that! HA!
, so I kinda just quit hunting. I still enjoy shooting though. but its imperative you learn to shoot whichever gun you decide to buy. I mean absolutly. gun control MEANS hitting what and where ya aim at. to practice breathing and shooting posture a .22 is cheap. but you will have to practice with the actual weapon you will hunt with to learn how NOT to anticipate the recoil.once you learn the habit of the flinch its very hard to break. thats why proper mounting,breathing and holding the weapon is imperative. if not it will smack you and then the flinch sets in. some cartridge/rifle combos have a nastier bite than others.
