Looking for a rifle..


layton13069

layton13069

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I have never owned a real gun before so this is all new to me..I am looking to start saving some money to purchase a rifle for possible hunting and to scare off any critters that may want to try to take a bite out of me while I'm hiking in apparent bear country (according to the scat I saw on my hike today) I don't need anything huge as I'm not planning on going out and killing a moose or elephant or bear for that matter.. I am just looking for something light and something that's good for an amateur. Georgia has some pretty easy going gun laws. In fact you don't need a permit to have a gun in your house and you don't need a permit to carry a loaded rifle as long as the rifle is visible at all times (i.e out in the woods hunting). I'm not too concerned with the whole license to carry nonsense because I haven't committed any crimes or been institutionalized in the last five years...lol... So...any suggestions would be helpful.. I was looking at guns at the wal of mart website and saw a .22 that might be a good starter for me.. Thanks!
 
22's are great for starting and learning. Even after decades of shooting, they still are very enjoyable, and much cheaper than centerfire guns. They're great small game guns also, but I'm not sure I'd expect one to scare off a bear or other critter. Many animals dont scare, especially if they are causing trouble, which is the only reason to worry about them and need to run them off.

You may want to get something else later that has more general utility for larger animals, but the 22 is a great way to start, and is cheap enough to buy ammo for that you can really shoot it enough to get good.
 
Yeah, get a good 22 to start with, and then see where that takes you. Inexpensive to practice with, and still useful.

Old single shot bolt actions are a good place to start, or get one of the common semi autos like a Marlins or a Ruger 10/22. My first rifle was a 10/22 and I still have it.
 
If you're going with a 22..then go ahead and get a good one...either a tube feed Marlin or better yet...the Ruger 10/22. I am also in Ga and am very familiar with the gun laws here...if you were a bit closer to Augusta I would be more than willing to have you come over and shoot some of the weapons we've got...we really like .22's. My youngest son just got a Savage .22 that my Great grandaddy bought new...it shoots like a dream. If you're ever up this way....let me know and we'll go to the range and send some lead southward!
 
My other 22, besides the Ruger, is an old Mossberg military trainer bolt gun with nice sights. It shoots better than I do, at this point. I got it at a pawn shop for a good price, and it is a really nice gun.
 
If you want to stop something that will take a bite out of you (excepcially in BEAR country) a .22 won't do it you need stoping power and I think a Mosin Nagant chambered in 7.62x54R would be a good caliber. They are cheap and very reliable and by my part shoot pretty accurate, price is about $100 or at Cabelas for $150....

Just my $0.02
 
The Marlin Model 60 and the Ruger 10-22 are the two most popular and reliable rifles of the current crop of semi auto rimfires.

Either one will give years of service, with minimal care. The Ruger has more aftermarket options for playing dressup with it, if that might matter. :)
 
guns

any and all guns are very serious. Find a guide- a local gun club, hunter safety courses,or something. Call your local sheriffs office and ask about a good local range. Check with a gun shop in your locale-they usually know of some organization that can teach marksmanship, safety and general gun awareness-like how to clean it and care for it. A lot of oldtimers know a lot about guns-your family or neighbors may know someone knowledgeable.
Very experienced people have trouble shooting a charging bear, or charging anything for that matter- You need to have a enough practice that unlimbering your rifle, swinging it into position,clicking the safety off, taking aim,and firing is so automatic that you can do it in way less time than it takes to read this. I've been within fifty yards of bears several time in my life,but never felt the need to shoot one. Mostly they leave you alone. Coyotes and feral dogs are another matter,but that's for another thread.
This picture is from my last bear encounter- he went up the tree to get away from me!
 

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Guns are something I know alot about. If you are finding Bear scat a .22 will only piss it off! IMO dont get any thing smaller than a .410 shot gun. Then load it up with Double O or slugs.

I know you dont wasnt a pistol/ revlover however, I would really suggest that you get a revolver in a .357 . That is the least I would venture into known Bear or big Cat country. A decent revolver in Pa. can be had in the 300 dollar range. A long gun must be carried or slung and can become a burden. Bears may not hunt humans on purpose, however like picking a trash can they will take the opportunity if it presents itself.

I agree that a .22 is good to learn on, I would not stake my life on it against a Bear. The other option is to get a large can of Bear mace.
 
I would not trust a 22 to fend off a bear effectively, either, but you'll probably find it easier and cheaper to become a good shooter with lots of practice on a 22 before you get into centerfire cartridges.
 
Get a copy of Col. Jeff Cooper's "The Art of the Rifle". Read it, learn it, and enjoy riflery the proper way.
 
As stated before, if you are concerned about bears, then, a 22 is only going to piss a bear off if you shoot it. Decent 30/30 is easy and cheap to pick up in the used market. And, pretty cheap to shoot as well. Get one in carbine length. A 22 is great for plinking and small game, but, you really need something with a bit more power for bears.
 
As stated already, a .22LR is not very dependable or useful for protection against critters of above rabbit size. Not to say that the .22LR won't kill animals many sizes larger, but rather to say that you can not depend upon it to "stop them expeditiously" if they become dangerous or belligerent.

Considering your question though, and your stated inexperience with firearms I would say however that it appears that a quality .22LR would be exactly the correct firearm for your first purchase! A good .22LR is generally the best learning tool for beginners and usually continues to be one of the most useful firearms any enthusiast can own. I would recommend highly that you seriously consider it as your first gun.

The experience you can gain learning on a decent .22LR is almost never wasted time or money. And the time you spend at an organized range learning the .22LR may well expose you to numerous other types of firearms. If it also happens to be a well operated commercial range it may also offer opportunities to try "rentals" and/or participate in properly conducted training. All of these things will make it much easier for you to make a more informed decision when it comes time to consider the purchase of larger firearms!

Best of luck to you with your decision.:)
 
A .22 is a great place to begin, most people start there. Some other options:

Another option that can give you a little more versatility is a Marlin 1894 in 357mag/38 spcl or 44mag/44 special. The 38 is good for small game and can be loaded with .387 mag which is marginal for deer and black bear but will work. The .44 spcl is a bit big for small game, but can be loaded with a 44 mag which is very good for deer and bear. These are fun and safe guns if handled properly.

Also a singe shot like H&R pardner can be fitted with several interchangeable barrels from .22, shot guns, to heavenly caliber rifles. They are relatively inexpensive and are the closest you will get to an up-gradable do all gun.
 
Since there are no Grizzly Bears in GA, I would not be concerned about a bear attack, as the black bears that tend to live in the central and southern states are more afraid of you than you are of them. I would honestly go with a good 22 rim fire. The 22LR in a ruger 10-22 is a great little gun and can be easily outfitted to make it more accommodating for your needs. The Marlin 60 is also nice but what you see is what you get, no add on parts are available.

There is another option that no one else has mentioned, and that is the 22WMR or commonly called the 22mag. There is a wide array of ammo available for it, and with an inexpensive scope becomes a good rifle for small game, and will work in a pinch for feral dogs and coyotes. Also if in a survival situation, it will bring down deer with a well placed shot to the head. Ammo is a bit more expensive, but still not nearly as expensive as center fire rounds. Marlin makes an excellent bolt action 22mag, with a 7 round detachable magazine. I am sure you can fine one of these marlins in a pawn shop for around $100, then buy a couple extra clips for it and you are set.

I have and use a ruger 10-22, and a Marlin 22mag. Both have nice scopes on them, and I like them both. Yesterday, I was out most of the day exploring the bluffs along the river. I took my 10-22 because it has a synthetic stock and is a bit lighter than the 22 mag. I walked over 15 miles round trip, plus spent a lot of time climbing around on the various bluffs. Not having the extra weight of the 22mag paid off. I never fired a shot while I was out, even though there were plenty of squirrels. I think either the 22LR or the 22WMR will suit you just fine.

Best wishes,

Joe
 
I have to place myself firmly into the "Buy a .22 First" camp. They are great to learn marksmanship with. They are cheap to purchase and cheap to keep fed and ammunition is easily found. My personal choice for a first rifle is a tube feed bolt action, but a mag feed is fine too. You should be able to find a used one in the the $100 to $150 range easy! You might also check into joining a Gun Club and/or find an Appleseed Match to attend.

Another good option for a rifle is to get a Rossi Trifecta like this one.

http://www.kygunco.com/products2.cfm/id/27168/name/rossi-trifecta-20ga-22-barrel-22lr-243win

You get three firearms in one. It's a single shot, but there is nothing wrong with that. If you think your going to have problems with bears, then the 20 gauge loaded with a slug should solve that problem and you can use the .243 with deer. And of course you have the .22 barrel for practice and small game. This is a light set up, so it's great for the bush!

One other thing, I'm assuming there is a season on bears in Georgia (there is one here in Tennessee). Shooting a bear out of season could get you in a world of trouble. Also carrying any sort of firearm into the woods can sometimes be frowned upon by the local authorities, even here in the south. Check your local gun and hunting laws, before you do this. I'd recommend you going ahead and getting a hunting and fishing license and also taking a Hunter Safety Course. If your scared that you might run into a bear, bear spray might be a better option to carry.
 
I think you've gotten some good advice so far. You actually have two distinct needs:

  1. Getting familiar with firearms
  2. Using a firearm for protection in the woods

1. 22's are great for this. Tons of fun and cheap to shoot.
2. Being prepared and vigilant is always the best way to remain safe...cheezy, but true. Bear spray is a great idea, too.

If you are going to be in a position where the need to use a firearm is likely for defense against dangerous game, a shotgun is your best bet and gives you a wide range of options.

My rationale...Your adrenaline will be pumping and your fine motor skills will be garbage...hitting something with rifle would be hard, with a pistol...even harder.

This brings us to another point, training and practice is a must if you want to carry for protection. Get good with your firearm and it's operation. These might be some things you should consider:
  • How do you cycle a shotgun with one hand if you need to?
  • Do you know how to fire from your back? Can you shoot with your weak hand?
  • Can you accurately shoot with one hand, what are some methods?
  • If the animal is between you and a friend, how do you shoot it without hitting your friend?
And a ton more situations that may well come up if attacked by an animal.

All-in-all, I'd be surprised if it came to needing to use a firearm against a dangerous animal...but you are wise to be prepared.

Take Alex up on his offer. Go shoot some guns. It will help you understand firearms more than reading 1000 posts. And the more you shoot the better!
 
I fully agree with most of the guy's here. a .22 will kill about anything in North America if you're close enough and hit it right, but it hardly ever DROPS them.. I'd say a Russian 7.62, they're cheap and accurate, but also heavier than heck. So my only suggestion to you is get something centerfire, .357 Mag or up =)
 
Undesirable black bear encounters are not that common. I'm more concerned with hogs and 2-legged predators. Have you thought about a pistol or revolver? A 9mm or .38sp will handle any threat you are likely to encounter in GA. Right, wrong or otherwise, both are legal for hunting large game in GA too.

The other consideration is that a handgun can be concealed and you are more likely to carry it during the warmer months (outside of hunting season). It will also give you the ability to defend yourself at home and in public too.

Toting a rifle (even a Marlin 60) while backpacking will get tiring. If you strap it on the pack, your threat may not give you time to take off your pack and use it. A handgun can be carried on your hip or a chest rig and deployed more quickly if you actually need it.

I would recommend finding a good used handgun and a .22lr rifle. Either one will leave you wanting more guns in your closet.
 
Thanks for all the advice, I want to clarify that I would not shoot a bear with a .22, My dad has one and I've seen how small the bullets are, it would take an idiot to think you could bring a bear down with one unless you were good enough to shoot em through the eye and even then that may not work! More than likely I would just fire a shot off to make enough noise to send it away..if it were charging, well then I guess I'd be SOL anyways if it were determined to get me. I don't venture in the woods without Toto, so I'm thinking her smell alone would keep the critters away as she likes to squat a lot..I'm not too experienced in bear country and it kind of makes me a little hesitant to venture out alone.. I have read about techniques to make them aware of my presence such as bear bells and occasionally whistling or yelling...I don't mind doing that.. If I were to walk up on a bear, I would stand tall and make as much noise as possible like I learned when I was in Girl Scouts. I don't have enough experience with Toto to know whether or not she would alert me to a critter or not, she is pretty vocal in the back yard when people walk by and she sees something in the woods, so I am hoping she would be vocal if she saw a bear... I have thought about getting a pistol, just for the ease of carrying it, but they are often more expensive than rifles and I just don't have that kind of money, sometimes no money..in fact more often than not I am flat broke... I guess that before I venture out again I should study the area more and find out what threats there are.. I know the area has coyote and bear activity, I also know that there are bobcats, but I have yet to see any..I just see their scat.. Well I have made my decision on what type of rifle I am going to get, I am going to get a .22 for now and in the future upgrade to a .410 single shot. Both guns are smaller and seem like they would be overall easier to carry/use.. There is a gun club down the road from my house, I will be looking in to the cost of taking a class/joining the club, it probably will be out of my budget range, but if I save enough money up I could at least take a class... Thanks again for all of the advice. p.s. I have heard that bear spray actually pisses bears off too, and you have to be pretty close to one to spray them with it, I don't ever want to be close enough to one to spray it with mace, I would prefer to scare em before they get that close... just saying.
If this post makes me sound like an idiot, I'm sorry, I probably am one in this regard! for now that is!
 
Even carrying a firearm, I would still carry bear spray. Cost is around $25-$30 and they have a range of about 30 feet. Just don't spray into the wind!
 
layton13069 said:
Thanks for all the advice, I want to clarify that I would not shoot a bear with a .22, My dad has one and I've seen how small the bullets are, it would take an idiot to think you could bring a bear down with one unless you were good enough to shoot em through the eye and even then that may not work! More than likely I would just fire a shot off to make enough noise to send it away..if it were charging, well then I guess I'd be SOL anyways if it were determined to get me. I don't venture in the woods without Toto, so I'm thinking her smell alone would keep the critters away as she likes to squat a lot..I'm not too experienced in bear country and it kind of makes me a little hesitant to venture out alone.. I have read about techniques to make them aware of my presence such as bear bells and occasionally whistling or yelling...I don't mind doing that.. If I were to walk up on a bear, I would stand tall and make as much noise as possible like I learned when I was in Girl Scouts. I don't have enough experience with Toto to know whether or not she would alert me to a critter or not, she is pretty vocal in the back yard when people walk by and she sees something in the woods, so I am hoping she would be vocal if she saw a bear... I have thought about getting a pistol, just for the ease of carrying it, but they are often more expensive than rifles and I just don't have that kind of money, sometimes no money..in fact more often than not I am flat broke... I guess that before I venture out again I should study the area more and find out what threats there are.. I know the area has coyote and bear activity, I also know that there are bobcats, but I have yet to see any..I just see their scat.. Well I have made my decision on what type of rifle I am going to get, I am going to get a .22 for now and in the future upgrade to a .410 single shot. Both guns are smaller and seem like they would be overall easier to carry/use.. There is a gun club down the road from my house, I will be looking in to the cost of taking a class/joining the club, it probably will be out of my budget range, but if I save enough money up I could at least take a class... Thanks again for all of the advice. p.s. I have heard that bear spray actually pisses bears off too, and you have to be pretty close to one to spray them with it, I don't ever want to be close enough to one to spray it with mace, I would prefer to scare em before they get that close... just saying.
If this post makes me sound like an idiot, I'm sorry, I probably am one in this regard! for now that is!
Click to expand...

I would be more concerned with yotes, especially with a dog with you. You don't sound like an idiot, you sound like someone concerned with safety, and you're wise to ask advice and do research.

Keep an eye out for used guns, they are plentiful and many are very well made (just do your research). I have a ruger security six .357 pistol made pre-1974 that cost less than $160. That gun was made before me and will outlast me ;)

I stand by my original statement, if you are in a situation where you are in danger, your adrenaline will adversely affect your motor skills, this includes reloading a single shot shotgun. Practice, practice, practice!
 
If you want a "gun to do it all" take a look at a 12 gauge pump shotgun. You could small game and bird hunt with a load of shot [$7 a box of 25] and put on a slug barrel with slug loads for larger game and bear defense [$5 for 5] The gun itself can be found at a gun show or pawn shop for around $150.

If you want to learn to shoot get a 22lr the gun can easily be had between $80-100 ammo id $15 for 550 rounds
 
All good suggestions, now for an old timers input. Get a 22 bolt to start with, when you want to move up buy an NEF with a good rifle barrel. Still a single shot and will help you get real proficient. When buying a rifle get get one that shoots easy to find and less expensive rounds that you will not cringe at the price of emptying a box. As for the .410, I really like them but the loads can be expensive if you target shoot. You might want to reload them. Again a single shot to start with will work fine. I have two single shot .410s that I use. Light for crawling through brambles for rabbits and grouse.
 
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