What I know about firearms I have already written about extensively.
But Wait GL you have not one firearms post....
Exactly...
But today the Cattleman and I went to "hunting" shops to research and budget for our purchases after we complete our Possession and Acquisition License safety courses, classes are in January. Our PAL will make us fit for ownership of rifles, shot guns or competitive use hand guns.
When we walked in the store the guy asked shot guns or rifles.
Cattleman: Shot gun
Grey: Rifle
Cattleman: Really Rifle? Why?
Grey: Don't know, how would I know? I never touched a gun in life. Any good reason I shouldn't?
Cattleman: Nope.
Salesman: (eyes rolling)
The Cattleman of course having hunted since a child back on the farm, he knows exactly what he wants to start off with, a Browning over under shot gun. Reason? He is familiar with it, caliber, the feel, he's always wanted one and partially economics. The cost of ammo to practice with. Apparently we can get hundreds of shots for the 22 instead of the 10 we would get for the 30-30. So we both start with the 22..apparently.
I will tell ya right now I am around five feet, 1 inches and a quarter ( because ya know that quarter makes a huge difference.)tall, not exactly thin, I hover around 140 lbs. I kept getting directed by the salesman to "youth" guns and advice to stick with the 22. Something about weight and recoil. This is what I was not so subtly pushed toward. :O)
http://www.mossberg.com/products/default.asp?ID=30§ion=products#
I don't know I was kinda insulted by the name alone, plinkster? Sounds like a "pretend play" gun for crying out loud. Plinkster. Pfffft. The only thing I liked about it was the site and the magazine capacity, everything else in the store was just three or four. I have never heard of Mossberg before, not that I am gun chick, (yet) what think you all?
Could someone explain to me why as complete neophyte I should prefer a shotgun over a rife? I will be using it initially for target practice, to get comfortable, again I think, for hunting fowl, I really felt like I was being talked in a manner to sway me to a shot gun just like the Cattleman's choice.
(Our goal is to upgrade later to a 30-30 for deer and moose, but right now for this gal baby steps in the gun department.)
Pros/Cons anyone?
10 comments:
Everybody needs a .22, and there's nothing wrong with the Mossberg. Don't be put off by the name. .22 is incomparably cheap, which means you can practice lots. .22 is perfect for pest control. .22 has lots and lots of virtues. If you're only going to get one long gun for familiarization, get a .22. You could do worse than the Mossy.
As to real rifles: A 30-30 is a good all-around choice. Mild recoil in light, handy rifles, and a great caliber for deer. But for moose? I dunno - it seems small to me, but the Cattleman sounds like he's got an informed opinion so I'll shut up.
If you're concerned about recoil in a shotgun, consider a semi-auto. Gas-operated semis have noticeably milder recoil. However, a 12-gauge shotgun does have a sizable kick. Don't let it intimidate you, it can't hurt you. Just hold the buttstock firmly against your shoulder: Don't get the idea that holding it away (I've seen people do this) will help. That only gives the buttstock a running start, and a shove becomes a hit.
Thank you Joel for your input,
The Cattleman also likes the rifle and caliber I was looking at starting with, but he was unfamiliar with the name. He has been out of the loop for about twenty years.
Heh....seems he was waiting till I was more comfortable around guns and jonesing for some fresh Moose meat before informing me he would need something called a 308. Figured by then I wouldn't freak that we would need yet another one of "those things" in order to get the meat.
In some ways he knows me soooo well, on the other hand equipment is equipment, you need the right piece for every job. I can follow that.
BTW I saw a Husqvarna on consignment at the shop, I had no idea they were also in the firearms business. Is their reputation in this area as good as with chain saws and sewing machines?
I definitely agree with Joel about the .22 - it's a perfect first gun, and about the most versatile single gun you can have. Great for practice, great for small game, and certainly better than a sharp stick for home defense. Mossberg is a fine name in guns, too, despite having a rifle called the Plinkster. If you can save a few bucks by getting one without that huge muzzle brake, I would do so - a .22 doesn't need any brake, much less one that huge.
One comment I've heard people make that I see some truth in is that you might be better off with a bolt action .22 rather than a semiauto because a bolt action forces you to take more time with each shot. Depending on your personality, that might push you towards better practice habits - or you might be just fine with a semi. My own .22 rifle is a CZ 452, which I like for it's excellent quality, though it is more expensive than most others on the market. My first, though, was a Marlin semiauto very similar to that Mossberg.
For shotguns, I think you might be better off with a 20ga than a 12ga. Not because you couldn't handle a 12ga - anyone willing to put in the practice time can. But a 20ga has less recoil and will be easier to learn with. If you're getting a gun to use and not because you're an obsessed nut (and I say that as a self-styled obsessed nut), I think it makes more sense. There's very little a 12ga can do that a 20ga can't. However, my overall opinion of shotguns is "meh". I would rather have a handgun for home defense (though that might not be a legal option in Canada), and the only thing I see them ideal for is shooting birds, which isn't of much interest to me.
For a major caliber rifle, you won't go wrong with a Husky. They've been making Swedish military rifles for well over 100 years. If you want the rifle to hunt deer and moose, I would skip the .30-30 and go straight to .308 or something similar. Depending on how you plan to use it, it might make sense to go with a somewhat lighter caliber (like a 6.5mm or 7mm) and heavier barrel to make the gun easier to shoot. Again, you are perfectly capable of using a .308 extremely well despite being a small person - but reducing the amount of recoil will make it easier for you to do well. To my mind, one bolt action rifle is pretty much as good as another, and you'll be hard-pressed to go wrong.
I definitely agree with Joel about the .22 - it's a perfect first gun, and about the most versatile single gun you can have. Great for practice, great for small game, and certainly better than a sharp stick for home defense. Mossberg is a fine name in guns, too, despite having a rifle called the Plinkster. If you can save a few bucks by getting one without that huge muzzle brake, I would do so - a .22 doesn't need any brake, much less one that huge.
One comment I've heard people make that I see some truth in is that you might be better off with a bolt action .22 rather than a semiauto because a bolt action forces you to take more time with each shot. Depending on your personality, that might push you towards better practice habits - or you might be just fine with a semi. My own .22 rifle is a CZ 452, which I like for it's excellent quality, though it is more expensive than most others on the market. My first, though, was a Marlin semiauto very similar to that Mossberg.
For shotguns, I think you might be better off with a 20ga than a 12ga. Not because you couldn't handle a 12ga - anyone willing to put in the practice time can. But a 20ga has less recoil and will be easier to learn with. If you're getting a gun to use and not because you're an obsessed nut (and I say that as a self-styled obsessed nut), I think it makes more sense. There's very little a 12ga can do that a 20ga can't. However, my overall opinion of shotguns is "meh". I would rather have a handgun for home defense (though that might not be a legal option in Canada), and the only thing I see them ideal for is shooting birds, which isn't of much interest to me.
For a major caliber rifle, you won't go wrong with a Husky. They've been making Swedish military rifles for well over 100 years. If you want the rifle to hunt deer and moose, I would skip the .30-30 and go straight to .308 or something similar. Depending on how you plan to use it, it might make sense to go with a somewhat lighter caliber (like a 6.5mm or 7mm) and heavier barrel to make the gun easier to shoot. Again, you are perfectly capable of using a .308 extremely well despite being a small person - but reducing the amount of recoil will make it easier for you to do well. To my mind, one bolt action rifle is pretty much as good as another, and you'll be hard-pressed to go wrong.
Welcome M,
I have watched the building of your Dome with fascinated interest.
When you wrote that I might consider the Bolt Action Rifle to force better practice habits it struck a cord for me. I had already dismissed the Bolt Action as possibly irritatingly inefficient and a time waster. I am one of those scattered ADHD types who tends not to give every task at hand their full attention as my mind is already planning and working on the next item on my to do lists. There are very few things that I do where I am fully in the moment with all my attentions. It is necessary that I make this activity one of those things. So I will give your comment a serious consideration.
I had to google Muzzle break. :O)
Ah. Okay, .308 sounds like a more likely choice for moose. Be aware that you may not enjoy shooting it. My bolty is a .308. I am not of large stature, and I don't enjoy shooting mine.
BTW, that's muzzle brake. 8^)
BTW, that's muzzle brake. 8^)
I feel shame :OP
I will pay closer attention to proper wordage. Yet another language for me to mangle.
I will get to the 308 when I get there, I have never shot a singe round, so we shall see if I can get into the gun ownership groove. For Monsieur moose, I could aways go back to the bow, the season is much loooooooonger and it is a lot quieter when you miss me thinks.
lol @ another language to mangle. I have touched a lot of guns, sorry rifles, but never loaded, cleaned, or fired one lol. I had a dad who liked to hunt and a mom who freaked out about guns. But I should point out that after dad died, she kept his handgun in the closet and I didnt even know it existed! It had a safety with a KEY and she didn't know where it was, so the most she could have done with it vs an intruder is hit someone in the head with the barrel lol. But anyway all that aside, I think the gun you linked is pretty :) If we manage to get an acreage in the future, we will both be going for our firearms permits and I look forward to learning. Have fun!!
I'm with Joel and M on the .22. You might consider a Ruger 10/22, a semi-auto. It's probably one of the most customizable .22's out there. I have three, and I love them all.
If you really want to go all ADHD with a 10/22, you can get 50-round magazines for them.
I'm no expert on hunting rifles (I live in milsurp land), so I'll let the others comment on that.
Well it seems I may have intuitively picked the right item to start off with then? A rifle and a 22. Which one? Now that is still very open as far as I am concerned,I am sure I will flip flop on that over the next three months while I wait to take my training and as my knowledge increases from the reading I am going to do in an effort to EDUCATE myself and learn the lingo.
I thought it was going to be easy peasy like buying a car. (I am quickly learning)......not so much really.
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