New Hunter

[dean.f]

I started with an 870 Express in 12g then to the benelli in 12g, the day I bought a 20g for small game changed my opinion forever. A couple pounds doesn't seem like much until you try to hold it for a couple hour hike. That being said, I love to hunt waterfowl, so the 12 was the better option for me when I could only afford 1 gun.

You can always trade in or sell what you have once you figure out what you want.

[Snowwalker]

You can always trade in or sell what you have once you figure out what you want.

Blasphemy!!!!!

[Fox]

I said cheap lol, As in cheap thin bluing, Plastic Tupperware stocks, garbage sights, rough actions.

I have a Marlin 30 30 trapper model that would be more deadly throwing it at an animal than trying to shoot it. I felt bad buying it for $50 off an old retired hunter but now I think I got ripped off. I think someone ruined the barrel trying to clean it, not sure but thought the barrel was bent by how far off it shoots.

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My thought is that if the gun is 50+ years old, still shoots and still runs right then it will not break, ha ha.

I have bought 4 guns new, 2 of which are muzzleloaders, I do not trust others to clean up black powder for the most part.

I have spent very little on very good guns and watched guys spend thousands on guns and scopes that shot much worse than my $150 rifle with a Bushnell on top of it.

[Fox]

Mike, you had me at 16! Hehe
Yes, the sweet sixteens are an awesome gauge, and what many would say the ideal all-around shotgun. I have a few of them and they are a delight to use.
A good used one can be had for a great price too because they lack the popularity of the 12 gauge. I guess I just proved that above. Haha.
$150 will find you one in about 95% condition. One thing one has to remember though is that they won't have interchangeable chokes and the barrels won't accept steel shot. In the case above though, for grouse and rabbit one would be ideal, especially for the price. It can be upgraded as the hunter grows. Hey, nobody has just one gun right?

Found an 870 in 16ga, an Express. They only made them for 3 years, it is setup for steel (bought 3 boxes of #2 steel for ducks) and has interchangeable chokes but they are like hens teeth. The only problem is that this gun is build on a 12ga receiver, literally a 12ga 870 barrel fits on to the receiver. The gun is as heavy as my 12ga 870, the main point of a 16ga was a lighter gun than a 12 that hit harder than a 20.

My fear is that I will end up with a separate cabinet just for 16ga guns, ha ha ha, better stay away from my local gun shows Jeff, ha ha ha ha.

[sabmgb]

Lots of good comments here, except the one that says trade..

20 or 12ga would be my recommendation. It won't be the last gun you buy anyway. Like others have said fit is really important. Not all guns are made equal. I was looking for an over/under couple years ago. Went to 4 different gun shops. Of course they showed me the high end ones first. Cost wasn't my concern fit was. I pulled each gun up and looked down the barrel to see if it sighted well for me. Almost all of the guns wouldn't fit me. I would have to have my cheek way above or couldn't get the beads to ling up. One store owner told me the 3000 gun I had in my hands would be perfect. I couldn't sight it, he said give it to me and he tried. He couldn't either. I ended up buying a gun that was the cheapest as it fit the best. So morel of story is price doesn't matter it is the personal fit. Go to as many shops as you can and try holding them up and pointing at something high on the wall. See if you can sight properly. I did go with 2 beads as you can line them up. After time you will just shoot and not line them up. I think a lot of people just get that front bead on the target and pull trigger. You will shoot high every time. Get down and sight down the barrel to the front sight. Good luck

[ben1983]

Hey guys, I've been interested in starting hunting for a long time but work never co operated with the necessary courses to get my PAL and hunter safety, until now. I'm only interested in hunting small game, grouse and rabbits mostly and gradually work up to larger game. Now I have very little friends that hunt so I'm learning on my own which is fine by me, but when it comes to choosing the proper firearm I'm a little lost. I would like 1 gun that is able to hunt grouse and rabbit. I've been considering either a .410 or a 12 gauge. I've been leaning to the 12 being that the ammo is considerably cheaper, and I could eventually use it to hunt larger game as well. But would it be too much? I don't want to blow them to pieces I want to eat them . I'm okay with going into the stores and asking questions but I don't want the guy to think I'm completely lost and try to take advantage of that either. What do you use? Gauge/choke/shot?

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12 gauge. whereabouts were you coming from to hunt?i want someone to go out for grouse with this year but all my friends got motorcycles instead of badazz shotguns

[Bear13]

12/20 gauge if you ask me

[DataPak420]

12 gauge. whereabouts were you coming from to hunt?i want someone to go out for grouse with this year but all my friends got motorcycles instead of badazz shotguns

Bout halfway between Thunder Bay and Sault ste Marie.

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[punkrockerpj]

what did you decide on? 12 G is def all around gun. especially for your snowshoes and partridge up there.

[DataPak420]

what did you decide on? 12 G is def all around gun. especially for your snowshoes and partridge up there.

Still waiting for PAL to show up.

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