Thread: Buying a gun/rifle

Hi to all hunters
I started hunting again after a 2 year hiatus and this time I want to hunt with my own gun. I always hunt with my dad. He uses the 12 gauge while I use the .22. His hearing is not so good and by the time he hears the partridges, it is too late. I am thinking of buying the Remington .410/.22 over and under combo. I hunt small game, from squirrels to partridges.
Any thoughts if it would be a good buy ?

Antoine,

Hmm difficult question you pose...

If it were me...I would go with a little more fire power like a 20 gauge. Look for the combo barrel that is sold (slug and bird barrel). This way you would also be able to shoot different loads for different game applications. You could shoot 5/8 ounce slug for deer, change over to the bird barrel and shoot small game loads. You would have a little more reach/distance from you to the critters you so desire.

Good luck!

I would recomend the Thompson Center Encore. The quality is good the accuracy is great and the selection of barrels range from .17 rimfire to .30-06. Muzzle loader and 20 or 12 gauge shot gun in rifled and smooth bore. The downside is the price.

I am more of a more guns the better guy though. Get a good .22 bolt action, nice rifle in a good north american huntting calaber my choice is a .270 winchester, and a nice shotgun I like an over and under Browning but the old 870 remington pump action is a must own in my part of the country. You also need a stash of pistols, you need a conceled carry, an auto loader, a revolver, and a good rimfire.

Don

Hi,

For simple and reliable ease of use ,Over and Under, either 16 or 12 gauge. .22lr is OK for rabbits and tin cans but not good for birds. Shotgun will handle either easily.

For small game like you mention, I'd go for the shotgun everytime.

You can go with a 20 or 28g as some members have said, or you can go with a 12g in a light load. A 21 gram load of No. 7 or No. 8 shot would be good for smaller game.

The rifle will be good for stationary squirrels and thats about it. Anything airborne or moving fast and the shotgun will result in a far more reliable kill.

For birds, if I were to only have one gun, it would be a 16ga. However,(big however), those shells are hard to come by in the variety of loads and shot size anymore. The 28ga., though a lovely gun is not an option unless you reload or are independently wealthy, the shells are just too expensive!

That leaves a 20 or a 12. I would recommend the 12ga. It has more mass and recoil with a 20 ga load (7/8 oz) or even 1 oz is minimal. The 12 can also be used for pheasants and waterfowl as well (providing you use no-tox shot).

And please, please, please, get a gun that fits! There are people around that can fit a gun for you and if need be have the stock altered (several different methods). There is nothing more uncomfortable than an ill fitting gun, Besides, if it is a very poor fit, it will not shoot where you look and you wont hit jack!

OK OK I'm long winded but I have some experience in these matters, an AA shooter in both skeet and Sporting Clays and an avid bird hunter (I should tell you about Argentina bird hunting some time).

PM me if you wish for more info.

Regards

I build rifles for a living. Trying to come up with something that will do everything in one gun is an exercise in futility. For what your describing look at something in the neighborhood of a 22 mag or .17HMR, and a decent reliable 20 G shotgun. For the shotgun one of my favorites for the money out right now is the sereis from CZ. I'm currently using one of the Ringnecks in 20G and the only change I am contemplating on it for the future is to restock it in some nicer wood and move a couple measurement an 1/8" here or there to fine tune to me.

Lots of good advice so far. I have had a 22-410 for years and found it lacking as a 22. It was inaccurate and the 410 I thought was a little light in the shotgun department. I recommend a 12 gage double of some kind and if you want a 22 get it separate. The 12 gage can be loaded down to compare with a 20 gage if you want a light load. I love my Browning 12 gage OU and use it on squirrels to clay birds.

bj

for small game a 12 ga is fine if you are using 2 3/4 inch shells with 7-8 shot just for the simple fact that 12ga shells are cheaper than 20ga and 410ga the 410 .22 over under are nice combos though and for for a good pump shotgun i suggest the remington 870 express has been an awesome bird and small game gun for me since i was 13

my next rifle will be a barrett .50 or cheytac .408

Originally Posted by crushnbugs

Antoine,

Hmm difficult question you pose...

If it were me...I would go with a little more fire power like a 20 gauge. Look for the combo barrel that is sold (slug and bird barrel). This way you would also be able to shoot different loads for different game applications. You could shoot 5/8 ounce slug for deer, change over to the bird barrel and shoot small game loads. You would have a little more reach/distance from you to the critters you so desire.

Good luck!

+1 small game and birds, i wouldn't trade my 20g interchangeable barrel anyday, the 12g is ok but for smaller animals i would sometimes rip them apart too much, i enjoy my 20 and sometimes my 16g for small game