Thread: First Rifle Choice for the Novice Hunter. Some more Notes From an Old Fudd

A .22lr and a 6.5 CM ( .243 would be my second choice)

I’d much prefer to own and use a Rifle that I love shooting but at times struggle to buy ammo for , than a Rifle I hate to shoot but can afford to feed .
If you love shooting the thing because you aren’t scared of it , you will achieve good results and I've yet to encounter a 6.5CM that doesn’t shoot well with Factory ammo .
You will always find a way to get more ammo …….. if you enjoy shooting it .

If it can't be dealt with by a 10/22, mossberg 500 or a marlin 336 then it's further away than I'm willing to carry it!

708 is the new 308, much nicer to shoot for a newbie and ammo is readily available again....

Insert anti 708 hate ------>HERE<------

Way back in the day it would of been an old single shot 22 a 12g and a 303

As someone who had bad recoil flinch when I first started some moons ago on centrefires I'll add to that aspect of the question. That being put aside a .22 and a .223 are no brainers, for shotguns do not over look the humble 20Ga as it kills just as well as the 12ga.

However for centrefire rifles the one that feels the best in the hand is a must, doesn't matter what I or anyone thinks that's the best one for said shooter as most factory rifles are capable of shooting more accurately than the nut behind the butt can.

Calibres for a younger shooter and this is obviously depending on where you are located etc:243, 6 ARC, 6.5 Grendel, 25-06, 6.5x55,260,6.5 creed, 7mm08, 308 albeit with more recoil.

Imo.... 22lr for plinking and a 243 for everything else.
Can upgrade to different cals after picking up more skills

People have forgotten to spec in good quality hearing protection- i.e ear muffs with noise cancelling

Aside from proper technique developed through practise and instruction, this is a major part of avoiding bad habits (flinch) when shooting centre fire rifles.

The ear buds/plugs don't work as the pressure wave still hits the soft tissue around your ears.

Ain't it a funny thing,the humble 177 slug gun/air rifle doesn't even get a mention anymore? Yet it teaches how to aim,how to hold,muscle memory and with a small amount of thinking can be used SAFELY in most town sections. Trying to get novice shooter to line up rifle when they don't have those basics,takes a fair bit of patience.I need to find really cheap slug gun for mate to use.funny I sold off the one I had only a few months ago lol

yes you are right Mickey Duck cheap target practice just a pity cant be used in suburbs despite a good set up but yes a definite plus to teach new shooters

Originally Posted by Barry the hunter

yes you are right Mickey Duck cheap target practice just a pity cant be used in suburbs despite a good set up but yes a definite plus to teach new shooters

Can't be used in suburbs???? Since when???

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

Can't be used in suburbs???? Since when???

to the best of my knowledge air rifles cannot be discharged in a built up area I am prepared to be corrected but I have always understood that

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

Ain't it a funny thing,the humble 177 slug gun/air rifle doesn't even get a mention anymore? Yet it teaches how to aim,how to hold,muscle memory and with a small amount of thinking can be used SAFELY in most town sections. Trying to get novice shooter to line up rifle when they don't have those basics,takes a fair bit of patience.I need to find really cheap slug gun for mate to use.funny I sold off the one I had only a few months ago lol

I started out that way but when I got my centrefire I realised how completely rubbish most slug guns' triggers are. Taught me nothing about trigger control that I can think off

you may have learnt more than you realise yes most of them are crap triggers but to get groups requires mastering that crap creep and second stage

new hunter
1st keep it simple. There is no need to go out and spend big money on a 1st rifle a Howa Ruger or savage all good options for a good yet cheap rifle

2nd caliber assuming use is deer and goats I wouldn't go too small it seems very tempting to go for 223 however this is fine for someone with experience, but new hunters tend to get a bit over excited, and marksmanship can take a bit of a dive also they are less prepared to pass up an opportunity if the perfect shot isn't presented and so sometimes will take a less than ideal shot so I suggest something with a little more grunt but keep in the short action so min 243win max 308 with the exception of 6.5x55 which is long action but more like a short action ) always get a suppressed package regardless is caliber chosen

which brings me to 3rd for fuck's sake don't buy a big cannon as a 1st rifle all it will do is teach you a bunch of bad habits

Originally Posted by rambo-6mmrem

new hunter
1st keep it simple. There is no need to go out and spend big money on a 1st rifle a Howa Ruger or savage all good options for a good yet cheap rifle

2nd caliber assuming use is deer and goats I wouldn't go too small it seems very tempting to go for 223 however this is fine for someone with experience, but new hunters tend to get a bit over excited, and marksmanship can take a bit of a dive also they are less prepared to pass up an opportunity if the perfect shot isn't presented and so sometimes will take a less than ideal shot so I suggest something with a little more grunt but keep in the short action so min 243win max 308 with the exception of 6.5x55 which is long action but more like a short action ) always get a suppressed package regardless is caliber chosen

which brings me to 3rd for fuck's sake don't buy a big cannon as a 1st rifle all it will do is teach you a bunch of bad habits

yes Savage good writeups on accuracy not pretty but pretty effective - big calibre yes dead right get some experience first - but a whole world of hunting out there - bad habits yes I watched a new hunter shoot a heavy caliber one day and he flinched so badly he actually turned his head and shut his eyes when he pulled the trigger