Basically, I am looking to purchase a gun. I figure I should get used to operating one, and have it for general use. What do you guys think I should get? I gotta believe that I could get one for under $200...

Any recommendations, opinions?
Thanks in advance!!

What type of gun are looking for? Hand gun, Rifle, or Shotgun. :confused:

...and what will your general uses be? Home protection, CCW, putting holes in tin cans, hunting, etc...

You can buy a AK-47 @ the gun and knife show for that. :lookaround:

You can buy a AK-47 @ the gun and knife show for that. :lookaround:[/b]

Really?? Hm...forget the 22...

Well, I really don't know what type, but a pistol (though cool) would probably not be an option. It would be primarily used to target stuff (tin cans and whatnot), not really home protection but that's always a possibility. I don't have a hunting license, so thats not really a concern.
What are the differences/advantages/disadvantages with a rifle vs. a shotgun?

Also, what is CCW?

Thanks guys!

More opinions welcome...!

if you just want a plinkin gun its tough to beat a 22 or 222 for some longer stuff ,shotguns can get expensive unless you start reloading your own shells . narrow down even farthe what you want to do and we can help you more

I think a 22 is probably going to be the gun of choice...
I want something that had fairly cheap ammo...

Basically it needs to:
-shoot targets
-be fairly accurate, as I'd like to get good/accurate with a gun
-under $200
-easy to maintain
-inexpensive ammo
-not garbage

Also, what could you kill with a 22? I have no idea how powerful they are. Could you kill a raccoon/skunk/deer? (For possible rapid animal sightings if it ever came to that?)
{The deer thing is just because I hit a deer the other day and it was crawling all over the road suffering, and the cops were 3 hours from coming.}

What make/model are good? And what would be a good place to get it?

Thanks!

I think a 22 is probably going to be the gun of choice...
I want something that had fairly cheap ammo...

Basically it needs to:
-shoot targets
-be fairly accurate, as I'd like to get good/accurate with a gun
-under $200
-easy to maintain
-inexpensive ammo
-not garbage

Also, what could you kill with a 22? I have no idea how powerful they are. Could you kill a raccoon/skunk/deer? (For possible rapid animal sightings if it ever came to that?)
{The deer thing is just because I hit a deer the other day and it was crawling all over the road suffering, and the cops were 3 hours from coming.}

What make/model are good? And what would be a good place to get it?

Thanks![/b]

A 22 will kill a racoon, but thats pretty much as big as it gets for a 22. Sounds like a 22 will be perfect for what you want.

I think a 22 is probably going to be the gun of choice...
I want something that had fairly cheap ammo...

Basically it needs to:
-shoot targets
-be fairly accurate, as I'd like to get good/accurate with a gun
-under $200
-easy to maintain
-inexpensive ammo
-not garbage

Also, what could you kill with a 22? I have no idea how powerful they are. Could you kill a raccoon/skunk/deer? (For possible rapid animal sightings if it ever came to that?)
{The deer thing is just because I hit a deer the other day and it was crawling all over the road suffering, and the cops were 3 hours from coming.}

What make/model are good? And what would be a good place to get it?

Thanks![/b]


That's supposed to say "rabid".... :slick:

22 would be my suggestion also.

Can't beat the fun you can have with a 22 for a small price of ammo. There are lots of different actions out there, but any decent name brand will be fine. I'm partial to my browning lever actions, but I think that is because I grew up watching cowboy movies.

That being said, a 22 is technically capable of killing almost anything, if the shot placement is right. They can shoot a round up to a mile. For practical hunting purposes, rabbits/squirrels/groundhogs and birds are about it. But there have been lots of deer taken with 22's although I'm sure there have been lots of wounded deer also.

above all, be safe.

FishHog

Thanks guys!

What are some major BrandNames that I should look for?

(Pardon my ignorance on the subject)
:whistling:

I dont think you could go wrong with a Ruger 10/22. It is perhaps the most versatile .22 out there, VERY customizeable, and you should be able to find one for less than $200 at your local wally world. It is semi-automatic, which means that you dont have to manually #### it each time you shoot, comes stock with a 10 rd. magazine, but you can buy larger aftermarket, and there is just about every aftermarket upgrade you can think of for them. (almost all of your catalogs, if they sell aftermarket parts for a 22, it will be for a Ruger 10/22). Depending on price, I would get the Stainless Steel model if you can.

You might also check with your local DNR to see if they have any type of gun safety or hunter education course. Check your local laws. A 22 will kill about anything if you shoot it in the right spot but a lot of states dont let you hunt any animals bigger then a racoon with a 22. Guys in Indiana shoot deer with 22's but it is illegal. When it comes to guns there is no shame in getting some help or taking a course if you are inexperienced.

Thanks guys!

What are some major BrandNames that I should look for?

(Pardon my ignorance on the subject)
:whistling:[/b]

Always had good luck with winchester. Lever or bolt action would be my preference for a rifle.

remington and henry are good 22 brands, if i were you i'd want a semi-auto, especially for plinking cans. If you shoot a deer in the eye w/ a 22 im pretty sure you can kill it. 22's are also good for birds (on the ground). Do you want a scope?

22 magnum is a very good plinking gun also, cost a little more for ammo but is about 5 times more powerful than a regular 22. You wont find one for 200 though.
Might as well get something powerfull enough to kill a human with, world war lll is coming in the very near future, you can bet it will be on U.S. soil this time around.

I like the .22 hornet and the 17 hmr for target shooting, cheap on bullets. But if i want to kill somthing its with my browning 7 mm mag, best gun i ever bought.

Goota agree a .22 is a great target gun, if you want home protection... My choice is a 12 or 20 gauge shotgun with steel buck shot... anyone inside the house or outside that does't' belong hears the slide of a shotgun and doesn't run... deserves to be shot...

Goota agree a .22 is a great target gun, if you want home protection... My choice is a 12 or 20 gauge shotgun with steel buck shot... anyone inside the house or outside that does't' belong hears the slide of a shotgun and doesn't run... deserves to be shot...[/b]

Agreed. i have a 12 ga. ithica that i use for deer hunting and this x-mas i got a rem. 870 express that im gonna use for ducks/geese, so far its and excellent gun, just jammed every-now-and then, i think becasue its new and needs to be worn in

Goota agree a .22 is a great target gun, if you want home protection... My choice is a 12 or 20 gauge shotgun with steel buck shot... anyone inside the house or outside that does't' belong hears the slide of a shotgun and doesn't run... deserves to be shot...[/b]



How come steel instead of lead? No sense using the expensive bullets.

When I first read the topic I was going to suggest a 12 gauge(shotgun), As a 12gauge with the proper ammo can kill anything.
As I read the replys I would have to agree on the Ruger 10/22. Good plinking gun,cheap ammo, will kill any pest, would kill that injured deer no problem-walk up and shoot it in the eye. You can buy unimaginable parts and pieces for it. You can make it look different then anybody elses.
Good luck!

22 rifle = lots of good cheap fun.

Might as well get something powerfull enough to kill a human with, world war lll is coming in the very near future, you can bet it will be on U.S. soil this time around.[/b]

:lmao: Seriously...you just made my day! :lmao:

Sounds like a 22 is what I'm looking for, thanks for all the info!!

(I don't plan on hunting with it, so nobody worry!)

Thanks again!

Not much of a gun guy here, but some friends like the browning over under, best of both world as it is a shot gun and a 22. Not sure how much they cost either...

Perm

get a 12 gauge, and just spend the extra money right from the get go, for like 500 bucks max u can get a high quality 12 gauge with a extra rifled barrel for shooting sabots, sabots are accuarate withing 3 inches at 100 yrds and can kill a elephant if need be. and for shooting for fun you can get a box of skete shot for about 60 bucks and i think i forget that there is like 300ish shots in it, i think and thats more then enough shooting in a day to turn your shoulder purple!

but sabot shot is more expensive but worth it if your shotgun is basically a rifle with this barrel on it and they come with open sites on it to. i have already killed 7 deer with my sabot barrel and a moose.

I agree with most of the above replys. I have to add as an avid hunter, and Michigan CCW licensee (Conceled carry).

You can NOT shoot a deer out of season for any reason!!! Even if it has been hit by a car. and is dying on your front porch.

On a lighter note. 22 is a sweet plinking gun that is cheap to shoot, and lots of fun. Just remember, a 22 bullet can fly a long long ways in the air. It seems like a toy gun, but it isn't.

The Ruger 10/22 and a gun safety course are my recommendations.

A 22 will kill a racoon, but thats pretty much as big as it gets for a 22. Sounds like a 22 will be perfect for what you want.[/b]

A 22 will take down a deer too. One well placed shot to the head will be enough to get the bullet into the skull but not enough to exit. It will turn the brain into mush. A great entry level 22 would be a Marlin, something like a model 60. Rugers are top of the line, I have one, but can get expensive when you see all the accessories that are available.

A 22 will take down a deer too. One well placed shot to the head will be enough to get the bullet into the skull but not enough to exit. It will turn the brain into mush.[/b]


Well in all practical senses it is good for racoon sized animals. This guy is getting his first gun. If he goes out and try to deer hunt with it he is going to be chasing the deer a long way and he will dissapointed. I am just giving him practical advice. 22's are generally not used for deer.

22's are generally not used for deer.[/b]

Common sense will tell you that. This is what I use for hunting deer. It's a 22, well, a 223 really.

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k214/RobbieB_2006/AR15004.jpg

get a radar gun aaen sells them that way you can tell me how fast my sled really is.

Common sense will tell you that. This is what I use for hunting deer. It's a 22, well, a 223 really.

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k214/RobbieB_2006/AR15004.jpg[/b]
Oh great! Pictures of the "black gun" LOL. I've been renting one @ my local range, and loving every minute of it.

Looks good Downriver!

I agree with most of the above replys. I have to add as an avid hunter, and Michigan CCW licensee (Conceled carry).

You can NOT shoot a deer out of season for any reason!!! Even if it has been hit by a car. and is dying on your front porch.

On a lighter note. 22 is a sweet plinking gun that is cheap to shoot, and lots of fun. Just remember, a 22 bullet can fly a long long ways in the air. It seems like a toy gun, but it isn't.[/b]

Legally, correct. But when it has a broken spine, dragging itself all over the road with its one good leg, its ok in my book... (Happened just this last weekend, the neighbor shot it for me. It was just a baby too... :confused: )

With regard to a 22 bullet travelling far, excellent point. My buddies dad mentioned that last year. I never really thought about it, and if someone wanted to shoot a bird up on a branch they might not think of the possibility of missing....not good. (For the record, I didn't do that, just a hypothetical situation)

Thanks everyone for the advice!

...If I start hunting I'm gonna find me one of those AK's, more sporting that way... :tongue:

Legally, correct. But when it has a broken spine, dragging itself all over the road with its one good leg, its ok in my book... (Happened just this last weekend, the neighbor shot it for me. It was just a baby too... :confused: )[/b]

First off you contact the sheriff's dept or the DNR. They will come out and either give you the option, (their discretion), of shooting it or them. They will then issue you a permit to legally posses the deer out of season or they will take it.

First off you contact the sheriff's dept or the DNR. They will come out and either give you the option, (their discretion), of shooting it or them. They will then issue you a permit to legally posses the deer out of season or they will take it.[/b]

I did. They said they would be out when they got a chance, probably after a couple hours. Not real high on their list of priorities, as there were a lot of accidents due to the snow...

I'm no PETA member, but I'm not for letting an animal suffer for hours. Especially if I caused its suffering...

I understand where you are coming from though, and realize why they don't want people to shoot them...