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Q:
I am 14 and new to hunting. What is a good beginner gun for small game hunting?
Question by thunderdog512. Uploaded on November 02, 2009
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Answers (22)
A 22 for smaller game like squirils and a 223 for coytoes and same size game.
If there is a chance of birds being included in your future quarry it's hard to go wrong with a 20 guage
I would say go with a repeating 22 like rugers 10/22 or something similar. I learned to hunt using open sights which I believe helped my become a better shooter, but a good lowpower scope would be a good addition to your small game getter.
Hope that helps... the 20 guage shotgun is also a great choice because it allows for more versitility
i agree with slothman a 10/22 would be a good starter
but if you plan on hunting birds or deer i would get a shotgun a 20 gauge if you have a small build and a 12 gauge if you are a little bigger
an rem. 870 would probaly be the way to go just keep it well oiled and dont let it rust
You said sml. game like rabbits,squirels, etc.
I'd say a 20ga. will do what you want and later you can use it for ducks,deer, and "other" critters !
.410 shotgun will work great for small animals such as squirrels
I would go with a 410 or 20ga shotgun. More towards 20ga. Gives you more opprotunity for use in the long run. You can pick up a single shot for around a hundred bucks. if price isnt an issue go for a remington 870. Great guns!
If you go with a .22 rimfire, I suggest you learn to shoot open sights first before going with a scope, that will serve you well in the future.
I still enjoy shooting my benjammin 177 pellet rifle and have killed many a rabbit with this gun. You might get A pellet gun just for some back yard plinking and small game hunting. for 40.00 you can buy a pump pellet gun that will shoot 750 fps. A 22 or the 20 gauge would be great choices also. As Stated above the 20 gauge is more versatile. A 20 gauge is great for hunting dove, rabbit, squirrel or put a slug in it and go after deer.
If you are planning on bird hunting, I would go with a remington 870 express youth model. It will be a good gun for you for a long time. You can use it as an adult because it is not much different than the full size model. It is great for rabbits and birds. If you are looking to do more along the lines of coyote and such, I would recomend a .223. They are very nice beginning rifles.
Remington 870 Express Youth model in 20 Gauge will be an effective firearm for upland and small game hunting as wells as deer with the proper ammo. A nice .22 LR would also be appropiate.
im 14 to.i like my 22 rifle and also use it trapping and coon hunting.i use my 20ga. sometimes but not alot.good luck with it
When I was your age I had a ROSSI combo. it had a 20 gauge barrel and a .22 barrel which made it great for small game. It was also a single shot break action so I only had one shot. you learn pretty quick not to miss the first time.
Ruger 10/22 22lr or maybe a single shot 20 gauge for squirrels and birds or single shot centerfire such as a handi-rifle in a .243 or .308 caliber for deer and coyotes........
I grew up on a .22 lr and a 20 gauge. Take your pick, but you will not be disappointed with either.
it depends,for close up shots at small game i would say .410 with #6 shot(for squirrels, rabbits, and doves)if your frame is thinner. But I'm 13 and use a 12 gauge with target loads(#8 shot), and my 11 year old brother is trying to convince my dad that we need #5 lead light duck loads for doves etc... I'd use a 410 if i were you since you're new and start with #8's. if you get a fairly heavy gun it won't hurt much more than a .22.
it depends,for close up shots at small game i would say .410 with #6 shot(for squirrels, rabbits, and doves)if your frame is thinner. But I'm 13 and use a 12 gauge with target loads(#8 shot), and my 11 year old brother is trying to convince my dad that we need #5 lead light duck loads for doves etc... I'd use a 410 if i were you since you're new and start with #8's. if you get a fairly heavy gun it won't hurt much more than a .22.
If by small game you mean gopher and squirrels get a Ruger 10/22. If you mean coyotes i would say get a 243. That way if you want to get into deer hunting you can use the same gun. A 243 will have next to nothing for recoil.
For squirrels i would go with a 22. If you want a gun for cyotes and foxes i would go with a 22-250,243, or 7mm-08
im 14 to i turkey hunt with a 12 guage 3in shells i deer hunt with a 270 130 grains and squirrel and dove hunt with a 20 guage 2 1/2 in shells
410, a 12 ga is gunna blow the daylights out of ne thing and it will be overkill. 410 will do just fine and you'll save more meat. 22 is also pretty good also.
20 ga. you can hunt small game and larger animals. Or you could get a combo like deerslayer said. Dicks sporting goods has rossi combos for $100 and you can pick your shotgun size. Id get a 22 and 20 ga combo. leave it open sights itll make you a better shot.
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If there is a chance of birds being included in your future quarry it's hard to go wrong with a 20 guage
i agree with slothman a 10/22 would be a good starter
but if you plan on hunting birds or deer i would get a shotgun a 20 gauge if you have a small build and a 12 gauge if you are a little bigger
an rem. 870 would probaly be the way to go just keep it well oiled and dont let it rust
A 22 for smaller game like squirils and a 223 for coytoes and same size game.
I would say go with a repeating 22 like rugers 10/22 or something similar. I learned to hunt using open sights which I believe helped my become a better shooter, but a good lowpower scope would be a good addition to your small game getter.
Hope that helps... the 20 guage shotgun is also a great choice because it allows for more versitility
You said sml. game like rabbits,squirels, etc.
I'd say a 20ga. will do what you want and later you can use it for ducks,deer, and "other" critters !
I would go with a 410 or 20ga shotgun. More towards 20ga. Gives you more opprotunity for use in the long run. You can pick up a single shot for around a hundred bucks. if price isnt an issue go for a remington 870. Great guns!
If you are planning on bird hunting, I would go with a remington 870 express youth model. It will be a good gun for you for a long time. You can use it as an adult because it is not much different than the full size model. It is great for rabbits and birds. If you are looking to do more along the lines of coyote and such, I would recomend a .223. They are very nice beginning rifles.
.410 shotgun will work great for small animals such as squirrels
If you go with a .22 rimfire, I suggest you learn to shoot open sights first before going with a scope, that will serve you well in the future.
I still enjoy shooting my benjammin 177 pellet rifle and have killed many a rabbit with this gun. You might get A pellet gun just for some back yard plinking and small game hunting. for 40.00 you can buy a pump pellet gun that will shoot 750 fps. A 22 or the 20 gauge would be great choices also. As Stated above the 20 gauge is more versatile. A 20 gauge is great for hunting dove, rabbit, squirrel or put a slug in it and go after deer.
Remington 870 Express Youth model in 20 Gauge will be an effective firearm for upland and small game hunting as wells as deer with the proper ammo. A nice .22 LR would also be appropiate.
im 14 to.i like my 22 rifle and also use it trapping and coon hunting.i use my 20ga. sometimes but not alot.good luck with it
When I was your age I had a ROSSI combo. it had a 20 gauge barrel and a .22 barrel which made it great for small game. It was also a single shot break action so I only had one shot. you learn pretty quick not to miss the first time.
Ruger 10/22 22lr or maybe a single shot 20 gauge for squirrels and birds or single shot centerfire such as a handi-rifle in a .243 or .308 caliber for deer and coyotes........
I grew up on a .22 lr and a 20 gauge. Take your pick, but you will not be disappointed with either.
it depends,for close up shots at small game i would say .410 with #6 shot(for squirrels, rabbits, and doves)if your frame is thinner. But I'm 13 and use a 12 gauge with target loads(#8 shot), and my 11 year old brother is trying to convince my dad that we need #5 lead light duck loads for doves etc... I'd use a 410 if i were you since you're new and start with #8's. if you get a fairly heavy gun it won't hurt much more than a .22.
it depends,for close up shots at small game i would say .410 with #6 shot(for squirrels, rabbits, and doves)if your frame is thinner. But I'm 13 and use a 12 gauge with target loads(#8 shot), and my 11 year old brother is trying to convince my dad that we need #5 lead light duck loads for doves etc... I'd use a 410 if i were you since you're new and start with #8's. if you get a fairly heavy gun it won't hurt much more than a .22.
If by small game you mean gopher and squirrels get a Ruger 10/22. If you mean coyotes i would say get a 243. That way if you want to get into deer hunting you can use the same gun. A 243 will have next to nothing for recoil.
For squirrels i would go with a 22. If you want a gun for cyotes and foxes i would go with a 22-250,243, or 7mm-08
im 14 to i turkey hunt with a 12 guage 3in shells i deer hunt with a 270 130 grains and squirrel and dove hunt with a 20 guage 2 1/2 in shells
410, a 12 ga is gunna blow the daylights out of ne thing and it will be overkill. 410 will do just fine and you'll save more meat. 22 is also pretty good also.
20 ga. you can hunt small game and larger animals. Or you could get a combo like deerslayer said. Dicks sporting goods has rossi combos for $100 and you can pick your shotgun size. Id get a 22 and 20 ga combo. leave it open sights itll make you a better shot.
Post an Answer