Choosing a rifle

If the handgun area isn’t for you and you are looking into the rifle arena, the same principles apply. The .22lr is the caliber of choice for the Hunter Education Programs for a good reason. They are a great starting point for shooters to learn and master the fundamentals of shooting. Everyone has to start somewhere and this is a good opportunity to learn. Do not let ego get in the way of your skill development and growth as a shooter. Who cares what others say or think? Most of them couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn anyhow!

When choosing your first rifle, I would recommend a bolt action in a .22 or a .17. The bolt actions will slow you down each shot so you can go over the fundamentals for each shot. Use the iron sites that came with the firearm. Spending a ton of money on the added little extras for a practice gun wouldn’t be wise. It would be better to use that money for ammo or save the money for your next higher caliber firearm. Remember, this gun is a teaching tool and that’s what it should be used for.

After you have learned how to shoot with the lower caliber and you are looking to advance to a larger caliber, ask yourself what the intended use will be. Will it be for hunting? If so, what type of hunting? What game will it be used for? Is its sole purpose just for recreational shooting? Will  you be getting into competition shoots? Will it be just for plinking with friends? Research the calibers that are recommended for the type of game you wish to hunt. See what the rules and regulations might be for any competition shoots you might be interested in. If you are just looking to plink or shoot recreation, shop around and gauge what the price and availability of the ammunition is. Since this is a fun hobby, you really don’t want to break the bank.

 
Once you have decided what caliber you are set on and what activities you will be involved in, it’s time to learn about rifle products and what’s out there for your intended sport. I’ll use hunting as an example. Say I want to hunt elk and mule deer in the mountain west states. I have decided to go with the .30-06 since its affordable, plentiful and less kick than some of the larger big game calibers. Do I go with a bolt action or a semi-auto for hunting? Both have pros and cons to them for sure. The bolt action is more accurate and reliable. The semi-auto is fast and you could have a quicker follow up shot than a bolt action if needed. However, if you do not perform the proper maintenance on a semi-auto, you could have malfunctions while hunting.

 
So you weighed the pros and cons of both and have decided on what type of action you will look for. Now it’s time to look at a few more things before you hit the stores shopping. Do some research on different manufactures and see which one offers the best product for what you are looking to do with it. Then look at the price and start to stare and compare. Be sure to check out the specs on the rifle such as the twist rate, weight and the length of the rifle to be sure it’s not too big or too small for you. Narrow it down to about 3-4 rifles and then go check them out in the store to see how they feel for you.

Now that you have decided which rifle you want, make sure it’s a fair price for it. Remember, it also depends on the time of the year you are making a purchase. There are some great sales before and after the hunting seasons, so be sure to shop around. Watch out for some of the used, online firearm sales companies or private sales. Some of these do not offer much of a discount and if you find a great price on one, check the shipping and FFL fees. If you are making a private purchase, a sale between you and another person instead of a dealer, be sure you are both aware of your state laws prior to making the purchase.

Congratulations! You have made your purchase and have your brand new prize just waiting to be fired. Just one catch! You need a good optics on that baby!! Big game does not just walk up and pose for you within the limits of the .22 or .17 you’ve practiced with. If they do, then I’ve been doing it wrong for a very long time! Now it’s time to learn about the different verities of scopes and what you can use them for. There’s no shortage of scopes to select from. There are a ton of options you can decide from. Keep it simple on your first scope and make sure you don’t get more scope than gun or caliber. Meaning you don’t want a scope that will give you the false impression that your caliber will have the same distance of flight as you have of sight.

Use the same method to buy a scope as you have with the selection of which rifle you wanted. It’s just as important to have a good scope to go with a good rifle! Again, think of what you will be using it for and what you will be putting it through. For hunting, I like a good reliable, durable scope that is both fog and waterproof. The reticle depends on personal choice, but use caution, you do not want a ton of distractions inside the scope. Bullet drop compensators (BDC) can be a good tool to use for hunts and will help you quickly gauge your shot. However, some of the lower end scopes might not have a reliable BDC on them. I recommend a basic duplex cross-hair for new shooters.

Once you have decided on which brand and type of scope will best suit your needs, it needs to be mounted on the rifle. It’s usually a good idea to have this done professionally at the store you purchased it from, a gunsmith or a trusted friend or member of the family. A lot can go wrong if you do not know how to mount a scope properly. If you are having the scope mounted professionally, be sure to request to have them bore sight it for you before you take it home. It will save you a ton of time, ammo and frustration when you sight it in for the first time.

 
Now you are all set and ready to go shooting! A few tips that you need to keep in mind prior to popping off the first shot: 1.) READ THE OWNERS MANUEAL before you shoot. There might be some initial cleaning the manufacture recommends prior to sending a bullet down the barrel. 2.) A bench rest would be a good idea to either buy or barrow. These can help reduce frustration while sighting in and can save you money on ammo. 3.) Go to the range with a knowledgeable shooter. It will help in a ton of areas! If you think you are doing something wrong, it gives you a person you trust to ask. It will also give you a second set of eyes to help get you dialed in at the range. 4.) Always shoot with the same type of bullet you sight in with. The grain, bullet weight, can off set your zeroed in sight and your shot will be off. Practice shooting with the same bullet type you will be hunting with!

Now that you have fired your rifle for the first time and you’re all jazzed up about it, you’re still not done. That puppy needs to be cleaned! Be sure to clean the firearm to the manufactures specifications in the owner’s manual. Be sure you clean it in a well-ventilated area and you do not have any live ammunition in the same room with you. The little gremlins have a way of getting bullets near or in the gun while cleaning it. It’s just an extra safety measure to take! Once the gun is cleaned and no longer in use, be sure to keep it in a safe, lockable location. Safes and metal gun cabinets are the ideal location.

Now that you are a gun owner, have fun with it and please be safe with it. There is no such thing as being too safe with a firearm!