hunting weapons

[jserio]

i'm considering gettin myself a weapon. the idea comes from a recent weekend event with the in-laws doing some clay shooting. most of the in-laws hunt deer round here. any ideas on a good weapon to start with? i also shot a 9mm that weekend. i didn't like the way the grip fit my hand. i've got small hands. any ideas on a pistol that might intrest me?

[bettingpython]

for hunting?
what are you going to hunt?

Deer 30.06, .308 etc one of the medium caliber rifle rounds. I actually am quite fond of the 30.06 winchester lever action for a deer rifle.
You want cheap you could get an old surplus enfield .303 british at a gunshow used to be able to buy them for $75 each. I had one that looked like absolute hell, the bore looked completely shot out but it would drive tacks at 300 yards easily, I used to shoot 1.5" groups at that range over the iron sights with surplus WWII ammo. Wish I could still see that well.

[PuddleJumper]

BP, I think you ment to say 30-30 cal. for that winchester lever action.

30-30 is a great caliber for deer. Many people will tell you that it's not enough.
However, if used properly it will serve you quit well. If your shots are going to be at longer distances, say 100+ yards, then you would want to go with .270,.308 or 30-06. All of these are good longer range cals. and are usually easy to find.

If your hunting is done in wooded areas at shorter ranges, the 30-30 is all you will ever need.
At shorter ranges you can also go with the lever action rifles chambered for pistol ammo. .357 magnum, .44 magnum and .45 long are fairly common.

For pistol hunting, you can go with a .357 magnum  IF  you are willing to be very disciplined as to what shots you are willing to take. Or more importantly, what shots you are not willing to take.

The .44 and .45 are good pistol cals. for hunting Deer at closer ranges.

PJ.

[bettingpython]

Yeah that's it

Of course I really want a falling block .45-70. Old school tajectory arc like a rainbow.

[Kasumi]

If you were hunting rabbits at close range then choose a shotgun. If shooting at long range then you obviously need a rifle. Also don't use a shotgun on hunting deer. You probably can't get any where near close enough to get a lethal shot.

[spc]

OK, good first hunting weapon.
An old enfield like BP suggested would be a good start, but don't count out the Mausers and Mosin-Nagant.   I've got a Mauser 98k  (1898 model, K=Karbine)  With surplus Ammo and Iron sights I can knock shaZam! down at 3-400m all day.  Only thing is most of the old surplus ammo is corrosive so you have to keep on top of it.   
BP if the bore on your enfield looked f%&ked up it was probably due to someone not cleaning it after use.  Generally it has to get pretty corroded before it will be seriously detrimental to firing.

Of course,  if you don't mind dropping some money, there are great options all over the place.  The M-14  is a damn fine long range platform, but they generally will run you between 1500 and 2k for a decent one.

[jordanearl]

Also don't use a shotgun on hunting deer. You probably can't get any where near close enough to get a lethal shot.

they make slugs so you can kill a deer with them, just not long shots.  you could also shoot clays with it as well

[Jughead]

Also don't use a shotgun on hunting deer. You probably can't get any where near close enough to get a lethal shot.

they make slugs so you can kill a deer with them, just not long shots.  you could also shoot clays with it as well

But you'll want a Shotgun With a Choke Designed for a Slug.Shooting a Shotgun With a Full Choke could Spell Disaster.Actually I would Say that in Most States Shotguns will be Illegal to use for Deer Hunting.

Ruger Makes a Really Nice Mini 14 in the .223 Caliber and a Mini 30 in a 30 Caliber.BUT Check to see if the .223 is Legal for Deer Hunting in your State.Usually the .22 isn't Legal.Here in TN it was until Last Year.Just my Opinion but Start with a Smaller Caliber and Work your way up.

[jserio]

wow. i'm shocked. i just read hunting regs for my state. Ohio.

Archery Season - Longbow: minimum draw weight 40 lbs. Crossbow: draw weight not less than 75 lbs., nor more than 200 lbs. The arrow tip shall have a minimum of two cutting edges which may be exposed or unexposed. Expandable and mechanical broadheads are legal. Poisoned or explosive arrows are illegal.

Gun Season and Youth Deer Gun Season - 10, 12, 16, 20, 28, or .410 gauge shotgun using one ball or one rifled slug per barrel (rifled shotgun barrels are permitted when using shotgun slug ammunition); or muzzleloading rifle .38 caliber or larger; or handgun with 5-in. minimum length barrel, using straight-walled cartridges .357 caliber or larger, or longbow, crossbow (draw weight limitations same as for Archery Season). Shotguns cannot be capable of holding more than three shells.

Statewide Muzzleloader Season - Longbow, crossbow (draw weight limitations same as for archery season), muzzleloading rifle .38 caliber or larger, or muzzleloading shotgun of 10, 12, 16, 20, 28, or .410 gauge using one ball per barrel.

Hunters cannot carry more than one firearm while hunting deer. See Concealed Carry information.

i suppose that rules out all the weapons you guys have posted so far. bummer.

[PuddleJumper]

Yep, Ohio is one of the few shotgun only states.

If I lived there, I would get a good 12 ga. pump with a smooth bore and a slug barrel.

PJ

[jordanearl]

you can carry a shotgun in missouri, thats the only state i have ever hunted in

[PuddleJumper]

Yes, Missouri allows shotguns, but they also allow rifles.

Ohio, only allows shotguns and muzzleloaders. No centerfire modern rifles.
PJ

[spc]

Dude, Ghey.  I mean seriously f%$king ghey.

[jserio]

oh, but it did say i could use a handgun with .357 caliber or higher. now seriously, i've noticed several firearms(rifles) that will fire a .357 cartridge, could i not use one of these? 

[Kasumi]

You can use muzzle loading rifles lol.

[PuddleJumper]

Jserio, Most states regulations say exactly what they allow. In your case it specifically says "handgun" of cal. .357 or larger. Note that it also says that the case has to be a straight wall design. That means no Thompson Contender handguns in a .30-30 cal.

Ohio is specifically not allowing any modern centerfire rifle cartridge.

If you carry a rifle in a .357 mag. cal. I would be sure to have it in writing that it is allowed.

PJ

[Kasumi]

Hunt with a longbow. Nothing can move like a longbow. And nothing is more impressive than killing a creature the way it should be done and has been done for many hundreds of years. It feels much better to execute a shot with a bow than to shoot something with a rifle.

Shooting in general can kill just from the trauma involved, sound, impact, distribution of the ammo, so you get a much better feeling when you can get a clean shot with a bow.

[jserio]

i've actually cotemplated the purchase of a bow. 

[Oklahoma_Mike]

You can't use it there, but +1 on the 303 I love mine.

[davipu]

just go buy a remington 870 in 12 gauge and you will be fine.  there's a really good reason that they only allow shotty's and muzzleloaders.  it's because the max range is 2-300 yards for those wepons.  nevermind that deer in that state are the size of dogs.....    and you shoot at them with a rifle your not going to have anything left.    but seriously, it's because your state is full of idiots that won't look beyond the deer to see whare the bullet is going to go.