Gun Newbie Wondering What Gun to Get

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alright, my turn to weigh in on this hillarious thread. to the OP:

If you really just want to learn to operate a gun for a worst case scenario, the most practical thing you can do is to buy a gun, any gun, and shoot it. You don't need, scopes, you don't need grips, you don't need flash lights or any of that other tacticool stuff. Just buy a gun and shoot it. Caliber doesn't matter. 5.56, 7.62x39, etc can all take down a person, if you can hit them. They all have the "stopping power" but you need to hit the target first. So just buy something and go practice.
 
Gobc, guns are expensive, even on the cheaper end. I don't want to buy just any gun. I want to buy a gun that can be useful beyond learning how to shoot. I want to be able to go for a bit of hunting with it, I want it to be flexible in terms of customisation including "tacticool stuff", I want the caliber to be cheap and available while also being a good pick for a shtf situation. I don't have the resources to buy more guns so my first gun will be my only gun for a while
 
I am also green and am still learning a lot from all of the guys here and other sources, so to me no question is stupid or wrong. No matter what your reasonings are for wanting a gun, we all started not knowing how to shoot or what to buy or where to get things or even where to start. I am still in the process of find my first gun. It has been over 2 months that I have been doing research into what exactly I want from the gun and what to buy. Yes in the back of my head I also wanted a gun that would be for home defense/ zombie shtf as if people dont lie will tell you is always in our boyhood brains. I have my RPAL and my wife hates that I do and hates that im buying a gun ( for hunting ) , At first I almost jumped in to buying a couple of guns that I probably would have regretted because I just WANTED my gun. After being on this site they have stopped me from doing so and I have realized this is going to be like my new child and I want the right one. Take your time, do research, hold guns at shops, etc.

This is what I have chosen for my first rifle. Hunting / home defense / hobby / shtf

http://frontierfirearms.ca/marlin-336c-l-a-30-30-win.html < ----- rifle

http://www.amazon.com/Game-Reaper-Marlin-336-Medium-Mount/dp/B004040D5Y <----- mount

http://www.opticsplanet.com/bushnel...mm-with-circle-x-reticle-731432-731432ap.html <--- scope

if anyone wants to pm me about my choices they can feel free to give me advice or complaints
 
Hey EerfnaM,
Good choice on a 30-30, lever gun, lever guns are great fun. I really enjoy mine. Don't have a 30-30 but my favourite is my Remington 44 Mag, it holds 10 rounds, is accurate and it is a lot of firepower in a light unresrtricted package. Try getting your wife to shoot a .22 pistol, mine did and she hates guns too but had fun, and has come around tremendously from a few years ago when I started this expensive hobby.
For SpetznasBeaver (love the name btw), you may be right, we are due for a problem, who knows when, but the average person can do little but to try and protect yourself and your family. I'm old and lived through the Cuban missile crisis but can't lose sleep over Putin, even though I think he is evil. The biggest issue we may actually have is a disruption of our fragile logistics system for food and other necessities, so think about how you might deal with that, ie. Food, water, firearms/ammo, etc.
 
Wow - some guys need to pull their claws back in. NOBODY actually needs to take a safety course to be qualified to ask for advice on purchasing a firearm. If a non-licensed newcomer to the sport wants to talk, then we should try to be helpful and not try to discourage him. Calm down and take a step away from the keyboard until you can be rational without overreacting to a nonexistant problem.
 
An SKS is a good first gun if you want something bigger than a .22. Good reliable rifle that won't let you down and is more than able to stand up to military like use. You should know that the Russians no longer use 7.62x39, if you are looking for ammo compatibility and affordability then .223 might be a better option for you.
 
FLYBYU44, thanks for pointing out the 7.62 thing. Since I just started learning more about guns I was under the impression the Ruskies still used it. I looked into it and saw they use 5.45 now which is useless since I don't think we have anything chambered in it in Canada. SKS is the cheapest semi auto I gather? I hear good things about it but the difficult attachment support, lack of mags (stripper clip only or fugly duck bill), 7.62 becoming less widespread as you seem to imply and the lack of an above 5 rounds hack like on the 5.56 make me think I should save up a bit more and stick with 5.56.

I really like the Tavor from research but that is REALLY expensive. Type 97 seems to be one of the cheaper 5.56s but the design seems rather El Cheapo to me. All of the ergonomics are buggered and it may not accept a .50 Beowulf mag (seems to be the highest cap hack for 5.56). Between 9mm and 45 ACP it seems like 9mm is a significantly cheaper but still effective choice but I can't seem to find anything chambered in it (I probably just don't know what to look for). Kriss Vector is 45 ACP and PS90 is FN 57 :( both expensive ammo types. Would really appreciate a good shortlist of 5.56 and 9mm unrestricteds.
 
SpetsnazBeaver, may i ask how much you have to spend and what game you intend to hunt? There is no such thing as a perfect do it all rifle. You will have to make a concession whether it be weight, cost, or something else.
 
I currently have no money put aside to spend on a gun which is why I was asking which gun to get so I can start saving up while I get the PAL. I really like the Tavor from research but the cheapest seem to sell for $2600. Ideally $1500 and under but at most a Tavor price if it comes down to it I'd just save more. I don't know anything about hunting and would take the hunting course.
 
I'm not a hunting expert but .223 and 7.62x39 are typically varmit size calibers. Yes, you can take small deer with them at close range if you use soft point bullets (7.62x39) and 90gr .223 bullets. But for larger game, your better off with a larger caliber. If you want a "do it all" military type rifle, you might want to look at at M14 type rifle. But again, trade offs. M14's are heavy, and can be expensive especially the ammo. Another option is the Keltec RFB if you like bullpups. However m14's can use AIA magazines which hold 10 rounds legally.

But you see the problems that arise when you try to find a "do it all" rifle. This is why most of us end up with an entire safe of rifles. What your really after is a "do it all" collection.
 
Save your money.
Get a Tavor.
Stack up ammo, water, food, medicine and antibiotics, and warm clothes.
Hope for the best, although if you have no military training you might not survive long fighting a russian invasion, unless you team up with the canadian forces, which would consider you more a liability than anything... Maybe read a few books on guerilla warfare, there is a good one written by a german african officer during ww1.

Works great for: russian invasions, zombie apocalypse, yellowstone volcano eruptions, falling skies alien invasions, massive earthquakes, ice storms, sharnados, katrina huricanes, etc.

Doesnt work great for: surviving nuclear war, fighting tanks, fighting drones, fighting artillerie, etc.
 
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Gobc said:
I'm not a hunting expert but .223 and 7.62x39 are typically varmit size calibers. Yes, you can take small deer with them at close range if you use soft point bullets (7.62x39) and 90gr .223 bullets. But for larger game, your better off with a larger caliber. If you want a "do it all" military type rifle, you might want to look at at M14 type rifle. But again, trade offs. M14's are heavy, and can be expensive especially the ammo. Another option is the Keltec RFB if you like bullpups. However m14's can use AIA magazines which hold 10 rounds legally.

But you see the problems that arise when you try to find a "do it all" rifle. This is why most of us end up with an entire safe of rifles. What your really after is a "do it all" collection.
Click to expand...

wait a minute, isnt a 762x39 basically a 30-30, the cartridge that took the most deer in history of mankind?
 
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