some people give bad advice to first time hunters here.

the_big_mike

the_big_mike

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
EE Expired
Rating - 95.5%
21   1   0
Location
ottawa
My flame suit is on.

Some people on this website give bad advice to new hunters and shooters. The most recent example:

An individual just got his PAL and getting into hunting this year. He does not reload, has NOT owned any firearms before.

Yet, people suggest .416 (apparently its a joke...), .260, .280, .35whelen.

Yes they are great cartridges. But he does not reload! He is a new shooter! Would you start someone new on a .416? Great way to develop flinch! What about when he brings home his .35whelen and find he can't find factory ammo anywhere? Great idea!! What's he going to do?

IMO, new shooters/hunters should start with less specialized cartridges, factory available. 30-06, .270, .308 are probably the big three. 30-30, 45/70, 303br are good too.

I'm positive more then 90% of you started on one of these cartridges.

Why the bad advice?
 
Last edited:
What was the request for? Was all this info given in the requesters first thread, what did the post say? I think most of the people here give good if not excellent advice. And you know what free advice is worth anyway don't you. Perhaps some are tired of the same question, if so that is unfortunate, as I would think the person is asking because they don't know/and or are just plain inexperienced. Let me know what you think big mike, remember it's called gunnutz for a reason.

Sticking up for the majority, Homesteader
 
new time hunter said:
Newbie alert. Finally got my PAL, and am pumped about hunting this year.
Click to expand...

new time hunter said:
I’m looking at buying my first hunting rifle. Due to limited budget, I want to get one rifle that will last for years, and can be used for just about anything. I’ll be out for deer, moose, elk, black bear, and eventually antelope and sheep.
Click to expand...

Thats the jist of the first post.

new time shooter= reloading out of the question. (This is IMO... I think reloading is a bit advanced for new time shooters/hunters. Plus, I'd say 90% of hunters do not roll there own)
limited budget= steer away from magnums.

I just find it discerning that new time hunters are getting poor, poor advice. Used to get good advice on these forums. I understand people are sick of the same questions over and over again.. whats preventing them from not clicking on the topic?

We all have our favorites but still...

a .416 for sheep? Gimme a freakin' break.
 
Last edited:
Questions......for the first time hunter.

1. What are you hunting?
2. Are you going to begin reloading, or can you talk a friend into loading a couple of boxes for you?

These questions need to be addressed first. If the answer is Cape Buffalo, then the .416 was a good answer. If it is grizzly bear, then it's a good answer.

Your point about ammunition costs is valid, but even to start up, buy 3 or 4 boxes of whatever caliber you choose, then save all your brass and start reloading next year.

Oh, and I have no idea why a first time hunter would go to Africa and hunt Cape Buffalo, or even stay in Canada and hunt grizzlies! But if I ever meet one who does then I might suggest the .416
 
A good rule of thumb should be if Canadian Tire and Walmart don't sell it, it's the wrong cartridge for the first timer.

For a general purpose big game rifle, it's really just a choice between .270/.308/.30-06. Each has their own advantages, but they're all capable of killing anything a newbie is likely to be shooting at.

For someone starting off soley on mid-sized game (deer, antelope, etc.), I'm actually very partial to the .243 Win. It's just sooo much easier for a new hunter/shooter to shoot that cartridge accurately -- and in my experience, it's quite capable when a 100 grain bullet is well placed, which tends to be the case due to the lack of recoil and fuss.
 
Your right

I see this a lot. It was not to long ago that more people than not hunted with 3030 308 3006 303.



the_big_mike said:
My flame suit is on.

Some people on this website give bad advice to new hunters and shooters. The most recent example:

An individual just got his PAL and getting into hunting this year. He does not reload, has NOT owned any firearms before.

Yet, people suggest .416 (WTF?), .260, .280, .35whelen.

Yes they are great cartridges. But he does not reload! He is a new shooter! Would you start someone new on a .416? Great way to develop flinch! What about when he brings home his .35whelen and find he can't find factory ammo anywhere? Great idea!! What's he going to do?

IMO, new shooters/hunters should start with less specialized cartridges, factory available. 30-06, .270, .308 are probably the big three. 30-30, 45/70, 303br are good too.

I'm positive more then 90% of you started on one of these cartridges.

Why the bad advice?
Click to expand...
 
the big mike
Easy answer, most people on this site spend more time on this site than hunting anything, hence responses like a 416 for hunting anything in N/A seem logical.
 
Whether on the web or in person it's not uncommon for someone in their unbridled enthusiasm to promote his favourite caliber/gauge/gun, etc. even though it may not be the best recommendation to the person asking the question.

In another thread a poster was asking what would be a suitable shotgun for his wife who wanted to hunt upland and waterfowl. One suggestion was the 28 gauge and as much as I love the 28, it would not be the best choice for that person in that situation.

Keep it simple and easy for new shooters. They have lots of time to try the exotic stuff, learn to handload and become totally addicted to shooting.
 
To me a 243 is more of a expert rifle than beginer rifle. many new hunters don't place shots well enough or take poor percentage shoots due lack experiance and /or excitment. I agree 308 30-06 270 303 great for starting out and to some a tool that will last generations. another thing that seems to be missed is all the talk of bullet weights and types MAKE SURE YOU SHOOT GROUPS WITH EACH TYPE OF AMMO YOU USE me and my frieds did some testing and found 17" diferent point of impact at 100 yards between a 150grn and 180 grn in an 30-06 but the gun was grouping 1.5" so I recomend a good midsize bullet that will handle the animals your looking to hunt. Example In my 308 I use 165 grain it almost as flat shooting as a 150 has close to the energy of a 180 if you want to use different bullets for different animals be sure to sight in for the ammo your using. sometime you get lucky and find 2 types of ammo with a very similar point of impact at the range you be shooting at
 
Neo said:
A good rule of thumb should be if Canadian Tire and Walmart don't sell it, it's the wrong cartridge for the first timer.
Click to expand...

Well, at the rate most of Ontario is going, you just suggested he doesn't buy anything. Cuz the Walmart's and the CT here suck.

I suggested a .280 rem because you can buy it in any GUNSHOP. If a first time buyer does not want to go to a gunshop to look around, then too bad for him. CT does not count as a gunshop.;)
 
the_big_mike said:
Yet, people suggest .416 (WTF?), .260, .280, .35whelen.

Yes they are great cartridges. But he does not reload! He is a new shooter! Would you start someone new on a .416?
Click to expand...

Ummm, a good source of range brass and an eventual deal on the EE?:p:evil:


I wouldn't get too worked up and overly protective of the newbie's. It's not like there's not a gazillion newbie/hunter/first gun/young shooter/old shooter/kill a deer/kill a moose/recoil/cheapest/bulk/ammo availability threads here to research, should a person have the desire to do so. If they can't pick the .416 post as being different than the other posts, oh well.
 
This winter I was hunting with a friend that had a couple young guys along . Very green hunters they were. Anyhow this young kid had a Guide Gun stainless in 45/70.......beauty gun that made me covet. He wouldn't trade for a more experienced Marlin the bastard...anyhow why was he packing this gun??? It seems he asked my friend what his dream gun would be and Dave answered with the Guide gun (Dave is a moose guide and bear hunter) so the kid bought one.....the gun hurt the big kid first time at the range and a old guy had to sight it in for him.....he aint shot it since but is packing it hunting.

I've never used or needed a magnum for hunting in BC and I won't be buying one soon either.
Frankly I believe the 30/06 is to much for a beginner...unless he is a rural farm kid used to work. It seems I remember the Military found the 06 about all the average man could take....and the definition and role of average man has kinda changed since then.
The 308 Winchester is a very fine Cartridge for the beginner and all a intrepid hunter in Canada really needs.
 
Neo said:
A good rule of thumb should be if Canadian Tire and Walmart don't sell it, it's the wrong cartridge for the first timer.
Click to expand...

sums it up right there. most new shooters generally dont reload, so dont recommend that they get something that:

a) Walmart/CTC doesnt sell
b) costs $50+ a box with no cheap alternative available

when you get into premium hunting ammo the price difference between calibers gets a lot smaller.... however, with many of the more common calibers there are other alternatives available such as cheap import, surplus, winchester white box at Wal-mart, etc. to plink and practice with.

as i said in the other thread, a new shooter is better off buying a .308 and 10 boxes of cheap ammo to go out and practice/gain familiarity with than either relying on the 'extra margin for error of a magnum':)runaway::eek::runaway: wtf) or any small ballistic advantage that a more exotic caliber may give them.
 
Last edited:
cripes my bro and myself had my son at the age of fourteen getting into reloading his own shells.with our supervision of course.just because the person just got their PAL does not mean they don't know anything
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom