I'm still a newb... But I feel I have learned some lessons over the last few years of shooting and I'd like to share.
First of all If I had to start all over from the beginning I would have five firearms:
1) a scoped bolt action hunting rifle in a caliber able of taking a moose. (30-06, 308, you name it)
2) a service rifle of some sort (AR-15, or M1 Garand to match your 30-06, or a M14 to match your 308, or a sks to save money)
3) a scoped, reasonable quality, 22lr
4) a pump action 12 gauge (remington wingmaster, browning BPS, or ??)
5) a centerfire handgun (sig, 1911, glock or w.h.y.)
Here is what I did the first time around:
1) Bought a Marlin 336 in 30-30. I really like lever guns. However, when you drive 14 hours from the city to your hunting location, spend a few cold nights, and finally see your moose but it is 160 yards away. You start to think a Remington 700 in 30-06 is a really good idea.
2) Bought a Stag Arms AR-15. I love this rifle. However, I bought the model with a flip up site. Mine disassembled itself. Walt at Arms East told me his law enforcement customers get carry handles. Therefore, I sold my flip up and bought a Colt Carry handle sight. If I had to do this all over again, I might have bought a new Norc m4. I hear they are pretty good.
3) I bought a Ruger 10/22. I found this to be a fun rifle to shoot but the iron sights are hard to adjust. I ended up getting a Savage Mark II and putting a scope on it. I shoot my reactive target at the end of the range all day its great!
4) Sigh, my nicest gun and worse purchase. I bought a Beretta semi auto 12 gauge. I totally over bought when I bought this. It was fine when I had a local farm to duck hunt. However, some other hunters upset the farmer and he canceled everyones hunting permission. Now I have a big, way over priced, grouse getting gun that doesn't cycle light grouse loads very well. Sometimes an auto-loader is the wrong gun for the situation. Sometimes a break action is the wrong gun for the situation. A pump-action shotgun is never the wrong gun for the situation.
5) I have gone through several hand guns trying to find the right one. I bought a glock but never shot it well. I bought a sig p226 and it totally revolutionized my shooting. With my sig I sat at home and dry fired it in double action for hours. My sight picture became nice and steady. Now I am very happy with my pistol shooting! thank you Sig!
Other lessons:
Lube: sigs and 1911's need grease on the slide/frame
Cleaning supplies: Boresnakes are amazing!
EE: not everyone on the EE is going to give you a good deal. Regardless of their trader rating. I have got a few bad guns off of there. From now on I am only buying guns that are "like new in box."
Cheers!
First of all If I had to start all over from the beginning I would have five firearms:
1) a scoped bolt action hunting rifle in a caliber able of taking a moose. (30-06, 308, you name it)
2) a service rifle of some sort (AR-15, or M1 Garand to match your 30-06, or a M14 to match your 308, or a sks to save money)
3) a scoped, reasonable quality, 22lr
4) a pump action 12 gauge (remington wingmaster, browning BPS, or ??)
5) a centerfire handgun (sig, 1911, glock or w.h.y.)
Here is what I did the first time around:
1) Bought a Marlin 336 in 30-30. I really like lever guns. However, when you drive 14 hours from the city to your hunting location, spend a few cold nights, and finally see your moose but it is 160 yards away. You start to think a Remington 700 in 30-06 is a really good idea.
2) Bought a Stag Arms AR-15. I love this rifle. However, I bought the model with a flip up site. Mine disassembled itself. Walt at Arms East told me his law enforcement customers get carry handles. Therefore, I sold my flip up and bought a Colt Carry handle sight. If I had to do this all over again, I might have bought a new Norc m4. I hear they are pretty good.
3) I bought a Ruger 10/22. I found this to be a fun rifle to shoot but the iron sights are hard to adjust. I ended up getting a Savage Mark II and putting a scope on it. I shoot my reactive target at the end of the range all day its great!
4) Sigh, my nicest gun and worse purchase. I bought a Beretta semi auto 12 gauge. I totally over bought when I bought this. It was fine when I had a local farm to duck hunt. However, some other hunters upset the farmer and he canceled everyones hunting permission. Now I have a big, way over priced, grouse getting gun that doesn't cycle light grouse loads very well. Sometimes an auto-loader is the wrong gun for the situation. Sometimes a break action is the wrong gun for the situation. A pump-action shotgun is never the wrong gun for the situation.
5) I have gone through several hand guns trying to find the right one. I bought a glock but never shot it well. I bought a sig p226 and it totally revolutionized my shooting. With my sig I sat at home and dry fired it in double action for hours. My sight picture became nice and steady. Now I am very happy with my pistol shooting! thank you Sig!
Other lessons:
Lube: sigs and 1911's need grease on the slide/frame
Cleaning supplies: Boresnakes are amazing!
EE: not everyone on the EE is going to give you a good deal. Regardless of their trader rating. I have got a few bad guns off of there. From now on I am only buying guns that are "like new in box."
Cheers!
