If you had only 3 hunting firearms......

I would suggest the following:

Since you are a lefty and don't mind a pump.

Rem model 572 22 lr Pump

Rem Model 870 Express 12ga. Pump

Rem Model 760/7600 308win Pump (if you can find a carbine all the better)

All the guns have the same safety location(cross-bolt at rear of trigger guard) and same action(pump).

The safeties can be changed to left handed by a gunsmith if you prefer.

If you keep your eyes open you can find these Used in good condition for a total budget of $900.00 -$1200.00 and they will serve you for a lifetime.

Good luck.
 
Lee-Enfield 303 for deer/big game
Ithaca 37 12 ga. for upland
Cooey model 60 .22 or a Henry lever 22(frontier model prefffered)
I'm a lefty and these are the guns I use most(mostly cause its what I've got, along with a few others)
 
Thanks for the responses. Looks like most (if not all) actually read my whole post and got the gist of what I was trying to say. I really appreciate the valuable input. Not being very familiar with many of the guns mentioned, it looks like I've got a bit of research to do. Luckily where I work is only about a half mile south of Epps, so it's no trouble to stop in and hopefully check out in person some of the suggestions you guys have made. I find that you really have to lay your hands on a rifle before you can really decide if you personally like it or not. That's why I mentioned the Model 94. I never would've thought about buying an old lever action before I had some hands-on experience with one. I guess I just figured them for an antiquated "cowboy" gun, but the fit and feel really won me over. I'm actually kinda surprised that nobody showed up to defend of the old 94 in 30/30. I would think that particular gun has downed more whitetails than almost any single rifle ever made.
 
Mossberg 500 12g - $100-200
Cooey 75 - $50-$100
Savage 308 w/scope - $650

Done. Easily under $1000 with a bushnell elite 3200 on a newer Savage. Those are quality guns too.
 
2strklvr said:
For the most part I am a newb to the shooting sports. I have always wanted to get my PAL and hunting licence. For the past 20 years or so I always found that there was either a lack of time, money (both?) or just the motivation to take the courses, challenge the tests and get my licences. Well finally I did it. I've got my PAL and I'm booked in for hunter's ed. for the first week-end of October. Luckily I have many friends, customers & aquaintances that have no problem with taking me out hunting to show me the ropes.

So now I am faced with the overwhelming choice of rifles and shotguns out there. I've already bought a gun safe, now I guess that I need to fill it. Eventually I'd love to get a little collection going with some nice milsurps, a tacticool black gun or two, maybe a 10/22 to build up with all those neat conversion kits out there - you get the idea.

However to start I figure that I really only need 3 guns. A deer rifle, a shotgun and a .22 that aren't going to break the bank to get started.

The deer gun will be used for tight bush, Muskoka-type hunting. No "reach out and touch someone" stuff like out west. Primarly 150 yard shots or less. I'm thinking about looking for a nice pre-64 30/30 1894 for this purpose. I'm a lefty, so the top eject is attractive to me, not to mention that I've handled one of these guns before and found it light, well balanced and just damn ###y to be honest.

I want a shotgun mostly for upland birds, probably ducks and maybe turkey hunting at some point. I'm thinking 12ga? I like the lightness, looks and simplicity of side by sides. I'd consider a pump gun although I think that were I going to get a pump I'd want either a Remington or a Winchester for the quality aspect, and I know that nice 870's etc. can get spendy. Not really interested in any semi shotguns.

Of course I'll need a .22 for plinking and neighbourhood raccoon control. I'm not too fussy in this aspect. Cheap, reliable and multi-shot capabilty. As a kid I had an old Cooey bolt with a tubular mag that I could work pretty well, even being a southpaw. I would prefer a lever, slide or even a semi over a bolt gun though.

So what do the resident experts think? Any comments or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
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I like your 30/30, 12-gauge and .22 choice of calibers.

a. Winchester or Marlin
b. 870
c. Get a Henry .22 in lever or pump. You'll enjoy their products.
 
A blunderbuss, and a good knife.:D
gun-blunderbuss.jpg
 
2strklvr said:
For the most part I am a newb to the shooting sports. I have always wanted to get my PAL and hunting licence. For the past 20 years or so I always found that there was either a lack of time, money (both?) or just the motivation to take the courses, challenge the tests and get my licences. Well finally I did it. I've got my PAL and I'm booked in for hunter's ed. for the first week-end of October. Luckily I have many friends, customers & aquaintances that have no problem with taking me out hunting to show me the ropes.

So now I am faced with the overwhelming choice of rifles and shotguns out there. I've already bought a gun safe, now I guess that I need to fill it. Eventually I'd love to get a little collection going with some nice milsurps, a tacticool black gun or two, maybe a 10/22 to build up with all those neat conversion kits out there - you get the idea.

However to start I figure that I really only need 3 guns. A deer rifle, a shotgun and a .22 that aren't going to break the bank to get started.

The deer gun will be used for tight bush, Muskoka-type hunting. No "reach out and touch someone" stuff like out west. Primarly 150 yard shots or less. I'm thinking about looking for a nice pre-64 30/30 1894 for this purpose. I'm a lefty, so the top eject is attractive to me, not to mention that I've handled one of these guns before and found it light, well balanced and just damn ###y to be honest.

I want a shotgun mostly for upland birds, probably ducks and maybe turkey hunting at some point. I'm thinking 12ga? I like the lightness, looks and simplicity of side by sides. I'd consider a pump gun although I think that were I going to get a pump I'd want either a Remington or a Winchester for the quality aspect, and I know that nice 870's etc. can get spendy. Not really interested in any semi shotguns.

Of course I'll need a .22 for plinking and neighbourhood raccoon control. I'm not too fussy in this aspect. Cheap, reliable and multi-shot capabilty. As a kid I had an old Cooey bolt with a tubular mag that I could work pretty well, even being a southpaw. I would prefer a lever, slide or even a semi over a bolt gun though.

So what do the resident experts think? Any comments or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...

SXS shotguns tend not to be inexpensive, but with your preference for a light handy gun I think a SXS 20 ga would be a fine choice as these guns tend to be far less bulky than a typical 12 ga. The trade-off is how much turkey hunting you intend to do, a 12 gauge would seem to be the better choice for this duty, but there is nothing wrong with a 20 for typical upland shooting.

There is nothing wrong with the .30/30 for a deer rifle and the older '94 Winchesters are a pleasure to carry. If you are unable to source one in a condition that suits you, the new Marlins are better rifles than the newer '94s.

I like the Brno 452 rimfire rifles, but if you are a south paw a right hand bolt might be an issue for you, although in my opinion it doesn't have to be. If you like lever guns try to find an older M-39 Marlin. The 10/22 is a decent little rimfire, but to my way of thinking the trigger should be replaced, with something more suited to good marksmanship.
 
Mossberg 535 12g....with 3 barrel pacakge (upland, turkey, rifled deer)
Weatherby Vanguard .308Win
Stevens 200 .223Rem

and my great Buck knife
 
jgardhouse said:
That means you're close the Orillia gun club (hint hint, join and practice practice practice).
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I've actually got a standing invitation from my firearms safety instructor to go and check out the Orillia Gun Club as his guest. I do want to get my foot in the door there as I plan on upgrading to an RPAL fairly soon. I can't see the RCMP being too keen on issuing a restricted licence to someone that doesn't have a legal avenue to fire restricted firearms.

Boomer said:
SXS shotguns tend not to be inexpensive, but with your preference for a light handy gun I think a SXS 20 ga would be a fine choice as these guns tend to be far less bulky than a typical 12 ga. The trade-off is how much turkey hunting you intend to do, a 12 gauge would seem to be the better choice for this duty, but there is nothing wrong with a 20 for typical upland shooting.

There is nothing wrong with the .30/30 for a deer rifle and the older '94 Winchesters are a pleasure to carry. If you are unable to source one in a condition that suits you, the new Marlins are better rifles than the newer '94s.

I like the Brno 452 rimfire rifles, but if you are a south paw a right hand bolt might be an issue for you, although in my opinion it doesn't have to be. If you like lever guns try to find an older M-39 Marlin. The 10/22 is a decent little rimfire, but to my way of thinking the trigger should be replaced, with something more suited to good marksmanship.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info. I wasn't aware that the newer Marlins were better quality than the newer Winchesters. More caliber choices with the Marlin as well I assume?

As far as a shotgun goes I may just settle for a newer 12 ga. pump (Remington, Winchester or Mossberg) as a "do everything" shotty and get myself a nice SxS when funds permit or the right deal comes along.

Righthand bolt isn't such an issue and really for the price of most used .22's I will likely wind up with a couple. I see that the 10/22's are very popular and I can see myself owning one of those for plinking and the possibity of building it up with an Archangel kit or something similiar.
 
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