Semi auto hunter

mopar guy

mopar guy

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Hey Guys,

All right, I'm sure this has probably been gone over but I couldn't find anything so humour me.

I'm just getting into hunting and my teenager brother wants to get into it with me aswell. He's taking the core and all that, but I'm helping him search for a rifle right now. I'm looking for some suggestions based on these perameters:

1. Must be an autoloader

2. He's just a kid, doesn't have too much money, and will likely never even shoot at an animal. But if the time comes that he's ready it'll have to take down a deer.

3. He likes to come to the range with me on the weekends so would also like a gun that can be shot for relatively cheap. I was thinking about .308 since there's all the surplus stuff floating around for plinking with.

So factoring in price and ammunition choices my research has let to a Remington autoloader. But this his a whole new world to me, I'd personally be inclined to purchase a bolt action but he wants to plink with it too. Kids have to have fun with the sport to enjoy it, I'm pretty sure the bolt will just kill his interest. What sort of used guns can I look into because that would be the best bet? Any help from all you hunters would be much much appreciated.

Mopar Guy
 
To be perfectly honest,I wouldn't start any new hunter with an autoloader.New hunters do get excited and when they do,an autoloader can be a safety hazzard.
 
stubblejumper said:
To be perfectly honest,I wouldn't start any new hunter with an autoloader.New hunters do get excited and when they do,an autoloader can be a safety hazzard.
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I agree with stubblejumper, in the midst of a hunt and the excitement of a kill a newer hunter may forget that they have another round in the chamber. Witness this to often, it’s call game fever. If he wants to go hunting start with a bolt action .308 and pickup a cheap autoloading 10/22 for plinking. With practice you could cycle a round pretty fast w/ a bolt action. Plinking with a .308 will get expensive fast 10/22 very cost effective.:)
 
stubblejumper said:
To be perfectly honest,I wouldn't start any new hunter with an autoloader.New hunters do get excited and when they do,an autoloader can be a safety hazzard.
Click to expand...

I rarely agree with stubblejumper, but this time I do. Nothing needs to be added to his post.
 
If not a bolt, then a pump or lever. Concur that the "jam-o-matic" is probably not the best way to go. And stay away from the "surplus" stuff ... most of which is totally inapropriate for sporting use. He may be "just a kid",. but why not let HIM get some independant advice to make up his own mind. Know lots of older brothers who are full of it ! ( Free advice, that is ! )
 
If the dude really wants a semi auto, I'd suggest an SKS. You should be able to find one for $125 or so and ammo is dirt cheap. He can blast away till his yayas fall off, get it out of his system and then go looking for a real hunting rifle. :)
 
All the above stuff on autoloaders is only true if your brother is untrained and unfamiliar with auto loading rifles. They don't have any more problems than any other sporting rifle out there if they're properly maintained and well handled. If you're serious about getting an autoloader, I've seen Remington and Browning semi-autos at gun shows within the last year in the $350 range in very decent condition. Put an ad in the exchange on this site and see what shows up or better yet put an ad in the Canadian Access to Firearms monthly paper (867-668-5609). Scour the shows and the gun shops as well, or go on to some of the websites an the home page. This stuff is out there and at reasonable prices, it may not look new and may have lots of exterior wear, but as long as it functions properly and has a decent bore, it should perform in yeomanlike fashion and get the job done well. Most used rifles have very little if anything wrong with them that a good cleaning won't cure. If you're not sure what to look for, take someone along with you that does. bearhunter
 
All the above stuff on autoloaders is only true if your brother is untrained and unfamiliar with auto loading rifles.
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His brother has never hunted so it is very likely that he will get very excited.When people get very excited,they often forget about the training that they have had and make foolish mistakes as a result.Buck fever can be very powerful.
 
To add to the above comment...I've seen experienced hunters make foolish mistakes. What is wrong with a Stevens 200 in 25-06 or something like that? Low recoil, enough power for deer, and cheap like borscht.
 
Oh, here we go with the bolt guns...


Your not a "TRUE HUNTER" if you hunt with a semi.

Bullshyte

Firearm ownership is about getting what you like.
First off, this is about firearm ownership, second, hunting.
If someone wants to hunt with a semi, whats wrong with that? I know many successful hunters new and old that hunt semi's. (Including myself)
And the only problem with them, is the boltgun guys pooh pooing on them.
If you like an auto, get it, and get familliar with it.
SAME AS ANY OTHER GUN OR ACTION.

Its no harder to use than any other action, and easier than some.
This isnt about anyone getting excited, everyone does when they have an opportunity to take their first animal, and...
Buckfever happens with whatever gun you have in your hand.
and your not better off with any particular action in that kind of instance.
SO...
They can jam, so get quick with removing the mag, cycling the action to clear obstruction, and reloading.
Truth be told, I've had more Boltguns jam/lock up on me than semi's or pumps.
I've been hunting with some variant of the 760-7400 for over 13 years, never dropped and lost a mag, and they hit where they're pointed.
I guess boltguns are more sophisticated until I break out the 7400 carbine in 30-06, and it shoots into close to the same hole@ 100 yards with a 1lb 14 oz trigger.
Oh yeah, you cant do anything to the triggers, or to accurize them Jamomatics ;)
There are a whack of autos on the market that are huntig guns, not recreated Military firearms.
You can get a 7400- 750 remington. A new Winchester semi, or an older M100. Ruger makes a mini 30 that will kill deer etc, and the deerfield carbine in 44 mag.
Browning has been a staple in reliable auto's for longer than most of us have been alive.
An older BAR, or newer Bar are a bit expensive, but worth the money.
If bucks are not an issue, pick up a benelli R1. All of which are good no nonsense firearms.
Do you really think a deer, moose bear care that they've been shot with a semi vs a boltgun?
Methinks not.
 
DarrylDB said:
Oh, here we go with the bolt guns...


Your not a "TRUE HUNTER" if you hunt with a semi.

Bullshyte
.
Click to expand...

No one said that, although if you really wanted to use a rifle for "true hunting", it should be a single shot! ;)
 
Whatever he goes with, I also suggest a .22 rimfire for the plinking, be it a semi or whatever.

If cash is an issue, nothing's cheaper than .22 ammo!
 
I also suggest strongly he look at a used gun, possibly from right here on the EE! Save the GST and all that, and if you look and ask, you'll most likely get a proven rifle in terms of function etc.

Spend the difference vs. new on more ammo!
 
Criteria:
1. Must be an autoloader

2. He's just a kid, doesn't have too much money, and will likely never even shoot at an animal. But if the time comes that he's ready it'll have to take down a deer.

3. He likes to come to the range with me on the weekends so would also like a gun that can be shot for relatively cheap.

How about a CZ-858? Cheap ammo, will bring down a deer to 100 yds, and is lots of fun at the range. Few options for optical sights, but the gun seems to fit the criteria.

Sharptail
 
SKS is prob the cheapest rifle,cheapest plinking ammo,and most reliable cheap semi-auto rifle.This should get him started.Later he can upgrade,and most likely he will before long.Ya gotta start somewhere.I had one when I was about 16 or so and had a blast with it.
GOOD LUCK!
 
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Win 94 in 30-30 would be my chioce, you can pick one up for around $250, ammo is dirt cheap, and it is an all around hunting rifle. Nothing wrong with starting a new shooter with a good old lever action.
 
If he wants an auto, buy one of the great deals in the Exchange forum. The .308 is a great caliber for everything you suggested, but I see a lot more 30.06 autoloaders for sale here than any other cal., so consider that one as well... and remember the auto motto: "clean, clean, clean!!!"

good luck.
 
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