1st timer's 12 gauge and revolver choices

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gotboostvr said:
I would highly suggest starting with a Mossberg 500 or Remington 870 with a 22-24" smooth barrel with screw in chokes.
....
Handguning is a whole challenge unto itself.
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Complete agreement with both sentiments. I would recommend if you havd never hunted or shot much before to start out with the shotgun and see how you like the hobby before making the leap the handguns. Slug hunting is generally a short range affair with 50 to 75 yards being most folks realistic max for dependable accuracy. Handgun ranges aren't much different but require a lot more practice to get proficient.

Whatever shotgun you choose, understand sights are important. Wing shooting is generally a pointing rather than aiming exercise, so most shotguns have very simple beads at the end of the barrel. Slugs however need to be aimed. A bead might suffice at short distances however you really need a rear sight. If the gun you choose has a barrel rib, the inexpensive snap-on fiber optic 3-dot rifle sights are quite visible in low light and work well.

Scopes, red dots, and other optical sights need to be mounted far enough forward to prevent injuring you during recoil. Stick with something with longer eye relief (at least 4 inches or more) and check stock fit before you shoot it the first time. Getting 'scoped' is not fun.
 
.480 SRH is great revolver! I’ve taken a truckload of gear with one over the years, and if you can handle top-end .44 Mag loads, the .480 shouldn’t be much of a stretch.
 
Listen closely, I'm going to teach you to walk.
1: Unless money is no object, you should slow your roll. At your stage, practice is EVERYTHING. Save your money for ammo. The 870 is a fine gun for an entry level piece. Contrary to popular opinion, I would get the 12 unless you are of especially small stature due to ammunition availability in various loadings. Other quality beginner options are made by Stoeger, Benelli (pump) and Mossberg. Get a field gun, not a specialty slug gun. Shoot the hell out of it at trap/skeet/sporting clays with 1 oz target loads. Go into this with no pride, seeking shooters who are willing to help a newbie. There will be plenty. Ignore anyone that blows you off. Once you feel you have some proficiency, hunt you some squirrels, rabbits, whatever birds you have access to. Build your general hunting/stalking/spotting skills. Moving and sitting quietly in the woods is an art, it takes time to develop. Your 870 will throw conventional "rifled" slugs decently through an open choked, bead sighted "bird" barrel to 50 yards or so. Stay with 2 3/4" slugs in the lighter weight. Shoot them with a slip on recoil pad. Recoil will be manageable. This should be your goal first year, harvest an antlerless deer within 50 yards. Consider a big buck strictly a target of opportunity. You can always upgrade to a proper slug gun as your proficiency and hunting opportunities allow.

2: Acquire a .22 rimfire rifle, (and handgun if funding permits). Brand, price point doesn't matter much, this is a tool to build basic proficiency. Shoot the hell out of them.

3: Handguns: Don't plan to hunt with them this year. Start with a full-sized .357 magnum. The Taurus M66 will suit this role, more expensive S&W models will do it with a little more flair and refinement. Your goal is to shoot mostly .38s and some .357s as you work up to them. Shoot the hell out of this. Save the big boomer for next year when you're ready.

4: If funding permits, a pellet rifle with an indoor shooting trap would be a good investment also. You can practice basic marksmanship indoors or backyard for pennies.

5: Work on finding a real flesh and blood mentor. We're happy to help on THR, but with an endeavor as complex as hunting, firearms, fieldcraft, there's only so much information to be had on the internet. This is a better forum for specific questions.

Hope this helps.
 
Last edited:
Update:
I Picked up a Savage Mark II 22. for practice and have been putting in work at the range. I ended up buying a Mossberg 500, which is on it's way to me now. I'm holding off on the buying the revolver until my NJ handgun permit comes through, but I've pretty much decided on going with a Taurus branded gun.

On another note, I also got a Quest Thrive compound bow last week, and today I passed both the Firearm and Bow hunting hunters education field day test.

I'm finally at the starting line. Thanks again, for all of the input folks.
 
1More said:
Update:
I Picked up a Savage Mark II 22. for practice and have been putting in work at the range. I ended up buying a Mossberg 500, which is on it's way to me now. I'm holding off on the buying the revolver until my NJ handgun permit comes through, but I've pretty much decided on going with a Taurus branded gun.

On another note, I also got a Quest Thrive compound bow last week, and today I passed both the Firearm and Bow hunting hunters education field day test.

I'm finally at the starting line. Thanks again, for all of the input folks.
Click to expand...
Congratulations. The Mossberg has controls that are more user friendly. I think you'll like it.
Taurus has come a long way in quality. A lot of the haters remember the old ones that truly were junk.
A bow takes a lot of practice to become proficient.
Congrats on passing Hunter's safety. Everyone should take that even if they don't hunt.
 
Random 8 said:
Listen closely, I'm going to teach you to walk.
1: Unless money is no object, you should slow your roll. At your stage, practice is EVERYTHING. Save your money for ammo. The 870 is a fine gun for an entry level piece. Contrary to popular opinion, I would get the 12 unless you are of especially small stature due to ammunition availability in various loadings. Other quality beginner options are made by Stoeger, Benelli (pump) and Mossberg. Get a field gun, not a specialty slug gun. Shoot the hell out of it at trap/skeet/sporting clays with 1 oz target loads. Go into this with no pride, seeking shooters who are willing to help a newbie. There will be plenty. Ignore anyone that blows you off. Once you feel you have some proficiency, hunt you some squirrels, rabbits, whatever birds you have access to. Build your general hunting/stalking/spotting skills. Moving and sitting quietly in the woods is an art, it takes time to develop. Your 870 will throw conventional "rifled" slugs decently through an open choked, bead sighted "bird" barrel to 50 yards or so. Stay with 2 3/4" slugs in the lighter weight. Shoot them with a slip on recoil pad. Recoil will be manageable. This should be your goal first year, harvest an antlerless deer within 50 yards. Consider a big buck strictly a target of opportunity. You can always upgrade to a proper slug gun as your proficiency and hunting opportunities allow.

2: Acquire a .22 rimfire rifle, (and handgun if funding permits). Brand, price point doesn't matter much, this is a tool to build basic proficiency. Shoot the hell out of them.

3: Handguns: Don't plan to hunt with them this year. Start with a full-sized .357 magnum. The Taurus M66 will suit this role, more expensive S&W models will do it with a little more flair and refinement. Your goal is to shoot mostly .38s and some .357s as you work up to them. Shoot the hell out of this. Save the big boomer for next year when you're ready.

4: If funding permits, a pellet rifle with an indoor shooting trap would be a good investment also. You can practice basic marksmanship indoors or backyard for pennies.

5: Work on finding a real flesh and blood mentor. We're happy to help on THR, but with an endeavor as complex as hunting, firearms, fieldcraft, there's only so much information to be had on the internet. This is a better forum for specific questions.

Hope this helps.
Click to expand...

I agree with this post. I have trained many youngsters to hunt and a certified instructor. There is little difference in recoil between a 20 and 12 and much better choice of ammo for a twelve. A 44 Mag is much harder to shoot than a .357 for a beginner. I also agree with the self training as well. I actually started my students with pellet pistols to learn control and sight alignment.
 
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