What rifle should I buy ?

[Pointshoot]

I want to get me a rifle. I don't know what I'll do with it . . except I'll definitely shoot it, probably. I have $500 to spend, but could go as high as $1000 if its a good deal. What should I buy ?

P.S. - and if you could tell me the kind of gal I should marry, that would be great too.


Note: Of course, the above is a spoof. It reminds me of a scene out of the movie "Joe Versus the Volcano". In that scene hapless Joe, (played by Tom Hanks), is shopping for new clothes and he asks another fellow what he should buy. The man answers that he has no idea. He doesn't know who Joe is, or what his needs are. He says its taken the man more than 60s years to figure out who he is and he doesn't have the time or inclination to do that impossible task for some stranger.

Getting back to rifles - IMO if someone wants helpful advice on what to buy, he needs to carefully sort out his own specific needs. That means to think about it first. What do you want to do with the rifle ? He then has to communicate those needs to the other forum members and tell us a little about himself (including his budget and his experience & skill level).

How many of us here have read posts almost as bad as the spoof which started this thread ? And how many threads end up making recommendations based on the assumption that a rifle will only be used to punch paper, because the OP never said what he wanted it for ?

I'd appreciate anyone's comments on this subject. Thank you.

 

[1948CJ2A]

I don't disagree with your point here but if someone legitimately interested asks an ambiguous question without providing the necessary details... that's on them not the replies.

Some folks new to shooting/hunting/firearms/etc may have no idea where to start researching on their own, so they post here in hopes of being prodded in the right direction.

I'm sure this varies by local too. Living in Texas, I can talk guns with my neighbors and co-workers and have intelligent conversations at that. If I were in a less gun friendly area, I imagine my conversations would be considerably more limited.

 

[Doc7]

Usually such a post is followed by helpful posters asking about the intended purposes.

 

[Frostbite]

Please be nice to new shooters

First, I agree with most of what OP said.

Second, as a not so new shooter (30 years total experience), rather new (3 years) to serious shooting, I would like to state the following:

1. There is an awful lot to learn about shooting and firearms.

2. This forum is a great place to learn about shooting and firearms because of its members. Many are very knowledgeable, most are truly enthusiastic.

3. New shooters have to be guided and educated. It is true with many activities, such as golf or fishing, but since firearms are primarily designed to kill and they do it very well, I believe education regarding them is of the utmost importance. The wrongful use of a firearm seems more dangerous to me then the wrongful use of a fishing rod.

4. One should not judge a question as being stupid or poorly formulated too fast. Judging someone else's question's validity based on one's own personal knowledge is biased in the first place. I remember a teacher who always told his students there is no stupid question. One might feel stupid when asking something and the answer either surprises or the surrounding people react negatively to the question, but I believe it is better to ask once and feel or look stupid once then never to ask and stay ignorant for a lifetime.

5. I do not know how the situation in the United States is regarding young people and shooting, but up here, it is disastrous. All I see when I go to the shooting range are grays and whites or balds. I am 36 years old and very often the youngest on the firing line, almost every time to be honest (and the older guys are usually very nice to me). If we want to maintain our rights and privileges, I believe it is a duty to educate the youth and the not so young anymore who want to start shooting.

So, I agree there are questions which could be more precise or better formulated, but I think we can ask for clarification as needed. I personally appreciate when I am guided in such a manner myself.

 

[ohbythebay]

Doc1...exactly

I used to get those kinds of questions on an audio board..."What kind of turntable should I buy"...

That led to questions of budget, desire for new or vintage, skill level of the poster...

Its a common internet theme "what kind of x should I buy"...followed by 17 posts of "buy xyz" and 3 or 4 posts trying to narrow it down for them..

Thankfully, boards like this one provide guidance...

 

[Tirod]

Like, What do you want to do with the gun? Is it for hunting, shooting targets, to have at home for self defense, or something to brag on and show your buddies?

A lot of guns owned by those under 25 fall into the last category. The amount of disposable income and variety of things being enjoyed in life tend to take up a lot of the budget that could go for ammo and weekly trips to a range. And the opposite sex intrudes a lot, too. Spend money on them, no new red dot.

Criminy, that's still happening 40 years later, sheesh . . .

Anyway, we get it, so we post a barrage of questions, some more pointed than others, but basically asking what the heck are you going to shoot, and be specific? And don't make us wait too long for an answer. Quit texting selfies to her and get back with us.

Well, that shading of attitude toward a newb tends to put them off and we don't see any response for a week, while an internet flame war erupts in the thread over caliber, action, intent, carry, or whatever the internet commando in charge of groupthink that day considers important.

It's always an interesting thread. Why change things?

 

[Pointshoot]

Thank you everyone for your thoughtful replies.

You can tell from the comments that you're guys who are willing to help out a new shooter (or someone new to a particular topic). That's great for the health of the shooting sports and for the 2A

In my own case, things get pretty busy at times. If someone asks more specific questions about what they need - and I know enough to offer helpful information - I'm more likely to reply than if their needs seem vague. Of course, some folks like to 'think out loud'. I have a brother like that. He may not know exactly what he wants until he goes through the process of talking it through. That's easier/quicker talking in person than using text, though.

There's a flashlight forum that I sometimes visit and they have a section called "Recommend me a light . . . " They have an actual form that you can fill out covering all the specifics of why you need it, how & where you'll use it, budget, etc. This allows people to get right to their various specific recommendations. People have commented that filling out the form helped them to consider what their needs actually were first.

Thanks again

 

[bscott29]

Get a pistol caliber lever gun. Cheap to shoot, fun to shoot, great for home defense and short range critters.
Next on the list would be a smith and Wesson M&P sport. $600 and good for all of the above.

 

[bscott29]

Guess I didn't read closely enough.

 

[js8588]

All of them.