What to get, what to get. (first allround firearm?)

F

Fonly

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Sep 24, 2006
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well guys, my PAL is going to be going through soon, and for Xmas the women would like to know what I want to get as a first gun.

Now, let me start off, Im a sucker for tactical, and rustic looking guns. Ive been looking at a 870, with a desert digi camo finish, very nice lookin. Holds a 3" shell, comes with a pistol grip version, but thats a little too tactical, im gonna pick up some pictanny mounts for my fenix lights(definetly going to get more)

I've kinda got my mind set on a 12G, 2 3/4, 3" shell size. Gonna be for rabbit and various small game.
what would you guys think would make a nice allrounder?

BTW, Ive got all the training and understand canadian laws fully, and have many, many hours of firearm training.
 
A Ruger 10/22 (or equivalent) is a great first rifle - inexpensive, fun (&cheap) to shoot, excellent for practicing marksmanship, and capable of taking small game. I don't think any gun collection is complete w/o a good .22 rifle. I've had my 10/22 for over 20 years - still going strong.

After that, what is your primary interest? hunting, self-defense, target shooting/plinking? I'd spend the money on something that's going to get used.
 
Flotsam said:
A Ruger 10/22 (or equivalent) is a great first rifle - inexpensive, fun (&cheap) to shoot, excellent for practicing marksmanship, and capable of taking small game. I don't think any gun collection is complete w/o a good .22 rifle. I've had my 10/22 for over 20 years - still going strong.

After that, what is your primary interest? hunting, self-defense, target shooting/plinking? I'd spend the money on something that's going to get used.
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Well, I have an old lake field (73? i believe) .22 cal coming to me, but this one would also be for hunting. Small game is primary, but I want something that functions nice, and looks nice. but I dont want gimmicky you know?
 
The 10/22 can be had in many flavors - most are pleasing to the eye. It can also be tuned (tons of aftermarket parts for the 10/22). Mine has functioned flawlessly for the past 20 years, w/ thousands of rounds down range.

here's a link to the various 10/22 rifles

For heavier calibers, Savage makes some nice rifles at a reasonable price.
 
Get a good Rem. 870 shotgun and It will do anything you want, from home defense to rabbits and birds. Or you can go with a good 22 such as a Ruger. There are lots of accecories for the ruger 10/22
 
For me, shotguns begin and end with the 870. Well, I guess I can see owning a coach gun because they are pretty cool. But there are plenty of great 870 configurations from the 1960's 28" goose gun my dad still shoots to the tactical jobbie I have.

Actually the plain-jane matte black extended-mag tupperware stocked 870 is one of my favourite guns. Light, pretty flat and never fails me.





I know you're looking for a shotgun but I would feel remiss if I didn't say this: buy yourself a $400 Norinco M14. Now that's a hard-hitting, tough-as-nails mag fed semi auto for as cheap as you'll ever see it. Have a look at what the Americans pay for the old Nork and Polytech M14s, which weren't as good, and then go buy one! I have a bunch and man, every Canadian should own one (minimum.) I bought my dad one a while ago just because I couldn't stand him not having one!
 
misanthropist said:
I know you're looking for a shotgun but I would feel remiss if I didn't say this: buy yourself a $400 Norinco M14. Now that's a hard-hitting, tough-as-nails mag fed semi auto for as cheap as you'll ever see it. Have a look at what the Americans pay for the old Nork and Polytech M14s, which weren't as good, and then go buy one! I have a bunch and man, every Canadian should own one (minimum.) I bought my dad one a while ago just because I couldn't stand him not having one!
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mhm, they have a 5 shot clip right?
Did you have any troubles having it in canada, I realize their pretty dosile looking, but are the restricted?
 
Mags are pinned to five rounds (sadly) but the guns are nonrestricted in Canada (and totally verboten in the US, which is why they are available so cheaply in Canada.)

I live in Canada now, I think I have six or seven in my bedroom but I would have to check to make sure! I know there is not less than five but one could be in the truck.

Anyway that is exactly why I recommend them to Canadians - take advantage of the one big break we get and buy a Nork M14!

Or if you have deeper pockets, the other big break is the Sig 556s etc - nigh on impossible to get in the US, readily available in Canada (and non-restricted in some cases.)

The only reason I would ever advise any Canadian against a Nork 14 is this: if you have more money than I do, and don't mind buying guns for $2-3000, you could buy a Tavor or Robarms XCR and get a non-restricted .223 with a ten round mag limit. Which is also handy.

But I can't bring myself to pay that kind of money for a gun, so I stick to my M14s. I figure 5 .308s is probably worth 10 .223s anyway. (or so I convince myself.)

There is also the fact that mags that are kept disassembled are actually just magazine PARTS, and so if you have issues with zombies etc, you can buy tons of mags and disassemble them, remove the stops and ensure that in the event of social collapse you have a pile of 20-rounders handy.

Also that would work for an Invasion of the Body Snatchers scenario, so more than just zombies, if you were wondering.
 
misanthropist said:
There is also the fact that mags that are kept disassembled are actually just magazine PARTS, and so if you have issues with zombies etc, you can buy tons of mags and disassemble them, remove the stops and ensure that in the event of social collapse you have a pile of 20-rounders handy.

Also that would work for an Invasion of the Body Snatchers scenario, so more than just zombies, if you were wondering.
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very nice, haha.

And in all seriousness, I do want to collect somthing that IF someday I needed to protect my family I could, I dont want something useless.

The Norc's sound promising though, thanks.
 
Fonly said:
well guys, my PAL is going to be going through soon, and for Xmas the women would like to know what I want to get as a first gun.

Now, let me start off, Im a sucker for tactical, and rustic looking guns. Ive been looking at a 870, with a desert digi camo finish, very nice lookin. Holds a 3" shell, comes with a pistol grip version, but thats a little too tactical, im gonna pick up some pictanny mounts for my fenix lights(definetly going to get more)

I've kinda got my mind set on a 12G, 2 3/4, 3" shell size. Gonna be for rabbit and various small game.
what would you guys think would make a nice allrounder?

BTW, Ive got all the training and understand canadian laws fully, and have many, many hours of firearm training.
Click to expand...


You already have a 22 rifle coming so I won't bother with a 22 suggestion.

So,12 ga, tactical in appearance but not over the top...to me that screams 870 Police model with a 20" barrel. The great thing about the 870 is that you can add a longer barrel for ducks and geese. The 20" barrel is perfect for small game and with a slug or buck shot you have your deer and moose gun.

It's a better all-rounder than any other gun I can think of and I think it would make the perfect first gun!
 
I have a 10/22, and I'd like to get an 870 or similar for all around versatility. On the other hand, I'd love a "rabbit ear" coach gun!
 
If you want a shotgun, the 870 Rem is hard to beat. I have a Browning BPS with a 24 inch Field barrel with interchangeable choke tubes. It handles everything well. As would the 870.
 
I a remingotn spartan coachgun.. THat things awesome it's small has interchangable chokes and it just plain cool but if I had to do it over I'd go 870 or maybe the mossberg 500... Sorry to sound stupid but out of curiosity what's a PAL?
 
The 870 is an excellent choice, as is a shotgun if you are limited to just one gun. You can load slugs if you are in bear country, and take both large and small game...at close range.

I have an 870 which I will at some point send to Wilson Combat to get customized, a couple Benelli M4's (which I absolutely love!), and a Mosberg 590. Out in the woods, I will take the 870 over any of the others. When we head for bear country, it's the gun I always grab.....
 
For sporting use, I love the Browning. I really like the bottom ejection like the old Ithaca shotguns. For some tactical or tactical looking, I prefer the Remington 870 shotgun.

Everyone who considers themselves a shooter or outdoorsman, needs at least one 22 rifle. You have something coming, but I don't know what it is. I'd skip the military firearms until you get the others.

Get a shotgun and the 22 rifle and go from there. You're on the right track as far as firearm selection as far as I'm concerned.
 
With all the things you are wanting a singular gun to do (IE different types of game), you are on the right track with the 870. As a firearms and instructor and armorer, here is why I think so:

1. It will feed just about any shell you feed it.
2. They are highly modifiable, much like the AR-15 platform, and both aftermarket and OEM parts are easily obtainable.
3. It is easy to field strip and clean.
4. The design is very durable, reliable and safe.
5. You can find a load that will take just about any North American game you can think of. Though modern 870's are far more accurate with rifled slugs in their smooth bores than older versions, but you can pick up a rifled barrel with rifle sights pretty cheaply should you want to improve slug accuracy even more.
6. They easily double as personal protection with a simple, quick tactical reload from a scabbard.
 
My 870 12 gauge has a 30 full choke barrell. Its a poor rabbit gun. Blows bunnies to pieces. I have to let them get 30 to 40 yards out before firing. Good duck and turkey gun though. I would suggest a different barrel for you.
 
an 870 with interchangeable chokes would be a great first gun. The chokes concentrate or spread the shotgun pellets allowing you to modify the effective shooting distance of the gun. A full choke will give you 40 yards or so effective range by holding the pattern together longer. Conversely, a Cylinder choke (like on a police model) gives you much shorter range, but spreads the pellets as to help guarantee a hit in close quarters (at the expense of distance). There are chokes in between the two extremes I described, and even super-full chokes available (usually for geese, etc...).

Sorry to post all this if you already knew about it, but it is important information for your consideration. The 870 express comes with interchangeable chokes.
 
I think the 870 is a great shotgun and everyone should own one. Having said that, I'd never use a 12ga for 'small game'. Maybe your definition of small game is different than mine but to me a 12ga is way too much gun for rabbits and squirrel. I think a .22 is plenty for those, but if I was going to use a shotgun it wouldn't be larger than a 20ga and most likely a .410. That's just my 2¢.
 
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