New here!

[thirty-ought-six]

I'm 22 and had had a light experience with firearms since I was 16, when I received a NEF Pardner Single Shot 20ga.

My interest in the "wild west", has kind of rekindled my interest in guns again.

I just picked up a Gamo Hornet .177 air rifle, which really isn't a "firearm", but since I can get pellets for half a cent each, it makes for very good target practice, for which I mounted a red-dot sight, and have spent the past several afternoons zeroing it in.

My goals for this year...

1. Pick up a decent small cal handgun for plinking/self defense/target practice.

2. Maybe pick up a 12ga shotgun, I'd love to get a hold of a 870 express.

 

[ford8nr]

Welcome. Lurk around on the threads, LOTS of good info.

 

[ontarget]

Welcome aboard, its always great to see another young person interested in firearms.
You should be able to find the answer to any questions you have here. This is a great group of folks and always share good advice.
My son who is 24 also started out with a Pardner 20 ga. and now has his own gun safe full of various specimens. (most better than mine).
Just remember above all else, Safety First. you can't put the bullet back in the barrel.

 

[gbran]

Welcome and glad to have you.

 

[WestKentucky]

Welcome, and read up on the 870 express before buying...new ones have had issues, old ones are great plus you can buy them cheaper. I also shoot a pellet gun a lot. It does help with practice of aiming but it also minimizes flinch.

 

[cat_IT_guy]

Welcome. Lots of good info - and occasionally entertainment - on THR.

Sounds like you are off to a good start. airguns are great for practice, especially if you can shoot in your backyard, basement, etc (the point being somewhere very convenient). I spent lots of time in high school doing the same thing, now I'd have to go as far to shoot air rifle as I do to shoot powder burners, so my air rifle doesnt see much daylight.

Shotguns are extremely versatile as you are probably aware - big game, small game, target games, blasting, etc, can be handled by one gun. Regarding your pistol choice, sounds like you will have to choose how important personal defense (and having a "defensive caliber" is to you). .22lr pistols are great for learning fundamentals, marksmanship, and general target shooting and plinking but generally are considered to be on the very light side for defensive uses (dont confuse that with me wanting to be shot with one - sure beats throwing stones). If you like the .22 idea, the Browning buckmark and Ruger Mark pistols are tough to beat.

Good luck and prepare yourself - ours is not a cheap hobby, and most of us dont stop at just a couple guns.

 

[HammsBeer]

Welcome! Lots of good knowledgeable folks here.

Pellet guns are not a firearm per-se, but are great practice for target shooting and trigger control.

As far as guns and calibers, remember that if you are serious about shooting alot, then the cost of ammo will far exceed the cost of the gun. Choose common calibers for your first guns. For pistols, 9mm is the cheapest. For rifles, 5.56 is very common. Used 870's are very common.

 

[bannockburn]

thirty-ought-six

Great way to start of the new year! Welcome aboard!

 

[Palehorseman]

Air guns

Air guns are fun to learn how to shoot. To me they are the ultimate survival tool, they will take from sparrows to rabbits and squirrels. When survival is paramount, gophers and small birds may not sound like much, but all are edible and will suffice to keep one going.

 

[Tinpig]

Welcome to THR, thirty-ought-six!

I was 16, when I received a NEF Pardner Single Shot 20ga.

I gave the same shotgun to each of my sons as their first firearm. A great way to start.
Good luck with your gun goals for 2015, you'll get very good advice here.

Tinpig

 

[fanchisimo]

Welcome.

You can pick up used shotguns for pretty cheap or new ones for ~$300 or so, less if they are on sale. You missed the some great deals during the holidays, but it's still a buyers market for firearms right now.

Check out www.armslist.com and you can find a lot of people selling their firearms.

I don't know if by small caliber you mean 22lr territory or 9mm, but you can get police trade-ins in the $300+ range. Most are Glocks, but there are M&P's starting to come in. Also 40 is the most common but as some Police departments are going to 9mm, they will become more common. I've found www.cdnnsports.com to have a great selection of police trade-ins.

Whatever you decide, welcome to being a fun nut.