Rifle or Shotgun as a first long gun?

Rifle or Shotgun?

  • Rifle

    Votes: 61 62.2%

  • Shotgun

    Votes: 37 37.8%
  • Total voters
    98
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E

Evil Monkey

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After browsing around some gun shops, I started thinking about getting my first long gun. But I don't know what to get? A rifle or a shotgun?

A shotgun would be nice, especially the ones I've seen at Midwest Ordnance. They have pistol grips, M4 butt stocks, heat shields, etc. All mossbergs and affordable! They're going for $250-400. The problem is that shotshells seem to be expensive in comparison to pistol and rifle cartridges. If I find a range, I'm going to spend alot of time there so I need cheap ammo!:D

A rifle would be nice because ammo would be alot cheaper, 223, 7.62, 308, etc. Century Arms rifles are affordable for me. WASR 7.62 are going for $300-$400, FAL is going for around $500 at Dunhams, same with CETME rifles. A rifle might not have powerful recoil compared to a shotgun? So it's easier to shoot?

What do you guys think?
 
Personally, I say shotgun. They can function fine in a multitude of roles (be it clay shooting, hunting, and it makes for a nice hallway sweeper in HD roles) and can be used to hunt nearly any common game... and I doubt you'll be going bird hunting with a rifle any time soon ;)

My first firearm was a shotgun, so it's not like this is biased or anything :neener:
 
Get an AK,preferably chambered in .223,that way you won't have any ammo supply problems.You'll never look back,it's an addiction...:D
 
Yes, rifles are EXTREMELY addicting, but I was pointing things out in practical terms (not that a rifle isn't practical by any means -- it is indeed an extremely useful tool)

Rifles tend to be more of a money pit that shotguns from my experience :neener:
 
It's no good asking this question until you've decided the reason why you want a long gun at all. If it's for defensive use, there are certain parameters; if for hunting, others; if for fun and games and plinking, still others. You have to decide why you want a long gun at all before you can start asking about rifle or shotgun.

My standard advice to every shooter is to start with a .22 rifle to learn about marksmanship and gun-handling. If you want to start with a shotgun, the classic all-time favorite is to go with a Remington 870 pump gun (with the Mossberg 500 a very good second choice) and learn the basics that way.
 
Why I want a long gun? For fun! Going to the range is alot of fun, I hear. I also intend to collect military style firearms only. I like the history behind them.

I thought about a 22lr but decided not to go that route because if I'm going to spend money, I'm going to spend it on something I really like and will dedicate alot of time for. But I understand not to go overboard, like starting out with a 50BMG.:what: :D
 
Evil Monkey (love the moniker),
Don't completely discard the notion of a .22 lr. As I get older I find I always bring a .22 with me when I go plinking and I enjoy the simplicity and accuracy they have. A quality .22 rifle will last you (and your kids) forever and is a great teaching tool for bringing others into the sport. 'Sides that, they're cheap to feed.

Shotgun as a choice. If you're in a position to shoot a lot of clay pigeons for practice and you have some land upon which to hunt feathers and fur... sure. A good 12 or 20 ga. is a lot of fun.

If punching small holes and hopefully, small groups on paper is your desire, then a rifle it be.

I'd always opt for a rifle as a first long gun, teaching marksmanship skills (probably because that's how I was taught) followed by a shotgun, which has a different skill type (pointing and follow through as opposed to steady aimed shot placement).

Just depends on what you think you'll be doing the most. If you're going to couple it for home defense, I'd vote shottie.
 
I'd go get the shotgun first.
A mossberg/Remington (590/870) or something similar if you're into military arms.
You can use it for HD, clays, normal range stuff.. A shotgun is just so versatile. Besides, ammo is cheap.

Warning! Clays are highly addictive :D
 
I'd recommend a shotgun or a .22LR for plinking. I'd also forget the tactical folding stocks and heat shields if you do go with a shotgun, they add nothing to gun handling. A shotgun needs to fit right and I've yet to see a folding stock that allows for a good consistent cheek weld.
 
Why I want a long gun? For fun! Going to the range is alot of fun, I hear. I also intend to collect military style firearms only. I like the history behind them.

I thought about a 22lr but decided not to go that route because if I'm going to spend money, I'm going to spend it on something I really like and will dedicate alot of time for.
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Unless you're shooting clays with a shotgun, a rifle is going to be more fun at the range. I'm going to go against your wishes and strongly advise that you go down to wal-mart and get a Marlin Model 60 22 rifle. It will only cost about a hundred bucks, and if you don't like it you can always sell it for $70 later, so treat it as a $30 investment in learning rifles. Take that Marlin 60 and shoot the crap out of it for a few weeks; 22 ammo is dirt cheap so it won't cost much at all to do this. After that you'll have a better idea of what you want in a rifle, and probably wanna keep that little Marlin. Now we also know you want - historical military rifles. If you want history avoid the Century FALs and Cetmes. The AKs available now are also new production made for export, so not historical either. Good historical rifles would be the currently avaiable Yugo SKS cold war survivors. After that the Russian and Finnish Mosin Nagants, Mausers from any country, Enfields, and Swiss K-31s; all are actual military rifles with their own interesting histories. Take a look at www.samcoglobal.com, www.classicarms.us, www.interordnance.com, www.aimsurplus.com, and www.southernohiogun.com for some ideas on real military rifles.
 
As others have said, start with a 22. They don't cost much, and are a lot more fun than you think. Plus, later you can use it to introduce people new to shooting.
 
There are way too many options available for anyone to answer this question for you. It's purely a matter of personal preference based on what your interests are.

If shooting at moving targets is your interest, then an autoloading or pump shotgun is the way to go. Find the nearest skeet, trap, or sporting clays facility in your area and give it a try to see if you like it. I must warn you that shooting at clay targets is highly addictive.

If shooting at stationary targets is your pref, then you should look at an AK, AR15, SU16 or Mini-14. All are good guns that shoot reasonably cheap ammo.

If heavy recoil is your pref, then there's the whole world of mil-surps -- Garands, Springfields, Mausers, Mosin-Nagants, Enfields, etc.

Sub-guns can also be a lot of fun. Several companies make 9mm sub carbines that are a lot of fun out to about 50yds.
 
I agree that a .22lr is the best way to start. I would look at a Ruger 10/22. Once you develop proper shooting technique you can move up to larger calibers or further customize your 10/22 into a fun plinker. I know you said you wanted more "umph" for your money but .22s can be increadably fun to shoot. I have a Feather AT22 that I still find very fun and rewarding. I also have a .22cal 1911 that goes great with my .45acp 1911s. Just look into all the things you can do to a Ruger 10/22 (MG42 kit, gatlin gun kit, etc.) and you might find it worth the investment


As for the rifles you listed. Here is some advice STAY AWAY FROM CENTURY ARMS. The stuff they make in-house is substandard at best. It is a coin flip as to whether anything you buy from them will fuction correctly. This includes their Aks, ARs, FALs and Cetmes. Trust me, I just built an Imbel FAL kit on a DSA receiver and it ran well over $1500. Any FAL you buy for $500 I would wager is going to be a Century made FAL and is going to be utterly unreliable. As for Cetmes and AKs, $350 isn't a bad deal just make sure they aren't assembled by Century.
 
Get a 22 rifle as your first rifle. The choices are many. My favorite that approaches being cost effective is a older Remington 541S, a top quality bolt action 22 sporter. Almost everyone picks up a Ruger 10/22 at some point; I did. Have others as well that I like better, but the Rugers are fun to shoot, especially to plink with. Levers--Marlin 39A is excellent. Browning BL22 are excellent.

Get a shotgun second. Go with something that fits your life style.... hunting get a 20 ga or 12 ga pump or auto. Personal protection, get a 12 ga pump police model. Trap or Skeet, get an over and under.
 
I think if you already have a pistol that a shotgun would be a better choice. At least at the shooting range you can do another form or shooting as in shooting clays. With a rifle it will just be like shooting a pistol except you get to sit down lol.

Now if this is a hunting question then that all depends on what you are shooting.
 
Why buy one when you can have two?:evil: A new Mossberg 500 with a 28" VR barrel will be about $150-275 depending on if you buy new or used. A Marlin Model 60 goes for about $50 used to about $100-150 new.

So for anywhere around $200-425 you could have two very fun guns to work on the fudamentals of shotguns and marksmanship.

My first gun was a Mossberg 500 w/ a 28" vent rib barrel. Later bought a 20" rifle sighted barrel with the 8-shot magazine, now I can hunt, shoot clays or convert it over to a home defense gun. The first rifle I bought was a Marlin 60. It can help you learn, and its fun, easy, light, and very cheap to shoot.

Now just getting one, go shotgun too much versatility to pass up.
 
------quote-------
I thought about a 22lr but decided not to go that route because if I'm going to spend money, I'm going to spend it on something I really like and will dedicate alot of time for.
-------------------

Spoken like a true "never spent much time shooting a .22" guy.

I am a firm believer that no matter what else you shoot, you should spend 75% of your range time shooting .22's. Handguns or long guns, they help develop good habits and they tend to set your standards for accuracy very high. The more I shoot .22's, the better I shoot.

I went a long time as a shooter before I learned these lessons. I'm a lot better marksman since I put my ego and addiction to big booms aside and started spending time with .22's.

If you're interested in military firearms, many armies throughout the years have used .22's as trainers. You can get some very nice surplus bolt-action .22's for very reasonable prices. (Try empirearms.com for starters).
 
Maybe a 22lr won't be so bad? The part about 22's being used in the military as a training caliber got me.

Not so long ago I saw a used ruger 10/22 at a gun shop for $150. It looked like it was in good shape but I really didn't fully inspect it. You think I should go for it?

If I do, you know I got to get some 30rd magazines!:evil:



BTW, a little of topic but, are shotguns are allowed in rifle ranges? Or just at trap, skeet, etc. ranges?
 
I vote for the rifle, practice and get good with it and you will become a surgeon with a shotgun.
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I disagree. Rifles and shotguns look far more alike than they are. In fact, the habits developed with one are absolutely, completely wrong when shooting the other. Except for the safety habits, of course.

Sighted differently, handled differently, shooting totally different ammo at totaly different targets. Not that one or the other is better. They're just very, very different.

--Shannon
 
Learning how to point and shoot on your feet is a far cry from learning how to shoot from a bench, and a shotgun is more multi-purpose than a 22LR. I vote shotgun first, and a cheap bolt 22LR second.

In fact, the habits developed with one are absolutely, completely wrong when shooting the other.
Click to expand...
I dunno. Being good at still hunting in the brush with a rifle owes an awful lot of debt to the skills learned with the scattergun.
 
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