First rifle recommendation

Question
Hi Bob,

I'm a current non-shooter who's thinking about starting to target shoot and hunt small game. I figure a .22 is a good first rifle, which leads me to two questions:

First, is a .22 appropriate for hunting small deer? Or is the round so small that it wouldn't be at all humane?

Second, what rifle would you recommend? I'm inclined to buy a good quality used rifle.

Thanks for your time!

H.

Answer
Hi Hillard.

The .22 LR is an ideal caliber for learning and practicing basic marksmanship skills.  The ammunition is cheap, easy to find, low noise, and little or no recoil.  Unfortunately it is only appropriate for hunting very small game such as squirrels, rabbits, groundhogs, etc. and even then you have to take care to get the right load and hunt only at appropriate distances (usually well under 100 yards for most .22 LR rounds in my opinion).

Most experienced hunters recommend a 30/30 or stronger caliber for hunting deer and other larger game.  Personally I prefer the .270 Winchester or .30-06 cartridges for deer but it all depends on your rifle, the distance and terrain, weather conditions, skill level, etc. so there is no best or correct answer to this question.

You can get a brand new .22 LR rifle for $100-$150 at Walmart or other similar gun stores.  Buy one and take a few classes including basic rifle marksmanship and hunter safety.  Then find a local range and shoot it often until your skills are very sharp.  At this point you can buy a used .30/30 or .270 rifle for around $150-$200 or a new one for $250-$400 depending on the brand and condition.  Practice with low-velocity target loads initially and then work up to the heavier loads which you will use for hunting.  If you join a gun club you might be able to rent or borrow a rifle from another member which is ideal since you can try before you buy.  Stop in to a local gun store and they can give you lots of info about local classes, ranges, clubs, caliber selection, proper cartridges, etc.

Good luck in your research and initial training!

Bob