I already wrote a series about handguns covering revolvers, semi-automatics, and some oddball options outside the usual form factor. With this post, I plan to take a similarly cursory look at long guns.
General recommendations
Take a training course, whether you plan to get a license or not. If at all possible, try many firearms before buying one. Many ranges rent guns.
Choose common calibers. For example, .357 Magnum is worth a look. .357 SIG: probably not.
Buy a quality firearm from a reputable manufacturer. You'll get a better firearm from the start. Future maintenance will be easier, and parts will be far easier to obtain.
Budget for expenses beyond firearm and ammunition. You will need spare magazines or speed loaders, for example. Pistols also benefit from a quality belt and holster, or perhaps even multiple holsters for different carry situations. Rifles similarly require slings, and you may want a scope or red dot sight. Cases are usually legally required for transporting a firearm. You need a cleaning kit, too.
Why choose a long gun?
The advantages of the previously-discussed handguns include compact size and light weight. However, most pistol rounds are relatively low power compared to most rifle rounds. Long guns are also easier to use well than pistols. A shouldered rifle is a more stable platform for both aiming and handling recoil.
It should be noted that many pistol-caliber carbines (PCCs) can pair with a related semi-automatic pistol to share magazines. A PCC offers better bullet velocity and practical accuracy than a handgun while offering relatively low recoil, so it can be a viable middle ground. In comparison to revolvers, the absence of a cylinder gap also increases power.
Full-power rifle rounds offer better accuracy at long range due to bullet shape and much higher velocity contributing to much longer practical range. Recoil is higher in turn, but the effective range of some rifles exceeds a mile. @galenkp occasionally writes about the art of precision shooting at extreme ranges.
Shotguns offer inexpensive versatility. Various pellet sizes and cartridge loads offer unmatched choice, and slugs effectively turn a shotgun into a better version of the old rifled musket. I don't buy the deterrent effect of racking a pump-action shotgun for intimidation, but who knows?
Shot also punches through walls a lot more than people think, and the pattern spreads far less than you might expect from media. You do have to aim! Ammunition is bulky and heavy But even with these considerations and drawbacks, a shotgun might be a good option for you. It's my first choice for home defense, and besides, shooting skeet and trap is a fun way to practice for hunting.
Caliber selection
Rifle are available in a bewildering variety of calibers. A wide array are popular among hunters. AR and AK rifles usually use the same rounds as their select-fire military counterparts. More powerful hunting calibers are usually found in more traditional hunting rifle platforms. Some are derived from former military calibers, and others have been developed over the years for long-range shooting or specific game.
Shotguns are described in gauge rather than caliber, except for the .410 cartridge. It's an old system. 20 gauge means one pound of lead can make 20 spherical balls the diameter of the muzzle, while 12 gauge means only 12 such balls may be cast from the same quantity of lead. Smaller numbers mean bigger bore. In the US, 12 gauge is most popular, with 20 gauge in 2nd place.
The .22 Long Rifle
In honor of today's date, October 22nd, or 10/22 by American convention, I would like to begin rifle discussion with a mention of the .22 Long Rifle (or .22 LR) cartridge, a brief overview of the rifles chambering it, and in particular give a nod to the Sturm, Ruger & Co. 10/22.
.22 LR is one of the oldest rounds still in production, and is widely used around the world. Rifles chambering this venerable cartridge include versions of every action type in common use, from break-action single-shots to magazine-fed semi-automatics like the Ruger. In between, you have pump and lever action repeaters for cowboy-style shooting and bolt-action precision rifles capable of remarkable accuracy.
The Ruger 10/22 is a simple blowback system relying on spring pressure and bolt weight to control the recoil-operated mechanism. Since the .22LR is such a low-power round, there is no real need for a mechanical lockup like the rotating bolt found in an AR15. It is also highly customizable. It is even possible to build a complete rifle without a single Ruger component.
Many semi-auto .22 rifles use either a tube magazine beneath the barrel or a detachable box magazine under the receiver, but the standard Ruger 10-round magazine actually contains a small drum with a follower that rotates around a central axis. Ruger, Uncle Mike's, and other companies also make various magazines with higher capacities if more ammunition is desired.
I strongly believe that everyone interested in shooting should own a .22 LR of one kind or another. It is an excellent tool to train good marksmanship, hunt small game, and in an emergency, take a deer with a well-placed shot. I wouldn't recommend it as a combat option, no matter how neat a tricked-out tacti-cool 10/22 or AR conversion might look, but any gun is better than no gun in a pinch.
Conclusion
I plan to cover pistol-caliber carbines, modern sporting rifles, traditional hunting rifles, and shotguns in future installments in this series. For now, what is your favorite .22 rifle you have ever owned or fired? Comment below!
I would also like to acknowledge the recent news of Alec Baldwin's actions on a film set resulting in one death and another injured victim. Please take a look at my very first post on Steemit HIVE for an overview of firearm safety rules. If you intend to own a firearm, you need to follow those rules at all times.