Single farm gun recommendations

[Dan Hunter]

Just bought the daughter a Marlin XS7 in 308 as a gift in remembrance of our Savior. Honestly, I haven't put a single round down it but it looks like a serious ranch rifle...no sights to ding (I've done that with sights more than scopes), and no money wasted on frills - just a stainless barrel and a synthetic stock.
She'll never find a way to destroy it (unlike the phones and cars she's gone through).

 

[sweettractors]

I am pondering doing my safety certification for non restricted and restricted firearms so that I can have a gun around the farm. I have not felt the absolute need for one but think it might be worthwhile to have around for a few reasons:

- Emergency euthanasia of an animal if the vet cannot get here in time. I have a hobby herd (13 animals) of Galloway cattle. I'd never want to see one of my animals suffering if their time was up.

- A sense of security against an intruder - don't believe this is particularly necessary but when you are living in a rural area it might be helpful.

- While I don't plan to shoot pests (don't like killing things except for food), a situation might arise when I need to do that if something threats my livestock or family.

- I've pondered taking up skeet / clay pigeon shooting as a hobby and trying out hunting fowl or deer. We have a lot of wild turkeys around here. Might be a fun family hobby thing to do with my boys as they get older.

Long arms in Canada are considered non restricted firearms. Handguns are restricted. Both can be owned provided you take the courses and get a license. Handguns can basically only be transported from your home to a gun club for shooting practice (and a carrying permit to transport them unloaded is required). In the house I believe both have to be stored separate from the ammo.

My first instinct was that a 0.22 caliber rifle might be a good option for many things. However I would need something higher caliber to safely euthanize a cow or bull and I didn't think it would be useful for hunting if I decided to take it up. The other option I thought about was a 12 gauge shotgun. I believe different barrel lengths and chokes can be interchanged for different things. It could be stored in the house setup for a defensive type of use - buckshot / slugs? and could be adapted to whatever other thing was being considered.

I have no idea if a shotgun is something that I would want to use to euthanize an animal but I think I read somewhere that emergency euthanization of cattle can be done with buckshot to the forehead. I imagine the same shotgun could be used for skeet/clay-pigeon along with fowl hunting and perhaps deer hunting?

I don't know much about this stuff and I intend to go about this the right way by taking the appropriate courses, finding a gun club / range to get instruction. Thought I'd start by getting your input.

A over & under (rifle/shotgun) could be a possibility. I had a .22 x .410 when I first started farming and I carried it in my pickup. Came in handy lots of times. Ken Sweet

 

[WilliamBos]

A 300 Winchester Magnum.

 

[EddieWalker]

I have quite a few firearms, I spent some time in the Marine Corps and I've hunted over a good part of the US and several other countries. Having said that, I'm not into guns and don't care for shooting. I'm very good with a rifle, but it's not what I do for fun.

The weapon that I use more then any other is my 30-06 deer rifle. I won't recomend that to you because one caliber is just about as good as another. There are those who get into it and will disagree, but dead is dead, and there are several dozen calibers to chose from that will kill out to 300 yards fairly easily.

I also have several shotguns and consider my 870 utterly reliable. It is also my cheapest shotgun, and the one I take out into the mud and will use as support in the really nasty marsh. No matter what I do to it, or how cold it gets, it will always work.

Around the house I have a Ruger Super Six revolver in 357 mag. I have autos as well, but the 357 is the one I use for racoons, possums and skunks. Up close, it's deadly accurate and kills them quickly. I shoot several dozen animals a year with that pistol, and find it to be a very cood caliber for what I want it to do.

Personal protection is another one of those arguments that doesn't have an answer. Lots of bullets are nice, but studies have proven that the more bullets you have, the more times you will miss. The Germans of WWII had it figured out with their bolt action rifles. One shot at a time and make it count.

Before buying anything, you really need to do some shooting to see what you like and what you can get ammo for. Some ammo is extremely expensive. Since you are in Canada, I'm sure you know that most everyone has a .303 They are very common and very affordable. Its also a crappy round, but for what you want, it's probably a good choice. Definately one to take a look at and give a try.

Be careful of recomendations from others. The all mean well, but tend to recomend what they have and why you should do what they have. Go to the store that sells the guns, look at the ammo that is available and ask about a shooting club or rifle range that you can go to. Take notes, and narrow it down based to what you like after trying different things. I mentioned that I'm very good with a rifle, I'm alright with a pistol and fair with a shotgun. Everyone is going to be better and more comfortable with one type of weapon over another.

Eddie

 

[mcd176]

I agree with many on here that a 12ga shotgun is the most versatile weapon on the earth.

 

[RobertN]

This was discussed ad-nauseum in another thread over the last couple weeks.

IMHO, FWIW, in my experienced opinion...

You can maintain a ranch and hunt anything in the North American continent with a 12g shotgun.
- Birdshot for, well birds... And other small animals(ie squirrel ect). Varmints, snakes, something in the henhouse...
- Large shot ie #2 or BB for turkey, duck, goose ect
- Buckshot for most any larger animal
- slugs for anything up to moose, bear

12g has a myriad of various loads available for them. Light loads, heavy loads and in between.

Yes, other firearms may function better for certain tasks, but no other can be so broadly used as effectively.

I do, like some of those over/under combo's though. Valmet used to make a nice one in the '80's...

 

[RobertN]

Good point, I have also made in other discussions.

Not sure if it is available in the OP's area, but around me, there are a couple ranges where you can rent rifles, pistols, and shotguns. Good way to get a feel for what you may want to buy.

Before buying anything, you really need to do some shooting to see what you like and what you can get ammo for. Some ammo is extremely expensive. Since you are in Canada, I'm sure you know that most everyone has a .303 They are very common and very affordable. Its also a crappy round, but for what you want, it's probably a good choice. Definately one to take a look at and give a try

 

[mick m]

from an aussie point of view and someone who has a few diffferent guns. If you cant kill something with a .22 then you are not trying I have disposed of many cattle with one its non messy and quiet as for a 12 guage I love shoothing them but if you have had little or nothing to do with firearms then start with a .22 and learn to shoot before heading into larger shooters,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[MadJack]

Look for a Savage rifle/shotgun combo like Mr. Sweet said, and if you're worried about the kick of the shotgun stick with the 20ga.

Savage 24 or 24-v came in .22 over a .410, .22 over a 20ga, .222 over 20ga, 30-30 over 12ga and many other combinations.

Many choices, ya just have to find something you like!

 

[MossflowerWoods]

Just adding my 2 cents...

I am a big guy. 200lbs or so and 6' tall I was in the military twice and I can shoot anything.

My personal guns are my Remington bolt action 30.06 and a Mossberg 500 .20 gauge pump with a scoped slug barrel and a multi choke field barrel. I discovered AFTER buying the 30.06 that some counties in VA will only allow slug guns for deer.

I have a wife and 3 daughters all of whom are much smaller than me and not experienced with guns.

I am teaching them to aim and hit their target, not just to shoot.

But we live on 51 acres, surrounded by other large acreage plots and there are MANY reasons to have a farm gun. I have a .20 gauge open sight pump, and a Taurus 24x7 9mm auto for farm use. I am looking for a .22lr or .22 magnum also for use on varmints and small game and for "aim" training as the ammo is cheap and easy to find.

My belief is that a .20 sabot/slug will kill anything that moves as long as you hit your target, and that the reduced kick will keep my wife and girls from being scared of shooting because it hurts. The handgun needs to fit in their hands or it is useless.

Any bullet will kill, the real point is aiming for the right spot and hitting it.

A gun is merely a tool. There are many options and many opinions. Personally, I would rather have four $300 guns than one $1,200 gun. But I'm not sniper qualified (yet).

Like I said at the beginning, just my :2cents:, your mileage may vary.

Be well,
David