Things You Should Consider When Buying a Hunting Rifle

Anyone who has bought a rifle knows that there are countless choices when it comes to caliber, action type, sight type, and accessories. There are magazine or clip-fed rifles, break-open rifles, pump-action rifles, bolt-action rifles, lever-action rifles… the list goes on. 

Another thing that changes with each new model is price. It’s important when buying a rifle to know exactly what you’re looking for before you spend your hard-earned money on something that won’t meet your expectations or requirements. Also, buy from a reputable seller, like Hinterland Outfitters to ensure you get the best value for your money.

The Purpose of the Rifle

This is one of the most important things to consider when shopping for a hunting rifle because if you buy a rifle based solely on how it looks, then chances are you’ll be making another trip to the gun shop or returning home empty-handed. Before going to the store, do some research on what you want your rifle to do and how much you’re willing to spend on it.

What Am I Hunting?

One of the biggest mistakes hunters make is buying a hunting rifle based on their own hobbies instead of what they need for their game. If you’re new to hunting, then chances are there are still some animals you aren’t comfortable hunting yet. Therefore, before you go out purchasing every type of ammo available for your new rifle, decide if it would be more beneficial in the long run to start small.

The Action Type

Rifles come in three main different action types: magazine, bolt, and break open. The magazine action-type can be found on semi-automatic rifles, while the bolt action type is common on hunting rifles because it reduces the amount of time between shots. A clip-fed rifle is where you have to manually insert each bullet into the chamber every time you want to fire it. Lastly, there’s the break open or single-shot rifle that requires you to twist or pump the barrel for each bullet fired.

The Caliber

There are two main types of calibers: rimfire and centerfire. A rimfire cartridge has its primer located in the rim at bottom of a cylindrical casing, while a centerfire cartridge has its primer placed in a small circular “punch.” The main difference between the two is that the centerfire cartridge has more power and can be used in (almost) all types of firearms while a rimfire cartridge, which contains less gunpowder than a centerfire one, is usually found in rifles. 

Accessories

 The accessories you need depend on what you plan to hunt or shoot with your rifle. Things like slings, scopes, magazines, sights… all have their purposes for different reasons depending on who’s using it and what they’re using it for. Before you go out shopping for a hunting rifle, do some research on what each accessory does and how it could benefit what you’re going to use your rifle for.

Which Type of Hunting Rifle Should I Buy?

Before buying a hunting rifle, you should do some research on how it’s made and what its purpose is (i.e. self-defense, sport shooting, survival, etc.). You just bought your first shotgun but don’t know why the buttstock feels so hard or hard to reach? That could be because it’s meant for either tactical or sports shooting.

After that comes down to personal preference for both tactical and sport shooting rifles, where they’re either clip or bolt action, depending on the user. With shotguns, most people who use them will tell you that there are two major types: pump-action shotguns, which require you to move the forearm back and forth to eject shells and reload new ones into the barrel, while semi-automatic shotguns only need you to pump them once for each bullet that is fired.

For hunting rifles, most people prefer bolt action types because it allows them more time between shots without reducing the number of bullets they can fire in a minute. That’s why these are common hunting rifles where less rushing means better accuracy.

As far as ammo goes, centerfire rounds are more powerful than rimfires but also have more recoil, so beginners may find themselves having trouble firing their rifle accurately with proper form. Rimfires, on the other hand, are weaker, which requires shooters to be closer to their targets before being able to kill them. As for shotguns, most hunters prefer their ammunition in the form of slugs, which are round metal projectiles that are fired out of the barrel.

Finally, there’s also length to consider with both rifles and shotguns. A shorter rifle will give you more mobility, while a longer one will be easier to shoot accurately. Then again, this depends on what you plan to use it for. If you’re shooting at targets over 100 yards away, then it would be much better to have something long range than short range.

In the end, make a decision on what you want to use it for and find a hunting rifle that matches perfectly with your needs.