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Step 1
First, you have to decide what kind of area you will be hunting. If you are hunting wide open spaces, you will want a flat shooting, "hot" round that will be accurate out to several hundred yards. Good choices for this type of hunting would be the .243, the .223 or the .270. These lighter loads are fast, and flat shooting. Ranges out to 400 yards or further are no problem.
Tighter, heavily wooded spaces call for heavier, yet slower rounds. Shooting the 30-06, or 30-30 are good choices. You can still get plenty of range out of rounds like the 30-06 or the 7mm Mag, but they also have the brush busting capabilities that may be needed for thicker terrain. -
Step 2
Consider the recoil of the rifle. There are many choices of rifles that range in recoil from practically non-existent to "kicks like a mule" in force. This should be taken into consideration, especially for younger hunters who may be disheartened by a sharp recoil.
Recoil is only really a problem when sighting in a rifle at the bench. Firing enough shots through a 30-06 or 7 mm to get comfortable with the rifle can get sore on the shoulder. But, when shooting at game, the recoil is usually not noticed because of the adrenaline of the moment. -
Step 3
Choose the right action. This is a matter of preference, as long as you stay within the confines of your state game laws. Single shot rifles tend to be very accurate, and many are inexpensive (as long as you stay away from the Thompson Center Encore and the new Knight single shot rifle). Pump actions are fast to reload for follow up shots. Bolt actions are probably the best choice for both speed and accuracy. There are several options available for semi-automatic rifles as well, but be sure to check game laws to ensure they are legal where you hunt.
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Step 4
Once you choose the appropriate caliber for your type of hunting, and the action that suits you best, you have to choose the type of stock and barrel options that you want. Classic rifles have wood stocks and blued barrels. There are now a lot of other options that can match your hunting conditions. For example, if you hunt in severe weather conditions, you can choose a synthetic stock, with a stainless steel barrel. These guns will hold up to the worst of weather conditions, whether it be rain, snow or sleet. Another stock option is the laminate wood stock. These stocks hold up better than standard wood stocks, and take a bit more abuse than standard wood. If you do choose wood, there are many different options, and grades of wood available. Look for something that you like, and remember this is an investment that will be lasting you for the next 30 years.
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Step 5
Next, you have to top your gun with a scope. Don't scrimp with it comes to your scope. Buy the best one you can afford. Believe it or not, the more expensive scopes really are much better than the cheap ones. You get wider field of view, clearer glass, less parallax, and sharper cross hairs. You can choose the magnification that is best for you. Many use a fixed 4 power scope if hunting tight timber. A scope with adjustable magnification (often 3-9X) is used in areas with changing conditions. Personally, I prefer the variable magnification scope no matter what circumstances I hunt in.
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Step 6
Finally, choose a strap for your rifle that will make it easier to carry. Some straps are made of leather and have strong metal hardware to connect it to the gun. Others are made of neoprene, which is comfortable to carry, and more weatherproof. However, these do not hold up nearly as well as the leather ones.
