Beginner!!

T

Tai

New member
Hello!

I have been invited to a pheasant hunt this fall that I would desperately like help to prepare for. I Know I need to get on my hunter safety class. I want to pick up a over and under 12. I would just like opinions on a good solid beginner gun that I can get comfortable with. I don't want to look like a total idiot. Any other advise or need to know before this hunt would be very much appreciated! The hunt is in October 11-27th (I'm only going for part of it) and will be in Aberdeen. Also I am a woman and shoot lefty.

Tai
 
Tai said:
Hello!

I have been invited to a pheasant hunt this fall that I would desperately like help to prepare for. I Know I need to get on my hunter safety class. I want to pick up a over and under 12. I would just like opinions on a good solid beginner gun that I can get comfortable with. I don't want to look like a total idiot. Any other advise or need to know before this hunt would be very much appreciated! The hunt is in October 11-27th (I'm only going for part of it) and will be in Aberdeen. Also I am a woman and shoot lefty.

Tai
Click to expand...

dontget hung up on a over and under 12 right away. Would i recommend sticking to a 12ga for your first gun? maybe. Does it have to be an O/U? no. plenty of guys and girls hit the fields every year with pumps, semi autos, o/u, sxs, and even some single shots. Some people prefer the heavier payloads of a 12ga, although more than the fair share of hunters hit the fields with 16, 20, and 28ga guns every year. The gun doesn't make the hunter: the personality and attitude they have in the field does.I myself am a lefty shooter and have used three guns over the years for pheasant hunting: a remington 1100, an ancient SxS, and an old JC Higgins pump. All three have served me well, and i have taken more birds than i care to count with each one. I would focus on finding a gun the fits you comfortably more so than what type of gun it is. As far as preparing for it: I would recommend shooting some trap and skeet, as it will not only get you comfortable with shooting the gun, but also allow you to see some of the different angles pheasants willl fly at. If its available to you, I would also recommend a sporting clays course, as they will often have clays flying overhead and at all kinds of angles you are likely to experience. Good luck and happy hunting! be sure to post lots of pictures!
 
The previous post has some very good advice...

Bear in mind, a 12 ga. over/under has, in my opinion, the greatest recoil/kick of any gun. If recoil isn't an issue, then include the over/under in your selection.

If possible, try several guns at a range, before you decide on gauge or type of shotgun.

Also, you can find special shirts for shooters that have built-in padding for the shoulder area. Google, "padded shirts" and you'll find several options.

Good luck and safe hunting.
 
Hi Tai - welcome to the addiction! The posts above are a great start on gun selection and shooting clays will give you a chance to get used to your new firearm.

Find a gun that fits you well and that you can tote around the field all day without wearing your arms out. I hunt with a 12 ga. semiauto Benelli SBE, which in my opinion is a little too heavy and a little too ugly to be dragging around the pheasant fields but I shoot it better than anything I own so when in doubt, that is what I carry.

My next suggestion would be to start looking for comfortable gear. At a minimum you'll need an blaze vest, blaze hat and some good waterproof boots. Absolutely make sure your boots are well broken in before you head out. I would hike in them this summer if you get the chance!

Do you know if you will be hunting over dogs, and if so, what types? I like new hunters to get a feel for the types of dogs (pointers versus flushers) I'm working and what to expect/how to read the dogs. If you are hunting over dogs and take a little time to learn about them, how they hunt, and what shots are safe/appropriate for those animals, I think you will find it very rewarding. The dogs are, hands down, my favorite part of every hunt.

Feel free to shoot me a message if you want to discuss anything - especially when it comes to gear for ladies. I have tried most of it. I'm not sure where you're located but if you're in or around Iowa I'd be happy to take you out for a primer once you get your hunters ed certificate. We do hold a free beginner/ladies hunt in early October just west of Iowa City.
 
Tai,

Welcome to the site and the sport! Great info shared so far. My suggestion for the gun is go to a gun store have them show you all sorts of guns. Grab the gun mount it to your shoulder and see if you are looking straight down the top of the barrel. Not half of it or having to push your head down to see straight down the barrel. Some guns will fit you better than others then choose your gun from these based on your budget, what looks nice to you, etc. Then close your eyes and mount the gun. See how close you are to looking properly down the barrel then. That is the gun that fits you. All the other info about shooting it is very useful as well. Don't expect to go out and hit a wild flushing rooster until you can hit a clay target. You will quit the sport if in your first experience hunting you don't shoot anything and always feel out of place. Also remember part of the hunt is all the pomp and circumstance around the event! A certain amount of teasing, bragging, conversation and having fun with the people you are hunting with is all part of the sport. Enjoy!
 
I reread your message and note you are a lefty.

A friend of mine searched for left-fitting guns and only found one brand; I think it was a Benelli. I can check again if you are interested.

Also, it will make a difference which side of the gun the safety is positioned...
 
As a blinding flash of the obvious, men and women are built differently. That being said most guns are built to fit men. They don't usually fit women very well. Women seem to require different dimensions to have the gun fit properly. In some cases shooting a "man's" gun can even be painful or injurious.
There several companies now building guns and hunting clothing designed especially for women.
One is Syren.(I have no commercial relationship to the company. I just have seen their ads in magazines.) They have a full line of guns, over and unders and autos, built for women. I would recommend checking them or one of the other makers who design for women.

syrenusa.com
facebook.com/syrenusa

In my opinion I would not eliminate the auto from consideration. Hunting pheasants calls for heavy loads. The recoil absorbing power of an gas automatic should not be overlooked.
Once you find a gun, practice, practice, practice. Skeet is a good starter as it allows you work on targets coming from different angles and directions that are predictable and can be a great way to work on learning the basics. Once you get some confidence, you might work up to some Sporting Clays. Those targets should be more like hunting actual birds. In any case hit the range several times a month at least. And don't be afraid or embarrassed because you are a beginner. Go to a skeet range and look for some friendly looking old guys and explain your situation. The biggest problem you'll have is too much help.
Good Luck.
 
Welcome to pheasant hunting. You'll be good hunter because you're starting out by asking for advice - a good sign.

About a gun. I recommend that you stick with your plan to get an O/U. They are both lefty and righty friendly. O/Us are break-action guns. Break action guns are the safest. It's so easy to make a break action gun safe - you just break it open with the flick of a lever; you don't even have to pull the shells out of the barrels. There is never any doubt whether you're loaded with a break action - you just crack the gun open and if it's loaded the shells are right there. Unintended discharges that are sometimes fatal usually involve pumps and autos because they hold many shells, the shells are up a dark magazine, and people lose track of how many are in the gun. Also, you'll shoot better knowing you only have two shots. Another advantage of an O/U is tweaking the chokes and loads - different for each barrel.

As for getting a 12 gauge, again I think you're right on the money. I think you'll want a gun with shorter rather than longer barrels and a lighter frame so you should look for models that employ the term "feather" or "light" or "lightning," etc. I recommend you get a gun with 24 inch barrels if you can find one. I hunted for years with a 24" barreled gun and shot the heck out of pheasants. A hunting companion shot a gun with a 19 inch barrel and was deadly. I have a Browning Citori "White Lightning" which might be a good choice for you. You may have to move up to a better gun like a Browning to get the shorter, lighter model I think you'll prefer. Take a look at some used guns for a better deal.

Prepare for the physical demands of gun bearing and walking afield all day by taking regular walks and weight-lifting: deltoid lifts at three angles; trapezoid lifts; arm (bicep) curls; squats; ab crunches; knee lifts; bench presses. The additional strength and muscle will also make recoil less of an issue for you - you'll dominate your gun, not vice versa.

Good luck and great hunting!
 
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You will love pheasant hunting, welcome to the club!
As far as calibers go, don't dismiss the 20 ga as a choice. I use one about 1/2 the time and a lot of the guys I hunt with do also. It's a great load that will get the job done with ease and will usually save some weight on the gun end as well.
One rule we try to live by is make sure they are "blue sky pheasants". That means be sure of where you are shooting and try to ensure that there is blue sky behind the bird. We all get excited to bust a rooster but it's important to take a little extra time to make sure you don't hit a person, dog, or even a vehicle.
Remember - smooth is slow and slow is fast.
 
Welcome Tai,

When you get to your Hunter Safety class, let everyone there know what your goals are, and ask about hunt clubs in the area which might have opportunities for you to shoot, shoot a couple of other folks' shotguns, perhaps a couple of different gauges, and if at all possible, some guns with shortened stocks.

It is my opinion that many folks are shooting shotguns that have too long a "length of pull," i.e., the distance from the trigger to the end of the stock, and therefore are stretching themselves out a bit.

You'll do fine. This is a sport, not the Hunger Games. :D
 
If you want to avoid looking like a "total idiot", never forget these 3 things...

1. Safety
2. Ethics
3. Positive attitude

Good luck, and welcome to pheasant hunting!:thumbsup: The fact that you are preparing this far in advance gives you a great chance of being successful next season.

You got some great, and widely varying advice about gun actions and gauges, and you can see that everybody has their own individual preferences. They all get the job done, so try as many options in your price range as you can before you plunk down the cash. I'm not a big fan of the O/Us, but they certainly work, and if it fits your budget and you enjoy shooting it, then that's all that really matters anyway.
 
Welcome to the forum and to pheasant hunting. Lot's of great advice already in this thread. You can find even more by doing some searches for old threads on gun choices, gun fitting, tips for pheasant hunting, etc.

You haven't got back on and reported where your from. I would recommend starting on your hunter safety card right away. Depending on your location I would highly recommend searching out a Pheasants Forever chapter and joining. Most all chapters conduct shooting/hunting training sessions for youth, women, and novices periodically throughout the year. Some offer women only clinics. You can find the chapters on Google. Our Denver chapter logged over 200 youth, women, and novices in the last year.

Good luck.
 
Welcome...sound advice given. Good luck and enjoy the forum.
 
Toad said:
If you want to avoid looking like a "total idiot", never forget these 3 things...

1. Safety
2. Ethics
3. Positive attitude
Click to expand...

Well said, well numbered, and amen.
 
I did see that this year CZ has added the "Lady's Sterling Silver" it's a 12 gauge o/u. You might check that one out. Kick Them up can probably give you some good info on that gun.
 
Have Fun!

Most of all enjoy the experience! Upland hunting is rewarding in so many ways. Spending time in the great outdoors with friends (2 and 4 legged variety) is what I enjoy the most! A 12 gauge O/U is going to have pretty significant felt recoil when shooting a quality Pheasant load. Don't dismiss the effect that will have on you and your shooting. I carried a Beretta O/U the first few years I went Pheasant hunting in the Dakotas. The first few days were OK but as the week went on I found the heavy recoil was impacting my shooting. The middle finger on my trigger hand was actually swollen quite a bit from the trigger guard repeatedly hitting it. I have switched to a semi-auto and haven't looked back. If you are going to be shooting some different guns I would shoot them using the loads you will be shooting in the field. The is a big difference from light target loads. As previously said also consider the weight of the gun as you will be carrying it along with extra ammo and all your other gear. There are some really sweet 20 gauge semi-autos that are remarkably light and swing so smooth. Good luck and let us all know what you decide on.
 
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