George K.
Recreational shooting has been around since the first rifle was invented. As soon as we worked out how to propel a small bullet from a long barrel people turned to it as peanut butter did to jelly. The sheer volume of recreational shooting events means there is something for everyone.
Whether you are a big game hunter or the silent type, sitting at the range hitting the same dime-sized spot on a target a hundred times over, there are some things you need to know before actually buying your first rifle.
Here we are going to look at a few different things you need to consider before purchasing a rifle designed for recreational shooting. From the rifle itself, any accessories needed, some extras and purpose of use.
What Shooting Is Your Style?
One of the most important things you need to consider before actually purchasing a rifle is to decide what kind of shooting you enjoy. This will determine what kind of rifle you’re going to purchase and what kind of accessories you’ll need.
First things first, ask yourself the easy question. What is it about shooting that I enjoy? Is it being as accurate as a possible can over a fixed distance? Is it how many moving targets I can hit over the period of a day without killing anything? What about going for a weekend hunt with the family and bringing back a prize deer? Decide which kind of shooting is going to be your first venture (you can always have more than one) and once you’ve done that you can start looking at the different types of rifles you can buy.
The AR-15
Let’s start with America’s favourite weapon: The AR-15. A weapon so pivotal to Americans that not only is it the best selling rifle to date, but it’s also the basis of many war-winning rifles. Both the M16 and the M4 Carbine were based on this design.
The AR-15 is a semi-automatic rifle that is brilliant for many uses. The majority of hunters prefer using the AR-15 style because they’re so versatile, accurate and have a vast range of accessories, making it easier to customise to your perfect fit. For example, there are many choices for your AR-15 80% lower receivers that give you the perfect fit, making your weapon precisely as you want it. The nicer feel your rifle has the easier it will be to use, which gives you the advantage when on the hunt.
If you’re looking at investing in one of these rifles then make sure you’re doing so for the right reasons. You can’t go clay pigeon shooting with a semi-automatic rifle, you can hunt a deer though.
Trap Shooting
There are so many different types of shotgun rifles on the market it’s difficult to pinpoint a fan favourite across the board. Trap shooting or clay pigeon shooting is a sport that involves shooting clay discs that are flung from a device known as a trap. The purpose of this is to mimic the flight of birds. It can be used as practice for an actual hunt or as a sport in itself.
The rifles used in this instance are known as shotguns and are only really fit for this purpose. If you’ve decided to head into this game then explore the world of shotguns before settling on one. There are hundreds of types, styles, feels, weights, sights, the list is endless.
Bullseye Shooting
This style of shooting is a “does what it says on the tin” style. A category in which the objective is to raise as many points as possible by hitting a small, round shooting target as close to the centre as possible. This style has a huge emphasis on precision and accuracy through sight picture, trigger control and breathing.
The rifles used in this discipline are very specific, much the same as trap shooting. This means they can only be used for target shooting. Many come as a full set up but there isn’t any reason as to why you can’t modify your precision rifle.
Once you’ve chosen your event then it’s time to start looking at what rifle you want and what style suits you. Don’t rush into any decision, most rifles aren’t on the cheap side and you’re going to want something you’ll love and cherish for a long time. Ask if you can try certain rifles out and get a feel for how each one shoots. Only then can you put your money where your mouth is. Shooting is to be enjoyed, stay sensible when holding and operating a weapon and you’ll have a great time.
