If you are on the market for a hunting weapon, you need to make sure you make a smart decision for your first firearm. Making this decision is not only the difference between having an accurate shot and having a bullet go astray, but it can be the difference between life and death while you are out in the woods. You need to make sure that you and other people who are hunting with you are as safe as possible to avoid any accidents that can cause long-term damage or fatal injuries.
But how can you find the best hunting gun that is safe, easy to use, accurate, and ideal for long-range shooting on ranges or for big-game hunting? Let’s see how you can make the best decision for long-train shooting and using your first gun safely around other people.
How to choose a hunting weapon – use an HTI rifle
If you are new to hunting, you might feel overwhelmed when it comes to choosing your first hunting weapon. If you are going to shop online, you might not even know what website to start looking at. Since there are so many online department stores and sporting goods stores, it can be daunting.
In addition, if you’re looking in person, you might be standing in a hunting store and be completely lost. After you ask for someone’s help who works there, you might realize that doing some research beforehand would have been a good idea.
That is where we come in – we have done all of the research for you so you don’t have to worry about figuring out the best hunting rifle for a beginner’s needs. Since the weapons come in various styles, shapes, sizes, and with numerous benefits for each one, you need to figure out which style matches your needs perfectly.
What cartridges do you want?
One of the first questions that you need to have answered is what type of rifle cartridges do you want? When you are shopping for the first HTI rifle to use for hunting, you need to see what type of cartridge you want, which is the part that contains the gunpowder and the bullet. Along with the gunpowder and the bullet, the cartridge contains the primer – the part of the cartridge that helps ignite and heat the gunpowder so the gun will fire on cue. When the powder is ignited, the casing of the cartridge will either fall out of the gun manually or automatically so you don’t have a cartridge casing left in the barrel or the main compartment of your rifle while shooting.
One of the main selections that you will need to make when choosing your first HTI rifle for hunting is the type of cartridges that are easiest and best for you to use. Make sure you know about cartridges before deciding, ensuring that you know the name of the cartridges and the name of the bullets that you are interested in using.
Usually, on a cartridge, there are one or two numbers that can refer to the length of the cartridge casing or the size of the powder charge. Make sure you take note of the numbers on the cartridge to see the ratings and the dimensions of what you are going to use in your gun.
What type of bullets do you need?
If you are just planning on hunting small game, such as small chickens or follows, then you will only need small-caliber bullets. You will only need .17 or .22 caliber for your HTI rifle if you are shooting small animals at close range. However, if you are doing long-distance and long-range shooting, consider using a higher caliber bullet with your HTI rifle. For those who want to hunt large game, like deer or bear, you will have to use a large cartridge at around .40 or .45 with your HTI rifle.
What type of rifle action do you want?
The next characteristic to take into account when choosing what type of hunting rifle or HTI rifle you want to use as a beginner is the type of rifle action that you want for loading your shots. Typically, hunting rifles come in either the single-shot or repeating option, with the single-shot option only having one bullet before you need to reload, and the repeating option having multiple bullets available before the user has to reload their rifle.
The benefits of choosing single-shot rifles for your first hunting gun are the elegance in design and the traditional appearance of the gun. Furthermore, you will feel old-school with the type of rifle you are using and the importance placed in each shot. However, for those who want an efficient gun that is better for hunting large games and firing off multiple shots in less than one minute, use a repeating HTI rifle.
The most common types of repeating action rifles that you can choose from when it comes to purchasing your first HTI rifle for hunting are either automatic, lever-action, bolt-action, or pump-action. Typically, the HTI rifle is a bolt-action rifle that requires the user to move the bolt and the bolt lever to pump out the used cartridges and quickly reload the rifle for the next shot. For those who are beginners, using a repeating rifle with a bolt-action setup is the best choice.
What type of material do you want?
The next criteria to take into account when choosing the type of HTI rifle that you want for your first hunting rifle is the material of the weapon. Since rifles are available in a wide range of materials, this choice can be the difference between a long-lasting weapon and a single-season choice. Most high-end HTI rifle options for beginners are either made of carbon steel or stainless steel, with the latter being the more expensive option. Typically, the best HTI rifle choices contain polymer coating to increase the durability and long-lasting nature of the weapon.
What length of stock do you need?
Make sure that if you are a growing person and you choose your first hunting rifle that you choose a stock that you can grow into. If you are a teenager and buying your first HTI rifle, buy a stock that is a size up so you don’t outgrow this selection within a year or two years. Choose a standard length stock that is ideal for people of various heights, which is typically around 13-14i inches.
What weight do you want?
The next criteria to take into account when choosing the best HTI rifle for first-time users or beginners is the length and weight of the rifle. If you are a smaller person, having a lighter rifle is easier since it is more compact and easier to maneuver. In this case, choose an HTI rifle that has the bullpup compact design with the bolt-action level, if you are a bigger person, you can choose a bigger rifle that has more mass and a longer barrel.
No matter what size you choose, make sure that the fit is optimal for your body type and body size. A smaller person typically needs a shorter stock and a lighter weight, whereas a bigger person can have a higher stock.
Choose your scope
The last factor to take into account before purchasing your first hunting rifle is the type of scope you want with your HTI rifle. Make sure you can choose a weapon that has the potential for add-ons and changes of scopes further down the line when you become more advanced.
Ensure that if you are shooting for long-range targets that you have a powerful scope that can provide a good field of vision for many meters away from you. The last thing you want when choosing your first hunting rifle is to lack clarity and field of vision during your first time out in the woods.
Conclusion
As you can see, choosing a hunting rifle requires a lot of thought and research. You need to make sure that you take enough time to see the pros and cons of each type of rifle and which one is best for you as a first-time user. One of the main options when choosing a rifle for beginners is the HTI rifle.
The HTI rifle has many positives and perks when compared to other choices, such as lightweight construction, accuracy, bullpup compact design for maneuverability, transportation ease, and compatibility for add-ons. Since the HTI rifle can be used by both beginner and advanced users alike, you can enjoy this rifle for many years!
Make sure that you ask yourself all of the aforementioned questions before you choose the precise type of HTI rifle that is ideal for you. Ensure the size of the rifle first your body type and height, and the weight is comfortable for carrying long distances. Lastly, ask yourself what type of material you want for the exterior of your rifle, what type of action you want for the loading and unloading process, and what other features you may want for your first-time hunting rifle to improve the efficiency of use and the accuracy of your shooting!