I am considering getting into hunting I have fished alot but wold like to try something different. I know about needing the Hunters edu class but I would like to have the opinions as to what rifle would be most useful. I love the look of the AR-15 but not sure if it is legal due to caliber or like someone told me because its a semi-auto.

Please remember that I am new to this so feel free to correct me but be gentle and I'll try to keep from asking stupid questions.

depends on what you intend to hunt. Deer,varmints, elk, moose or all of the above. My suggestion would be to get a good rifle that will handle most of your hunting needs such as a 30-06 or a 270.

The ar is legal and will work for most Texas humting. it might not be the best choice but it will work. In 223/.556 you are limiting yourself moreso than if you choose a larger round such as 6.5 grendel, 6.8 SPC , 30 remington ar etc.

I prefer hunting with a boltactoon but this weekend have been having a blasy with a gtendel ar. 4 shots two pigs and two coyotes dead.

If you have friends that shoot see if they will take you out and try some different guns.

Bullet construction is more important than bullet speed or what rifle it comes out of.

Buying a cheap scope will only frustrate you.

2" groups will kill deer further than most people ever shoot at them.

If you're not having fun, you're doing something wrong.

What type of hunting would you like to do? After you anser that then you can easly pick the best rifle for the job. The biggest tip that I can give you is go to the gun range alot with your new rifle... Deer season is about to end but you can soot hogs all year long. If you are going to hunt on public land then you have a "hog season" I thank in march... Not sure. I know that this form helped me out alot and is the best one that I found..
If you don't ask stupid questions then you do stupid things. Don't be afiad to ask anything. Good luck.. O and don't ask what is better 30-06 or 270... lol
2x
"Buying a cheap scope will only frustrate you"
Been there know that....

My advice to you is read, read, and read some more. These forums are a great source of information, and you can learn a TON by just browsing around. Hunting is an expensive hobby, but a very rewarding and relaxing one. Once you kill your first animal, you will be hooked, so don't say we didn't warn you!

Semi auto's are fine for hunting in TX. I haven't checked in a while, but the only magazine limits are for shotguns.

For someone that's just starting out I'd suggest a good time tested bolt action. You can get something like a Marlin XS/XL 7 for about $300 and it'll shoot just as good as guns that cost hundreds more. That and the cheaper Savages are the only lower priced guns I recommend though.

For caliber there's any number of flavors but for a newb I gotta go with the .308 for all around.

Don't worry about asking "stupid" questions. remember what your teachers always said - no question is stupid, as long as you're learning something. I would suggest learning as much as possible about hunting by reading books and magazines, talking to people at gun shops and shooting ranges, and finding someone to "take you under their wing" on a day hunt or something. The AR-15 is a neat gun, but not what I would recommend for a beginner. Start with a bolt action or single shot rifle, and practice at a range making sure you can "make that first shot count". Automatics are great for quick follow up shots, but the shot that makes you a good hunter is the first one. Plan to spend a bunch of time at a range learning to shoot accurately and take care of your gun.
Look at some of the listings under Guides and Leases on this site and find a hunt that caters to beginners. And above all, take a safety course, and follow the rules. That will make you a hunter that everyone will enjoy sharing a hunt with.
Happy hunting!

good luck,, all i can say is buy a good quality rifle.. and it alot

first off, the thing I have noticed about this site is you have to read everything you can. There is no good answer to what you are asking. some will tell you that a you only need a .22 to kill deer around here while other suggest an elephant gun. you have to figure out what works best for you. if you want something in the middle you may want to go with a 243, .25-06 or a .270. if you want to go a bit bigger you can do yourself a favor and choose a .308 and save some $ on practice ammo because it will take military surplus rounds. Personally I chose the .270 It's a good all around cal. and won't knock you on your tail. Big enough to kill pretty much anything in Texas with decent shot placement. Just my

Chris

Welcome. I have a couple suggestions that will help you out.

Just know that what you read is typically an opinion. If it is read online, such as here, take it lightly. There are alot of internet snipers that will tell you a sub moa rifle and the ability to maintain that group is essential to hunting. This is not true. While shooting accurately is important, it is not as important as they would love you to think. Matter of fact, I would benture to say most that make these claims can't do it without the use of a lead sled or other device, if at all.

Next, don't indulge in too much info related to hunting. LEarn the rules in and out. But don't spend hours reading how to pattern a deer, or how to stalk. Learn the basics and give it a try. I relate hunting to auto racing. You have bench racers and real racers. A bench racer can explain the ins and outs, the whys and why nots, and what should/should not happen. But there is no real substitution for real world experience.

Hope this helps.

Welcome to the forum. A lot of good information here to be had. Yes AR15's are cool but I suggest you steer away from an AR15 as your first hunting rifle. I do hunt with one (223) but it would not be my only gun by choice. Don't go cheap if you don't have to. You get what you pay for in both accuracy and quality. A nicer rifle will have a better chance of resale if you decided to change up to another one.

Caliber is best based on what you plan to hunt and if you only hunt with one gun. 270, 30-06 and 308 will take anything in Texas. Good scopes are worth their money.

Learning to shoot properly and learning simple basics will serve you well. Read a lot of hunting forums and remember advise can be opinionated.

Get a rifle and learn to shoot. Find a range that you can shoot from field positions, because shooting from a bench is just not the same. Being able to shoot tiny groups at distance is nice, but being able to close the distance is a much more rewarding experience. Plus it gives you much more margin for error when it is time to take the shot.

If you can, find a circle of friends that hunt/shoot and will take you along. Everyone I know does things slightly differently, and while I still do a few things because Dad or Grandpa did them that way, there are many more things I do because after watching a friend I realized I had been making life hard on myself.

Spend all the time you can in the woods. Just being there is wonderful, leaving with photos and memories of wildlife and maybe a cooler full of meat is even better.

Welcome and happy hunting!

-ww