What's the Best Gun for Your Type of Hunting?

Optics vs. Iron Sights

Another factor is the type of sights you will use. For close-in shooting, I prefer a peep, or aperture, sight. This is basically a rear sight that has a small hole instead of a blade/notch affair. The aperture is mounted farther to the rear than other iron sights, to allow a longer sighting plane and ease of viewing through the peep. Coupled with an easy-to-see bead on the front sight, this is absolutely the fastest and easiest iron sight. There is no worry about your sight picture; your eye will automatically center the front bead, so all you need to do is put that bead on the right spot and whammo! he's yours.

For longer-distance shooting, a scope will probably serve most of us better than any other choice. Like the peep, once it's sighted in, you just find the target in your field of view, aim at the "sweet spot", and squeeze the trigger. Scopes have the added advantage of magnifying your target, as well, which can be very helpful in a long-range hunting situation.

What's it Gonna Be?

Will you be in a situation that requires quick, close-up action, or one that will allow you to find an appropriate rest to steady your aim, and let you shoot at ranges beyond 100-150 yards? If your main hunting ground is densely packed with underbrush, I recommend a short, fast-handling rifle, preferably a semiautomatic or other fast-action gun, like a lever-action or pump, or perhaps a shotgun loaded with buckshot. If you have the advantage of being in the great wide open and expect to get shots at long range, go for one of the high-velocity choices, and top your rifle with a scope. A bolt-action may well be sufficiently fast enough for follow-up shots for this type of hunting, as the quarry will not be likely to leave your view quickly after the first shot.

In closing, whatever gun you choose, know your target and what's beyond it, don't rush but don't dally (Dad always says, "Take your time, but hurry up!"), and practice with your chosen firearm. While you're waiting for the deer, put the gun to your shoulder and put the sights on a palmetto frond or stump. Imagine different scenarios, various directions the deer may come from, and practice taking those shots (without actually firing, of course). Familiarity with your gun will help you make the kill when the time does come.

- Russ Chastain