tough decision

[tdgator]

I have always been a handgun guy. Never got into anything else. I've been wanting to venture out recently and have a decision to make. Due to finances and the wife putting the hammer down I have to decide between:
1) long range rifle (probably a 30-06) and scope
2) shotgun
3) compound bow

To use the rifle and shotgun I would have to travel a ways (45 minutes or so) to the closest skeet and rifle range. I can use the bow in my back yard.
I've been wanting something to have fun with and possibly hunt as I get more proficient. Any thoughts and input would be greatly appreciated.

[MLeake]

IMO, you answered your own question in your last paragraph.

You could practice and enjoy at will with the bow, so...

[Doyle]

Since finances are tough and you seem to only want to target shoot, if you do decide on a rifle at least get one that is relatively cheep to shoot. .22's are about as cheap as you can get when it comes to shooting. In a centerfire, a .223 wins - MUCH cheaper to shoot than the 30-06 you mentioned.

[g.willikers]

Archery is a great sport.
It's a bit frustrating, especially at first, until you figure out how, but well worth the effort.

[Revoltella]

+1 on a .223 bolt rifle. Lots of fun and relatively inexpensive to feed for a centerfire rifle.

[BillM]

The bow has some pluses--low noise, you can use it without the drive,
and ammo costs are low.

Rifle--if all you want to do is punch paper look at a good .223. Ammo
is cheaper, less recoil.

Shotgun--versatile, lots of games you can play with it, could
serve double duty as a home defense gun. Ammo is cheaper than the
rifle.

How about a crossbow? kind of a bow/rifle crossbreed, with the same
quiet/backyard range/low ammo cost advantages as the bow.

I guess maybe before you can really answer the question of what to get,
you might want to decide what are you going to hunt?

[NWPilgrim]

If it is for fun then get what you would use the most, the bow. It can be a lot of fun and would be a real hunting challenge. Different muscles involved but still has many common elements with firearms: stance/form, aim, let off, follow through, judging distance, adjusting for target movement, etc.

[Brian Pfleuger]

I would not recommend a high recoil gun like a 30-06 or 12ga to a first time long-gun owner, with the exception of a dedicated skeet/trap gun. A gas-operated 20ga semi, maybe, but what are you going to use it for? Unless you're going to shoot a pretty good amount of trap/skeet, a shotgun isn't much of a "fun gun". Those games are a blast and skeet loads are low recoil, relatively, even in a 12ga (with a decent gun) so it's really enjoyable. You'd be ok to go that route.

If you're going to get into archery, start right. Find someone who knows how to shoot, which means "Back Tension" by default, and learn the best methods from the get-go.

If you get a rifle, either get a 22 if you enjoy shooting one, which I personally abhor, or get a low-recoil, cost effective option with plenty of ammo availability. The most common cartridge that meets that requirement is the .223Rem.

In any case, my interests are not your interests. Any of us can give you (our opinions of) the pluses and minuses of each but if love archery and you love skeet shooting, what we'd do doesn't matter much. Where is you greatest interest/curiosity?

[4runnerman]

What are you ( Maybe ) going to hunt?. Lot's of my friends are going the bow thing latley. As other have mentioned, Low cost ( once you get setup ). If you are going to hunt anything bigger than Yotes,pigs,dogs I would go with a 243 not a 223.

[tdgator]

Thanks for the replies so far. If I do any hunting it will most likely be turkey, deer or hogs.

[4runnerman]

If deer is in there,better go with 243. A 223 will do the job but leaves no room for error.