Help me build a man kit

I'm looking at buying some sharp and shooty things in the near future. Problem is, i have ZERO experience buying sharp or shooty things and have never fired a gun. I look to GRM for advice on what to look for in the following:

A pocket knife, probably something with a 4" or so blade. Looking to spend around $50.

A hunting knife. I think the wife may already have one picked out but i'm open to suggestions. Hoping to keep it under $75.

A machete. I figure it's going to be hard to go wrong here, hoping to keep it under $50.

Finally, a .22 caliber rifle. I know zero about guns, i'm going to have to take some classes just to figure out the firing/cleaning part. We're looking for something to hunt rabbits and the like with. I saw in the other thread that comfort is a big factor, what about brand? Is it advisable to buy used? I'm looking to keep this under $200.

So whaddaya think?

thanks!

Jacques

Jacques said: So whaddaya think? thanks! Jacques

I think Jacques is unplugging from the grid and going commando.

add a 30.06 or a 3030 to that list

maybe a 12ga

Here you go, just watch these...

Buy a used gun. If they are kept clean they are hard to wear out. Something common is always good in case you do break it. Military surplus knives and machetes will fit in your budget with money to spare. A good source of this kind of information is The Backwoodsman magazine, it is always read cover to cover the day that I receive it. Good luck.

You've already covered my first suggestion, take a hunter safety or gun class. Then go to a gun show and 'judge all the crazies' walking around with really neat stuff.

if your hunting rabbits / small game, your going to have to have some serious talent to use a .22 ;) I'd recommend a smaller shotgun (20 ga or even .410) for rabbits. If its squirrels / birds or other tree fairing animals, definately use a shotgun - the .22LR can travel quite some distance if you shoot it into the air (and miss).

For knives, Case or Buck (if they are still in business) are good companies. Or any US made product :) You dont need a big knife for any reason unless your a showoff :)

KJ

If the knife is an all-around "gotta have it with me" item, I'd recommend getting something relatively small and light. It's no good to you if you don't carry it. Personally, I have a little Gerber that I've had for a few years. Replaceable blade means you can abuse the heck out of it and it stays sharp. It's small enough to ride in the watch pocket of your jeans.

If the knife is for skinning bears, well, this one might be a bit small

PubBurgers wrote: I'm looking at buying some sharp and shooty things in the near future. Problem is, i have ZERO experience buying sharp or shooty things and have never fired a gun. I look to GRM for advice on what to look for in the following: A pocket knife, probably something with a 4" or so blade. Looking to spend around $50.

If you want a name brand knife, the spiderco delica is something respectable. I keep a gerber multitool in the car. Either brand are good quality stuff....I'm a cheapskate, and use knives almost every day to open boxes at work....a boxcutter would do fine, but I usually carry $5-$10 "appalachian trail" knives from Lowes.

PubBurgers wrote: Finally, a .22 caliber rifle.

Ruger 1022.

Dude, you have been reading too many of the "zombie apocalypse" threads...

Capt Slow wrote: Dude, you have been reading too many of the "zombie apocalypse" threads...

I'll admit, the machete's only purpose is for zombie preparedness. The rest however, will have practical use in addition to fending off zombies.

Thanks for the advice so far,

Jacques

Kendall_Jones wrote: if your hunting rabbits / small game, your going to have to have some serious talent to use a .22 ;) I'd recommend a smaller shotgun (20 ga or even .410) for rabbits.

Good point. Last year I shot a lot of trap with my grandfather's old "eastern arms" (i.e. sears and robuck) 20 ga. It was a stevens 311 with a different name.

You can pick those up for barely more than $200 http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=207729

Man, 81, accused of machete chase near taco stand (AP) – 21 hours ago

SALEM, Ore. — Police said an 81-year-old man was arrested after he chased another man around a Salem taco stand while armed with a machete. Salem police said Monday the man accused the taco stand owner of stealing a drill from his nearby business. When the taco stand owner denied it, the suspect left and returned with a machete.

Lt. Dave Okada said the suspect chased the unidentified man around the stand several times before officers arrested him on accusations of menacing and attempted assault. He was booked into the Marion County Jail.

There were no injuries in Sunday's incident.

Jacques, Bill and Ted's gun and knife show (or sometime's "Bill Goodman's" ) would have to get a look-see from you. They should have all kinds of guns, knives and advice to go along with them. Seems they have one of these shows about once every three or four months.

PubBurgers wrote:

Capt Slow wrote: Dude, you have been reading too many of the "zombie apocalypse" threads...

I'll admit, the machete's only purpose is for zombie preparedness. The rest however, will have practical use in addition to fending off zombies. Thanks for the advice so far, Jacques

It's amazing what you'll use a Machete for. It is the most used tool in my box.

Plus then you have one when the Zombies arise.

Jacques, a .22 rifle is a good choice for small game, but it lacks the stopping power to drop anything bigger then a squirrel really. Though you can live for months on squirrel meat if if in a forest. Like stated above I'd grab a .410 shotgun, you can drop most things, including deer(slugs), you just need to get really really close. The option for you might be a combination gun, their are various companies that make guns with 2 barrels, either side by side or the more common over and under. One being for either .22 or .22 mag, and the other for a .410 shotgun shell. They are pretty accurate out to 50 yards or so, which is about as far as you really want to shoot small game.

As for comfort of the gun, you can make any gun you buy more comfortable for yourself, through scopes, iron sites, recoil pads to change the length of pull, etc. You could make a rifle lighter through use of a fiberglass stock, some rifle's are easier to find them for, such as the ruger 10/22. Versus other rifle's where you'd have to make one for, like the mossberg 22's.

Andrew

carguy123 wrote:

PubBurgers wrote:

Capt Slow wrote: Dude, you have been reading too many of the "zombie apocalypse" threads...

I'll admit, the machete's only purpose is for zombie preparedness. The rest however, will have practical use in addition to fending off zombies. Thanks for the advice so far, Jacques

It's amazing what you'll use a Machete for. It is the most used tool in my box. Plus then you have one when the Zombies arise.

Yeah, I used one when changing my oil just last week! Wait, what? A Machete? What do you use them for other than zombies, exactly?

By hunting knife I'm going to guess you mean a stupidly big knife. Useless things. I field dress with a paring knife. Do most of my butchering with one as well. Don't buy a "hunting" knife.

Are you any good at sharpening knife blades? If not, get the previously mentioned box cutter. Blade sharpening takes just a second or two with them. If you're determined to buy a "real" knife, Gerber makes cheap good readily available knives. Buck also.

Hunting rabbits with a .22 is a mistake. You'll occassionally wound a rabbit and never take one home. If you want to hunt, start with a shotgun. A pump 12 gauge is a darn good universal gun. It won't kick hard with rabbit loads. The Mossberg 510 is an almost universal cheap starter shotgun. Quite versatile too.

Cheap machetes work. Beware of them flying out of your hand because of that cheap plastic handle that gets real slippery when you're sweating! And if you think the idea of using the thong on your wrist is a good idea, you'll change it the first time the machete slips and then swings wildly back at you on that thong. Cheap ones sharpen real easily, they dull real easily too. A brush cutter or cane cutter is arguably a better tool. Use some of the silly hunting knife budget for one.

JoeyM wrote:

PubBurgers wrote:

PubBurgers wrote: Finally, a .22 caliber rifle.

Ruger 1022.

Didn't we just go through this a few weeks ago? Yes, get a 10/22.

If, in the course of your shopping, you come across a Winchester 94/22, please drop me a note.

The answer is always Rambo Knife

For a long time, I've carried a series of CRKT folders. Awesome knives. However, they have been recently replaced in my pocket by a Leatherman Skeletool, and I ain't going back. The Skeletool has a blade that's accessible without unfolding the tool (granted, it's not as lightning fast and badass to flick open as the CRKTs), and it has the basic tools for those 'crap, i need a screwdriver/pliers/wirecutter' moments. It's bare bones, but it's awesome. Not a day goes by that I don't use at least two of the tools. Highly recommended. (But resist the urge to get the carbon fiber model - it's just stick-on bits, not structural, so it doesn't save any weight.)

I cannot think of anything more manly or satisfying to own than a big-assed angle grinder with a wound spring wire wheel. If I was attacked, in my garage, by a strappin' man carrying a rambo knife I would hand him my shotgun and use the angle grinder.

For the knife, I've recently picked up one of these for my carry: byrd knives. It's a high quality folder that's right in the size and price range you're looking for.

Byrd is a subsidiary of SpyderCo that uses SpyderCo R&D and QA, but manufactures in China. Basically, it's Spyderco realizing their knives are really expensive, so instead of waiting for someone else to make cheap Chinese knock-offs, they did it themselves.

For the .22, my suggestion would be to find a good local gun shop. Go in, tell them exactly what you're looking for, and see what they have. Most shops will be very happy to introduce someone to shooting.

foxtrapper wrote: Hunting rabbits with a .22 is a mistake. You'll occassionally wound a rabbit and never take one home. If you want to hunt, start with a shotgun. A pump 12 gauge is a darn good universal gun. It won't kick hard with rabbit loads. The Mossberg 510 is an almost universal cheap starter shotgun. Quite versatile too.

Don't they make ballistic tip bullets for this reason? Like this one.

Ballistic tips like that are not for the low velocity .22 long rifle