Newbie-- NJ / NY target game shooting with M6 Scout combo gun

Hi folks—well, it's been over a decade since summer camp, and I'm thinking about buying a first firearm for occasional target shooting and hunting. Haplessly I wandered into the local gunshop, looked at a 12 gauge pump that came with both short/long barrels for defense/hunting—about $350. Also looked at a bolt action .22 magnum, the same type of guns I've previously used. Then the Springfield Armory M6 Scout caught my eye, it's a combo .22 and 410-gauge over-under 'single-shot break-open' type action, described as 'crude' by the salesman. It seems to be not much more than a peashooter, which is fine—I'd probably go for small game at first, maybe later buying a 12-gauge for deer. Aesthetically, it's cheap, a little tacky, and in vaguely poor taste… perfect.

I know that rifle hunting is no-go in NJ, is this true for NY also? Could I take this gun out hunting in NJ provided I only used the 410? Is rifle hunting legal in NY? I live in NYC but often travel to my parents' house in NJ and I have permanent addresses in both states (driver's license is currently NJ). So I'm unclear whether I'd have to have a gun-owner's license in both states (I'd probably buy it in NY), and the same for the hunting licenses. In other words, I'd like to be able to go hunting in both states as well as do range shooting in both as well.

Any thoughts on the two-state situation would be appreciated. The same for the choice of guns, although I must admit I'm a little smitten with the tacky peashooter, unless it's going to be a problem getting out into the woods with the rifle barrel.

Thanks folks, JP

To say the M6 is crude is an understatement

I am not familiar with the laws in NY/NJ. But as a recent new hunter myself (going on three years), the best firearm I purchased was my Remington 870 express magnum. It is versatile, shoots 2 3/4' and 3' shells, rifled slugs (I am not using a rifled barrel), easy to clean and maintain, and very reliable. The only problem I have ever had is when I half shuck a shell and the next one jams. That is my own fault and has not happened for a long time. That happened when I saw my first few birds drop and in my amazement, I only half pumped.

This shotgun is relatively inexpensive. On sale at something like Bass Pro, you can pick one up for around $250.

Jeff

I'm a newbie hunter too. Not familiar with the NY/NJ laws. But, from what I've read and heard, a 12 ga. shotgun is probably the most versatile of the shotguns. The 'public lands' where hunting is allowed all seem to restrict you to shotguns. No rifles or handguns.

You can change the choke and loads for a 12 ga. to fit your needs. If you want to shoot slugs, you will need a rifled barrel.

Depending upon what you want to hunt, a 20 ga. could also work. Generally, 20 ga. are used for small game and upland birds. 12 ga. can be used for small game, upland birds, ducks, geese and deer. Again, no expert, just passing on what I've found so far.

A pretty good website is www.shotgunworld.com

Scott

Wow, thanks for the feedback guys. I think I realistically need to assess where I'll be doing the majority of my shooting—this is why I wanted to get a rifle/shotgun combo of some kind, so I could go to the range and meditate with the rifle, and then grab some squirrel/rabbits perhaps three days per year at most without shooting my wallet too. I would just buy a .22 and be content with a range, but of course I want to get into the woods as well, and in that regard the Remington 870 series does look attractive and reasonably priced (nice website too). I also spotted some old messages about Stevens/Savage's rifle/shotgun combo gun, will ask about that as well when I visit the shops.

The reality is, I'm not going to be shooting every weekend. I need to contact the range by my parents' house and find out what they allow (was there once as a kid and seem to remember all manner of guns, though perhaps not shotguns). The reason the M6 appealed to me was for this combo quality, along with its collapsibility for the odd camping trip (I was looking at the AR-7 also but apparently you get a different grouping every time you assemble). I don't know exactly what a 410 is capable of, but if it can with a heavier shot stop something up to a raccoon/turkey size at, say, 50 yds, then that's good enough for me. However, if the M6's performance characteristics are so unsatisfactory for even an occasional shooter, then I will try to find alternative combo guns.

If anyone knows of other combo guns, I'd appreciate that very much—doesn't have to be 410 either. Thanks especially to Tom for providing those links, and to John for diving in on this thread.

***The Savage/Stevens combo gun is quite interesting, but I don't know if I'd get one if it was to be my only gun. But that's just a personal choice after firing a couple of them. I'd rather have a good 12 gauge shotgun with two barrels, one smoothbore and one rifled for use with slugs.

***If you're looking at shooting turkeys, then you shouldn't be looking at .410 bore shotguns. 20 gauge would be minimum and 12 would be better. Turkeys are not easy birds to kill and a .410 doesn't have the number of shot pellets and energy to do the job consistently. .410's are best left in the hands of expert wingshots that can put the few pellets where they need to go on a moving target. I own a couple of .410's and use them for rabbits and squirrels only. I've tried pigeon and grouse shooting with them and found it to be an exercise in frustration. But if I take my 12 gauge Browning BPS, the birds go down.

Every shooter should own a quality 22lr rifle. You should get one for your 1st or 2nd firearm. They allow you inexpensively do as much shooting as you want, have almost no recoil and are a lot of fun. Make sure that you get a quality 22lr, don't get the cheapest rifle you can find. Ask for advice on picking one to buy.

I would get a 12 gauge pump shotgun if I were you. Most people have 12 gauges because it is capable of doing just about everything that you will want to do. Also, the ammo is cheaper for a 12 gauge than all other gauges. Ask for recomnendations for a shotgun.

You next purchase should be a centerfire rifle. You choice should depend upon what use you plan to make of it.