Shotgun collectors are a varied lot. They always seem to want to collect something different than the other guy. If he likes Remington shotguns, he doesn’t want to hear anything about a Mossberg.  But what if you’re a beginner and would just like to have a nice collection of shotguns. Guns you can use for hunting and that will retain their value over the years. A good place to start is by just looking at the different brands available. Here are most of the major manufacturers:? Beretta? Browning? CZ-USA? EAA Corp.? H&R Firearms? Mossberg & Sons? Remington? Rossi? Ruger? Thompson? Tri-Star? Weatherby? WinchesterOnce you’ve decided on which brand, or brands, you want to buy, you’ll have to decide just how many different calibers you want in your collection. Most collectors have at least a .410-, 12-, 16- and 20-gauge shotgun. There also are 10-, 24-, 28- and 32-gauge shotguns, but they’re not as common.Here are some of the best uses for the four most common shotguns:? .410: Good for small game hunting and using in thick cover. Doesn’t damage the animal too much.? 12-gauge: Most versatile and popular shotgun, great for waterfowl hunting and can be used for larger game.? 16-gauge: Not as common as in the past, but still a good bird-hunting shotgun.? 20-gauge: Popular shotgun that’s light and easy to carry, which makes it great for turkey hunting and other hunting that requires a lot of walking. Shotguns also have different actions for loading. There’s the break-action, single-shot and then the pump action you can usually load with three shells. For the serious shooter, there are also the auto loaders.If you want to get a bit more unusual, don’t forget that besides a single-barrel shotgun, there’s the side-by-side and over/under double-barrels. As for price, you can pay as little as about $100 a gun to wiping out your child’s college fund. It depends on your budget, how serious you are about your collection and your degree of familial responsibility. For example, you can get a Rossi Single-Shot .410, 12-gauge or 20-gauge for about $110. But for the extremely serious trap shooter and bird hunter, there’s the Browning Citori XT Trap Golden Clay 12-gauge for $4,635. Somewhere between those two prices is probably you’re middle ground. Just remember, with shotguns everyone is different, so you have to find what’s right for you.  Florida Gun Exchange has one of the country’s biggest selections of firearms and accessories.

What Are BB Guns?

BB guns are any gun which fires small shot or round. Most air guns are.177 (4.5 mm) or.22 (5.5 mm / 5.6 mm), and are designed for target practice, small game hunting and field target shooting. Often air rifle ammo is made of metal or lead, and is similar of shotgun bird shot. Pellet air rifles generally work on compressed air in order to maximize the force of the pellet, and sometimes using magnets to hold the BB’s in the barrel, which are ordinarily metal but now and then plastic is used in more game focused styles.

These guns are capable of slinging projectiles a long way which varies depending on the type, power source, and caliber of the gun. While today’s air guns are more powerful than the older traditional bb guns that we most commonly think of, many individuals still prescribe using at least a.22 caliber gun if it will be used to shoot anything other than small game.

Types of Pellet Guns

BB guns are not just for kids anymore. We all grew up with bb guns, but today there are war games as well as competitions that many adults participate in. A “BB” is typically made of steel with a copper or zinc plating, while a pellet is generally made out of lead. There is a wide range of BB gun types to choose from, ranging from co2 powered pistols and rifles to, spring-piston powered, gas spring, pneumatic, ranging from low-powered pistols to high-powered pellet air rifles–pellet guns come in a large variety of types and sizes with a variety of ammo, and accessories, available for each different use.

Airsoft air rifles are extremely popular today, and are also commonly referred to as BB guns or pellet guns. They also discharge orbed projectiles with the common Airsoft “BBs” measuring 6 mm in diameter. Rather than being constructed of metal, Airsoft ammo is made of plastic or other non-metallic materials specifically geared to impart low target damage (however, they can still be unsafe if casually or wrongfully used). Airsoft air guns and rifles are often employed for war-games just like in traditional paintball wars.

Pellet rifles come in a wide variety, often being replicas of real guns. You can get air rifles that are designed to look like shotguns, as well as very accurate sniper rifles. There are also many brands that specialize in hunting rifles. One of the most currently popular co2 pistols is the Beretta XX-TREME, which is based off of the very real Beretta 92 firearm. The Beretta has been used by law enforcement in the field in countless criminal confrontations. The most well known bb gun of all would be the 1938 Daisy Red Rider. Who knows how many kids grew up with a Red Rider!

Pellet Air Gun Uses

Small game hunting is a frequent use for pellet rifles, and they also make a good first gun for young adults just beginning to shoot. This is a great way to teach youth about our gun heritage, as well as safety and respect for firearms. While not really useful for self – defense, they do pack a sting and can cause damage if someone is shot in a place like the temple or eye. Another frequent use for pellet air guns is for killing or driving off pests like small rodents infesting the home, or stray dogs bothering people or getting into the trash.

There are many opportunities to shoot competitively with an air gun as well. Each year there are competitions across the US such as the National Rifle Association youth shooting program. This program has classifications for smooth bore BB guns, open from ages 8 to 15, and these classes are popular with youth groups such as Boy Scouts of America and 4H.

Small game hunting includes waterfowl like geese, ducks, and quail; rabbits, hares, squirrels and several tiny animals which aren’t included in the class of big game hunting. The sorts of guns used differ with each sort of game.

“Small powered” rifles are good for squirrels and rabbits, though some like “small gauge” shotguns. Whatever kind of gun you use, make sure that you are trained correctly in the handling as well as the care of your gun.

Before going on a real hunt, practice shooting from different distances and create eventualities to imitate a game hunt. This may prepare you for the particular hunt and guarantee that you are going to not be disappointed.

As significantly, ensure that you are privy to the rules in your state and have all of the necessary permits.

Squirrels:

- When it is raining, squirrels are more active than normal.

- Experienced hunters track squirrels by sound, and not so much by sight. A wooded area offers many clues like the swishing of branches, chattering, nuts falling, or the sound of a squirrel chewing on an acorn.

- Watch your step and stalk as noiselessly as possible.

- Never hurry to pick up a squirrel that’s hit unless it is just crippled and could escape; pause some time, listen and inspect nearby trees, there could be others nearby.

- After shots are fired, squirrels routinely go into their holes, stand still, or lay flat against tree branches to cover themselves. When you’re wearing camouflage, you can just sit down and wait.

When hunting for raccoons:

- You have to have 1 good hunting dog: you cannot hunt another way, even if you’ve got the best hunting hardware.

- The “.22 caliber rifle” is the ideal gun for hunting raccoons.

- Flashlights are critical in raccoon hunting, as you are hunting in the “dark “. Search the web or a sporting goods store for flashlights made particularly for hunters.

- Raccoons like living close to a water supply and near corn fields. Ask authorization from farmers so can hunt raccoons; most farmers are really prepared to permit you to seek raccoons as they’re really detrimental to growing crops.

When hunting for rabbits:

- Apply the “leapfrogging” technique, where many hunters cover an area for a time period, then move to another area.

- Purchase a couple of tear resistant pants that may defend you from briars or plants to help hunt better.

- Wear neon orange caps so that other hunters can see you even when you’re far away and not mistake you for prey.

- A shotgun with improved “cylinder choke” and # 6 or 7-1/2 shot shells, is ideal for rabbit hunting, because cottontails jump into thick cover very quickly. This gun has a wide and heavy “shot pattern” that will efficiently hit a rabbit without much damage to its meat.

- Rather than attempting to find rabbit bodies, search for a rabbit’s eyes; their eyes are dark and round and stand out against the bushes: they’re simply seen by an observant hunter.

- By walking slowly through the bushes then all of a sudden stopping for roughly 10 seconds, then walking again, rabbits presume that they’ve been spotted and run.

Shooting tips for safety:

- Treat each gun with the respect a loaded gun demands.

- Unload your gun when you’re not using it.

- Ensure that the barrel is free from obstructions and the ammo that you are using is the acceptable size for the gun.

- Be sure to spot your target before taking a shot.

- Never point your gun at anything aside from when aiming to shoot.

- Never jump over a fence, climb a tree or jump a ditch carrying a loaded gun.

- Look after your gun by cleaning it after each use.

- Don’t shoot any hard, leveled surface as bouncing is possible.