HELP!!!!

[muleyslayer#1]

So my dad said if i get good grades i can get a rifle because my uncle is taking me to Idaho in november. So i need help of what kind of rifle to get.

[carpsniperg2]

Well lets see how your grades are. Naaa just joking with ya. Well here is some thoughts for you. What all are you planning on hunting? There are many great calibers out there. Just kinda depends on what fits you best and what you can shoot. If you are smaller frame the 243 might be a good choice if you are a bigger framed kid a 30-06 would be a great choice. The two calibers i really like for youth hunters. That can take any game out there with well placed shots are. The 7mm-08 and the 25-06 they are both great choices. I would stay away from the magnums for a youth hunter. Bolt guns are always a great choice. I would look at the tikka t3 rifles good price and great shooting guns.

[muleyslayer#1]

yea im 15 so i was thinkin  and hopen for a 300 ultra mag or a 30-06 remington 770 model

[carpsniperg2]

Have you shot the 300 ultra mag? or much of the magnums? I would hate to see a young hunter ,pick up bad habits from a big magnum. I would really say the 30-06 would be a better choice for you them. The 30-06 will kill any animal you want to hunt. Within a reasonable range.

[400out]

Have you shot the 300 ultra mag? or much of the magnums? I would hate to see a young hunter ,pick up bad habits from a big magnum. I would really say the 30-06 would be a better choice for you them. The 30-06 will kill any animal you want to hunt. Within a reasonable range.

[Buckhole]

.270 isn't a bad choice either...nice flat shooting round. Keep those grades up and do your homework!   

[CAMPMEAT]

I'm a big SOB. I got rid of my 300UM. It kicks like a mule and hurts. But, It had the synthetic stock too. It was a Remington 700. I sold it and bought a Savage Model 10 .308 w/adjustable trigger, 20 inch bull barrel.

[220hunter]

just get something that you could shoot for a long time, a 270 would probably be perfect, thats what i shoot and i dont plan on replacing it anytime soon

[longrange7mm]

get the 30 06 its a great round you may be 15 now but in 15 years you will still pull that proven rifle out and take it to the field.  
You start getting into the magnums it can get very expensive to shoot them and I know that when i was your age I through enough lead to anchor a cruise ship  

[YoungBuck]

Im 15 too and I shoot a Tikka t3 25-06 and it shoots flatter and farther than any 30-06 and with the Hornady custom loads it shoots a quarter sized group and has great knock down power.

[TheHunt]

I started my son out with a 270 and hand loaded light loads then moved him up as he could handle the shooting.  Then he wanted a large weapon.  

His high school graduation gift he wanted a 338 RUM.  He is 230 very, very strong played football.  He said it kicks so we purchased a different stock.  He makes tells me I can not shoot it because the kick my stop my heart.  He can only shoot it roughly 10 times then he is done.   Mostly because he will start flinching which is a really bad habbit.  

[longrange7mm]

I started my son out with a 270 and hand loaded light loads then moved him up as he could handle the shooting.  Then he wanted a large weapon.  

His high school graduation gift he wanted a 338 RUM.  He is 230 very, very strong played football.  He said it kicks so we purchased a different stock.  He makes tells me I can not shoot it because the kick my stop my heart.  He can only shoot it roughly 10 times then he is done.   Mostly because he will start flinching which is a really bad habbit.  

Tell him to invest in a muzzle break i had one built that is around 9.5 lbs and has a muzzle break I shoot 300 gr bergers the kick is not bad at all

[NWBREW]

270 or 30-06, both great choices.  Rem. model 700

[ducks55]

.308 is my opinion and is what I started on when I was 11 but I was bigger than most so not real sure what youre comfortable with

[dreamunelk]

.308, 30-06, 270 are my recommendations.  They will take take all of our popular big game and factory ammo is inexpensive.  Lots of options for hand-loading to if you have the equipment.  As a kid I mowed lawns, picked cans and what ever else I could for cash to buy ammo.  So unless dad is willing and able to provide the ammo I would give ammo cost some thought.

[bobcat]

.308, 30-06, 270 are my recommendations.  They will take take all of our popular big game and factory ammo is inexpensive.  Lots of options for hand-loading to if you have the equipment.  As a kid I mowed lawns, picked cans and what ever else I could for cash to buy ammo.  So unless dad is willing and able to provide the ammo I would give ammo cost some thought.

   One of those three is all you will ever need. You do not want an Ultra Mag!  Too expensive to shoot and too much recoil. Chances are you would develop a flinch and then never hit anything from then on. Stay away from the Remington 770. Get a used model 700 if you have to but don't get the 770. Or get a Savage.

[Maverick]

I'm 20 years old and have a 270 rem model 700. I love it! I got it when I was 15 as a birthday gift and I don't think I'll ever get rid of it. That would be the gun for you in my opinion. The thing to remember about guns is bigger isn't always better. I'd like to get a 25-06 next. I agree with young buck. They shoot flat!

[autodink13]

I would say tikka 25-06.  The tikka is a great gun and the 25-06 is a great caliber.

[toothfangclaw]

.308, 30-06, 270 are my recommendations.  They will take take all of our popular big game and factory ammo is inexpensive.  Lots of options for hand-loading to if you have the equipment.  As a kid I mowed lawns, picked cans and what ever else I could for cash to buy ammo.  So unless dad is willing and able to provide the ammo I would give ammo cost some thought.

   One of those three is all you will ever need. You do not want an Ultra Mag!  Too expensive to shoot and too much recoil. Chances are you would develop a flinch and then never hit anything from then on. Stay away from the Remington 770. Get a used model 700 if you have to but don't get the 770. Or get a Savage.

I am going to disagree with you. But only on a couple things. If he can get a 700 for the right price, GET IT! But don't rule out the 770 and savage arms! FOR THE PRICE of a new gun. You can not beat it! Savage has proven to be Extremely accurate right out of the box. And the 710/770 are decent, No frills, ACCURATE gun that goes BANG every time and kills things deader then dead. I can shoot 1" groups all day long with my 270 win rem 710. Shooting the cheep Federal 130 grain ammo. I am the limit of the accuracy with my gun. But the 700 is a much more quality of rig, if you can swing it. I personally put around 150 rounds through my gun and it has gone off every time. I got it used from my GF's brother for a steal of a life time. My GF's dad has a 710 in 06 and has killed everything he has put in the sights. What more can you ask? 

[Skyvalhunter]

Better get good grades first!! Then decide what all you might hunt for in the future to decide what caliber to get.

[bobcat]

.308, 30-06, 270 are my recommendations.  They will take take all of our popular big game and factory ammo is inexpensive.  Lots of options for hand-loading to if you have the equipment.  As a kid I mowed lawns, picked cans and what ever else I could for cash to buy ammo.  So unless dad is willing and able to provide the ammo I would give ammo cost some thought.

   One of those three is all you will ever need. You do not want an Ultra Mag!  Too expensive to shoot and too much recoil. Chances are you would develop a flinch and then never hit anything from then on. Stay away from the Remington 770. Get a used model 700 if you have to but don't get the 770. Or get a Savage.

I am going to disagree with you. But only on a couple things. If he can get a 700 for the right price, GET IT! But don't rule out the 770 and savage arms! FOR THE PRICE of a new gun. You can not beat it! Savage has proven to be Extremely accurate right out of the box. And the 710/770 are decent, No frills, ACCURATE gun that goes BANG every time and kills things deader then dead. I can shoot 1" groups all day long with my 270 win rem 710. Shooting the cheep Federal 130 grain ammo. I am the limit of the accuracy with my gun. But the 700 is a much more quality of rig, if you can swing it. I personally put around 150 rounds through my gun and it has gone off every time. I got it used from my GF's brother for a steal of a life time. My GF's dad has a 710 in 06 and has killed everything he has put in the sights. What more can you ask? 

I was recommending that he get a Savage. Not that he shouldn't get one. I'd take the Savage over the Remington 770 any day. I wouldn't hunt with a 770 even if it was given to me.

[uncoolperson]

If i get good grades, would someone buy a rifle... my wife says I can't.

[270Shooter]

Don't be a wuss get a 375 ultra mag, after all those idaho white tail are tough as hell

[Vek]

Easy.  Get something whose ammo is cheap.  That means 270, 308, or 30-06.  DO NOT GET A REMINGTON 770 or 710. 

Ideas - lately various stores (Dick's, Sportsman's Warehouse, etc.) have had brand new stainless remington 700 ADLs in various chamberings for $400 - $430.  That's a heck of a deal. 

Or, scour the pawnshops for a used stainless ruger - the one with the really ugly "boat paddle" skeletonized stock is preferred here.  Make sure it comes with the rings that it came with when new.  Rugers are nice because they have rings included and they're sturdy. 

If you get a remington or a winchester, use talley lightweight scope mounts and get a 4x or 6x fixed leupold scope.

If you can find an "ADL" type rifle with no drop plate on the magazine, that's the best way to go.   

I give you a 10% chance of following this advice because you're 15 and are likely easily enamored with big powerful expensive chamberings and scopes.  Set that aside and realize that simple, light, tough, and cheap is best.  That means a ruger, remington, or winchester 30-06 with a 4x leupold scope.  I've been doing this for a long time - and I'm hunting with exactly what I prescribe for you, and I could easily sell what I got and get a big heavy magnum.  But I won't. 

[Rainstorm Hunter]

It all depends on what you are going to hunt and at what distances you will be shooting. If you are just gonna hunt deer a .308 is a great choice and can be accurate out to 400 yards with the right ammo.  If you are gonna hunt elk, or mule deer at farther ranges I would suggest a 7mm Remington Magnum.  

[halflife65]

Unless you plan on shooting Core Lokts out of a RUM (undoubtedly there are some other exceptions), you'll pay between $55 an $85 for a box ammo.   That's between $2.75 and $4.25 PER SHOT.  That gets expensive in a hurry.

Check out the Tikkas in .270 or .30-06.

I've shot more deer, bears and elk with a .270 than any other caliber (of course, I now shoot them with arrows, but that's beside the point.)  Plus they don't kick that bad and/or you don't need to use a muzzle brake and have a 9.5 pound rifle.  Not saying a RUM wouldn't be awesome to have (it would) but you can get that later.  Good chance you'll own more than one rifle before you grow too old to shoot.  Just not sure that the RUM is the best choice for the FIRST rifle.

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

You are talking chevys and fords here bud.  the calibers are great for a first, all around gun, they will work great, i would say a .270 or '06.  Its a great first gun and when you get more, you always have a reliable back up.  As far as brands, its personal preference.  Go check them out, see what feels best and what you can afford and go with it.  Just remember you get what you pay for.  Trying to be cheap and buying a rifle doesn't always work.  There are a lot of good used rifles out there and if you wanna save money go that way.  Find a rifle you like and go practice. 

[CSOUTFITTERS]

You came to the right site for gun recommendations.  There are alot of of guys on here that have been shooting and hunting 3-4 times longer than you or I have been alive.  I definitely say no on the ultra mag.  I have a rem 700 and its not all that great.  I pay 50-65 a box for ammo, therefore i dont shoot it as much as i would like to.  Get something you can find ammo anywhere.  Im glad i brought my .308 to montana this year because i bought 4 boxes at the local hardware store just to shoot prarie dogs, couldnt have done that with the ultra mag.  Shooting is fun but not as fun if you spend $200.00 for an afternoon of ammo.    I do recommend getting something in a stainless barrel and action so it wont show wear or rust.  Also consider some of the reduced recoil ammo that Remington makes.  a 7mm mag in reduced recoil may feel like a .308.   good luck and you can shoot the full house loads later on. good luck and  keep the grades up.   

[huntandjeep]

i agree wilth everyone else get a .270 or 30.06. Good guns plenty of power cheap to shoot.

[ICEMAN]

The kid wants a 300 RUM, let em' get the RUM!  Sort of like that big muscle car you all got in highschool....

I absolutely love my Ultramag. Wish I got it years ago.

[C-Money]

I am a big fan of the 30-06, .270win and the 7mm-08. The 7mm-08 is a very sweet shooting rifle!

[diamondboy1]

I am the one who is going to buy the gun so am I wrong for asking for grades

[halflife65]

I am the one who is going to buy the gun so am I wrong for asking for grades

Not at all.

[uncoolperson]

I am the one who is going to buy the gun so am I wrong for asking for grades

carrot sure beats the stick.
I got $50 for every A
I had to pay $10 for every B
pay $25 for every C
pay $40 for every D
pay $50 for every F

most of my paychecks back then went straight to my dad.



(ha... just thought of it, now I'm paying ~$1000 for all of em [and double if it's a D or less])

[carpsniperg2]

I am the one who is going to buy the gun so am I wrong for asking for grades

Nothing wrong with it at all. Its a good goal for a kid/youngman I worked very hard for a few guns

[ribka]

Learn to walk before you run. Start with a small less recoil caliber like 7mm-08, 270, 30-06 or even a 243. Learn the fundamentals of shooting by practicing by shooting 100's of rounds with a rifle you can handle first. Would like to see someone beginning (teenager)  to hunt shoot more than 20 rounds of 300 RUM off hand without flinching and without developing bad habits.

Like a lot of much more experienced guys on here suggested ( many are very successful hunters) go with a smaller more recoil friendly firearm.


Savage, Weatherby Vantage, Marlin xl-7 all very good, accurate and in expensive firearms. Personally like the Weatherby Vantage for around $500 with a scope. You can upgrade in the future and throw on a different stock and trigger .

Rewarding good grades is great incentive for a new rifle

[Bob33]

A flinch is a terrible habit to break.   It's best to start with a caliber that can shoot mild ammunition: they've been mentioned already.  Are you planning to shoot anything larger than deer?  If so, I would start at 270 caliber. 

Practicing a lot with a 270, 308, or 30-06 will make you a far more effective hunter than shooting 10 rounds through a RUM.  Don't just shoot from a bench; practice shooting just as you would hunting: prone, sitting, offhand.  Find your effective ranges for each method.

Bolt action's are a great choice. 

Make: Remington, Savage, Tikka all make good rifles at reasonable prices.

Make sure you budget at least $200 for a scope; a 4x or 3-9x would be a good choice.

Good luck; I hope you get a 4.0 and a nice rifle!

[C-Money]

I cant say enough about the 7mm-08. After shooting one this weekend, I was very surprised at how little felt recoil there was. It was quite a bit milder than even my .270win. The load I used in the 7mm-08 was 9 grains less than the 270win load, using the same bullet weight and powders of similar burn speeds. I was very surprised at how much difference difference there was. The 7mm-08 would be a strong choice for a youngster to start with. I like to hear about parents who set goals for their children and reward them for their hard work!

[JBar]

I am the one who is going to buy the gun so am I wrong for asking for grades

carrot sure beats the stick.
I got $50 for every A
I had to pay $10 for every B
pay $25 for every C
pay $40 for every D
pay $50 for every F


(

Oh I like that! I'll be talking to Muleys Dad about this one!! We'll get muley into a good rifle and it WONT be an Ultra Mag. Muley can handle some kick but that's over doing it for the WT we'll be hunting in ID. Just keep the grades up sport!

[7mag.]

It depends on the person. I got my 7mm. Rem. Mag. at 15. I have never had a problem with flinching or been bothered by recoil. I still use the same rifle today, it's my favorite. If it had been a .308 or 300 Win. Mag., the story would probably be the same. I personaly don't see the draw for the ultra mags, but to each their own. Just buy a good quality rifle (like a Rem. 700, or a Win. mod. 70. I don't know anything about Tikka's), and practice, practice, practice. Don't forget good glass. It can make a huge difference. Good luck and study hard. Rifle or not, grades are important.

[CamoDup]

I would have to say a .270 or .257 Weatherby... if you look and compare the ballistics on the Weatherbys they shoot flatter and hit harder then most of the other rounds on the market.  they are also pretty cheap too. 

[TwoFeet]

Well lets see how your grades are. Naaa just joking with ya. Well here is some thoughts for you. What all are you planning on hunting? There are many great calibers out there. Just kinda depends on what fits you best and what you can shoot. If you are smaller frame the 243 might be a good choice if you are a bigger framed kid a 30-06 would be a great choice. The two calibers i really like for youth hunters. That can take any game out there with well placed shots are. The 7mm-08 and the 25-06 they are both great choices. I would stay away from the magnums for a youth hunter. Bolt guns are always a great choice. I would look at the tikka t3 rifles good price and great shooting guns.

Great advice CarpSniper.  I myself am a 6'1" 225 pound guy, and can still be occasionally prone to flinch while shooting from the table at the range.  I shoot a Weatherby Mark V Ultralight in 7mm Wthby Mag, which isn't bad at all, but even then I'll sometimes have pre-fire flinch towards the end of a shoot.  An old timer, and very accomplished sniper, taught me a pretty good lesson...  He went to his truck and grabbed me his match grade .223 (obviously a small/non-legal for big game caliber firearm).  He had me focus on my breathing techniques and fire several volleys before getting back onto the 7mm.  Worked well for me, so I've brought a .223 with me ever since.  Practicing proper technique is very important, and getting to know your gun is even more so.

All that being said, I have a buddy that's taken many quality animals with his .243 Remington.  The keys to his success have been practice, knowing his weapon, and taking responsible shots.  As far as manufacturer, you won't go wrong with the Tikka T3.  Don't know where you live, but if you're anywhere on the West Side, have your dad take you up to Kesselring Gun Shop in Alger.  Talk to either Don or an older, white haired, glasses wearing gentleman (his name is slipping my mind at the moment).  These guys are the best in the business and will ask you all the right questions to try to get you the best gun for your money and what you'll be using it for.  I've bought many guns up there, and have never come across a more friendly and knowledgeable bunch of guys.

Good luck hunting.

[gunnarnewt]

I can't say enough about the 7mm-08 either! A wonderful gun that doesn't put a hurt on a kid, and gets the job done down range. I started with a 270 and it's always been a sentimental favorite too.