HELP!!!!

[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.