Hunting Washington Forum

Equipment & Gear => Guns and Ammo => Topic started by: hoyt2002 on February 22, 2011, 10:19:15 PM

Title: starter rifle.
Post by: hoyt2002 on February 22, 2011, 10:19:15 PM: I'm looking for a starter rifle for my son. you guys got any suggestions? he wants to step up to something besides the 22 and 223. plus it's hes birthday in 2 weeks.
Title: Re: starter rifle.
Post by: JimmyHoffa on February 22, 2011, 10:23:37 PM: What age and size? You can choose on weight, recoil energy, future hunting practicality, and so on.
Title: Re: starter rifle.
Post by: hoyt2002 on February 22, 2011, 10:29:51 PM: he is 8 90pounds 4ft tall. light gun he's not recoil sensitive. I want to keep it that way. future hunting practicality would be what i'm looking for.
Title: Re: starter rifle.
Post by: HighCountryHunter88 on February 22, 2011, 10:33:16 PM: just deer 243, 2506, 6mm rem ( what i use for deer ) 257 rob. elk too 7mm o8 270 308
Title: Re: starter rifle.
Post by: carpsniperg2 on February 22, 2011, 10:35:19 PM: 7mm-08 tikka, very affordable, mild recoil and will take any animal around. That's the next jump up from the smaller 223's and stuff.
Title: Re: starter rifle.
Post by: Wenatcheejay on February 22, 2011, 10:35:53 PM: My son has used a .243 and a 7mm-08. The 7mm-08 (tikia) does not have more recoil imo and with 140gr bullets it packs a punch.
Title: Re: starter rifle.
Post by: JackOfAllTrades on February 22, 2011, 10:38:12 PM: Best bang for the buck as far as I'm concerned.

http://marlinfirearms.com/Firearms/centerfireBoltAction/XS7.asp (http://marlinfirearms.com/Firearms/centerfireBoltAction/XS7.asp)

they've recently offered the long action in stainless.

http://marlinfirearms.com/Firearms/centerfireBoltAction/XL7S.asp (http://marlinfirearms.com/Firearms/centerfireBoltAction/XL7S.asp)

-Steve
Title: Re: starter rifle.
Post by: engelwood on February 22, 2011, 10:39:37 PM: .243 Winchester Super Short???
Title: Re: starter rifle.
Post by: carpsniperg2 on February 22, 2011, 10:42:02 PM: Dang it engelwood! We are not trying to break the kids piggy bank here :chuckle:
Title: Re: starter rifle.
Post by: engelwood on February 22, 2011, 10:46:07 PM: Just trying to hook the kid up. That's all.... :chuckle:
Title: Re: starter rifle.
Post by: Jamieb on February 22, 2011, 10:49:26 PM: Rem mod. 7 compact in 7mm-08
http://www.remington.com/products/firearms/centerfire/model-seven/model-seven-synthetic.aspx (http://www.remington.com/products/firearms/centerfire/model-seven/model-seven-synthetic.aspx)
Title: Re: starter rifle.
Post by: JimmyHoffa on February 22, 2011, 10:52:05 PM: I think most of the cartridges listed would be good. Anything based off the .308 parent case or even the necked 06 from 270 and under would probably be good. In bolt guns the 06 receiver is longer than the .308 type receivers usually resulting in a longer heavier rifle. TC makes a set up that is easy to modify as he goes. NEF also makes some that can be good for a kid--they are singleshot though.
Title: Re: starter rifle.
Post by: Caseyd on February 22, 2011, 10:55:22 PM: Quote from: engelwood on February 22, 2011, 10:39:37 PM
.243 Winchester Super Short???

Recommended full barrel cleaning after 3 shots :yike:

It would be a fun caliber though
Title: Re: starter rifle.
Post by: engelwood on February 22, 2011, 10:58:43 PM: Quote from: Caseyd on February 22, 2011, 10:55:22 PM
Quote from: engelwood on February 22, 2011, 10:39:37 PM
.243 Winchester Super Short???

Recommended full barrel cleaning after 3 shots :yike:

It would be a fun caliber though

Was not aware of that :yike: :yike:
Title: Re: starter rifle.
Post by: Bob33 on February 22, 2011, 11:00:37 PM: My 9 year old shoots a 30-06 with no problem, but we use very mild ammunition. We loaded some extremely mild ammunition for my 25-06 and my 6 year old daughter shoots that. I kid you not when I say the recoil is close to a .22.

Get a gun that fits. You can use most any caliber as long as the ammunition is tame enough.
Title: Re: starter rifle.
Post by: hoyt2002 on February 22, 2011, 11:01:46 PM: thanks for all the info guys. i'll check out the tikia and the model 7.
Title: Re: starter rifle.
Post by: hoyt2002 on February 22, 2011, 11:02:56 PM: I do reload so making mild ammo wont be a problem at all
Title: Re: starter rifle.
Post by: bod on February 23, 2011, 05:45:45 AM: I have a tikka super accurate spend an extra 30.00 and get the limbsaver recoil pad for it.
Title: Re: starter rifle.
Post by: BK on February 23, 2011, 05:54:33 PM: I'd go .308, load mild to start out, work up in power as your son grows. .308 is good for anything in this state and then some and adequate for most anything on this earth.
Title: Re: starter rifle.
Post by: arees on February 23, 2011, 06:32:26 PM: I have been looking at the same issues for my son. I have just come across the reloading data for Trail Boss. This gives the chance to shoot really light plinking loads in 270, 30-06, etc. and then work up to hunting loads.
Title: Re: starter rifle.
Post by: demontang on February 23, 2011, 06:56:22 PM: The wssm have a bad rap. They won't burn a barrel out any quicker then the 243win 25-06rem. I've looked long and hard at them in a at plate form and it's going to be the next rifle I get I'm sure of it. You can get them with Crome line barrel that will last twice as long.
Title: Re: starter rifle.
Post by: HunterJim on February 23, 2011, 07:01:41 PM: My son did very well with a Savage .243. He started shooting it at 8 years old and is now in his early 20's. He has killed a lot of deer with it. Still shooting it today at coyotes and such. His 16th birthday brought a .300WSM to him. The .243 allowed him to learn his marksmanship for several years before moving up to a big boy caliber.
Title: Re: starter rifle.
Post by: hoyt2002 on February 23, 2011, 07:12:00 PM: thanks again for all the info an reply's. I already have a 308 so i might go that rout and make light loads for him. it keeps it simple for me with the reloading part. any other suggestions on rifle would be appreciated
Title: Re: starter rifle.
Post by: hokey97 on February 23, 2011, 07:52:34 PM: 308 270 243
Title: Re: starter rifle.
Post by: Antlerking on February 23, 2011, 07:54:37 PM: I love the A-bolts but the bad thing is they dont guarrentee that thier guns will shoot 1 min of angle. Tikka has a good thing going with their guarrentee and for the price you cant beat it.
Title: Re: starter rifle.
Post by: G.R.K on February 23, 2011, 11:33:15 PM: 243 win :dunno:
Title: Re: starter rifle.
Post by: dannysdaddy on February 24, 2011, 12:06:01 AM: ive got a few savages that are awesome guns. very very accurate and wont break the bank. as for caliber i cant really give ideas other than whatever you think he can SAFELY handle. i killed a lot of everything with a 243 as a kid.
Title: Re: starter rifle.
Post by: spookgus on February 24, 2011, 12:32:43 AM: If you go the 308 route since you already have one. The Speer manual #13 posts reduced loads that are at or under 30-30 velocity. Not just a mild load but a reduced load with appropriate powder for the application. I shot a friend's $300 Marlin XL7 and liked it.