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Looking for my son's first rifle

Posted on 1/2/25 at 9:10 am
Posted by The Levee
Bat Country
Member since Feb 2006
11674 posts
Posted on 1/2/25 at 9:10 am
I shoot a Remington 7600 Pump Action .308

He's only 5 so this is an investment for the future....and if he out-grows it and wants to move on...I figured I'd get one that could be of use with the hogs as a brush gun as well.


I'm looking at the Ruger American Gen 2 Ranch but I'm curious to what round would be sufficient enough to kill hogs and deer. 308 might be too much kick...but they offer it in several options like

6.5 Grendel
450 Bushmaster
300 Blkout
6.5 Creedmoor
6mm Arc
7.62
350 Legend
400 Legend


Thats just for the Gen2 Ranch...if you have any other suggestions I'd be open

Budget is $500-$800
Posted by ruger35
Baton Rouge, LA
Member since Feb 2009
1668 posts
Posted on 1/2/25 at 9:15 am to
Anything in the 6mm family would be a great rifle. Less recoil would be a great way to get him shooting and shooting better than starting him off with a higher recoil gun. An accurate shot is better than a high caliber less accurate shot.
Posted by misterc
St. George
Member since Sep 2014
740 posts
Posted on 1/2/25 at 9:31 am to
I started my daughter (8) with a 308 suppressed then also got the 300 blackout. She got a case of target panic from the 308. The 300 blkout is fine to 100 yards but I do not let her shoot past 125 yards with subsonic due to ballistics. I also put a can on the 300 which makes it almost dead silent with subsonic ammo. I was able to fix her target panic and have her shooting a 1 MOA group at 100 yards consistently. I can move her to supersonic ammo then I'll move her back to the 308 in a year or 2 so she can extend her range. FWIW I did have to shave the barrel back to be able to fully screw the cans down on the gen2 barrel.
Posted by Purple Spoon
Hoth
Member since Feb 2005
20211 posts
Posted on 1/2/25 at 9:35 am to
Out of those the 350 Legend is hard to beat.


Just a tidbit from experience though. Don't rush it. Make sure he is comfortable and if he is not, give it another year. I have been guilty of trying to hard too soon and it ended up being stressful for me and him. I backed off and when the time was right we were both confident and it was an awesome experience. Good luck. Its an exciting time for a dad.
Posted by The Levee
Bat Country
Member since Feb 2006
11674 posts
Posted on 1/2/25 at 9:39 am to
quote:

Out of those the 350 Legend is hard to beat.


Just a tidbit from experience though. Don't rush it. Make sure he is comfortable and if he is not, give it another year. I have been guilty of trying to hard too soon and it ended up being stressful for me and him. I backed off and when the time was right we were both confident and it was an awesome experience. Good luck. Its an exciting time for a dad.


This is what I was thinking as well. Looks like I can suppress this round with a 30 cal can as well

Thanks for the advice...this boy is ready to shoot because he saw his older cousins shooting last week.
Posted by Kashmir
Member since Dec 2014
9646 posts
Posted on 1/2/25 at 9:54 am to
got my son a 30-30 when he was 8. Had a gunsmith saw the stock down some to fit him better. When he was 12, I bought him the youth model 7 in 7.08. Later got him a .308.
I still use the 7.08 occasionally.
Posted by tenfoe
Member since Jun 2011
6947 posts
Posted on 1/2/25 at 9:57 am to
I don’t understand the obsession with suppressing deer rifles. Especially for kids. Everyone has a pair of ear protection these days, and it makes a rifle that much heavier for a kid to handle.

Also, what is the definition of a brush gun?
Posted by DownshiftAndFloorIt
Here
Member since Jan 2011
71020 posts
Posted on 1/2/25 at 9:58 am to
6.5 creedmoor is the right answer from those options.

There used to be low recoil .308 ammo on the shelves. 125gr if I remember right. If that's still out there a .308.might be the best choice for ammo compatibility in the future.
Posted by turkish
Member since Aug 2016
2260 posts
Posted on 1/2/25 at 10:25 am to
I know it’s not quite what you asked, but my recommendation is to get a 223 and another short action (6.5, 7-08, 308) in the same rifle make model, preferably one you can interchange youth and full-length stocks. Let them practice with the .223 — like hundred of rounds a year. It’s cheap. Then hunt with the other. They’ll never know the difference and they will be an absolute killer behind the rifle.
This post was edited on 1/2/25 at 10:26 am
Posted by The Levee
Bat Country
Member since Feb 2006
11674 posts
Posted on 1/2/25 at 10:34 am to
quote:

Also, what is the definition of a brush gun?



a perfect brush gun is a 30-30 lever action....something you'd use to track deer in case you needed another shot....also something tough that you could throw in the sxs really quick to go smoke some pigs during daylight hours if needed.
Posted by halleburton
Member since Dec 2009
1601 posts
Posted on 1/2/25 at 10:41 am to
What have your results been shooting deer with subsonic .300blk? What ammo are you using?
Posted by The Levee
Bat Country
Member since Feb 2006
11674 posts
Posted on 1/2/25 at 10:44 am to
quote:

What have your results been shooting deer with subsonic .300blk? What ammo are you using?



I do NOT recommend using this ammo on a hog larger than 100lbs...lol
Posted by Bayou Ken
Member since Sep 2018
165 posts
Posted on 1/2/25 at 10:45 am to
According to multiple reviews, the "Savage Stevens Model 334" is widely considered the best bolt-action gun for the price particularly for beginners or those looking for a budget-friendly hunting rifle, due to it's affordable price point while still delivering reliable performance and accuracy. There are several You Tube video reviews you my want to watch. 6.5 Creedmoor would be an excellent choice.
Posted by Red Stick Rambler
https://i.imgur.com/2j5cbGm.jpg
Member since Jun 2011
2262 posts
Posted on 1/2/25 at 10:53 am to
quote:

I shoot a Remington 7600 Pump Action .308


I'll leave it to others to offer recommendations for your son's rifle.... but a Remington pump is an old-school bad arse rifle!
Posted by TheDrunkenTigah
Baton Rouge
Member since Aug 2011
18148 posts
Posted on 1/2/25 at 10:56 am to
Some will scoff at the idea, but if I were in your shoes I would get the ranch in 5.56 and buy as much 62gr Barnes TSX loads as I could find. Will have zero recoil, and is more than capable of taking southern whitetail with a pass through to find blood if and when you need to. It will be a fun gun to have when he gets older and wants something else, the 1:8 twist on the 5.56 will let it shoot anything you feed it and it’ll be cheap to practice with.
Posted by TheDrunkenTigah
Baton Rouge
Member since Aug 2011
18148 posts
Posted on 1/2/25 at 11:04 am to
quote:

don’t understand the obsession with suppressing deer rifles.


I don’t think it’s essential but with every gun nowadays coming standard with a brake on it, these aren’t the same animal we grew up with. Even with foam plugs in your ears will be ringing, you need legit muffs, and it’s easy to induce a flinch if you aren’t very diligent about that. I can definitely see the appeal of just taking all that out of the equation.
This post was edited on 1/2/25 at 11:06 am
Posted by The Levee
Bat Country
Member since Feb 2006
11674 posts
Posted on 1/2/25 at 11:06 am to
quote:

I'll leave it to others to offer recommendations for your son's rifle.... but a Remington pump is an old-school bad arse rifle!



Oh thank you....I've often thought about replacing it...but my grandad gave it to me when I was 13 and I dont think I'll ever use another rifle to deer hunt.....its tried and true...

One day, it will be my oldest's...but I'll have to be dead and gone
Posted by TheBoo
South to Louisiana
Member since Aug 2012
5374 posts
Posted on 1/2/25 at 11:10 am to
Out of those, the Grendel.


Generally, .30-.30 .
Posted by tiger rag 93
KCMO
Member since Oct 2007
2918 posts
Posted on 1/2/25 at 11:11 am to
My first rifle was a Remington 700 in .243 with a synthetic stock. Great little rifle, still use it to this day. Has killed every deer I’ve shot at with it.
Posted by The Levee
Bat Country
Member since Feb 2006
11674 posts
Posted on 1/2/25 at 11:11 am to
quote:

he Grendel.



why Grendel over Creedmoor?
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