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Update: Son's First Rifle - Advice Needed
Posted on 11/17/23 at 9:21 am
Posted on 11/17/23 at 9:21 am
This past Tuesday my 7 year old shot his first deer with our neighbor's .243. He's a patient shooter and a quick learner - 75 yrd double lung shot in the rain, deer didn't take 40 paces before crumbling.
I'd like to get a youth or compact model rifle in either 7mm-08 or 6.5 bleedmore for him to carry for the next few seasons before passing it down to his brother. I'm leaning towards a Tikka T3x compact but wanted the boards opinion.
Update: After doing some more research and taking everyone's input into consideration I ended up going with a Bergera B14 Wilderness HMR in 6.5CM. It is a heavy gun (9.7 lbs), but as DrunkenTigah pointed out I will be carrying it most of the time for him. With the HMR i can adjust both the riser height and LOP so both the 7 yrs old and 4 yrs old can shoot a rifle that's fit for them when they're ready. I'm looking forward to putting some brass through it. Will post pictures once it comes in and is set up!
I'd like to get a youth or compact model rifle in either 7mm-08 or 6.5 bleedmore for him to carry for the next few seasons before passing it down to his brother. I'm leaning towards a Tikka T3x compact but wanted the boards opinion.
Update: After doing some more research and taking everyone's input into consideration I ended up going with a Bergera B14 Wilderness HMR in 6.5CM. It is a heavy gun (9.7 lbs), but as DrunkenTigah pointed out I will be carrying it most of the time for him. With the HMR i can adjust both the riser height and LOP so both the 7 yrs old and 4 yrs old can shoot a rifle that's fit for them when they're ready. I'm looking forward to putting some brass through it. Will post pictures once it comes in and is set up!
This post was edited on 11/24/23 at 4:41 pm
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Posted on 11/17/23 at 9:25 am to CouyonRougarou
The t3x compact would be a great lifetime gun but at a little over 6lbs it’s gonna be pretty stout on the shoulder, even in 7mm-08 or 6.5CM. I assume you’re gonna be carrying the gun most of the time, so I’d stick with the tikka but go with a model with a little more arse.
Posted on 11/17/23 at 9:30 am to CouyonRougarou
Tikka is a great rifle. The only reason I did not purchase Tikka for my son is you have to move safety to fire in order to bolt the gun.
I went with the Weatherby Compact in 308. He will be 10 next month and is big for his age It has 3 position safety, can bolt gun while still on safety. It also comes with stock spacer as he gets older the gun will still fit him.
I went with the Weatherby Compact in 308. He will be 10 next month and is big for his age It has 3 position safety, can bolt gun while still on safety. It also comes with stock spacer as he gets older the gun will still fit him.
Posted on 11/17/23 at 9:30 am to TheDrunkenTigah
I highly recommend the savage youth model Cabela’s sells every year in multiple calibers. I have one in 7-08 and 65cripplemore. I only bought the cripplemore bc when I went to buy them I bought the last 7-08 at the time. My kids are 12 and 15. Perfect guns for them. In fact I shot my only deer last year with his 7-08 bc I left my 270 ammo at the house and had his gun with me in the truck.
Posted on 11/17/23 at 9:38 am to TheDrunkenTigah
quote:
but at a little over 6lbs it’s gonna be pretty stout on the shoulder,
i've put limbsavers on all my tikkas. It helps a decent bit.
Posted on 11/17/23 at 9:38 am to CouyonRougarou
Just do a 308 tikka t3 and he’ll be set for life
Posted on 11/17/23 at 9:43 am to CouyonRougarou
I really like the Ruger American Ranch. I have it in .308, the barrel is threaded and a supressor sits on it 100% of the time now. It's the gun I gravitate to more and more for the sake of my ears. Originally it was for my son to use and learn with, been very happy with it.
Posted on 11/17/23 at 9:52 am to CouyonRougarou
Hard to beat a Tikka, either caliber you mentioned is great.
Posted on 11/17/23 at 9:58 am to The Levee
I actually shoot a Tikka Hunter in .308. He's shot it a few times but isn't as accurate with it from the bench rest - which I attribute to the increased recoil. It will be his to shoot once he is older though, I love that gun.
Posted on 11/17/23 at 10:01 am to CouyonRougarou
quote:
He's shot it a few times but isn't as accurate with it from the bench rest - which I attribute to the increased recoil.
Probably so. I have one in .300wsm. I can shoot it fine but it made me develop a bad flinch for a while no matter what I shot.
Posted on 11/17/23 at 10:01 am to CouyonRougarou
Marlin 336 in 30-30. But I'm old school.
Posted on 11/17/23 at 10:13 am to CouyonRougarou
I'd get a .308 and use the reduced recoil loads until he gets older. He'd be set for life that way.
Posted on 11/17/23 at 10:17 am to CouyonRougarou
Another vote for a tikka 308 it’s all that most hunters would need for the rest of their lives for all deer hunting in North America.
Posted on 11/17/23 at 10:21 am to Ol boy
Ruger American ranch for my kids
One in 6.5 Grendel the other in 300 Bo. Awesome guns
One in 6.5 Grendel the other in 300 Bo. Awesome guns
Posted on 11/17/23 at 10:22 am to CouyonRougarou
.243 is great for a kid. As you can see it puts deer down just fine. I’ve been toying with the idea of a 6.5 Grendel… and I think the easiest solution is getting an upper for my AR for kids to use. My .243 is just too heavy for a kid. An AR will adjust to them at any size, and recoil will be softer than a bolt gun as well. I have been looking into a ruger American ranch in 6.5 Grendel also, and I’m sure I may get one eventually.
Your kid’s at an age where developing and maintaining good habits is important. I would stress looking for a softer shooting caliber. Most of the youth guns are going to be light, so recoil is going to be a huge factor.
Your kid’s at an age where developing and maintaining good habits is important. I would stress looking for a softer shooting caliber. Most of the youth guns are going to be light, so recoil is going to be a huge factor.
This post was edited on 11/17/23 at 10:25 am
Posted on 11/17/23 at 10:40 am to CouyonRougarou
Bought both of my boys ruger Americans in 6.5 creedmoor for their first rifles. Add an mpa muzzle brake and the recoil is very tame but that damn brake was 1/3 the price of the rifle. Great little budget guns that will take them till they can upgrade on their own years later
Posted on 11/17/23 at 10:41 am to CouyonRougarou
I love a 7-08 but the ammo is a bitch to get. I don't shoot mine anymore because of that and just sit on the ammo I have. I would do 308 and he can shoot twice as much for the same price. I imagine 6.5 might be cheap to shoot also.
This post was edited on 11/17/23 at 10:44 am
Posted on 11/17/23 at 10:55 am to CouyonRougarou
I'm currently in the same market for a 7-08 compact. I held the Tikka the other day, and liked it for the most part. While its not a super big deal to some, I did find that the bolt was quite loud, and the safety was somewhat stiff (which can be good or bad).
The other 2 guns on my radar are the Weatherby Vanguard Compact and the Ruger American. Haven't messed with either of those yet, but all reports are they are tack drivers.
The other 2 guns on my radar are the Weatherby Vanguard Compact and the Ruger American. Haven't messed with either of those yet, but all reports are they are tack drivers.
Posted on 11/17/23 at 10:56 am to LEASTBAY
I wouldn't be afraid to get him another 243. I'd also get a Tikka or Bergara. As he grows or if he wants to customize it you can get barrels and chassis off the shelf. Another plus for Bergara is the Rem 700 footprint for trigger replacement.
Posted on 11/17/23 at 11:10 am to Success
quote:
savage youth model
I’ll second this. Bought one in 7mm-08 for my daughter years ago and I hunt with it when she doesn’t go. Perfectly good rifle and stacks em on top of each other at 100yds all day
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