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Message
Which rifle???
Posted on 12/2/19 at 11:09 pm
Posted on 12/2/19 at 11:09 pm
Well I've been researching and trying to figure out what my best option will be for a new rifle. My son is 5, and will hopefully be behind the trigger in the next couple years, so I'm looking for a nice rifle that I can use until he's ready and I can pass it on to him. Problem is, we both shoot left handed so I don't have a whole lot of choices.
At this point, I know I want a .308 bolt action. I've narrowed it down to two or three options, and this is where I need some help as I haven't owned either brand.
Option #1:
Savage 110 Storm
comes with accutrigger and accufit stock, which is a definite bonus because I would like a gun that can grow with him. This seems perfect as it comes with adjustable comb and length of pull from 12.75 - 13.75.
Price: $700ish
Option #2:
Tikka T3x Compact
Has a length of pull of 12.5 IIRC, so not really adjustable. Guess I can always put a bigger butt pad on it if needed later on, but I don't think the LOP will be that big of a deal at only 12.5" even when he gets bigger.
Price: $850ish
Either rifle will be paired with a mid level 3x9x50 (still researching which glass I'll go with). I don't want to break the bank too bad, but want something that will last a long time and will be accurate. There are not a whole lot of options in lefty bolt action, ESPECIALLY a compact lefty bolt action.
One other option that I did see was the Savage XT Hunter 111 youth. Comes paired with a Nikon 3x9x40 for roughly $500.
Anybody have either of these and can give some pro's and con's?
At this point, I know I want a .308 bolt action. I've narrowed it down to two or three options, and this is where I need some help as I haven't owned either brand.
Option #1:
Savage 110 Storm
comes with accutrigger and accufit stock, which is a definite bonus because I would like a gun that can grow with him. This seems perfect as it comes with adjustable comb and length of pull from 12.75 - 13.75.
Price: $700ish
Option #2:
Tikka T3x Compact
Has a length of pull of 12.5 IIRC, so not really adjustable. Guess I can always put a bigger butt pad on it if needed later on, but I don't think the LOP will be that big of a deal at only 12.5" even when he gets bigger.
Price: $850ish
Either rifle will be paired with a mid level 3x9x50 (still researching which glass I'll go with). I don't want to break the bank too bad, but want something that will last a long time and will be accurate. There are not a whole lot of options in lefty bolt action, ESPECIALLY a compact lefty bolt action.
One other option that I did see was the Savage XT Hunter 111 youth. Comes paired with a Nikon 3x9x40 for roughly $500.
Anybody have either of these and can give some pro's and con's?
14
Posted on 12/3/19 at 12:57 am to RedBeardBaw
I think I would get the Savage 110 since you can get the adjustable stock in left handed model.A.very good scope at very good price at Amazon is the Leupold VX R in 3-9x40 with fire dot reticle.I have the 2-7x33 for 5 years now,solid scope,just ordered 3-9.
I would forget the 3-9x50,The difference in light gathering ability is minute ,disadvantage is that your face is off the stock which is not conducive to accurate shooting.I have two 40 mm Leupolds and 2 33 mm and have never been denied a shot at a deer during legal shooting hours.Main advantage to the lighted reticle for me is shooting dark colored hogs very late in evening.Battery life is great,I,ve had the 2-7 5 years and never changed the battery.
I would forget the 3-9x50,The difference in light gathering ability is minute ,disadvantage is that your face is off the stock which is not conducive to accurate shooting.I have two 40 mm Leupolds and 2 33 mm and have never been denied a shot at a deer during legal shooting hours.Main advantage to the lighted reticle for me is shooting dark colored hogs very late in evening.Battery life is great,I,ve had the 2-7 5 years and never changed the battery.
Posted on 12/3/19 at 3:48 am to RedBeardBaw
You’re trying to buy a rifle for yourself that’ll also be great for a boy. Seems like a bridge too far.
Posted on 12/3/19 at 6:22 am to RedBeardBaw
The action on the tikka will be better. Honestly, both are fine rifles that will last 30+ years.
Posted on 12/3/19 at 6:45 am to RedBeardBaw
Having owned both savage and tikka, the tikka action is so much smoother and trigger is great for stock. The accutrigger is probably the best stock trigger. Both rifles should be great shooters. The bolt lift on savages are pretty heavy which for me takes away from the overall feel. I have a tikka t3x lite in stainless and it feels good. I'd get the lite.
Also I'd shy away from a 308 for your son. I'd get a 243 or 6.5 creedmoor. Much less recoil and plenty of killing power for whitetail.
Also I'd shy away from a 308 for your son. I'd get a 243 or 6.5 creedmoor. Much less recoil and plenty of killing power for whitetail.
Posted on 12/3/19 at 6:48 am to RedBeardBaw
I bought the wife a tc encore in 7mm-08 15 years ago. It’s small and lightweight and tack driver. I take it with me when she isn’t using it. My son now uses it and began shooting it at 7 It is a sweet gun and has put down lots of deer
Posted on 12/3/19 at 6:53 am to RedBeardBaw
Just buy yourself a TC encore with whatever caliber you want to shoot. When it comes time for him to shoot, you can get him a .243 barrel for 250-350. And as he grows into the gun, you can put the larger caliber barrel back on.
Posted on 12/3/19 at 8:03 am to RedBeardBaw
Either rifle will be great and probably outlast you and your son. The adjust-ability of the Savage would probably sway my decision if it will eventually be my Son's. But, the Tikkas are really nice and smooth.
FWIW, we bought my son a youth model 308 4 or 5 years ago. He's about to turn 16 and is over 6' tall now. I've tried to get him to move up to a full size gun and he won't. He loves that gun. We just put a slip on limbsaver on it to increase the LOP and he keeps dropping deer/pigs with it.
A buddy's 10 year old son shoots a Savage Axis in 308 with reduced recoil loads and has had no problems at all with recoil.
FWIW, we bought my son a youth model 308 4 or 5 years ago. He's about to turn 16 and is over 6' tall now. I've tried to get him to move up to a full size gun and he won't. He loves that gun. We just put a slip on limbsaver on it to increase the LOP and he keeps dropping deer/pigs with it.
A buddy's 10 year old son shoots a Savage Axis in 308 with reduced recoil loads and has had no problems at all with recoil.
Posted on 12/3/19 at 8:25 am to RedBeardBaw
quote:
Tikka T3 Compact comes with 30mm (aprox. 1”) spacer and larger recoil pad to enable longer length of pull.
Found this on their website. I’d go with the Tikka. Another website showed with the pad the LOP goes from 12.5”-13.7”.
See here.
I’d stay with your idea of .308 also and just let him shoot reduced recoil rounds starting out.
Going with a quality 3-9x40 will be sufficient. A 40 objective will give you a lower mounting point and will be easier for a kid to get on target and be comfortable with.
Posted on 12/3/19 at 8:35 am to RedBeardBaw
I'd go with the Tikka of those two.
Did you consider Ruger's left-handed scout rifle? Adjustable length of pull with spacers provided, good stock trigger, threaded barrel, and ability to mount either a traditional or forward long eye relief scope. Not to mention great iron sights, which I always like for new shooters. Similar price point.
Did you consider Ruger's left-handed scout rifle? Adjustable length of pull with spacers provided, good stock trigger, threaded barrel, and ability to mount either a traditional or forward long eye relief scope. Not to mention great iron sights, which I always like for new shooters. Similar price point.
This post was edited on 12/3/19 at 8:50 am
Posted on 12/3/19 at 8:45 am to TideCPA
Get something with a threaded barrel and suppress it. Then he can start shooting it at about age 8.
Posted on 12/3/19 at 10:25 am to High Tide 07
Like the suppressed idea. Son shot a Ruger Compact .308 when he was little. It was awesome, but was way too loud with that short barrel.
Posted on 12/3/19 at 1:09 pm to Lucky_Stryke
quote:
I'd shy away from a 308 for your son. I'd get a 243 or 6.5 creedmoor. Much less recoil and plenty of killing power for whitetail.
The key is to use reduced recoil/managed recoil loads. Actually, full power 243 loads have more recoil than reduced recoil 308 Win loads. Full power 6.5 CM loads would also. When my son started deer hunting I bought a 308 Win and loaded my own reduced recoil loads as factory reduced loads were not yet available. At the time, I had handloading materials for the 308, but not the 7-08. Now that I've had a 7-08 handgun for a while I've now bought a 7-08 rifle for a "grandchild's" deer rifle. I don't think the 6.5 CM has factory reduced recoil loads available.
Posted on 12/3/19 at 1:22 pm to RedBeardBaw
Pretty sure the t3 compact comes with a spacer so that a normal LOP can be had once they grow up. I had looked at one several years ago for my son who was 12 or so at the time but ended going with the standard T3 in SS and .308cal. He has shot my encore 308 since he was 7 or so and has never had an issue with a 308.
I don’t have a savage 110 but have handled one and while they are accurate guns I’m not a fan of the new stock and think that the tikka is a better buy for a heirloom gun that he can shoot for the rest of his life.
Without breaking the bank put a leupold vx3 on it and your set.
I don’t have a savage 110 but have handled one and while they are accurate guns I’m not a fan of the new stock and think that the tikka is a better buy for a heirloom gun that he can shoot for the rest of his life.
Without breaking the bank put a leupold vx3 on it and your set.
Posted on 12/3/19 at 4:16 pm to Ol boy
I was just about all set to make up my mind on the Tikka T3x Compact until I just looked on their site again and it only comes in right hand action 
Posted on 12/3/19 at 7:45 pm to RedBeardBaw
.Another thing to consider is which eye is his dominant eye.If he is right eye dominant might be better to get him right handed rifle,at his age it would be easy to get him used to shooting right handed.
My wife is right handed but left eye dominant and when she expressed interest in hunting I started her shooting left handed.She had no problem and is a very good shot,she’s killed about 20 deer,has never missed one.
If he’s left eye dominant,I would go with the Savage,they have a good reputation for accuracy.
My wife is right handed but left eye dominant and when she expressed interest in hunting I started her shooting left handed.She had no problem and is a very good shot,she’s killed about 20 deer,has never missed one.
If he’s left eye dominant,I would go with the Savage,they have a good reputation for accuracy.
Posted on 12/3/19 at 8:54 pm to RedBeardBaw
Accutrigger gets my vote
Posted on 12/3/19 at 9:36 pm to RedBeardBaw
I have a Tikka T3x Lite as a left handed rifle in .308.
Underrated feature for me is that it's only 6lbs. Flip side is that it sure does kick; but, aside from the occasional range trip with 20+shots, it's not a problem.
I never wanted anything more.
Underrated feature for me is that it's only 6lbs. Flip side is that it sure does kick; but, aside from the occasional range trip with 20+shots, it's not a problem.
I never wanted anything more.
Posted on 12/4/19 at 12:52 pm to RedBeardBaw
Posted on 12/4/19 at 1:25 pm to Cypressknee
First thing I would do is not even think about these cookie cutter mass produced rifles. Id go custom in something like a ruger precison or howa base platform and build from there. You want something with an adjustable stock for you both, CHECK they both have it. You want multiple caliber availability, CHECK they both have it. You need it to be Left handed, CHECK the both have it.
I honestly have left the cookie cutter rifle world and now I don't know why I didn't years ago. Ill never by a normal run of the mill mass produced rifle again. Way more bang for your buck and just better rifles all the way around.
I honestly have left the cookie cutter rifle world and now I don't know why I didn't years ago. Ill never by a normal run of the mill mass produced rifle again. Way more bang for your buck and just better rifles all the way around.
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