New gun for my son

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CVanDam

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I will as looking at buying a new rifle for my son and hen he comes of age. He loves deer hunting with me now. He would use it for deer hunting as well. We have looked at Henry’s repeating rifles as my son has the same name. Never held one or seen one up close. Just looking for feedback on their guns. Quality and craftsmanship. Thanks
 
Being that he is a youth, I wouldn’t recommend a lever. He may not be able to #### it consistently, if at all. Start him out with a bolt action rifle and go from there.
To get something decent you don’t have to spend a fortune. A used Remington 700 and try and find a youth stock, or a youth 700 with the spacer kit and change out to a better stock when he’s grown enough. Longer barrel like a 22 or 24” if possible.
I started my son with a Weatherby Vangaurd S2 in 243 before he was legal hunting age and he loved it. But he moved on to different tastes quite quickly and showed he could handle the recoil very easily, shooting my buddies 7mm Rem Mag at 12. He normally shoots my 308 Kimber Hunter now. He’s 14 now and about 170lbs, no problem with recoil.
 
I own a Henry, and I've handled a few others, and haven't been impressed. Mine had to get the barrel replaced right out of the box, and the ones I've handled haven't inspired confidence - to the point where I would never consider getting another, and am seriously thinking about getting rid of mine.
They also tend to be a bit barrel heavy, and for a younger/smaller shooter aren't the easiest to operate. I would second the opinion that a bolt action might be a better bet.
 
I would suggest a bolt action in a light cartridge as a 243 Win or 260 Rem. That will reach out to any distance you will be shooting with a flat trajectory and light recoil. A low variable scope as a 2-7...
 
Rem model 7 with youth stock, ruger compact or ultralight Winchester compact or featherweight weatherby vanguards youth model. In a smaller caliber based on 308 case
 
I started my son with a youth Ruger American in 243 it shot well, was light and when I put a 2x7 VX11 on it he was able to shoot to 200 yards accurately which is all I wanted till he had a couple years of shooting and hunting under his belt.
 
I started with 22lr and then there was a lag until he got to a decent size then onto 7.62x39. Because in Communist VICdom, you hit rifle and rifle hits you.
 
I went through the same thing deciding what to get my boy and I settled on a Browning Xbolt Micro Midas in 7/08 topped with a Bushnell Elite 3500 and very happy with it. The rifle I mention has 3 butt stock extensions to increase the LOP as he grows and can be used for his lifetime.
 
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If their centerfires are of similar quality to rimfire, I'd be confident trying one: I have a Henry youth 22 and even had 6yo shooting it. Just remember that a light lever gun should be in a light caliber or it'll slam the kid when fired and he'll have a flinch in no time.

Something I say every time a thread like this appears: 250 Savage would be an ideal round... in a Remington Seven. Unfortunately all manufacturers are too busy schmoozing with some new cult caliber instead of filling an empty niche with an intelligent option that's been around for over a hundred years.
 
Hi
I would look at something in 243,260 or 6.5. Bolt action in Ruger, Savage, both reliable and accurate rifles. Chose what series you want and how much u want to spend '' new or used, youth or adult size. Put a rail on it with decent rings, scopes r a field day for selection .
Enjoy the time with your son.
George
 
A Ruger in 243, 7/08 or, if you reload and can load your own reduced loads, 308. Top with a good 2-7x scope. If you spend a bit more you can get a wood stock and have a rifle he can use for a lifetime.
 
All good suggestions. I might add a bolt action 6.5 cal something, 7mm/08 is good choice. 308, 8x57 might be in there as well depending on what your boy is comfortable shooting.
Weatherby S2's, HOWA 1500's, Ruger American are excellent choices. I have HOWA's and Weatherby's. For a budget series rifle I don't they can be beat. When deciding on an optic do not skimp and buy "cheap". It would be unfortunate to line up on a buck of a lifetime only to have the optic fail.
 
When I was a skinny 12 year old my Father bought me a 30.06 Mod 70 featherweight. He reloaded with 130gr bullets that had little kick. When I was older i shot 165gr and then went to 180gr. I've been hunting with the same rifle for 45 years. I take at least one animal with it every year. Never had to buy a second rifle.
 
ScottMisfits said:
Being that he is a youth, I wouldn’t recommend a lever. He may not be able to #### it consistently, if at all
Click to expand...

When I was younger my father tried training me with his BLR. I had this issue, thumb kept slipping trying to set the safety.

I still don't like levers now because of this..

I'd definitely recommend a bolt in a quarter bore or so
 
New Camper said:
Something I say every time a thread like this appears: 250 Savage would be an ideal round... in a Remington Seven. Unfortunately all manufacturers are too busy schmoozing with some new cult caliber instead of filling an empty niche with an intelligent option that's been around for over a hundred years.
Click to expand...

I'm an older guy who likes older/different cartridges The 300H&H, 257Roberts, 280 Remington, 275 Rigby etc. are few that I currently own. The 250 Savage is a very good cartridge. If I didn't already have the Roberts, I might have one of those instead.

Saying that, the 250 Savage has nothing to offer over the current rage 6.5CM in firearms selection, ammo selection, loading kit selection and if you're a long range shooter, ballistics. A young shooter would be hard pressed to make a better selection in these days.
 
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