Opinions on rifle for my son.

[kevrom]

I'm looking to get my son hunting next year. This would be his first rifle. He is 15. We will mainly focus on deer hunting. I'm thinking 243 would be a good choice. Any recommendations on brands or different caliber choices.?

 

[Buck1950]

Has he shown interest at all ? Maybe start with a 22lr bolt-action so he can begin learning. Plenty of time next summer to work on a larger caliber. A Savage bolt action 22lr like a B22 would be a good start. Or a Ruger 22 bolt ?

 

[kamlooky]

7mm-08 would be my choice.

 

[jethunter]

I started my kids out on a 7mm08 using 120gr sierra prohunters and start loads of imr4064. Recoil similar to 243 100gr factory deer loads, and no holdover needed to 200 yds. If you don't reload, 243 is a good choice too.

Savage Axis 2, and Ruger American 2 are reliable, budget priced rifles.

 

[keith mokry]

Rifle fit be best choice then any cartridge listed plus 6.5 ones and even 308

 

[Shovel]

What calibers do you have?

 

[Gatehouse]

6.5 Grendel

 

[fuse]

What province and WMU are you hunting in?

 

[1899]

I started my boy off with practice on .22 LR and .223, then moved to a .243 when he was 10 and then a 7mm-08 when he was 11-12 or so. >243 with 85gr Partitions did the job on his first whitetail and 7mm-08 with 120gr Ballistic Tips on his first Mule Deer. I think both of those are good choices. But as Jethunter said, if you don't reload .243 is a better choice. Easier to find ammo, and can find reasonably priced stuff every now and again.

 

[Meroh]

.243 is versatile, proven, ammo is readily available, good selection of new and used rifles, mild recoil, reloading tools and components are readily available. It is within a100 FPS of most of the modern, less available, 6mms.

Great choice.

 

[FLHTCUI]

Browning Micro Medallion in calibre of choice.

 

[dand883]

Like the others have said, .243, 6.5 creedmoor or 7mm-08 are all good choices with an honorable mention to the 6.5x55 or 30-30.

If he's already used to shooting and recoil you could step up to .308 but if not i'd stick with the lighter rounds.

 

[kevrom]

What calibers do you have?

30-30 and 30-06

 

[kevrom]

What province and WMU are you hunting in?

Alberta in various wmu.

 

[kevrom]

I have a 22 for him to start on. He’s been shooting an air rifle at targets up to around 40 yards. I don’t reload so that’s a factor for sure. Will be joining a range and shooting the 22 first, then practicing with a bigger calibre. My 30-30 is open sights so he will get to try with and without a scope. I’m excited to get back into hunting after a big time away and he is eager to get out there too.

 

[murph83]

243 is a good starter caliber. 100gr soft point bullets will kill deer no problem. The recoil is next to nothing, and there should be plenty of new and used options and pretty much every gun shop.

 

[reb]

243 is a great cartridge, especially for young hunters
Low recoil, easy to get ammo.

 

[AlbertaJohn]

7mm-08 or a 6.5 Creedmoor would fit the bill nicely.

 

[MRP]

At 15, 3006 or 270.

 

[dgradinaru]

270 win or 308 win would be great options for a 15 year old. I have my 15 and 18 year old nieces shooting full power 8x57 loads which are equivalent to a 30-06, so anything in around that would work.