lifetime rifle for my son

Hi all, I want to spend up to 4k for a rifle and scope for my son who is heading off on his own. He has taken the hunter course and has hunted with me in the past. He is moving to Alberta for university and I want to get him a rifle and scope that will be last him forever. I was thinking 30-06 because that's what I know and use but if anyone has any strong opinions on caliber I would love to hear it. Basically I want him to have "one gun" for 90 percent of hunting situations that will be quality and last with the least chance of issues. Thanks!

What are his tastes in rifles?
 
What are his tastes in rifles?

X2. If you’re willing to drop that kind coin on a rifle for him I think you should get him involved in the decision process. As much as I would appreciate the gesture, I would be pissed if my wife would surprise me with a $4000 blued steel walnut stocked .30-06 knowing that I could have gotten a stainless carbon fiber stocked 6.5 PRC for the same money that is more my taste and would enjoy way more.
 
Many good suggestions, and some great qualifying questions for your generous gift!

You would know what preference he has for calibers that would be suitable for the game that he has hunted, and wher;, or desires to hunt and where, in the future; in trying to determine the best all-around rifle/cartridge for him in a synthetic/coated and/or stainless rifle.

Suggestions include:
- Rifles: Remington AWR, Brown X-Bolt rifles, Winchester Weather Extremes, Sako Model 85's Synthetic or Finnlight, Christensen Arms Mesa or Ridgeline, and Weatherby Weathermark
- Calibers: 6.5PRC, 264 Win Mag, 6.8 Western, 270 Win, 270 WSM or WBY, 280 or 280AI, 308 Win, 30-06, and 7mm Rem Mag
- Rings & Bases: Talley, Leupold or Optiloc
- Scopes: Leupold VX-3HDor 5HD, 3.5-10x40, 2-10x42 or 3-15x44
overal rifle/scope package should weigh in from 7-9 lbs

Glad to hear that he will have a safe place to store his firearm with nearby family...will provide peace of mind for security of the investment
 
X2. If you’re willing to drop that kind coin on a rifle for him I think you should get him involved in the decision process. As much as I would appreciate the gesture, I would be pissed if my wife would surprise me with a $4000 blued steel walnut stocked .30-06 knowing that I could have gotten a stainless carbon fiber stocked 6.5 PRC for the same money that is more my taste and would enjoy way more.

well your wife has better taste in rifle than you lol ...
 
AB is diverse. Bald prairie, foothills, mountains, thick forest and bush. Game could be hundreds of meters away or just meters away. GSS might fit the bill with decent glass for the prairie. 308 adequate for anything plus this is big critter country. Lots of good advice in the thread.
 
I would agree with the comments that you should get him something easily replaced with no sentimental value - Ruger American, Savage Axis, Winchester XPR combos all under $1k. Fine shooters. Get the ones with the Vortex scope to have a decent warranty instead of something no-name. 30-06 or 270 is plenty. Unbox, pull it apart, check bedding, thread locker for the action screws, torque to specs, same with the scope bases (thread locker and torqued appropriately) and rings, set optimal eye relief, go shooting.

Then set the rest of the cash aside for something fancy. Maybe a double shotgun, maybe a M70 featherweight or X-bolt medallion with a Leupold, etc. But definitely a beater gun that'll be reliable and easy to find parts for unless he's going to drive to and from another location to store it. That'll be a fine graduation gift.
 
you certainly have good intentions to buy him a high quality rifle.
but in my opinion, the cost of a rifle can have little to do with how much you'll enjoy owning it. I suggest going window shopping with him and find out which styles he is interested in.

personally, i prefer a light compact rifle that has a minimal kick. that is my main hunting rifle. i also have a similar backup. both are 500-600 $ guns but I wouldn't sell them for that. you'd have to offer double to get the me to sell it because it would be very hard to replace. that's a keeper kind of gun.

i can tell you if someone gave me a sako 85 in 300 win mag with a fancy scope i wouldn't use it for hunting. it would just sit until i sold it off I suppose.

i will use my 7 lb 7-08 rifle with leupold 3-9 scope for any hunting trip. my earlier guns were at least 1-2 lbs heavier and they are gone now.

for me, a 30-06 has more kick than I want in a hunting rifle unless the stock fits me perfectly. for example a tikka t3 in 270 is about the limit for me before I get concerned about developing a flinch. there's just something about that t3 stock design that doesn't work for me. i stick to 7-08, 308 class calibre for that reason.

but that just me. he will have his own preferences.

so i suggest you make him part of the discussion and even try a few different models. he might prefer a semi, pump, combination, lever action or single shot more than a bolt gun.

also, i agree with the suggestion to get something cheap for university days. there are many excellent choices in the 700$ range that would work very well when you buy off the EE.
 
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Tikka t3x veil wideland or alpine in 7mm rem mag with a Leupold Vx5 3-15

I bought a Veil Alpine a couple weeks ago in 300WSM and it's a fantastic rifle. Tack driver even with relatively cheap Federal Fusion rounds, and the muzzle break makes a huge difference with the recoil.

That being said, my vote would be for a Sako in 30-06 or maybe 7mm Remington Magnum.
 
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Personally i have a very different taste then my father. Hes 60 im 35, hes into Ar's and black rifles. If he bought me a 4k rifle i bet it would sit in my safe all the time. Id want mauser built in the 20's he would buy me a black rifle. I would get your son involved in picking the rifle.
 
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