Looking at a lighter Caliber Hunting rifle for my son

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Irishfathead

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Afternoon everyone, I am Looking at a lighter Caliber Hunting rifle for my son and was considering a .243 or a .270. I have a .303 and a .30-06 but he is a lighter weight person and I don't want to have him complain after 1 shot of practice firing.

Any suggestions on which to choose or to start looking for a decent lower priced starter piece for him?

Thanks in advance.
 
It has been "traditional" to start a young person with 243 Win, although I doubt there is much difference to a decent 303 British. If they can not handle one, not likely to be able to handle the other - stock design WWII (most 303 British) versus "modern" (many 243 Win these days) might make a difference , especially when scopes involved.

For reference - when my son was circa 13 or 14 years old - perhaps 120 pounds soaking wet - he could rip off a magazine full from my 338 Win Mag - standing off hand - that I recall, I never did let him fire that one seated at a shooting table. His words, not mine - made the 308 Win feel like a "pop gun" - both rifles were Model 70 XTR.
 
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Between the two. The 243 is less recoil, short action/lighter. However, the 270 is a more useful overall caliber.

If you know someone who reloads, maybe they can load some light for caliber 270 cartridges. Something like a 110gr for lower felt recoil. When someone says " one cartridge for everything" my four choices are 270, 30-06, 7rm, and 300wm.
 
Split the middle and go with 6.5 Creedmoor?

Pretty modest increase in recoil compared to the 243. Still a very servicable big game rifle, lots of bullet availability from light to heavy.
 
6.5x55 would be good round. Can load to 85-160. So does little better than 243 and if buy good ammo can be higher velocity than 260/6.5 creed. Good option are the huskies from intersurplus but go through pics and see if can get one better ones. Shorter brl models are nice for smaller person. That way can shorten stock if need and lengthen later on
 
kamlooky said:
.308win with reduced loads.
Could be available for the 7mm-08?
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That is what I did for my friend’s daughter, she’s 12 and use a 308 husky carbine, I made up some reduce loads with 150gn Speer hot-cor and she loves it and shoot it really well! If you reload that is the way to go, the rifle will grow with the kid and as they get more confident you can increase the load and go to heavier bullet if need be! You won’t get a more versatile caliber in a really affordable great quality rifle than that!! I mean there is lots of other options out there but 308 is cheap to shoot, factory ammo are everywhere and you can hunt everything with it!!
 
Nothing wrong with a 243 but I would take a 6mm Creedmoor over a 243 every time, better case design.

The most sensible option is to go with a 6.5 Creedmoor, its the most popular cartridge on the planet for a reason, low recoil, accurate, every rifle maker chambers rifles in it, there are more reasonably priced factory target and hunting ammunition options available than any other cartridge, aftermarket Brass support is readily available.

you can hunt with it and target shoot out to a 1000 yards if you want...........again its a great sensible option
 
Weatherby Fan said:
Nothing wrong with a 243 but I would take a 6mm Creedmoor over a 243 every time, better case design.

The most sensible option is to go with a 6.5 Creedmoor, its the most popular cartridge on the planet for a reason, low recoil, accurate, every rifle maker chambers rifles in it, there are more reasonably priced factory target and hunting ammunition options available than any other cartridge, aftermarket Brass support is readily available.

you can hunt with it and target shoot out to a 1000 yards if you want...........again its a great sensible option
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Bingo!

Its like a 6.5x55 but available, cheaper, components are easier to find, all that stuff. Its just an "easy button" answer whether you handload or not. 6.5x55 advantage with heavy loads is marginal.

If it was soft loading a 308 for deer, I'd look at a 110gr Barnes TTSX and IMR 4198. Or a 130gr TTSX with IMR 3031. But thats gonna recoil more than the Creedmoor for no apparent return at all.

A 6.5mm 100gr bullet of good make gets things done. Heavier weights all the more so :)
 
75 Devil Dog said:
260 REM.
A do it all cartridge very similar to the 6.5 X 55. However, the 260 offers commercial reduced recoil rounds.
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It s OK but nearly OBSOLETE ! I don’t even think there’s a REG factory rifle chambered in it ! ALSO VERY POOR. Ammo availability ! THE 6.5 CM would be a FAR better cartridge as it’s available in a lot of rifles and there is a Ton of FACTORY ammo available too for it . RJ
 
Whether you're a fan or not, the obvious answer is the 6.5 Creedmoor. You'll have the most options in price range and styles of rifle and ammo.
 
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