Opinions on rifle for my son.

kevrom said:
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.?
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I got my oldest shooting late at 14 (PAL course as a B-Day present), since we were away from Canuckistan for a long time, and then lived in mostly urban Ontario before moving to God's own country.

I started him on 243 and he took his first deer with it. 100g Norma SP out of a Savage 110. It's likely near as cheap as factory ammo gets these days. He's also shot my 6.5x55, 30-06 and 9.3x62. He's full height now at 17, but I still got 35-40 lbs on him. Doesn't like the 9.3 at all, and prefers the -06 with 150-165 grainers. Complains when I make him shoot 180s. He really likes the 6.5x55, but that's in a really nice rifle as well, so no wonder.

If I were to do things again, I would have probably put him on the 6.5x55 right off the hob. He would have been big enough to shoot it (it's a REALLY mild mannered cartridge, but more versatile than the 243 to my mind's eye).

EDIT: Forgot to say. The 243 is a Savage 110 Trail Hunter, the 30-06 and 9.3 are Husqvarna 1640s, and the 6.5 is a Husqvarna 1900 (all three Huskies from Intersurplus).
 
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kevrom said:
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.?
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If you are a handloader, a 308 with light 150gr loads is a good choice. Think 300 Savage loads to start. I did that very same thing for my grandson with 783. Super easy to shoot and can be loaded up as he progresses.
 
Cartage wise id look at the 243 win, 6.5 creed, or the 7mm-08 all 3 great choices and proven for many applications! For the rifle id look at something more budget ended like a tikka t3x lite, or a Weatherby Vanguard, or a savage axis if your wanting something to just test the waters seeing if hunting is something he will want to do moving forward. Then you won't have to tie up $1500+
 
Man that 30-30 would be great! Nothing wrong with an open sighted gun up to 100m on deer even 150m!
But if it was my son I would get a 308, that is what my friend got for his daughter she was 13 years old and small, a husqvarna 1640 feather weight(20” barrel) I started her with mild loads 150 gn and now she shoots full loads no problems! Hornady make a low recoil ammo for 308 and to be honest it would be totally adequate for deer size game!

https://www.hornady.com/ammunition/rifle/308-win-125-gr-sst-custom-lite#!/
 
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While the 243 Win is a great starter option, at 15, it won't be long and he may wan to move up to a larger cartridge/caliber, and/or hunt other animals larger than deer, so the 6.5s and 7mm-08 are better choices.
You can start him on of the 6.5s (260 Rem, 6.5 Creedmoor and 6.5x55 Swedish Mauser - all are very close performance wise) with 120 gr bullets (factory or mild handloads) and move up to 130 and 140 gr bullets as he gets more accustomed to handling the recoil, and/or wanting a more powerful load for longer shot distances on deer, and/or larger game.
The 7mm-08 can also run through the same progression.
This will extend his shooting life with the rifle for him (unless of course you have other younger kids that will also grow into the 243, or one of these other suggestions...
The biggest thing is whichever cartridge you choose, find a rifle that fits him well, as this will improve his chance of success with the new rifle.
 
First is rifle fit, we don't know his size or weight so that's a massive variable at that age.
If he's what I consider a average height and weight at that age I'd limit the recoil to 30/06 and under.
So many options presented here already and all of them will do the job, some slightly better than others but the difference is arguable between them.
So to throw another one in the ring how about a 25/06.
Or...
There's a NIB Howa stainless in 30/06 for $700 on GP right now (not mine, yet), add some Talley's and Leupold VX3 (also in the EE) and you have a solid system under $2k he can't outgrow that could last his lifetime regardless of the game he pursues...and would use the same ammo as your gun which can be handy.
 
Lots of good options, Personally I would look for a 260 in a rifle that fits him well, 243, 7-08 both good choices but I like odder stuff, my go to deer is a Ruger77 in 250, I once turned down a 77 in 257 Roberts because I already had the 250 :rolleyes:, but I'm rambling now.
 
Another vote for the 6.5 Grendel. Howa makes a youth rifle chambered in it. And quite a few other manufacturers also chamber it. Half the recoil of a 243, very easy to handle for younger kids just starting out deer hunting.
 
Denver Steve said:
Another vote for the 6.5 Grendel. Howa makes a youth rifle chambered in it. And quite a few other manufacturers also chamber it. Half the recoil of a 243, very easy to handle for younger kids just starting out deer hunting.
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I agree. I think howa also makes rifles in 6arc. I’m not sure what ammo availibilty is like. It would be nice if there was a mainstream 6mm cartridge other than the 243win and 6creed for new hunters and youths.

I bought my kids a Browning x-bolt in 6creed with a radial brake on it. They’re kind of expensive and hard to find, but there’s really not much on the market.
 
One and done could be tikka compact in 308
Reduced recoil factory loads available. Rifle comes with stock spacer to grow with him
 
stay away from the 6.5's unless it's a 260 rem
likely best choice would be the 7mm o8
then the 308
the 708 100 gr bullets for yotes and such 140-150-160 moose elk and just about any other critters if you are a hand loader then it becomes even more effective
as far as rifles by pass the savage axis' s any version
spend the money
tikka
used 700 or model 70 possibly a ruger 77
maybe a ruger american
 
Denver Steve said:
Another vote for the 6.5 Grendel. Howa makes a youth rifle chambered in it. And quite a few other manufacturers also chamber it. Half the recoil of a 243, very easy to handle for younger kids just starting out deer hunting.
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And the 6mm ARC too, much the same as the Grendel but a bit less recoil and shoots a bit flatter

Howa 1500 Mini / Youth is light, easy to carry. 12.75" length of pull
 
There’s a decent deal on a T-3 in the EE now.
.308win.
As mentioned above, reduced loads.
Remington makes both for the 308 & 7mm-08.

Far better than the man bun sort.
 
todbartell said:
And the 6mm ARC too, much the same as the Grendel but a bit less recoil and shoots a bit flatter

Howa 1500 Mini / Youth is light, easy to carry. 12.75" length of pull
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Another great round. I have both. But for a starter deer rifle, I would pick the Grendel because the ability to run heavier rounds, and the plethora of 6.5mm hunting bullets available.
My son uses the Grendel with 129 grain Nosler Long Range Accubonds. I couldn't ask for better performance on deer, the muzzle velocity is perfect for the soft front portion of the bullets, and they have no problem blowing cleanly through a deer broadside.
 
the 129 ABLR is a good bullet, I have loaded it in my nephew's 260 Rem with H4895 down to 2325 fps (which is just below what our Grendel pushes that bullet) - it was used on a handful of mule deer bucks at 100 yards +/- with great results.

6 ARC with 100gr Sierra TGK (2770 fps 18" brl) also goes through deer nicely. No shortage of good 6mm bullets as well. A 25 ARC wouldn't suck either LOL
 
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