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What to buy?

tommy
Hi!

Well, let me start by saying I know very little about the wondeful world of gun ownership..

My 13 year old son will be hunting or I guess I should say (carrying a gun) for the first time this deer season in Eastern Oregon..

He is very shy about the kick of a larger caliber rifle.. But, I don't want to go too small.. I have had so amny suggestions.. 22-250, 270, 280 (110 grain bullet), 243 use a (100 grain bullet)...
HELP.... I have know idea what to get him...

For myself I currently have a Savage 270, but really would like to find a nice 308?? My ex-brother in-law has a very nice 308 that I really enjoy shooting and feel more confident with than my 270..

I would really apprectiate any ideas - thought - suggestions..

Thanks

Tommy
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Comments

16 comments

Date Votes
  • tommy
    I'm looking for an O/U. I'm new to trap, skeet & sporting clays and can not afford the $1000.00 + price tags on the Beretta's, Browning's, Ruger's, ect. but I know nothing of the Mossberg Silver Reserve, the Remington Spartan SPR310 Sporting, the Khan Arthemis, the American Arms Silver II, the BSA Silver Eagle II. All with lesser price tags and similar features.
    I recently purchased a Mossberg 500 12 GA. Ok for trap and skeet, but won't get me into doubles.
    Any help would be greatly appreciated.
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  • rscoleman88
    I started at about that age with a model seven in .308 Highly recomend it
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  • mrmike08075
    try new england firearms single shot break open rifles. my favorite for a young mans first deer shoot would be there heavy barreled .243 with the laminated stock and a 3-9x40 scope. they also come with synthetic stocks, and youth configurations. there very accurate out to 250 yds, and the whole rig with a good scope will be less then 300.00.(now owned and run by marlin)

    the tree of liberty must at times be watered by the blood of patriots.
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  • buddyb
    My 12 year old uses a Savage 110 in 243.He killed 4 deer with it his first season and thinks it is the best rifle ever made.
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  • pigeoncreek1
    My first bolt action was a good 'ol Remington model 700 .243 with a fiberglass stock....I took several bucks with it using a 100gr soft point..great killing power for a small caliber, it expends most of its energy inside the deer(quick expanding on thin skinned game), synthetic stocks are a plus for kids who are learning the art of gun handling...good luck


    Gun control is hitting your target....
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  • pigeoncreek1
    My first bolt action was a good 'ol Remington model 700 .243 with a fiberglass stock....I took several bucks with it using a 100gr soft point..great killing power for a small caliber, it expends most of its energy inside the deer(quick expanding on thin skinned game), synthetic stocks are a plus for kids who are learning the art of gun handling...good luck


    Gun control is hitting your target....
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  • martzkj@msn.com
    The brand all depends on the money you want to spend. Only talking about caliber I like 243 for a youth but some feel it's to small. Here are some good calibers with low recoil. 250 savage, 260, 6.5x55 and 7mm08. I think any of these four would be excellent for a youth low recoil and very good for deer. I think if you get a youth model gun a 308 may have a little to much kick.
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  • DaRoosta
    First I'd like to welcome you to the board. Some may disagree, but I think we can definitely use more Oregonians contributing here.

    My suggestion would be .243, .257 Roberts or .308. My first rifle that I hunted both deer and elk with here in Oregon was a 30-30 lever w/ open sights. Killed my first 4-point bull elk with that little rifle with one shot in Eastern Oregon...South Ukiah Unit. I have been hunting that same area or bordering units for somewhere around 17 years. I have a little Win Model 70 Lightweight in .243 that I personally think would be ideal for deer in that area. If you're only going to use it for deer, then that's my vote, but if you're looking for your son to hunt elk or bear or something else then my vote would surely change.

    Drop me a line sometime.
    Jeremy
    JWhite2399@cs.com
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  • ericthered
    My dad started me when I was a little kid with a 22.
    Then I went to a GI carbine.
    At about your sons age I used my dads 270

    I would suggest handing it down to him if you are going
    to upgrade yourself. A pair of those insert hearing protectors placed carefully, and a rubber butt plate, as well as good instruction on how to pull it in tight to the shoulder , and he will lose the fear of it. The rubber butt plates help a lot.
    I use them on everything. It reduces the kick so much it
    doesn't wear me out. Even as a middle aged man, I'm not crazy
    about getting kicked by a 3006 or 308 without a shock absobing
    butt plate. Takes the fun out of it.
    Just let him shoot it like that 4 or 6 times to get the feel without worrying about accuracy and he should be OK.
    He will also enjoy that he is getting Dad's hunting
    rifle passed down to him. That is a nice personal connection.

    Experienced that with my dad. His favored guns took on special meaning to me.

    If he is really worried, a GI carbine has no kick and is great
    fun to shoot because its' a semi auto with lots of bullets, and feels and shoots great. It will take down a deer at 100 yds. I know that for a fact.
    Did it several times myself.

    Eric

    thats'me
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  • RockinU
    Best all around gun on the North American continent is the 22-250. It has range, it shoots flat, and it's accurate. No kick, and if your even a reasonably proficient shot, you won't have to look very hard to find your game. Not to mention it's verstatility. I have just as much confidence carrying mine as I do my 7mm rem mag. It was my first gun, and I now have 2 (sold a .243 to buy the second one).
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  • punchie
    Remington Mod 7 in 243 or 7-08 should do the job nicely. Realitively small and light with minimal recoil and good accuracy.

    AN ARMED SOCIETY IS A POLITE SOCIETY
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  • niklasal
    First off, Welcome to the board! Having newcomers ask questions is the best way to remember the stuff we learned when we were new.

    I know probably less than you do about rifles bigger than a 22LR, but when you are inthe market for a handgun, let me know!
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  • Piadea
    Tommy,
    First of all welcome to the forum. I want to underline Punchie's post about the 7-08. It's gentle on the shoulder and very effective on deer. My last two white tails were taken with this cartridge, both were one shot kills. Good luck and good hunting.
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  • 4GodandCountry
    Sounds like everyone else has pretty much covered the bases. I had my first bb gun by age 4. About a year later I was given a 22 and was only allowed to handle it under close supervision for about another year. By age 6 I guess Id shown enouph copetence to hunt rodents, but was usually accompanied by an older brother or my dad. I started hunting deer at the ripe old age of 8yrs. I was given a winchester 30-30 cowboy commemrotive with open sights and sat in a stand Dad only paid 150 dollars for it, what an investment. I carried that 30-30 for about 5 seasons. When I was 13yrs old my dad traded me for a bran new Browning 7mm mag. As best as I can figure, he not only wanted to upgrade me into a rifle with a scope, but also wanted to preserve the winchester. The Browning was heavy, and had a good recoil for my size but Ill never forget the pride I felt every time I shot it and hit wear I aimed. I still have my old Browning, Its still my prefered Deer rifle. My son is twelve years old, he carries a New England Handi-Rifle in 243 cal. Next year, on His 13th birthday, un-be-knownst to him, he will recieve a used, well maintained, Browning 7mm mag. I will then sell the handi rifle and get me a knew Browning probably 300 win. mag.

    When Clinton left office they gave him a 21 gun salute. Its a damn shame they all missed....
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  • 00scoots
    A young man's (or daughter's) first gun is always a memorable experience, especially if they can accompany dad to the gun shows and stores and trying out the different models for size. My son always listened better to the seller's description of various guns than he did to my sales pitch of mowing the lawn....I always had difficulty with that.

    I just want to mention that two of the finest youth/women's rifle of their day were the 257 Roberts and the 7X57mm Mauser. The late gun writer, Jack O'Connor, was a big advocater for these 2 calibers as they are low in recoil and excellent for deer.

    These two calibers are easily found and often times with stocks fitted for a women. I picked up my 7X57 nearly 20 years ago (originally intended for my son) and it is the sweetest shooting rifle I own. My son received a 243 instead....I think he still resents me for that!!!

    You can never have too many guns!!!
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  • Herschel
    I am one of the many recommending a .243 (or 6mm Rem). If you are hunting nothing larger than deer I can see no need for a larger caliber. I have killed 30+ deer with the .243. I have also killed them with a .270, .358 Win., .30-'06. My experience has been that the .243 is just as effective on deer. You didn't mention your son's size. Please don't have him shooting a rifle with a stock too long to fit.
    Teach him to shoot accurately and hopefully to pass up shots with a poor chance of getting a fatal hit.
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