Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting Opinions for Deer Rifle for a 16 year old

OK Guys, give me your opinion on a deer rifle for western blacktail, muleys, hogs, black bear for my 16 year old. He already has been shooting my dad's 243 for several years, and I havent been pressing him to a larger caliber because he seems to love shooting the 243. But, I now want to buy him his deer rifle (although the 243 is now his also). I want a deer rifle that has the capability to reach out under western open range hunting conditions, yet wont exactly lead the pack for recoil.

Calibers I am considering for him are: 270 win, 270 WSM, 280 Rem, 30-06, 7mm-08. I would also consider the 25-06, but I am thinking I want more of a step up from his 243. Now I want your opinions. The 260 is interesting but doesnt have enough horsepower for my tastes in the west. The 6.5 Rem Mag has limits on powder with the heavier bullets. I'm currently leaning real hard on 270 Win, 270 WSM, and 280 Rem. One last thing, he will be reloading, I'm going to start teaching him this year.

I think that any of the cartridges you mentioned would be good for him, especially since he is already learned proper technique since he is already shooting the .243. I started out with a 30/30 at age 12 and when I turned 14 my dad got me a 7mm Rem Mag. At the same time he introduced me to reloading so I started out on the lighter side of the 7mm Mag and worked up. It was quite an easy adjustment. The .270 or 30-06 may just be the ticket since there are so many bullets available and light loads are a cinch to start with until he can handle full loads, it may be more cost efficient as well allowing him to shoot more thus gaining confidence along the way. You certainly are thinking in the right direction!

My vote goes to the 7/08. Shoot 120-160 gr bullets for deer and elk out to 350 yds. The .270 is a great caliber and have killed several deer and one elk. I personally don't care for the '06. I think it kicks way too hard for how it performs. It is hard to beat the .243 if he shoots it well, might want to stick with it and teach bullet placement.

in my opinion i would go with the 7/08 of the ones mentioned although any of them would do.my pick would be one that you didnt mention,the 308.it is wonderfully accurate and is easy to load for.

Half moon said what I was going to say, so no use in repeating it. He will also have a lifetime, good for the course gun in a .30-06. Common choices but there is a reason why.

You did right starting him on the .234 Win. But I see it as a very good deer caliber. What exactly is it that you want that the 243 won't do? Big mule deer, black bears, elk?

If that's your ticket I'd recommend the 270 Win. 257 Weatherby, or 7mm Rem. Mag. In my experience those three represent a step up in recoil above the .243 and a huge step up in game killing. They will do just about anything at reasonable ranges. The larger calibers and bigger cartridges offer lots more recoil with little more effect on game.

Since you will be handloading, anyway, the 7x57mm has a lot to offer, with very moderate recoil and muzzle blast. Slightly betters the ballistics of the 7-08, while operating at lower pressures. It is a classic, and for good reason, though you would forfeit the short action.

Praire Dog, I just want to buy him his own deer rifle, not to press him, but I have the funds available.

I think the perfect calibers for deer are 25-06 or 257 Weatherby. He will have no problem killing deer with either as far as he can hit em'. They shoot flat as a lazzer and the recoil is still what I consider on the mild side. I prefer 100 gr. bullets in 25. caliber.

If reloading is something he enjoys consider the 25-284 wildcat or the 25-06 AI.

I know you said the .25 wasn't much of a step up in caliber. True, but we are not talking about a 257 Roberts. The cartridges I mention are a huge step up in performance over the .243 and very enjoyable to shoot.

7mm-08, 270win/280rem
270WSM, 7x57
or maybe even a 260 rem or 6.5x55
or the odd ball 6.5 rem mag
odd ball 284 win

any will do but is going up to 6.5 enough a change from the 243

I'm leaning real hard in the direction of 270 WSM, 280 Rem, or 7mm-08, or the 25-06

Either one of those three will take anything on this continent when properly loaded. The 280 has the advantage on the 270 when you load the 175 gr bullet , if you're a heavy bullet type.
The 7-08 preforms well in the shorter barrels, but with the 24-26 in barrels the 270 and 280 reach full potential.
Maybe be best to let your kid go thru the ballistics tables and pick one. Just a sidenote the first elk I killed was with a 250 savage, the next dozen went down to a 243, before I decided I was to grown up for such a pipsqueek gun. Still have alot of confidence in the 243 and use it quite abit.

The 280 gets my vote.

I use a 7mm08 in a model seven and love it. That said, I have worn out a Lyman 47th edition reloading handbook and have come to the conclusion that you can not beat the 30-06. If you can use a long action, that is where I would go. If you want the short action, the 308 will do the trick. Take a good look at them and then pick what you want. If you follow your mind and not your heart, you will most likely be unhappy with what ever you pick. miles

I think that you left out the best choice of all "308 win".

-With the 308 you can get ex-military rounds for at the range cheap and then reload them.
-It is a calibre that ammo is easy to find no matter where this 16year old ends up in his adult life.
-It has killing power to spare for deer and bear and when he marries that nice girl who's father owns the Moose & Elk hunting camp he will still be able to play the game with his 308 win! (think positive) <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />
-also keep in mind that the 308 is a short action with very managable recoil for the beginners in the sport of shooting.
-I have my 14 year old son shooting a Browning BLR in a 308 and he has done so since he received this rifle for his 12th birthday. He started with open sights and now he is learning to use it with a scope mounted on it (3-9x40).

-308win short action
-Available in most gun models
-Easy to find ammo
-lots of load options
-cheap on powder (unlike the magnums or even the 30-06)

My son hunts with his 308 BLR and.....Well, I am hunting for that nice girl that I spoke about <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

The only reason I left the 308 out is my father in law cusses it religously because his dad had a Winchester Model 88 in 308 and my father in law blamed his misses on the caliber, when in reality, his dad at the time was well up in the years, and I suspect old eyes were to blame. The 308 will do anything the 30-06 will do with 150 grain bullets or less. With him mainly hunting mule deer and down, that would make for a good combo, as would the 7mm-08, or 280 Rem. A 6.5-284 would also be sweet if I could find a factory rifle chambered in it. I dont want to have to build a rifle for him.

Aggiedog:
Here is an article for your father-in-law to read.
Tell him to pay close attention to the make and model as well as the calibre of rifle used!
World Record Whitetail

Excellent story, I even sent the link to my father-in-law.

Be interesting how he responds. Thanks.

270 Win.

JimF

i was shoting a 270 at 14 then at 16 i had a 7stw for two months then i traded it in for a 7mm rem. id say let him pick what one he wants.