Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Help with a all around rifle for my son.....

My son has been asked to go up north into rifle country(Northern Michigan) this fall to go deer hunting with his friend. I also will be taking him to the next campfire boar hunt at wilderness, coyote hunting, hopefully on an antelope hunt out west, and even maybe a black bear hunt for his graduation.

Since the calibers I like are 30-30, 30-06, 300 Win. Mag,.223, and .45 cal. anything. I would like to get different opinions on the perfect all around riflemake, model, and caliber for the above described game for my boy.

The only terms I ask is for the best rifle for durability, functionality, reliability, and accuracy for a 6ft4inch 16year old hunting loony, that he will cherish for his lifetime.... Oh yes and since financing is tight. Please keep the average cost between $600-$800 (new or used) for the whole rig. I would also like the caliber to be one that is affordable to shoot.

Thanks and Appreciation,
PAMac

Ruger Hawkeye in 30-06 with a Weaver 6x scope, or used Leupold 4x.

Pretty tough to beat either a 270 (I cannot believe I even suggested that ) or a 30-06 (sanity has returned ) in a quality rifle from any of a number of manufacturers like Winchester, Remington, Tikka, CZ, even Savage. Glass can be bought to save expense, and then upgraded when funds free themselves up.

Start him out with 150's in an 06 and hten go up as he needs and can handle it.

Another vote for the 06. At that price for total, maybe a weatherby van and a leupold. Ruger also gets a vote of confidence.

Take him to the gun store and let him try various rifles to see which he likes. He may prefer the safety location or magazine/floorplate of one brand over anything else.

Buy it in 30-06 and put a Bushnell Elite 3-9 scope on it.

Dale

Yep!

30-06 unless he wants to do his own thing, in which case a .270 would be dandy.

I am partial to 30-06 for an all around use and affordable round.

I have a Winchester model 70 in 300Win. Mag. that I will probably never part with which fits me like a glove. It's one of my sons favorites among my arsenal.

Was thinking about a model 70 extreme weather ss in 30-06 but the price is a little out of range. So back to the thread we go.....

Anybody have pro's or con's on the blued Model 70 with plastic stock?

Ok now, which makes and models are recommended in that price range?

Thanks for the replies so far guys......

New production FN or New Haven model 70?

There's been a lot of good 06's in the classifieds here lately....You can snag good Ruger m77's pretty reasonably too...The new hawkeyes have a lot going for them...You may want to let your son check one of those out...

Thanks, I believe the person I bought it from bought it new in 1996-1998 ishy....... with Plastic stock....Pretty sure its a McMillan synthetic stock. I will definately go check now to make sure.(after I get off work) I questioned him if he re stocked it and he said thats the way it came in the box.

Hope that is what your question was about...

CDNN may still have some stock-blemished Weatherby Vanguard Deluxe 300 Win Mags. $572 shipped to my FFL and it looks beautiful even with the small stock blemish in the finish. The metal is exquisite. Going to the range tomorrow for the first time and the test target that came with it showed three through the same hole. Typical Vanguard accuracy IME. Thorw in a Timney and a Bushnell Elite as mentioned and you're in it to win it within your budget.

I got a Remington 700 BDL in 30-06 laying around I don't use much. PM me if interested in that.

Avoid a 270 and stay with a 3006 just to prevent ammo mix up in the hunting truck!

I just picked up a nice little Pre-64 Model 70 .308 Winchester Featherweight. First year production. If I didn't have a couple of young up and coming hunters, I would have made you a nice deal on a great little rifle.

I think a 270 would be just about right, as for a rifle, I would really look at a Ruger American. You could buy one and put a good scope on it for the money you want to spend. Then there is the used rifle rack, some good values can be had that way too.

This, for $700:



Pre-'64 M70FW .30-06

What am I hearing???? You guys shoot bushnel??? Buy a used 30-06, 270, 25-06, or .308. Put a 4x leupy on it and turn him loose. Bushnel, really?

Hmmmmmm

Let him research the caliber he wants.... give him a list of good ones from 243 Winchester up.

Just my 2 cents.

I think their reasoning is my son will never appreciate a Cadillac if never has to drive a Chevette...... Bushnell is fine for my boy. For a starter Scope.....