.308 is sufficient for anything in NA, not bad recoil. Except for maybe big bear, and that's a matter of perception, range, bullet construction, and placement. As with anything in NA.
Has he been shooting? Knows what recoil he prefers/can handle ?
Can't go wrong with either a Savage or RAR as budget rifle. Budget less of a consideration , probably a Tikka.
Good advice on glass. If one has to cut the budget somewhere, glass isn't the place.
Used, any decent brand rifle is an option.
I wound up with a $400 Wallyworld Rem budget package rifle (785? ) that I would never have purchased for myself, in .30-06. I don't like it much - it's pretty heavy for one thing, but that goes both ways on carry and recoil. Pressed in pressure-fitted barrels leave me cold, and the recoil lug is, IMO, minimal.
It surprised me.
With factory Corelokts it is MOA, no work done except to exchange the come-with no-name suspect scope with a Leupold Rifleman. Which did not improve accuracy over the package scope, just my confidence on reliability.
Last edited by las; 06/12/21.
