Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles 3-rifle starter set

A friend asked me to spec out a 3-rifle starter set of a practice rifle, a varmint rifle, and a deer rifle for his 13 year old son. His budget for the set has a ceiling of $1,800.

I suggested these items for around $1,750:

22 LR - Marlin XT-22VR
223 - Remington 700 ADL or Ruger American Rifle - Predator
6.5 Creedmoor 700 ADL or Ruger American Rifle - Predator

Leupold Freedom 3-9x40 (x3)

Warne Maxima 1" Low (x3)

Want would you change?

EDIT: Additional information;

1. The boy already has a Ruger 10/22 and a Remington 870 20 gauge.
2. The father wanted all three rifle to have the same action style, approximately the same weight, the same sights, and they all have to be available for purchase NIB within the next 60 days. IOW, they need to be as alike as possible.

I like it.

I might go 6 Creedmoor.

Henry lever 22 with 2-7. I’m sure some will pick an auto loader.

The 223 selection would be fine.

I could go with the 6.5 Creedmoor, 243, or a Marlin 30-30 for the big gun. If the 700 ADL, stainless would be nice.

Actually, a 13 year old doesn’t need a scope on a 22.

Your suggestions look solid to me, especially on an $1800 budget for 3 complete rifles......Hb

I’d get him on the one CF rifle plan, supplemented by an inexpensive or free 22lr that shoots, whether it be a single shot or whatever.

Maybe go with the Ruger American 22. That way pretty much same rifle for all three and no surprises for the kid.

I'd combine the "varmint" and "deer" rifle, and get something that will do both. Get something higher-end that the kid really enjoys the ownership thereof rather than three disposables.

The 22 should "match" the hunting rifle in its style and manual of arms.

Tikka T3 X somewhere in there in 6.5 Creed or 308 win.

I disagree with the idea of only learning one action type. And a kid should surely learn how to use both iron sights and a scope. Also, variety is the spice of life, right?

[quote][/quote]I have a 223 adl and a 6.5x55 as my main rifles and a Remington 22. So I can relate and not a damn thing I can't do with those that I want to do

Nothing against the 6.5 Creedmore but a 30-06 you can find ammo anywhere in the world cheap and kill anything. 6.5 can do pretty much anything the ' 06 can but no telling if it will be around in 30 years. But then again loonies aren't always practical!

Bolt or lever .22. Iron sights to start.

Bolt .223.

For the deer rifle there are lots of good choices. A 6.5 CM would be a good starting place. A .30-06 (probably with reduced recoil loads) would be a good ending place and one that would last a lifetime.

Like the marlin .22, I’d scrap the other two for a quality 7mm-08.

.02

You did well.

I like a 10/22 for the first one. Could go even cheaper on scope and be just fine on a .22 such as Bushnell Banner or even a Nikon Prostaff. And nothing against the CF rifles you selected but just to add some variety in there the TC Venture is a damn good shooter and a few months back they were offering a $75 mail in rebate putting the cost of a brand new one well under $300. Good luck!

Randall

Find the nearest rifle club and get both yourself and him memberships. My late dad bought life memberships for both myself and my son.

Bring your son to the junior matches. This is important that you show enthusiasm for it as well.

Practice yourself at the club.

Buy .22 rifles for each of you.

If your address is NE = New England then we have matches here all winter when it's too cold to shoot outside.

The rifle matches are on Thursday night and pistol the next Thursday.

!. If you could both read and comprehend, you would know that the child in question isn't mine.

2. NE = Nebraska

The caliber choices are great, though there are a lot of options in the deer rifle category. With the additional info, I think the choice is easy -- Ruger American in all three categories. Personally, though, I would check out the used market for a CZ 455, 527 and 550.

One thing that I wonder about is the experience and maturity of the young man. By that I mean, if he had all 3 in the RAR, would he be vigilant enough to not put the 223 cartridge in the CM?

For $1,800 your picks are workable. At 13, all I had was a single shot .22, and a single shot 20 gauge. Would have loved to have had a single CF rifle and the ammo to feed it. Times two ? ... Hog heaven...