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...

22lr : Tikka T1x
223 : Tikka T3x Stainless SuperVarmint or SuperLite - depends on if he walks or stationary shooting.
308 : Tikka T3x Stainless SuperLite

Tikka Ringmounts or Sportsmatch rings

I prefer Kahles or S&B scopes.. but they can be a bit expensive.



Upgrade to McMillan stocks later if you want them to be a "for-life" rifles.

Jazz up the 10/22 he already has, then RAR 223 and RAR 6.5 CM. if you must have a new 22LR, then RAR it as well.


The kid will be better off than most of us here.

If you have all of those, please sell them to the kid's dad for $1,800, the limit stated in the OP. And yes, that includes scopes and mounts.

Nothing wrong with your recommendations but I'd consider recommending he skip a bolt .22 and spend that part of the $ on reliable glass....or if he's set on that sell the 10/22 and put that $ with the $1750.

I can like that list. My boys will be setup somewhat similarly by the time they are 13. I'd also consider making the .22LR an American if he goes that route for the larger rifles. I would also not be scared to put Weaver K6s or Leupold 6X36s on all 3. I like fixed power scopes for kids. Less to fiddle fart with and they work well. Both my 8yo and my 11yo shoot well with a K6 on a Ruger American 243.

RAR .22 - SWFA 10x MQ
RAR Pred .223 - SWFA 10x
RAR Pred 6.5 Creed - SWFA 6x

Burris XTR Sig Med rings for all. If really insisting that all optics be indentical, then SWFA 6x for all.

Sell the 10/22 to make budget if necessary.


OR


Keep the 10/22 and buy the kid a Barrett FC in 6mm Creedmoor. Then he’d have a finisher rifle rather than a few starter rifles.

Can you use caliber larger than .224 for varmints? If yes a 243 would do the work of both varmint and deer hunting. If the father doesn't reload stick with cartridges you can buy almost anywhere.

I've used .22LR, .223, .22-250. .257 Roberts, 7mm RM, .375 Win, .44 Mag and probably others for prairie dogs, coyotes and other varmints. The benefit of a .223 is cheap ammo, especially for those that don't handload.

I'd skip the 700 and go tikka t3x or RAR for the cf rifles. Hang onto the 10-22, or trade it for a RAR rimfire if he absolutely has to have a bolt action. Keep things simple and dependable.

My friend should look at the feedback before he decides what to do.

Some of the suggestions would appear to require a significant increase over the budget ceiling of $1,800.

Northman, I fully agree with your selection of a 3 gun battery. RJ

Can this selection of rifles, scopes, and mounts be purchased for $1,800?

RAR for the .22LR

OR THIS




Jerry

As far as a bolt .22 goes, there are lots of good options. Keeping the budget in mind a Marlin, Savage or Ruger American would work fine. Install a nikon pro staff 3-9x40 and you will have a very nice setup.
For the varmint rifle I would go with a Savage 12FV in .223 and look on Natchez for a nice Weaver scope for it or keep an eye here in the classifieds for something workable. A SS 10x would not be a bad option here either.
Big game rifle tikka in 6.5 CM or 7mm-08 or a Remington 700 in the same with a Leupold VX2 3-9 would last forever and not ever need upgraded.
I believe that could all be done for close to the budget and end up with some very nice equipment.

You might be close with the optics but I think the rifles would be much nicer. The blued Tikkas are about 500 a piece and the rimfire could be a decent CZ, leaving a decent amount of money for optics. I’d rather have a rifle like the Tikka than a RAR and save a bit for better optics.

Lots of ways to skin this cat. It is unfortunate he isn’t interested in used guns as the market is such that he could make his dollers go further ... much further.

Were I in his shoes, I would probably make two calls - one to Darrick at Whittikers, and one to Doug or Joel at Cameraland. Explain the situation and see what they had on hand knowing you would be getting great deals and value with the significant benefits that come with outstanding customer service.

Another option would be doing some discount internet shopping - look for sales, etc. Obvious downside would be lack of customer service. Here is one combo that could work and gets him in just under $1800...

Ruger American 22 - $222
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/778208431

Tikka t3 compact 223 - $549
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/772034331

Tikka t3 compact 6.5 c - $629
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/773084432

Burris FFII x 3 $133 ($399)
https://m.ebay.com/itm/Burris-200162-3-9X40-Fullfield-II-Ballistic-Plex-Rifle-Scope-BRAND-NEW/323106925511?_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D53041%26meid%3Da4f205aa19dd4f7bb5ac47fa2a8c2d03%26pid%3D100675%26rk%3D7%26rkt%3D15%26mehot%3Dpp%26sd%3D173063648659%26itm%3D323106925511&_trksid=p2481888.c100675.m4236&_trkparms=pageci%3Aff53b414-8aa6-11e8-a3c6-74dbd180c605%7Cparentrq%3Aae34bb321640ac3c6c3ca456fff9f98f%7Ciid%3A1

Leaves $1 for mounts :-)

I’m sure the above could be had for less through Whittakers. I would suggest the tikka t1 except it won’t be available in the next 60 days.

I think Jordan’s recommendation is also a fine one and one I had thought of suggesting as well. One significant hesitation I have with that though is stock length - a fieldcraft will be too long.

Couple of other suggestions just make me scratch my head ... 30/06? Schmidt and Bender??

Regardless, good luck and thanks for taking the time to help your friend and a young shooter out!

Tikkas are inexpensive, as are the RAR's. You also don't have to spend a ton to GET good glass either. The Burris ffII (3-9×40) comes to mind there. I also agree with akwolverine about buying used. Pharmseller had a like new tikka t3x 30-06 for sale for around $500.00... That's the route I'd take. And, again, why buy a 22 if he already has a good 10-22. Just sayin..

If I'd already bought him a .22 and a shotgun I'd tell the little fugger to get off his spoiled lazy azz and go mow some lawns if he wanted a deer rife. Geezus no wonder they turn out to be such rotten little snowfalke azzholes.

To get back on track, the criteria are as follows:

1. 3 rifles that have the same type of action in .22LR, 223, and 6.5 Creedmoor.
2. 3 rifles that are approximately the same size, weight and length, and as close to the same physical specs as possible and still fall within the budget.
3. 3 scopes that are the same make/model/magnification.
4. The primary components, the rifles and the scopes, must be new and readily available over the counter.
5. The budget ceiling is a hard $1,800.

The point of buying a .22 rifle with the same weight and action style as the coyote and deer hunting rifles is so that the boy can fire a thousand or more rounds of inexpensive bulk pack .22 LR at paper targets before he shoots either of the centerfire rifles and will be used to the weight, length, safety location, etc.

Check, check, check, check, and ... check :-)

No idea why the ebay link to the FFII didn’t hyperlink.

I would get stainless and synthetic.

I am not a big fan of the Ruger American rifles but in this case they would serve the purpose. It would take some careful shopping but he should be able to get into the three rifles for less than $1200.00 for all three, that leaves $600 for three scopes, which is doable - I was in a gun shop the other day that had the Leupold Freedom 3x9 for $179.00 but even full retail on the is only $199.00 so even at retail he could slide in just under budget. That would set him up with three nearly identical rifles and scopes.

Speaking of the Leupold Freedom scope - they define UGLY. I have to wonder what Leupold was thinking when they came up with that abortion of turret housing design.

drover

I would have to agree with drover especially since you want the weight and feel as close as possible for that price.

I agree with you on the FFII. One of my favorite hunting scopes is the FFII 3-9x40 with ballistic plex. It will work on all those rifles the OP is insinuating his friend has to have..

Do you know what the definition of "insinuating" is?

Maybe he meant insisting?

that sounds like a winner

I sure the FU CK do: imply, suggest, hint, indicate, let it be known... Does that sound about right?? John (79s) was also right when he said insisting. The OP is doing both.. This chit isn't rocket science. Keep it simple for fu cks sake.. I guess you are butt hurt because I implied the Remington 700 (circa 2018) is a POS. Their QC sucks big time man.... Sorry to break it to you, but facts is facts..

and 3 leupold 4x33 scopes

1. Rock River Varmint 223
2. 6.5 Creedmoor
3. 338 Win mag

Ha, ha, ha.........

I love this place! If a person asked for the best way to travel from Chicago to Peoria, he'd likely be told that he should travel to Detroit instead of Peoria.

Why aren't they going to Nashville?

What are you insinuating?

Remington 700 ADL and a Ruger American shouldn’t be in the same sentence.

That sometimes some of the advice that is offered is about as useful as a rubber crutch.

Why?

They are both bolt action centerfire rifles with matte CM metal and injection molded synthetic stocks that typically sell in the same $300 to $400 market niche.

My most recent Remington 700s have "EL" (10/17) and "AM" (03/18) assembly codes and both seem fine. Not without faults, but they only cost $430 per unit and since I had intended to restock them and change them from ADL to BDL format when I bought them, those additional costs were factored into the decision process.

I picked up one of the Zastava .22s on sale last year and other than the checkering looking like it was cut by a Parkinson's patient with a rusty butter knife I've been very happy with it. Nice bluing, decent wood and it handles/feels a lot more like a center fire.

Thumbs up

I know, and agree. It was a play on earlier posts without a sarcasm smiley.

I’d change the scopes to 6X MQ SWFA SS, and the rings to Burris signature XTR, but that’s about it.

Where are those scope available for around $200 per unit?

Here, if you have patience and keep an eye on the classifieds.

Of the two, I think I would go with the 700 for your project because of the aftermarket tweaks available for them. As you know, the 700 is the small block Chevy of the rifle world and probably always will be. If the kid wants to go full blown looney in the future, he would already have two actions to play with.

Another consideration might be one of the Howa rifle packages. They are extremely hard to beat for the price.

Keep the 10/22

RAR Predator .223

Winchester Model 70 Featherweight 6.5 Creedmoor

You’d have enough left for a decent scope for one new rifle. The kid can mow lawns and wash cars and help the neighbors with whatever they need to help subsidize the purchase of a second scope.