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The quickest way to get someone into shooting is by not parking them behind something like a 30'06... I suffered a 30'06 for years and finally realized it brought nothing to the table. Kicks the crap out of you for no reason. A lot more fun shooting medium cartridges, especially for deer. My go to gun now is a 6.5×55, and bought my son a 6.5 Creed. Flame away...

The quickest way to get someone into shooting is by not parking them behind something like a 30'06... I suffered a 30'06 for years and finally realized it brought nothing to the table. Kicks the crap out of you for no reason. A lot more fun shooting medium cartridges, especially for deer. My go to gun now is a 6.5×55, and bought my son a 6.5 Creed. Flame away...

Seriously, if he's bored with the one cool bolt rifle he owns, I would consider getting him an accurate semi-auto. That might light his fire in becoming more interested in rifles or not. But getting him another bolt gun that won't do anything that the one he already has will do, probably will get a yawn from him. Maybe get him some short-range compact big-bore or handgun cartridge lever action. I personally wouldn't ask him what he wants. Surprise is much of the benefit of getting a good gift.

Different strokes but I'm firmly in the camp of let-the-lad-choose.
And if I was insistent to choose for him, I'd be darned sure it's a rifle that I like - that way it's guaranteed to see some use.

I know there have been countless threads on here regarding what folks would get if they were looking for one do it all rifle. I sort of did the one rifle thing for years out of necessity (poverty) and got along nicely with a Ruger Mk II in .30/06. I love that rifle, still use it, and it will be my last rifle to leave if I have to part with some. My question, however, is what to buy for my son. He has for several seasons shot a Winchester FW Classic in .257 Roberts and has had good success on whitetails. We are hoping to add pronghorn this fall. He enjoys hunting but is simply not as into rifles like I am (yes, I bought the Roberts because it is pretty and I think it is cool - he never gives that a thought). Unless his interests change, he will probably be the guy who goes out and buys a box or two of factory ammo, checks zero and goes hunting. He is a teenager now and big enough that I don’t worry about recoil and am thinking it is time to buy him a “bigger” rifle. I am thinking about his “do it all” rifle. Sure, he will have access to stuff in my safe, but a man needs his own rifle(s).

I am very partial to my old Ruger and have thought about finding him one of those. I also have considered another Winchester FW so he will basically have a set. Sometimes I think the smarter choice would be something stainless and synthetic. I have pretty much decided .30/06 is the way to go. I know there are plenty of great all around cartridges, but for a multi-purpose big game rifle that is likely to see lots of factory ammo, I think the old /06 is hard to beat.

So, I have plenty of time on this. I am thinking this rifle will be for Christmas next year and I plan to take my time looking. I am, however, trying to think this through before I start looking. I am curious what the folks on The Fire think. Ruger, Winchester, wood, synthetic . . . what would you be looking for?

Thanks for the responses. This has given me a few more things to think about. To clarify a few things that I didn’t cover, or maybe didn’t state clearly in my original post. He loves to hunt. We hunt deer, turkey, small game and occasionally waterfowl. I am trying to expose him to lots of different types of outdoor activities and let him decide what he likes. So far, his favorites are deer hunting and fish catching. He doesn’t love the slow fishing day so much!

I will definitely see if he has any preferences before I make a final decision. We have plenty of time to shop. I just want to have something bigger before we go after elk, and I do hope to get him out west after elk at some point. Let me just say here that I know the .257 Roberts will do a lot. I have one myself and love the cartridge. I would shoot the biggest elk that ever lived in the ribs with one and expect a dead elk. However, we don’t get to hunt any big game other than deer very often and I would choose something bigger. That’s just me. I respect those who do it differently. I will say I am surprised to get that advice, this is the place I expect to hear, “Yes, buy a new rifle and you really need two!” LOL!

Also, there have been lots of comments about getting him something else. I think that is sound advice but he has those bases covered. He has a good .22 and a good all-purpose shotgun, as well as a couple of other guns.

Lastly, I appreciate the comments about recoil. I have been extremely careful in that regard and we have worked up slowly. We started with a .22 then a .222. I even started with 80 grain bullets and a modest load for the Roberts. He killed his first turkey with a 20. Graduated to a 12 when he laid claim to one of mine, but shot 2 3/4” shells. He shoots 3” and 3 1/2” waterfowl and turkey loads as well as rifles other than my .222 and the Roberts now so I’m not worried at this point about ruining him with a .308 or .30/06 or whatever. When we go and shoot a lot, I can load things on the mild side anyway. I already do that for me at times.

Thanks again for the input. There is a lot of experience here.

Asked the same questions for my daughter who is just getting back into hunting after taking a few years off with babies, school, etc.

She had used my .308 but didn't like it much.

We bought a 6.5 Creedmore the Weatherby Women's version built on a Howa action. Camile I think

Fits her perfectly. Recoil is not a issue. I bought her 500 rounds of ammo when she got it and she has burned though 300 or so. Saving brass so I can reload them

Fit is everything. With that recoil is much less of a issue.

Lefty

Random question: I've read that the Camille's stock is shaped to fit a woman... but have you shouldered it? Would it also work well for a 11-12 year old boy?