Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Rifle for my boy

Here's my then 10yr old,his Model Seven 7-08 and a pretty serious Black Bear he hammered with it via 140XLC. Spring 2003.

No secret I'm a great fan of that cartridge...............

I'm not sure if it would work for him but my 7 yr old likes the K-31 Swiss in 7.5x55 & the Sav 99 in 250 Sav. He can ring gongs all day long with both at 150 yrds & with 87 gr slugs in the Savage I use it for varmints. hope this helps

Wow! I took off camping for the weekend and look at all the great advise that came my way.
My son shoots quite a bit now.When we go out for squirels he uses a bi-pod and I had planed the same for his big game rifle, also practicing off a pack and what ever else is handi. My buddy sent him a Marlin 22Mag a few years ago that he shoots well. He loves a 6 Actley I have on a 722 with a 26" barrel and muzzle brake(you can see the hole apear in the paper). The 257 Actley also sports a break and that one was a mistake for a hunting gun. That was a big reason for wanting to cut that one back.
The Encore is a thought but I don't want him to walk around with a round in the chamber.
I like the idea of the 7/08 and it would give me the excuse to play with one until I can swing a Ti in that flavor.
The Ruger compact seemed like just the ticket but that short barrel had me concerned about muzzle blast.
Thanks again for the suggestions.
Darryl

In addition to the Model 7, you may want to consider a Rem. Model 700 ADL Synthetic Youth in 7mm-08. The hollow stock is flimsy, but I already bought a used wood ADL stock for when my son gets bigger.

The youth models are almost always on sale someplace too.

I'd still opt for a M-7 in wood, cut an inch or so off the stock and save the piece. Epoxy the piece back on later when he gets bigger.

JimF

Hey BigD, the muzzleblast isnt that bad. I shot one. The one i used was in .308. You could also look at the Ruger Ultra Light. It has a 20" barrel and weighs 6 lbs. I would have gotten one of those, but i needed a lefty bolt, so now i live with the 7 lb. Ruger m77mk2 LR in .30-06.

NH_Hunter

You can get a SAVAGE 10FCM scout that will fit him.
Steve

As the caliber gets smaller, the muzzle blast will increase.....assuming the same length barrel.

HogWild

Hey Stick that's a really neat trick <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />. Wish i could get a bear to lay down like that <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />. Guess I'll just have to keep on wishin <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />.

Winchester M70 Compact in .308.

for my kids, I went with a winchester model 70 compact and had the barrel duplicated by douglas and chambered to 250-3000. another option, one that I have done, is buy a synthetic ruger in 7.62x39 (has a 308, not 311 bore) and handload 130 or 150 gr bullets. comes with rings, I put a timney in mine and added a 6x luepold (used). rifle with trigger, was still under $500

Congrats on your new hunting partner.

Let me say that I am 21 so it was not so long ago that I was on the receiving end of my first hunting rifle. It will be a very special moment for your boy and will make lasting impressions on him for the rest of his life. I suggest you get him an action model and cartridge you like as they are the action, model, and cartridge he will grow quite fond of as well <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />
I think he'll like it better if you buy him his own rifle rather than just handing down one of yours. I've hunted with both but there was just something special about getting my own rifle, rather than using someone else's. Sorta like getting a pair of shoes that are yours and not handed down from an older sibling or neighbor. I know it can be a significant investment purchasing a rifle these days, but if you ask me, a life long hunting partner is worth it.
Recoil shyness I think is pretty typical for an inexperienced rifleman. All he needs to do was practice. I was kinda shy about my Rem .270 Win until I had about 150 to 200 rounds through it. As for an antelope to elk rifle, I would suggest a .308 Win or .270 Win. With proper bullets, they will do anything you ask them to do. None have alot of recoil. Your son should be able to shoot them just fine with a little practice. Look for a Rem M700 ADL Synthetic. They sell for under $500. Then put a Nikon Buckmaster on it, for around $200, and you have a very useable hunting setup for not a whole lot of cash.

I would have to reccomend the Remington m700 mtn. rifle. For some reason I just cant get the urge to buy a model 7. Am getting one for my son for christmas(I hope I can afford it by then). Am getting the ss/lam version. We both like ss barrels and we both like laminated wood. The stock will have to be cut but I can put the piece back in when he gets older. My son is about the same size as yours but he isnt recoil shy. His caliber of choice is the 7-08. Like Stick, I am a believer in the 140xlc. That would be the combo I reccomend you get your son. That rifle with remingtons new r-3 recoil pad and he will barely even feel it.