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I know it's been labeled a sub-par gun, but there are Remington 770 scoped packages running for $319 after rebate.

$300 limit on a new gun? Marlin or Stevens.

The Marlin XL or XS 7s have gotten consistently strong reviews from actual owners/users. They're not stone ugly, they shoot very accurately out of the box and they're within the budget you are have. Also, they are available in a respectable variety of calibers. The Howas usually are priced higher as are the Vanguards. They are the same rifle with a different roll stamp. The Marlin is more rifle than the Stevens. I'm thinking about picking the Marlin in 25-06 as a matter of principle. Rooster

I'd take the Marlin over the Stevens. You get more for your money. Better pad and trigger to start.



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I don't have any experience with the marlins. I own three savages and they all three shoot lights out with my reloads. One of them in 22-250 a stevens will shoot fatory 55 grain remmy psp at .75 moa all day long. I'd go with the 7mm-08 I seen quite a few of our Pa whitetail take a big smackdown with that round. My father-in-law has been crumbling them with it for years.

Just plain avoid the Mossberg. Mossberg has a history of short production runs on models, and no support for them when they quite making them. Marlin, not so sure, they make some forever, some not. The Stevens / Savage has been around forever and will definitely have aftermarket support forever.

Cabela's and Bass Pro Shop have offered the very excellent Marlin XL-7 and XS-7 for around $280 a couple different times during 2009.

NOMB, but with so little public land in TX, where is the kid going to hunt?

Jeff

My buddy just bought the Marlin in 308. It is alot of gun for the money and very accurate right out of the box. I wish they made the youth in a lefty version as I would buy my son one in a second. My vote is for a Marlin in 7mm-08 or 270.

I have a vanguard/howa and a marlin xl-7. The howa's are pretty heavy compared to the marlins. I'd go with the marlin for your purpose.

I know nothing of the newer 770, but I can vouch for the accuracy and quality of the 710 considering its price.

I have a 710 in .270 that I bought from a coworker last year. It had only been run through about 100 rounds total between the range and hunting. The guy had a album of pictures showing the things he had killed with that rifle. Everything from coyotes to hogs to deer.

I bought that gun from him and never took it too the range, going on his current sight in of 150 yards. Last year I dropped 2 deer in their tracks with 2 shots. Both shots hit exactly where I was aiming. I sat for 2 hours in freezing rain with the rifle and never had a problem with it when I shot one of those 2 deer.

This year, I took a small button buck at 80 yards with a neck shot. Dead center neck, right where I was aiming.

I know alot of people talk trash about this gun; but I have to step in and defend it from my own personal point of view. I've hunted with a Rem 700 for years up until it was stolen and I think, for the price, the 710 is comparable.

As long as it shoots, and shoots accurately, it should be a fine starter rifle.

Once again, I cannot comment on the 770 and thus I have no idea of the differences between the 2.

This is my 710 .270 that I custom painted:

Oh I'm certain one could, just in my weird little mind I think of the saying "You get what you pay for", you pay $300 don't expect more than $300 worth out of it. Stupid I know as I have zero experience with Marlin or Stevens, just the way I have to justify the nicer things I guess.

I've owned a 710 in 30-06 that was a good shooter, but having owned a Marlin XS-7 and shot a couple of Marlin XL-7s, I can tell you from persona experience that the Marlin is a much better rifle than the Remington 710 series. Better than or equal to in every catagory that you could judge or grade.

Jeff

I can't compain about the accuracy, I picked up a very roughly treated 223 handrifle (couldn't pass it up for $70), cut a new crown on it, filed off the dings, steel wooled off the rust and put on some iron sights (the originals were broken off). It'll print 3 shots into 1" at 100 yds, with relatively crude iron sights!

I don't like the ergonomics of the gun, and the stock design causes the rifle to produce more recoil than guns with better stock designs. My biggest complaint is the ejector has very little leverage. If you have a load that is slightly on the hot side, the gun won't eject the case, and you'll need a cleaning rod to get the case out. Loads that function fine, with no pressure signs, in a rem 700 and an ar-15 will stick on occasion in the handi rifle. Also when you scope a handi rifle it is difficult to cock the rifle, and I don't like the hammer extensions.

To the op, I'd try and convince the mom to let you find him a nice used rifle.

Thanks for all the input so far. I looked over the marlin, mossberg, & vangaurd over lunch. It will probably be the marlin everything considered.

Somebody asked where the kid is going to hunt. I have a lease and will try and pull some strings there. Typically no guests, but the guys like kids and may be willing for an exception so long as what he shoots counts toward my limit. I also have a couple of other connections with some property that I never asked for myself, but will try with the kid. If that doesn't work will look the public land route though may have to wait for next year for that one.

Thanks Again,

Lou

She knows she's going to need a scope too, right?

Yes. I will probably donate one.

Lou

If someone gave me a 710 or 770 it would get traded very quickly. Not my cup of tea, and I've looked at them both.

The best deals I've found are used rifles. My M700BDL in .308 Win is a tack driver and cost me $350 used. Looks like new.

Mossberg: Have heard some pretty bad things. Normally that wouldn't phase me, but the absence of any glowing reviews is a concern.

Savage/Stevens: Ugly rifles that shoot lights-out straight out of the box.

Howa: Gonna be harder to find one within budget unless it is on sale.

Marlin: XL-7 gets some good reviews and a few bad. I have never owned a Marlin that wasn't fun to shoot. And by that I mean, they have always been as accurate as I am offhand.

Handi-rifle: I like em. Drawback, single shot. Bonus, You could put a pretty fair set of glasses on it and stay under budget.

Remington SP1 International: Another single shot, but a stylistic one that comes with irons attached. (if that's worth anything)

i just bought the 399 weatherby in 257 wby mag i love it cant beat it 4 the money

Start the boy off right with a quality rifle. She has 300.00, she only needs another 250.00 for a new Hawkeye in say, 7mm-08 or 308 Win. I'd suggest a 257 Roberts, but factory ammunition is mostly crap.

25 people kick in $10 a piece and we'll make a boy a man in a hurry. At least get him headed in the right direction. I'll kick in $20.00