Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles setting up a new hunter

if you were setting up a rifle for yourself with the intent of using it as a loaner for an aspiring young hunter that you also knew you would give the rifle to said young'un after her first kill or high school graduation, how would you set it up? what rifle, scope, etc?

i want my niece to have good, dependable equipment. she has demonstrated a real love for animals, hunting animals, and being outdoors. she bought herself some cold weather hunting gear w/ her summer work money and 2011 will be her 4th year of big game hunting (always w/ loaner guns), and she will be graduating high school and headed to the university of nebraska in fall 2011...

thanks for tips!

What is she hunting big time?

A Browning Micro Medallion in 7/08 has been used by my son and 4 of my nephews to take their first deer. My dad loves the rifle and hunts with it as well. The current X-Bolt model is just as good, a great rifle for someone of small stature or looking for a little less to carry.

Has an excellent recoil pad that would be a big plus for a smaller shooter.

Here is the current Browning X-Bolt Micro Hunter in 7-08 cal. I'd top it with a Leupy FX3 6x42.



Model X-Bolt Micro Hunter
Item Number 035215216
UPC 023614065708
Caliber 7mm-08 Rem.
Action Type Short Action
Magazine Capacity 4
Barrel Length 20"
Nominal Overall Length 39 1/2"
Nominal Length of Pull 13 5/16"
Nominal Drop at Comb 5/8"
Nominal Drop at Heel 1/2"
Nominal Weight 6 lbs. 2 oz.
Rate of Twist 1 turn in 9 1/2 "
Wood Finish Satin Finish

As I mentioned in the other thread, remington 700 sps youth .243 topped with a leupold 6X42 in talley lw's.



When they're full grown I'll get McMillan made to their preferred color, or we'll do a father/son father/daughter stock making project, their preference.

I'm partial to Rem M700s, but does Ruger still make their Ultralight model?

Great little rifle, easily handled by a teenage girl.

By Nebraska, I'm figuring mainly deer type stuff?

My favorite chambering is the 7mm-08, and think she'd handle it just fine, but for this case, I'd look also look hard at a 260 Rem or 243 Win as well. I'd stay with something pretty much mainstream, and save the handloading, fireforming, hard to find ammo for stuff, for later.

And good on you for trying to get a younger (and especially female) hunter in to the game!

I believe Ruger only makes the u/l in .308 in a short action, as I'd considered starting the kids out with u/l, but they didn't have one in a .243.

I would avoid the Ruger carbines, too much muzzleblast from the 16 1/2" barrels, and the laminated stocks feel like clubs and are way too heavy for a the svelte rifle they are supposed to be.

What is your budget and what specifically does this new hunter need for kit?

I find it hard to spec anything without knowing how much I have to spend and how much stuff I have to purchase within the limits of said budget.

At the low end, budget wise, the Marlin XL/XS-7 offers a lot of value for the $$ spent.

Jeff

I'll second the Marlin XS/L-7 for value, also look at the Vanguards if you can spend a little more money.

A Fixed 6x Leupold would by very nice in Talley LWs.

Tell her you want to get a spare rifle set up that you could "loan" her when you went hunting together...get her take on what would work best.

i'm with him ^^^

oh, if forced to use factory ammo, i'd opt 308. some good choices out there for it!

Good advise on the rifle! I'd get a 2-7X33 or 3-9X40 Nikon Prostaff in Weaver Tip-offs instead.

Just don't get her a Ruger #1, that is what I got, and I hated it...

you didn't like the #1? i've always wanted to try one out...

I had my heart set on a bolt action 22-250 since I was around 13, because I read it was the ultimate yote gun. Then for highschool graduation I got a Ruger #1 in 243 instead. It never shot well, was bullschit for follow up shots when dog calling, and...I wanted a 22-250. ha!

Sent that baby down the road a few years later...

Rem Model 7, SS/Synthetic 7mm-08

Leupold 2-7 or a fixed power.

fair enough! that's logic i can understand! done some of that myself...

I have owned quite a few guns since then, and it was definitely the worst shooting rifle I ever owned. I and several others could never get that thing to shoot. I literally shot 6" groups at 100!

243Montucky/6x42................

That would be MY first pick.

Short,sweet,balanced beautifully,rugged,reliable,accurate and a pleasure to yank the trigger upon.

Critters would die with smiles on their faces..................