Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles 7-08: ruger compact or x-bolt micro?

Looking to buy a 7-08. Ruger compact or xbolt micro? Or any other suggestions? I picked these two because of my kids. They seem to be the best fit for the smaller frames.

Ruger

Ruger

+2, Ruger.

+1 on the Ruger. Had one in 7-08 and now have a stainless 308. Great little rifle. Don't know the ages but they also run in 243.

Winchester Model 70 Compact Featherweight.

Don't go and handle the Browning Micro - you might not be able to put it down!

Got that same caliber in an A-Bolt Micro Medallion.

I wouldn't take 20 Rugers for it.

...........The Ruger compacts have better and easier user friendly dimensions for the youths to handle, shoulder and to carry.

As a Ruger Frontier compact owner (not just for kids btw), they are wonderful on hunts, especially in the thicker stuff brush woods and timbers. As opposed to the Browning imo, the Ruger is more of a rough it rifle with the laminated stock version, and will be just as durable if not more so than is the Browning. Unless deliberately abused or a BIG powder mistake is made, you cannot break a Ruger.

Also, the Ruger compacts like the larger Rugers, have the built-in integral scope bases for mounting and Ruger factory rings are included too. No need to buy rings or bases with the Ruger. I`d like to see anyone by accident, break a Ruger scope mounting system. There is no scope mounting system more durable than Ruger`s.

As a preference, I`m not a big detachable magazine fan, which if I`m not mistaken, these Browning compacts do have.

Find the hand loadings that these little Rugers prefer, and you`ll be seeing moas and less, as I did right from the box and still do.

As an exact opposite to a previous poster, I`d gladly take one good Ruger rifle over 20 Browning rifles.

And if one should run into Bert Parks` ghost in the field, the Browning woody would win the beauty contest over the Ruger.

A high gloss woody? No thanks.

Ruger ! My only concern for the kids would be the muzzle blast. I also feel that the Frontier is a bit on the heavy side for a compact. Purchased one of the Grice Special Browning Micro Hunter Ultra-Lite in 358 Win 20" barrel. Love the rifle and before I just couldn't warm-up to a Browning. Had a Frontier 358 and the blast was brutal. Sold It ! The 7-08 or a 243 might not be as bad.
Just my opinion and opinions vary.

Ken

X-Micro's don't have high gloss finishes Squeeze...

The rotary detach mag. center feeds and makes loading and unloading much easier. It's a secure system, I've used it.

Unloading the X-bolt is very safe now, with the addition of the bolt unlock button, you don't have to disengage the safety.

Mine will do MOA or better with several factory loads.

I think the biggest difference is, an adult can more comfortably shoot the X-bolt Micro vs. a Ruger Compact. I've shot both.

The Compact is in the same class as the Micro Midas, which is pretty much just a child's gun.

My Dad uses mine and 4 nephews ranging in age from 8-13 have taken their first deer with it.

You'll have a rifle you can hunt with the rest of your life and MSRP is the same for both rifles.

Ruger Lam. Compact

LOP is 12.5
BBl. is 16.5"
Rifle length is 35.5"
weight is 6.2

X-Bolt

LOP is 13 5/16
BBl. is 20"
Rifle length is 39.5
weight is 6.2

Model 7 Remington is another choice. My buddies boy is 11 and he always uses my 257Roberts.

Ruger...

x2....[bleep] both and buy a model 7

................When it comes to certain things, some are traditionalists. When it comes to detachable magazines (Browning`s or otherwise), I am not a big fan. And you are right, the Medallions have the glossy stocks, not the Micros.

At 6'3" tall with approx the same reach and at 240 lbs, I don`t find my Frontier to be too small. In fact, when I wear thicker clothing, its 12.5" LOP shoulders is actually easier and faster to shoulder. If I want a longer LOP at 13.5", then my Limbsaver slip on recoil pad is secured onto the butt in less than 3 seconds. A very simple, inexpensive and creative way to adjust the LOP depending on what clothing is worn, which will allow me to use the Frontier (same size as the Ruger compact) for the rest of my hunting/shooting life.

The new Ruger compacts and the discontinued Frontier`s 35.5" OAL dimension, are more suitable for the kiddies, but then when the slip on recoil pad is added on, it becomes quite the adult rifle; especially when the Frontier is chambered in a 300 WSM? By no means, is a 300 WSM which is chambered in a compact rifle suitable for young people. That would include most adults too.

For my next elk hunt, I just may take that "kiddie" rifle again.

I'd never buy a rifle with a 16.5 inch barrel for a youth. The muzzle blast will be tremendous from any caliber and they will surely develop a flinch. Had a 20 inch .243 and thought the muzzle blast was way out of line for a youth rifle, I can't imagine shooting one with a 16.5

Ruger-- Pear Harbor Ruger-- Pear Harbor Ruger-- Pear Harbor

You decide!

.........In any caliber including the 223? You might have a low tolerance level for such things.

With good ear protection, you`d be very surprised at how well some can shoot (those shouldn`t own and dastardly) 16.5" barreled compacts.

My buddy and his wife shoot his 16.5" barreled 300 RCM Ruger compact (near max and max loadings) all the time at the range and on hog hunts with me. That rifle doesn`t affect his wife nor their 15 year old son. Another friend has the 338 Federal Ruger Frontier, and he, his wife and 12 year old daughter have no issues from that one either.

My dealer has a 10 year old son who uses among others a 7/08 Frontier. No flinching problems there as well.

Their louder than a magnum pistol, whether that will bother a kid who is just learning to shoot is anyone's guess.

I think it's safe to say it won't improve his training.

mt thoughts too especially for adult if a kid ?? youth mod. 7 i am not much on barrels shorter than 20" really dont even care for the old 18.5" bbl/ mod7's but i am 6'4" with 35" sleave lenght