rifle recommendation

[jparker]

LAST EDITED ON Dec-26-04 AT 08:51PM (MST)[p]LAST EDITED ON Dec-26-04 AT 08:51?PM (MST)

looking to by my son a new rifle for his 13th birthday to mostly whitetail deer hunt and hopefully elk in the future. what do you guys recommend? he is now shooting a 30-30 but would like to get a bolt action.

 

[D13er]

3006

JB

 

[Salmon]

I'd second the 30:06, great rifle with allot of bullets weights to choose from!

 

[Wyomingben]

I like the .270, little less kick then the 30-06, but I guess that depends on the gr. of bullet.

WB

 

[kirkl]

270 or 30-06, 270 with a good 150 premium bullett will get the job done on elk.

 

[txhunter58]

If you want a good, dependable SINGLE rifle that can do the job, the 30-06 can't be beat. However, I don't consider it the "perfect" choice for a 13 year old who may hunt elk in the future. The 270 will get the job done on any whitetail or mule deer alive. And it will have less kick than the '06. You/he could then buy an elk rifle if that day comes. Yes the 270 is adequate for elk out to reasonable distances (200 yards would be my personal max.) but is not considered one of the better "elk" rifles by the majority of hunters.

If your son is big for his age and is not "recoil shy", the '06 to begin with may be ok, otherwise, I would opt for the 270. Either gun is going to kick more than the 30-30, at least the ones I have shot.

Also, I am a big believer in putting a quality recoil pad on to replace the factory one. I love my Limbsaver pad (available at Cabelas, etc.). It uses so-called "SIMS" technology to reduce the felt reoil. All I know it that it works very well for me. With my featherweight 7mm mag, it is the difference between flinching and having a neck pain the day after shooting it and hardly noticing the recoil with no stiff neck the next day.

txhunter58

venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)

 

[kirkl]

I will second what txhunter said on the Limb saver recoil pad, I bought one for my 300 mag and the recoil is great, more of a push than swift kick, it kicks less than my lite 270.

 

[DallanC]

You could do the 30-06 with reduced loads initially to get him started, then step up to full loads down the road. You can buy reduced velocity factor ammo now.

.308 is same ballistics as 30-06... but for a young shooter who will do mostly deer with the chance of rare elk, I'd maybe lean towards 7MM-08 which would be an outstanding deer caliber and shortaction to boot.


-DallanC

 

[kingfish]

270.....

 

[need2hunt]

Sounds like a lot of folks are recommending the 270 and 30.06.

Why not split the difference and go for a 280 Rem.? I hear this round shoots flatter than the .06 but packs a better punch than the 270...he'd nearly get the best of both worlds.

 

[elkantlers]

30-06. BULLETS FROM 110GR TO 220GR. A VERY VERSITILE CALIBER. MY SECOND CHOICE WOULD BE THE 280.

 

[Phantom Hunter]

My 13 year old bought a 30-06 Savage 110 this year and loves it. I load him 150 gr Sierra Gameking bullets for whitetail. If he draws an elk tag next year we will go up to 180 gr bullets. Logan is slightly above average height and is on the skinny side and recoil with the 150's is not a problem. He has killed two whitetail does so far this year with the gun.

Phantom Hunter