Rifle for my Son

Mark O. · July 2014

Hesitant to even ask, because it's like asking the internet what's your favorite color...lol...but maybe someone will have some insight... 16 year old son has limited experience hunting but actually very comfortable with 30-06, 12 gauge, Mosin Nagant, 10 mm pistol. Will be hunting deer and hogs at 100 to 200 yards and range shooting. So the question...Are most brands of 308's going shoot more accurate than he will be at 200 yards? Thinking about a #1 or #2 barrel on a Howa 1500 and spend the extra on a decent scope like a Leupold V2 3 x 9 40. Really like the Howa trigger. Would look at the Vangard 2's (same barrel) but Weatherby only seems to have Monte Carlo stocks and son is lefty. What about the Wincherster 70 featherweight? Will it shoot that much better at 200 yards? Also, I'm not real crazy about the way companies **** their name out, now...I think a Howa is still made by Howa. I'm I on the right track? thanks.

BigDanS · July 2014

FWIW...

http://www.gunsamerica.com/blog/savage-axis-ii/'

Savage Axis II in .308. Accutrigger, plus decent scope in all one package. $380.00

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/90726/Savage+AXIS+II+XP+308+WIN+WSCOPE

D

FLDXT · July 2014

I would go Savage also, 116 Weather Warrior or the above gun. Best bang for your buck will be a Savage right now. Accutrigger is the best factory trigger out there. I'm 33 years old and still have my first rifle, something a son should never get rid of, something to think about. The 116 is worth the extra money.

fish_stix · July 2014

A .308 in any of the currently available rifles will do the job for him. I'm partial to Win Model 70s but there are many less expensive rifles out there. 200 yds is an easy shot for any of these rifles in .308 if your son is capable. You don't need a high power scope! A good 4X or 2-7 variable will do nicely. I grew up in the pre-variable era when everything was fixed power and a 2X, 4X or 6X scope was as good as it got; never had a problem on deer and hogs and even Western mule deer and elk. For treestand hunting I would opt for a 1-4X or 1.5-6X and use the lower powers for close in shooting. There's a lot to be said for a lightweight rifle and scope combo; the higher magnification scopes just get too big and bulky for a carry rifle. The biggest scope I own is a 3-9X Leupold and it sits in the safe; not a good combo on my Win Featherweights.

spfldbowhunter · July 2014

x3 on the Savages mentioned above, but any rifle you mentioned will do the job. As with most of us "weekend warriors", our rifles will be as accurate as we are so no worries there. Just find the ammo your gun likes most and make sure the scope is mounted properly.

nofishtoday · July 2014

If you believe your son will become an avid hunter and carry on a tradition
Get him something for generations
One I think is well above the rest and not far into the bank is
CZ, they shoot with the best of them,their set trigger is real sweet
The action on CZ is made better than a tank
Look them up.

All the best to your new hunting partner

Mark O. · July 2014

Thanks for the input! I am looking at all suggestions mentioned here. I think I am too hung up on looks...because I just can't warm up to most plastic stocks...even though I know once you're out there, that doesn't matter too much...but Jeez, some feel like a toy gun! I like the feel and weight of the Hogue over-mold stock but the fore end moves enough to touch the free floating barrel, which kinda defeats the purpose right? Going to look at Tikka T3's too, heard their composite stocks are glass reinforced, plus I like their straight comb...better for recoil, I would think. Never shot one but seems like it would be easier on your check than a comb with drop, especially with their Lite model...looks like it would function almost like a ambidextrous Monte Carlo stock. Heard the Tikka's are very accurate. Thanks again.

FLDXT · July 2014

Tikkas are accurate, not Savage accurate but good enough. Another price point gun that is decent enough is the Ruger American, saw them for $400 today, felt pretty nice. NRA did a report on them a while back, they came back pretty highly rated for the price point.

Mark O. · July 2014

Well you guys gave good advice because after taking to a real gunsmith, he pointed me to the Savage. This isn't my sons first gun, so I'm backing off it needing to be some kind of heirloom...I think hitting the target will be special enough. :grin Besides, his Uncle gave him his old Wingmaster. Thanks for confirming what the gunsmith told me.

inshore · July 2014

For the price I would go with the Savage or Remington. I have had issues with the vanguard.

Edgewater220 · July 2014

The Vangaurd's are made by Howa. I have 2 of them and both are very accurate. Have had no problems with them. I have a .270 and 22/250.

Angler719 · July 2014

Love my Savage .308!

Gone_Fishing · July 2014

Nothing wrong with .270 or .30-06 either. 10x the ammo choices.

Don't buy a youth model either, he's old enough. My 13 yo son's youth rifle is short and loud as hell.

Mark O. · July 2014

No youth model for him...he is 16 and 6 feet tall and strong as an ox. :grin What did we feed that kid! Getting it from a local shop with a gunsmith...$50 more than a big box and worth every penny. (just a little rant here) I really don"t see how **** sells any gun...that kid barely knew which end the bullet came out of! Asked if I could feel the trigger...no he says, you have to buy it first. Really?

FLherritage · July 2014

My cousin has a tika lite in 7mm rem. and it kicks like a mule. I've heard good things about some vangards, I think they designate their top 10% most accurate barrels from testing with a different serial number. CZs are real nice guns too. If I was going to buy a new remington it would be a sandero model.

I have both a .270 and a newer 30-06. the 06 never gets shot in FL. .270 is more pleasant for me to shoot.

Everyone like the savages, but most of my experience with them other than rimfire, is with older, cheaper models and I am not sold on them, but to each his own. I understand that their new stuff is very popular.

Coydog · July 2014

Had a Remington 700 action in .270 I picked up used from a gun show for $250. Loved it.

Mark O. · August 2014

just a follow-up... My son loves his new Savage and the gunsmith at Curry Thomas even upgraded the rings because he didn't like the ones the factory sent, and set it up right for my son, so props to Gary at TC. No way the big box store would have done that! Also, Savage has a rebate of $75 on the XP packages with Nikon Scopes so now is a good time to buy.

FLDXT · August 2014

Buy some Talley rings and be done.

Owlsey · August 2014

I bought my son Savage Trophy Hunter with a Nikon scope. Bass pro , package, on sale for around 600. He loves it. I have shot it and I am surprised by the rifle. For the price, no upgrades, very nice rifle.

Derek Arsua · September 2014

As far as the scopes go don't get to caught up on zoom as much as size bigger the lense the more light it will gather

Mojito · September 2014

I grew up in south Florida with my dads Winchester model 94 in 30-30 bouncing around in a round inner tube buggy tower. I will be the minority here in advocating for Browning BLR model 81 in .308. My father bought ME MY FIRST rifle when I turned 16, I'm 47 and it is still the rifle I use. It brings back some great memories. Its a great rifle and I consider mine the only usable heirloom I own. I bought my wife a BLR in .270 a couple years ago and it shoots great, but there is something about the way my .308 drops game like a stone I just cant get past. I have a Swarovski 4x12x50 on mine and I stoned a deer last year at 289yds according to my range finder. Good luck with your choice, a son's first rifle should create memories that last a lifetime.