Rifle for my son.

Alaskaman11 · Jan 17, 2013

Afternoon Gentlemen, Need some guidance. My son is going to be eight in may. I want to get him his first centerfire rifle. I'm considering a Ruger #1. He is turning into a double rifle fiend like his daddy. So thats why i'm going down the #1 road, its the closest thing to a double. So it comes down to a choice of cablers. I'm a guy that is not recoil sensitive, so what I consider nothing can be big for a kid. I'm thinking about a 303, I like the odd stuff. There is also 7 x 57. Please help me sort this out. I need a good light recoil rifle that a young man can take to RSA and schwack lots and lots of plains game....

Thanks.

Patrick R · Jan 17, 2013

Nothing wrong with a .308 or .270 - can hunt all animals up to Eland. Yes the .303 (any many animals died because of this calibre) can work but it has to be sported for a eight year old, i think a standard stock it's to heavy....

enysse · Jan 17, 2013

I like both of you choices! 7mm-08 would be good too.

Alaskaman11 · Jan 18, 2013

i don't not have a 303, is it light recoil?

Patrick R · Jan 18, 2013

Yes it is, but for a eight year old...I know of alot of friends of mine with .303's with stocks that had been changed to synthetics...and they even put a silencer to it, then most probably your son can / anyone can handle it with ease...even putting a silencer to all the above mention rifles is excellent...

TAKE A .270 + SILENCER - EXCELLENT WEAPON.

Alaskaman11 said:
i don't not have a 303, is it light recoil?

Norwegianwoods · Jan 18, 2013

There are many cartridges your son can shoot that will do a great job on PGs and at the same time will not make him recoil shy.
Things that are very important is that the stock fits him very well, the gun should not be to light and it should have a high quality recoil pad. I prefer Limbsaver.
And the best way to reduce recoil is to attach a silencer if that is legal where you live. Don't attach a muzzle break!
I have a 308 with a silencer that my 7 year son can shoot without any problems at all.
I also have a heavy 6.5x55 without a silencer that he shoots without any problems, but he needs to use a support/sticks when shooting that because of the weight.

DOC-404 · Jan 18, 2013

Have a look at this thread, it should help you a bit with your decision.

http://www.africahunting.com/up-375/7757-rifle-14-year-old.html

35bore · Jan 18, 2013

I would recommend the 6.5x55 or the 6mm remington. If he is a tough kid get him the 8mm rem mag, love that cartridge. Seems you favor the obscure/older chamberings have you considered a 240 weatherby? There are a multitude for you to choose from, enjoy your search. I think if the rifle is heavy enough the 303 brit would be a good choice as well, if the rifle is on the light side, I would go with a previously mentioned cartridge.

enysse · Jan 18, 2013

I love the 8 mm Rem Mag, but it's a lot of gun!! It's basically a 325 WSM.
Love your other choices Scott.

35bore · Jan 18, 2013

enysse said:
I love the 8 mm Rem Mag, but it's a lot of gun!! It's basically a 325 WSM.
Love your other choices Scott.

Yes, it is a lot of gun. I was just being goofy:bonk: Because his son just turned 8.........8mm........ However, it would be a great chambering to grow in to, dad could use it until then.

Eric, The 8mm remmie is one of the most under rated guns I can think of (even more so than my beloved), for what it is intended for, it can't be beat. However, that's a different thread.

spike.t · Jan 18, 2013

7x57 :thumb:

JohannS · Jan 18, 2013

7x57 is a great rifle. Ammo is available in SA almost everywhere and will knock down everything you point it at. Was my first rifle and is still my favorite to this day.

enysse · Jan 18, 2013

35bore said:
Yes, it is a lot of gun. I was just being goofy:bonk: Because his son just turned 8.........8mm........ However, it would be a great chambering to grow in to, dad could use it until then.

Eric, The 8mm remmie is one of the most under rated guns I can think of (even more so than my beloved), for what it is intended for, it can't be beat. However, that's a different thread.

I won a 325 WSM years ago at a SCI banquet, I hope to do some hunting with it. Boddington was a big fan of the 8 mm, he used it for sheep hunting. I think it's a very underrated caliber.

PHOENIX PHIL · Jan 18, 2013

Alaskaman11 said:
Afternoon Gentlemen, Need some guidance. My son is going to be eight in may. I want to get him his first centerfire rifle. I'm considering a Ruger #1. He is turning into a double rifle fiend like his daddy. So thats why i'm going down the #1 road, its the closest thing to a double. So it comes down to a choice of cablers. I'm a guy that is not recoil sensitive, so what I consider nothing can be big for a kid. I'm thinking about a 303, I like the odd stuff. There is also 7 x 57. Please help me sort this out. I need a good light recoil rifle that a young man can take to RSA and schwack lots and lots of plains game....

Thanks.

The DOCMAN already provided a link to my thread when I was going through this with my 14 year old. Not to be outdone by his older brother, my 9 year old was insistent on getting to shoot a "real" rifle, he figured out the .22 just wasn't quite the same.

I had already bought a junior sized .308 for my older boy that has an adjustable muzzle brake. But really there's no need for that if you hand load. Buy some light bullets (100-120gr) and load them light and move on up as he gains familiarity with recoil. Those light loads feel like a .223 or something of the like.

The older boy has done enough shooting now he wanted to take on my .300WM. I loaded him some 150's on the light side and he thought nothing of it. When he went back to his .308, he just kind of chuckled at how little it kicked. It's really pretty amazing what a couple hundred shots will do..

timbear · Jan 18, 2013

I would have to go with Norwegianwoods and 35bore. The 6.5x55mm is a wonderful all-round caliber, and great for beginners and small statured people. When my wife was new to hunting (and she is a slim small woman), my 6.5 and the .243 were the calibers she handled best. Its ballistic performance is equal to that of 7x57mm, and the recoil is very manageable. I am not sure that Ruger makes a #1 in 6.5x55, though, but it will take anything from foxes to red deer, and most African PG (although the latter is based on other people's reports as I had no chance to take it to Africa yet). I have used mine for years as my main hunting rifle in NZ and Oz, and it has killed anything I shot at.

35bore · Jan 18, 2013

PHOENIX PHIL said:
The DOCMAN already provided a link to my thread when I was going through this with my 14 year old. Not to be outdone by his older brother, my 9 year old was insistent on getting to shoot a "real" rifle, he figured out the .22 just wasn't quite the same.

I had already bought a junior sized .308 for my older boy that has an adjustable muzzle brake. But really there's no need for that if you hand load. Buy some light bullets (100-120gr) and load them light and move on up as he gains familiarity with recoil. Those light loads feel like a .223 or something of the like.

The older boy has done enough shooting now he wanted to take on my .300WM. I loaded him some 150's on the light side and he thought nothing of it. When he went back to his .308, he just kind of chuckled at how little it kicked. It's really pretty amazing what a couple hundred shots will do..

Kinda funny how we get worked up/excited when a youngster shows interest. I remember your thread. It's still fun for us to re-hash calibers for the kids from time to time. The passing of the torch, so to speak.

PHOENIX PHIL · Jan 18, 2013

35bore said:
Kinda funny how we get worked up/excited when a youngster shows interest. I remember your thread. It's still fun for us to re-hash calibers for the kids from time to time. The passing of the torch, so to speak.

Just wish we weren't having this issue finding powder. The boys and I have Monday off for MLK day and I was planning a shoot. But I'm suddenly finding myself in hoarder mode with the powder I have.

VonJager · Jan 19, 2013

Because you specifically mention the Ruger #1, I would go with the 7x57 mauser out of the calibers currently in production for it. Stock fit would be important. It would not be too large of a gun with the barrel only being 20 inches, and total length of 36.50 inches and 7 pounds.

Plus the international model would be a great classic first gun imho.

Alaskaman11 · Jan 19, 2013

ok, i'll start looking at the 7x57, I found a guy who can make custom stocks. Im going to have him measured and have the factory stock cut. Then when he is older, i'll get the custom made (nice wood) stock put on. I think this can turn out nice!

Norwegianwoods · Jan 19, 2013

I am sure it will turn out great

Start him with gentle loads.

Rifle for my son.

Alaskaman11

Patrick R

enysse

Alaskaman11

Patrick R

Norwegianwoods

DOC-404

35bore

enysse

35bore

spike.t

JohannS

enysse

PHOENIX PHIL

timbear

35bore

PHOENIX PHIL

VonJager

Alaskaman11

Norwegianwoods

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