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Gun for my son??

Old 10-26-2008, 04:38 AM
  #21  
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Default RE: Gun for my son??

.243 will work
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Old 10-26-2008, 05:56 AM
  #22  
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ORIGINAL: BigKoz

I am looking for some feedback. My son is 13 years old and will be hunting gun season next year. I want to get him his 1st gun for christmas. What should I get him? I am thinking a rifle such as .243, .270, .308.Thank you for helping me out.
out of what you mentioned, the .243 has the less recoil and is more than sufficient enough for any size whitetail. the .25-06, .270 and .308 all have pretty much the same recoil.
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Old 10-26-2008, 06:00 AM
  #23  
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It's hard to beat a .243 as a "first rifle".

- bullet weights are available (even more when handloading) to handle everything from prairie dogs and coyotes through deer and antelope.

- it's the minimum legal caliber in many states (i.e. - if he can't handle a .243, he's probably not ready to be afield with a tag)

- if he one day decides he's ready to start hunting moose or elk, he'll have an excuse to buy a bigger rifle (.30-06, .300 Mag, etc.) - and will still have a deer/varmint setup in the .243.

<edit>

Oh, and for the last reason above, I'd lean toward a bolt-action sporter. A number of "youth" model bolt guns can be updated with an adult-size stock laterif need be. Though I won't argue that a single-shot will makehim a bettermarksman, you can achieve the same effect with a bolt-action repeater by giving him a single round at a time to chamber and fire.

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Old 10-26-2008, 08:41 AM
  #24  
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- it's the minimum legal caliber in many states
This is false, the majority, like 30 something states minimum, is the .22 centerfire, and the majority minimum for elk, is the .243
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Old 10-26-2008, 09:01 AM
  #25  
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Default RE: Gun for my son??

I bought a .243 for me and love it. I shot a doe with it last year and it did a back flip and then ran 30 yrds and droped. This will be my oldest boys gun when he gets old enough. Its a Ruger model M77 bolt action. Great gun not much kick and easy to use!
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Old 10-26-2008, 09:35 AM
  #26  
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I have owned both the .243 and 7-08's I personally prefer the 7-08. I even bought one for my son (Rem Model 7). I have shot a few elk and countless deer with the 7-08 and it has never failed me. Light rifle and a little better choice in my opinion.
I guess it depends on the area you are hunting but to me the .243 is getting on the light side for bigger whitetails. I'm in Northern MN and the last two deer shot on my place weighed 230 and 250lbs. Shot placement is alittle more criticalwith the .243. I have a neghbor that has used his .243 for over 40 years and thinks there is nothing better....he has also lost more deer than anyone I think I know. Now don't jump my butt....I know it is all in shot placement.
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Old 10-26-2008, 05:52 PM
  #27  
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Default RE: Gun for my son??

ORIGINAL: zrexpilot

ORIGINAL: homers brother
- it's the minimum legal caliber in many states
This is false, the majority, like 30 something states minimum, is the .22 centerfire, and the majority minimum for elk, is the .243
In virginia, where i live, the .243 is the lowest you can use. why would you want to shoot a deer with a .22?[&:]
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Old 10-26-2008, 06:01 PM
  #28  
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In Virginia it has to be .23 caliber or larger. Which means no .223, 22-250, and so on. In Pennsyltucky they hunt with .223's. My buddy says the only way they hunt deer up there is .223 to the neck. Yankee logic I guess, be he always got his share.....
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Old 10-26-2008, 06:30 PM
  #29  
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In virginia, where i live, the .243 is the lowest you can use. why would you want to shoot a deer with a .22?[&:]
Because most of the time its all I need. I have no use for large calibers for deer.
I neck shoot 90% of the time anyways and 100% of the time with my .22 Hornet.
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Old 10-26-2008, 07:02 PM
  #30  
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Default RE: Gun for my son??

ORIGINAL: vabyrd

In Virginia it has to be .23 caliber or larger. Which means no .223, 22-250, and so on. In Pennsyltucky they hunt with .223's. My buddy says the only way they hunt deer up there is .223 to the neck. Yankee logic I guess, be he always got his share.....
aha so you do live in virginia. could you tell me what part of va? i just wanna know whats goin on in your area get back to either comment or pm please.
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