Life long rifle for teen

[AJC1]

So I've been all over the map trying to figure out a good plan for my son. I was tossing the idea of a 280 around and I still like the round but I think it may be to much. I'm thinking about trying to find a savage 6.5x55 for him to shoot and hunt with now and that leaves the door wide open for all standard length loadings with just a barrel swap. So the 280 or 270 or 30-06 are just a barrel away when he wants. I do this currently with the two short actions I have but I don't need any horsepower for hunting.... sound reasonable or is there a better plan.

 

[adcoch1]

Depending on what brand gun or action footprint you decide on, a 6.5x55 might be hard to source a barrel and or magazine for. 280 rem is where I'd start if the rifle needs to grow with him, or maybe even a 7mm-08. In a Tikka or Ruger American the 7mm-08 could be reamed to a 280ai later and just swap mags and bolt stops for the bigger cartridge down the road. I think I'd pick a bore size and increase the case behind it like that if it was me...

 

[westernrover]

If a 30-03 family cartridge is too much now, you could handload it with Trailboss or a reduced load of H4895. It will still be a long and probably a heavy rifle, and needlessly so for the game that most people get to hunt in their lifetime. If it were of lasting quality, it could be just fine.

You didn't mention his exact age or size, but I believe intermediate cartridges are a good place to begin hunting game like deer. They're powerful enough and they have low recoil with mini-actions that are shorter than short actions. They're not only lighter weight but they also bring the mass closer to the shooter's support. My choice was 6.5x39, but 223, 7.62x39, 300 BLK, 6mm ARC, 350 Legend, 450 Bushmaster, can all do well and "life-long" rifles can be had in these chamberings. 30-30 is another great one, and there are definitely life-long rifles in that chambering.

For a smaller 13 year-old, consider the length-of-pull. They might need it shorter now than they will life-long. What I did was to buy a Boyd's adjustable stock. Expect to have to glass-bed it because the machine inletting isn't that good, but they're cheap and you might just need it one or two years. Factor in grandkids and it's worth having a gun that fits over the generations. If you can buy two of the factory stocks, you could just cut one down. For a single-shot shotgun, I was able to buy short and regular-length stocks from the manufacturer.

Be advised against starting them on a rifle that's too heavy, has too much recoil, and is too big and fits poorly. If it fits and they shoot it well, they're much more likely to make good hits and that will result in a life long appreciation of the experience.

 

[WisBorn]

I like the 308win. If lighter recoil is needed now you can use reduced recoil loads. The short action 308 family will be very close in performance to the long action 30-03 group if you want to swap barrels.

 

[stringnut]

It’s hard to determine what would be a good lifetime rifle for a teen. Depending on his age his size may change radically. What he needs in a rifle may also change. His taste in rifles and cartridges may also change. He is a teen.

If you are thinking of getting a Savage so you can swap barrels later you are not really getting a lifetime rifle. You are getting a rifle you can change into something else. If you look at like that you can also start him with a stock that fits. Whether it is a youth model, or a stock you find somewhere else.

The big thing is to get him something that fits and is comfortable to shoot. We started my buddies kids out with correct size rifles and moderate loads. All three are good shots. We are still trying to train one of their friends whose dad started him with an adult 30/06 in a fairly light rifle.

 

[jmr40]

Buy him the rifle he wants now. Let him decide. Don't worry about the future, when he gets older he will buy what he wants. That's just part of the experience of gun ownership.

Don't live in the past. 270, 280, 30-06, and 7X57 are the guns of my father's generation and I'm 64. Those are all fading fast among younger shooters. What interests you probably won't interest your son.

 

[redneck2]

From what I see in the O.P., it seems a 6.5 Creed would be the program. Accurate and enough power for hunting. Easy ammo availability. Low recoil

I don’t have one, but in your situation it seems idea. Maybe I missed something

 

[Remington1911]

So I've been all over the map trying to figure out a good plan for my son. I was tossing the idea of a 280 around and I still like the round but I think it may be to much. I'm thinking about trying to find a savage 6.5x55 for him to shoot and hunt with now and that leaves the door wide open for all standard length loadings with just a barrel swap. So the 280 or 270 or 30-06 are just a barrel away when he wants. I do this currently with the two short actions I have but I don't need any horsepower for hunting.... sound reasonable or is there a better plan.

When you talk "life long" I really think it is going to depend on your views. I am guessing this is the next step up from a 22.

What I did, and remember Fudd talking here. I went with something pretty....almost said nice, but think pretty better gets the point across. My sons was a nice wood and steel CZ. They are not SO nice or SO expensive you worry about every scratch, but in my eye so much more "life long" then anything plastic. In my mind, and his as well likely because he grew up with me.....we see anything in plastic as disposable, and guns are not that. When you think "nice" gun what pops into your mind is likely what you should start looking at.

As to the caliber changes, again it depends on you and your views. Personally, again for the both of us.....we want things just as they are when they are "gifted". To change them in anyway sends the message to "US" that your gift was not all that great.

There is really no right or wrong answer to your question, the best "life long" rifle he may ever get is your old rifle. Again it differs on each person. Some people see things like your father or grandfather had as the ultimate gift, others see it as something they can sell and go buy what they really want.

 

[stillquietvoice]

So I've been all over the map trying to figure out a good plan for my son. I was tossing the idea of a 280 around and I still like the round but I think it may be to much. I'm thinking about trying to find a savage 6.5x55 for him to shoot and hunt with now and that leaves the door wide open for all standard length loadings with just a barrel swap. So the 280 or 270 or 30-06 are just a barrel away when he wants. I do this currently with the two short actions I have but I don't need any horsepower for hunting.... sound reasonable or is there a better plan.

Savage is as good an option as any, 6.5x55 may not be all that hard to come by. Midway had them in stock for LG ring 98 mauser foe under 150.00. That being said, this year I gifted my granddaughter her savage m11 243 win. I bought a couple years ago, for her, and developed a couple of good loads, but until this year she wasn't in a position to have it, parents are prohibited, she's 18, has her own place, has custody of her sister, and stands all of 5'2" only 90 lb soaking wet but can shoot that rifle well. Our last range trip she was hitting 300 meter steel plates.

Let us know what you get for your teenager

 

[FL-NC]

Hard to go wrong with a Ruger American in 6.5 CM. Plenty of power for most any application without excessive recoil, accuracy well above the cost, a caliber with "staying power", a rifle that won't break the bank but of good all around quality with excellent customer service provided by the manufacturer. The downside? Not the most attractive rifles. That's why I keep mine in a zipped up case unless I'm using it lol.

 

[wombat13]

I went inexpensive and low recoil for the first rifle. I bought a Savage Axis II in .25-06. Chose that chambering because it uses the same range of powders that I stock for my .300wm. I can also form brass from my pile .30-06 if brass is hard to come by. I figure that by the time my son needs something different he’ll know what he wants. Then I can buy him a “lifetime” rifle and we can set the .25-06 aside for the grandchildren (if I am so blessed).

 

[AJC1]

I went inexpensive and low recoil for the first rifle. I bought a Savage Axis II in .25-06. Chose that chambering because it uses the same range of powders that I stock for my .300wm. I can also form brass from my pile .30-06 if brass is hard to come by. I figure that by the time my son needs something different he’ll know what he wants. Then I can buy him a “lifetime” rifle and we can set the .25-06 aside for the grandchildren (if I am so blessed).

I had considered a 25-06 for the same reasons, low recoil flat shooting and a long action. The only thing holding me back there was the quality of good projectiles. Seems like a million good choices and a lot of development right now in 6.5.

 

[Cacas ex Fortuna]

First rifle I took hunting at 12 was an A303 Springfield.
Dad said if your going to hunt like a man, you will carry a man's rifle.
Mean while he carried his 742 which was way lighter.
30-06 is a bit heavy for a young man. The lighter you make it, the more it will kick.

 

[rdnktrkr]

I purchased a Savage 243win for my grandson (12yr), he has a little flinch with it that is not present with a mini14. He shoots my 6.5CM Howa chassis gun with a muzzle brake very well so I'm thinking about a small brake for his Savage. My granddaughter shot my 6.5gr AR very well (just added a small brake when she shot it) at the 200yrd steel.
A friend purchased a Mossberg (I think) that came with stock spacers for his son, I thought that was a great idea.

 

[AJC1]

When you talk "life long" I really think it is going to depend on your views. I am guessing this is the next step up from a 22.

What I did, and remember Fudd talking here. I went with something pretty....almost said nice, but think pretty better gets the point across. My sons was a nice wood and steel CZ. They are not SO nice or SO expensive you worry about every scratch, but in my eye so much more "life long" then anything plastic. In my mind, and his as well likely because he grew up with me.....we see anything in plastic as disposable, and guns are not that. When you think "nice" gun what pops into your mind is likely what you should start looking at.

As to the caliber changes, again it depends on you and your views. Personally, again for the both of us.....we want things just as they are when they are "gifted". To change them in anyway sends the message to "US" that your gift was not all that great.

There is really no right or wrong answer to your question, the best "life long" rifle he may ever get is your old rifle. Again it differs on each person. Some people see things like your father or grandfather had as the ultimate gift, others see it as something they can sell and go buy what they really want.

He currently shoots a 38/357 carbine "his" but will pull the trigger on anything I let him. Not bothered by 308.
Thinks I'm thinking but didn't say before. In Europe every thing is taken with this caliber so it doesn't seem limiting.
It's a caliber he's shot in a sweed and likes but he not dragging my m96 through the woods.
It's one less caliber to buy brass for.
It gives me options for configurations I currently don't have. If he decides he wants a shor action I have two already and he can have one of those. He wants a long action cartridge I can do that. I'm currently limited, the long action gives us options currently not available.

 

[jmorris]

The rifles I have had since I was a teen or earlier were ones my Grandfather and Father liked or I won them in FFA.

So, you might already have a life long rifle for him and don’t realize that yet.

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

So I've been all over the map trying to figure out a good plan for my son.

Do you know what he LIKES or WANTS, or are you just guessing or impressing what you like on him?

Buying a guy is a very personal thing for many reasons, and often people undersell the esthetics of it, as well as the ergonomics and other factors that go into this.

Not, mind you, that I'm against gifting a firearm to anybody "out of the blue". But this is something that you really ought to do the personal research into your own son to figure out rather than people like us.

Things to consider:

What has he shot before? Does he exhibit any preferences to style, caliber, design? Has he had his eye on something? What does he hunt? Is there a split between what he hunts and how often he hunts them to consider? (Such as small game, varmint, bigger game.) Does he target shoot a lot? Wood or synthetic? Single shot, bolt action, lever action, semi-auto? Detachable/non-detachable magazine, tube magazine? Blued or stainless? If he likes shooting a lot, can he afford to shoot what you're considering? What does he already have, if anything?

Honestly, all the input I can give you involves my own opinions based on what I like and what I might thing someone else ought to have. And since I don't know your son from Adam, that's a really poor basis to make such a decision on.

 

[Chuck R.]

IF I was starting from scratch, I'd go with the 6.5PRC, especially if you reload, because it can be loaded down.

About a .270 worth of recoil, occasional elk hunt capable, great cartridge for target shooting. The barrel twist will be sufficient for all the newer high BC bullets.

While I love my .270, and it's going to MT next week for a mule deer hunt, there's just no way I'd buy or build a new one.

 

[marksman13]

If you are considering 6.5x55, I’d go 6.5 Creedmoor. It’s just easier to find rifles and ammo if factory ammo is a concern. Otherwise, I’d go with a 308. If I was going long action and recoil is a concern, I’d pick a 25-06.

 

[AJC1]

Do you know what he LIKES or WANTS, or are you just guessing or impressing what you like on him?

Buying a guy is a very personal thing for many reasons, and often people undersell the esthetics of it, as well as the ergonomics and other factors that go into this.

Not, mind you, that I'm against gifting a firearm to anybody "out of the blue". But this is something that you really ought to do the personal research into your own son to figure out rather than people like us.

Things to consider:

What has he shot before? Does he exhibit any preferences to style, caliber, design? Has he had his eye on something? What does he hunt? Is there a split between what he hunts and how often he hunts them to consider? (Such as small game, varmint, bigger game.) Does he target shoot a lot? Wood or synthetic? Single shot, bolt action, lever action, semi-auto? Detachable/non-detachable magazine, tube magazine? Blued or stainless? If he likes shooting a lot, can he afford to shoot what you're considering? What does he already have, if anything?

Honestly, all the input I can give you involves my own opinions based on what I like and what I might thing someone else ought to have. And since I don't know your son from Adam, that's a really poor basis to make such a decision on.

He loves my 223 target rifle with a 30" barrel. It's not at all practical to accomplish the mission at hand. That thing is heavy as as anything....

IF I was starting from scratch, I'd go with the 6.5PRC, especially if you reload, because it can be loaded down.

About a .270 worth of recoil, occasional elk hunt capable, great cartridge for target shooting. The barrel twist will be sufficient for all the newer high BC bullets.

While I love my .270, and it's going to MT next week for a mule deer hunt, there's just no way I'd buy or build a new one.

I have been pondering the 6.5 prc but my knowledge is holding that back. What other good cartridges are a short action magnum bolt face. All the ones I know of kinda fell out of favor leaving that action configuration a one trick pony. If that is not true please explain.

 

[Chuck R.]

He loves my 223 target rifle with a 30" barrel. It's not at all practical to accomplish the mission at hand. That thing is heavy as as anything....

I have been pondering the 6.5 prc but my knowledge is holding that back. What other good cartridges are a short action magnum bolt face. All the ones I know of kinda fell out of favor leaving that action configuration a one trick pony. If that is not true please explain.

Some of the WSM cartridges are still going pretty strong. The 300WSM for instance is a very good "all around" cartridges, friend of mine shoots the 270WSM. Quite a few like the 7mm SAUM for custom builds.

 

[wombat13]

View attachment 1114068
I had considered a 25-06 for the same reasons, low recoil flat shooting and a long action. The only thing holding me back there was the quality of good projectiles. Seems like a million good choices and a lot of development right now in 6.5.

Yes, there are a lot more bullet choices in 6.5, but how many do you really need? Hornady offers 10 .257 bullets in weights from 60 gr to 134 gr. The 134 gr is a match bullet with a 0.645 BC! Between Hornady, Nosler, and Barnes you have multiple choices in non-lead, if that's what you want. There are even choices in non-lead, low-drag hunting bullets now. Barnes has the 101 grain LRX and Hornady offers the 110 gr ELD-X.

If you want to go 6.5 for a first rifle, 6.5 creed is your best bet.

 

[AJC1]

Some of the WSM cartridges are still going pretty strong. The 300WSM for instance is a very good "all around" cartridges, friend of mine shoots the 270WSM. Quite a few like the 7mm SAUM for custom builds.

The 300 wsm is still alive by the chatter I see so that would be a huge step up in every way. Unfortunately the 7prc is a long action

 

[Chuck R.]

The 300 wsm is still alive by the chatter I see so that would be a huge step up in every way. Unfortunately the 7prc is a long action

Everything is a compromise!

Which is why I have a ready rack full of hunting rifles.

The 300WSM is doing pretty well, but I'm still re-barreling a 300WM into a 300WM, just because it's a long action. IF I was starting from scratch I'd go 300WSM and lighten things up a bit. I thought hard about 300PRC, but for me it just didn't make sense due to my investment (brass, dies, etc.) in 300WM.

I think the 6.5PRC is a good alternative, especially from the recoil standpoint, and having the right twist for the heavier bullets from the get go. All the other calibers will "get the job done" especially if nothing larger than deer is on the menu and it's normal "average" distances. But, IMHO, one of the newer cartridges, combined with a "target-ish" or "cross-over" type rifle, would see more use and be more fun on the range.

 

[codytrucker]

Could go a .260 rem, faster twist on a long action . Then if he likes reloading , later re-chamber to 6.5 -06 Ackley . That's if he likes stuff that's unique/different . That would be good for pretty much any hunting lower 48 , and long range shooting as well .