ExAgoradzo
Member
OK:
Buying a rifle for my son (13--finally legal to hunt deer in CA).
1. It needs to be minimally capable of killing a deer.
2. It needs to be light enough for him to carry and shoot reliably.
3. Because we are in CA
a. It needs to kill a deer at 300-350 yards
b. It needs to have solid copper bullets readily available.
Considering a 243. Reviews consistently put the Vanguard 2 at a high place on their lists. It seems to be on the large end (heavy and the stock is wide for his hands) of what I could get for my son. At the LGS I can buy one for $620. I could also buy the Savage Axis for like $450. It definitely fits the bill better, is cheaper and I read good comments on it. Smaller in weight and in fit.
I had decided a couple of months ago on the Axis, changed to the Vanguard, and am now considering the A-bolt from Browning (Browning def has a soft spot in my heart...). But I've never held one so...not sure about the fit.
Of course, the M70 just seems to be the 'right' gun to go with this cartridge and since I don't own an M70 yet even though it is more expensive, I just might go that way (heavier, again, not sure of the 'fit' for my boys right now).
Looked at several others including the Ruger (also has a soft spot in my heart), and the BLR (which at one point I had decided for sure to buy...but for the same reason as the M70...just because I wanted that rifle, not because it was 'right' for my boys).
So, thanks to my brothers at THR, I am now also considering a 6.5x55.
Guns are more expensive, finding copper bullets is possible but not easy/cheap. Never held one, but I imagine that it is going to be relatively heavy. CZ has one that looks real nice...
Question #1: Should I put more weight on what will in the future be more appropriate to hunt with because my boys will be this size for only a very short amount of time?
Or Should I just buy what they need now, hope that it will continue to be useful for many years to come (my three choices seem like they will be...) and buy the 6.5 later just because I can/want to?
Question #2: If I go the 243 rout (which I am definitely leaning towards) of the three I listed, (all synthetic stocks) which do you prefer/have experience with?
Question #3: Any other insights on what I am missing???
Thanks for helping me pull the trigger...which I need to do relatively soon so my son can get some time with it in his hands before August!!!
Buying a rifle for my son (13--finally legal to hunt deer in CA).
1. It needs to be minimally capable of killing a deer.
2. It needs to be light enough for him to carry and shoot reliably.
3. Because we are in CA
a. It needs to kill a deer at 300-350 yards
b. It needs to have solid copper bullets readily available.
Considering a 243. Reviews consistently put the Vanguard 2 at a high place on their lists. It seems to be on the large end (heavy and the stock is wide for his hands) of what I could get for my son. At the LGS I can buy one for $620. I could also buy the Savage Axis for like $450. It definitely fits the bill better, is cheaper and I read good comments on it. Smaller in weight and in fit.
I had decided a couple of months ago on the Axis, changed to the Vanguard, and am now considering the A-bolt from Browning (Browning def has a soft spot in my heart...). But I've never held one so...not sure about the fit.
Of course, the M70 just seems to be the 'right' gun to go with this cartridge and since I don't own an M70 yet even though it is more expensive, I just might go that way (heavier, again, not sure of the 'fit' for my boys right now).
Looked at several others including the Ruger (also has a soft spot in my heart), and the BLR (which at one point I had decided for sure to buy...but for the same reason as the M70...just because I wanted that rifle, not because it was 'right' for my boys).
So, thanks to my brothers at THR, I am now also considering a 6.5x55.
Guns are more expensive, finding copper bullets is possible but not easy/cheap. Never held one, but I imagine that it is going to be relatively heavy. CZ has one that looks real nice...
Question #1: Should I put more weight on what will in the future be more appropriate to hunt with because my boys will be this size for only a very short amount of time?
Or Should I just buy what they need now, hope that it will continue to be useful for many years to come (my three choices seem like they will be...) and buy the 6.5 later just because I can/want to?
Question #2: If I go the 243 rout (which I am definitely leaning towards) of the three I listed, (all synthetic stocks) which do you prefer/have experience with?
Question #3: Any other insights on what I am missing???
Thanks for helping me pull the trigger...which I need to do relatively soon so my son can get some time with it in his hands before August!!!