Boys first gun?

[Back2Dakota]

I will be dealing with the same decision as you D minus 1 kid..ha. Father in law has a beautiful .308 that he says is my sons when he is ready-good? Dont know. Side note my son is a dead eye with his Cricket. Made him shot consistent with iron sight then got him a scope. Went through 850 rounds last weekend(also had 2 semi's with).Wanna sell the one that never gets used J?

[swamptiger]

If you have to buy two rifles, check out the Marlin XS-7. I think they can be had for about $350 new with a scope, and they come in .243, 7mm-08, and .308. I bought an XL-7 30-06 a couple of years ago when they first came out, and it's a tack driver. Not fancy - but fully functional.

[GSP4EVER]

For you guys recommending recoil pads, would they make the gun too long if you get a real thick one for a kid? Just asking.

DD

The Limbsaver recoil pad I put on added about 2 inches to the length. For me I didnt really notice the added length, but sure noticed the reduction in recoil.

[walleyeking19]

My first gun was a 30-30 Winchester and i wasn't the biggest kid and the recoil didn't do much to me. I was maybe 100 lbs when i started shooting it and the recoil wasnt anything I couldnt get used to. I've always heard a .243 wasnt enough to take down a deer quickly, but that just might be only for the people who I talked to. A 20 guage shotgun wouldn't be a bad idea either. than you can use it for just about everything too

[Archerysniper]

Between my dad and I we have take at least 30 deer with the 6mm wich is almost the same as a .243 we have never lost one and only 2 or 3 had more then 1 shot I can't even remember a deer going over 150 yards after a shot most pile up inside of 50 yards.

[LightningBG]

What type of action is the Browning gun?

IMO a 30-06 is going to be too much for a 65lb-er. If you like the gun you could pick it up for future use, but I wouldn't give it to them now.

I'd look for a less expensive lower caliber gun to use until they are 15-16 yrs old or have a little more meat on their bones. Hopefully be able to sell the smaller guns for about what you paid for them.

I shot some big guns when I was small and I was gun-shy for quite a while after that.

[LightningBG]

What about something like this...

Remington Model 770 Sporter Bolt Action Rifle 85631, 7 MM-08 Remington, 22", Synthetic Stock, Blue Finish, w/Scope, 4 Rds

or

Remington Model 770 Sporter Bolt Action Rifle 85630, 243 Winchester, 22", Synthetic Stock, Blue Finish, w/Scope, 4 Rds

They are $300 new at a popular online place located in TX.

[huntnfish]

Between my dad and I we have take at least 30 deer with the 6mm wich is almost the same as a .243 we have never lost one and only 2 or 3 had more then 1 shot I can't even remember a deer going over 150 yards after a shot most pile up inside of 50 yards.

I agree. A lot of people say a .243 is too small for deer but I have shot 14 with mine and haven't had one that went past 100 yards. The last 5-6 years I've been shooting Federal Fusion's and they do a very good job on deer. I have only lost 1 deer with a firearm and that was the one year I used a 30-06. Every year I think about getting something a little bigger but I can never justify it.

If you are going to have to buy 2 I would definitely look at the Savages and Marlin rifles. Both are very good for the money and very accurate.

[reinhard1]

as a boy my first deer rifle was a 30-30. still use one today. i hunt north of duluth and often dont need long shots. less kick but does the job. good luck.