Setting up the adolescent shooter

[steve white]

If our sport is to flourish, we need to guide young people into the shooting sports. But in most cases, they are not able to kit out with Swarovski Z6, or anything really high end. I remember saving up for my first deer rifle, only to almost give way to despair when the dealer said I should spend just as much again to scope it and equip it. What are your specific, tested bang for the buck suggestions for the new shooter, women included of course. We are talking solid gear that is not wasted $$ on rubbish, but is within reach, and leaves room in the budget for lots of ammo and training/practice. If some sweat equity is involved which involves them in refinish/improvements, so much the more the bonding experience for them with their first rifle.

Maybe another way to share the love is to equip a loaner gun? Several could benefit serially from that.

Of course we could address the sequence of purchases beginning with small game?

 

[WI-2021]

As far as a deer rifle goes, the basic Howa 1500's are a great deal. I gave about $450 for one to equip a new hunter. It was the blued version with the crappy Hogue stock. I added some inexpensive Weaver style bases, and mounted an old Nikon Prostaff 2.5-10 that I had lying around in rings I also had lying around. Not premium, but definitely not garbage either. If he wants a better stock at some point, there are quite a few options for the Howas; he can also upgrade the scope if he wants, but he's shooting now, and with a rifle that beats the hell out of a lot of similarly priced options. Beyond the stock, I don't think any upgrades to that rifle are truly necessary.

One can certainly scour the used racks and find a project as well, but stick with the more popular models in case replacement parts are necessary.

As far as scopes, the budget Leupold, Trijicon, and Vortex models are generally good for the money. My money would go to Trijicon, but Vortex has an unbeatable warranty.

My view is that each new hunter or shooter needs to work up to the higher end equipment. Even starting with fairly inexpensive guns and scopes, I made a lot of changes to my preferred equipment and wasted a lot of money along the way. When I finally bit the bullet and started building custom rifles I already had a lot of experience with what didn't work for me and why. That's not to say that I've achieved perfection with my custom builds, but I think I've come a lot closer than I would have had I started with higher-end equipment in the first place. I went through a lot of rifles that weren't quite right on they way to my current lineup. Basically, start with something you think you'll like, use it for a few years to find its flaws, then correct them, either by modifying or replacing. Lather, rinse, repeat.

 

[Firebird]

I bought my kids gear as good as what I have. They can use it their whole lives-hopefully share it with their kids.

 

[375Fox]

I think it’s tough to beat a Tikka T3X and a Vortex crossfire scope for a starter local hunting rifle. Tikka is around $650 and Vortex around $150. The Tikka is accurate, smooth action, and a great trigger. The Vortex isn’t fancy but holds zero and a no questions asked warranty. You can always upgrade the scope and upgrade the tikka to an aftermarket stock later on.

 

[Fryeguy]

I bought both of my boys tikka rifles. Luckily as one grew enough to need the adult stock, I bought the second boy an adult size rifle and swapped stocks on them. One thing I also did was thread them both for suppressor. Not only does it reduce recoil a lot, it most importantly saves their hearing. They both started with very cheap, used leupolds. They have both upgraded to better leupolds, but seeing how many times they’d slip and fall, not once was a scope ever off luckily. If you look around a used leupold can be had pretty cheaply. $125-175 can get you a decent one.

 

[mdwest]

Lots of entry level rifles out there that are sold “hunt ready” with an entry level scope on them that will easily kill a deer or hog at any distance you can see them…

Ruger American
Savage Axis
Howa 1500

Topped with something like a vortex crossfire II …can all be had for somewhere between $700-$800 out the door, new in the box..

Used, rifles like that can be had for next to nothing…

And are all plenty accurate, plenty reliable, etc for any hunter

 

[thriller]

If our sport is to flourish, we need to guide young people into the shooting sports. But in most cases, they are not able to kit out with Swarovski Z6, or anything really high end. I remember saving up for my first deer rifle, only to almost give way to despair when the dealer said I should spend just as much again to scope it and equip it. What are your specific, tested bang for the buck suggestions for the new shooter, women included of course. We are talking solid gear that is not wasted $$ on rubbish, but is within reach, and leaves room in the budget for lots of ammo and training/practice. If some sweat equity is involved which involves them in refinish/improvements, so much the more the bonding experience for them with their first rifle.

Maybe another way to share the love is to equip a loaner gun? Several could benefit serially from that.

Of course we could address the sequence of purchases beginning with small game?

For the true novice I love a solid single shot rifle with a hammer (very safe in my opinion) and a scope like a Leupold or lower end vortex or maybe a swaro z3. I am eyeing a Henry single shot 308 for my boys right now.

 

[mdwest]

I actually started 2 of my kids with H&R single shot .44 mag carbines… at the time they were something like $159 new… I mounted cheap Walmart grade bushnell scopes to them… and for the distances a 10 year old would shoot, they were perfect…

They were awesome for training… I started them out shooting 44 special .. out of a carbine, there’s no recoil at all to speak of.. and when they were ready stepped them up to 44 mag loads…

Having 1 shot, they learned they had to be careful and precise…

Out to about 125 yards they were great little guns… for the dense woods of TN, 125 yards was about 50 yards more than they ever needed…

The next kid got a Ruger American … (Americans didn’t exist when I bought the H&R’s)…

And the next one got a Howa 1500…

Zero complaints about any of the options… they all worked great…

 

[K-man]

I started my grandsons (and soon to be grandaughters) with a savage axis with included scope. They aren't going to shoot over 150 yards any time. I also use a Winchester 30/30 with a 4x fixed scope that fits also. Both setups cost less than $500 and will last as long as they need them. They can get personal guns later when they quit growing.

 

[Sabre]

It is hard to beat a Ruger American (I prefer the looks of the predator or ranch versions) for bang for your buck accuracy out of the box.

Vortex scope because young people are going to be more likely to be rough on gear when just getting started and the replacement will be cheap. Similarly, maybe something like a Vortex Diamondback binoculars.

Some very good, but maybe not the most expensive set of layering system for cold weather clothes. Or depending on the type/style of hunting a heavy jacket and heavy bibs in the same quality level. To me, this Is probably where I would spend a bit more money, but without going to the level of Sitka type clothing unless on a very good sale.

Quality ammo in a bonded bullet, or maybe a copper solid.

 

[jomw10]

plenty of accurate entry level rifles, specially for typical distance a beginner shouldn’t be trying.
I have bought savage packages all of them more than capable of taking deer under 300 yards

 

[Wildwillalaska]

I'm going to throw another vote out for Tikka. My youngest daughter has several guns that I had purchased for her as a very little kiddo in hopes of her hunting with me. The one that made the most sense was a 22" threaded barrel Barrett Fieldcraft, but later learning the pads are glued on and uncertain what to find if I cut it down, decided to leave it as was and got her a Tikka to hunt with her first few years. Had stock adjusted to her LOP, a Leupold VX III in 2.5-8, and she was hitting bulls suppressed in no time.

I cannot say enough about suppressing a kids rifle. Cuts down on recoil and the muzzle report. Really gives them a greater sense of comfort when starting out. At 13 this year, she even shot a few rounds through the outfitters suppressed 375HH at the end of our safari in May.

Now if I were trying to go as bare bones, budgeted as possible...I'd likely get a Ruger American in 308 and put a 2nd hand Leupold Vari-x II in 2-7 on it. Accuracy per dollar....hard to beat that cheap yet accurate combo.

 

[steve white]

Forgot about the clothing. They won't stay with it if they are always freezing to death.

OTOH, no recommendation for used (maybe Huskvarna) control round feed rifles?

 

[pilar]

Sig 100 in a what ever caliber is manageable 6.5, 270, .308
Topped with a Burris or something, tikka would be my 2nd favorite
I was just given a savage 11 in 6.5cm it’s pretty dang accurate and deadly with 127 LRX , I would say a 6.5 cm is a good choice for a starter for ladies and children
A, sig 100 ,tikka , savage predator would instill shooting confidence at a decent budget

 

[BryceM]

Estate sales. Consignment shops. There are lots of quality firearms out there that need a new home. Someone looking to buy might need a bit of help from an experienced friend, but that's also true if buying new.

I second the recommendation to try a Tikka T3. A .308 Win would be pretty darn versatile. I have one in .243, and I'm starting to wonder why people are spending so much money for custom rigs. The first load I tried shot 1/2 MOA.

I'm really cautious with "loaner" guns. Even more with "loaner" reloads. There's just too many things that can go wrong and I want no part of the conversations that follow.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Dad bought two used 30-06 rifles in 1962: twin military surplus Springfield 03A3s ordered from an ad in the American Rifleman magazine. He fixed one up for me and the other for himself. As I recall he paid $15 for each. It's still my go to big game rifle today. Every time that rifle is in my hands I think of Dad.

Don't buy a "starter gun" for your kid. Give him/her something that will be useful to the end of their days. Something that will speak to them about you. Not just a cheap transient tool. Every week my 12 year-old grandson shoots skeet with me. He only started shooting this summer and his average is already 20/25. The gun he's shooting is a twelve gauge Citori I bought used a few years ago and dressed up. Needless to say, it will become his and I know he will probably shoot it to the end of his days. Everyone says I should buy him a twenty gauge because it's more "suitable" for a kid to start out with. But he wants to shoot my gun (which, truth be told, I rarely shoot anyway). And I kinda doubt he'd shoot it any better. $700 is a cheap investment in immortality.

 

[Brandon.Gleason]

I drive every new hunter I help to a good (not necessarily great) scope, and an entry level rifle in a caliber they can get ammo easily for. That's usually a Tikka T3 or Ruger American, topped with a middle of the road Leupold or Vortex scope. The rest of the budget needs to be spent on ammo and practice. I've also introduced a good number of individuals to reloading to help fuel the hobby slightly more economically with hunting-grade reloads at target-grade factory prices.

 

[Elkeater]

Bought my daughter a weatherby Camilla (she wanted walnut and blued steel) in 6.5 creed and topped it with a 4-12x40 leupold VX-freedom I bought off the classifieds section. Total package (minus paying the gunsmith $125 for threading so she can suppress it) was $750. Should last her a lifetime of hunting.

My son got a Ruger American in .223 topped with another leupold 4-12x40 VX freedom. $600 all in on this one and he’ll have a good rifle that will handle up to deer. Once he gets a little older I’ll buy him a rifle of his choosing in a more appropriate big game caliber.

 

[AZDAVE]

The three current entry rifle I would look at is (all three have a 1 moa gerentee)
Tikka
Howa ( the weatherby mentioned above is made by Howa for them)
Begara

Since I am able to do my own stock work, I would buy the rifles above or a HOWA barreled action. Put it in one of the boyds (AT ONE or Dead SET or AGILITY) stocks so it can adjust as they grow)

Then define what you plan on hunting with it? , or is it a trainer to move to a larger caliber later on?
Where you plan on hunting US, Europe, Africa, Australia, New Zealand or all of the above?

As for caliber it depends on your requirements for the rifle.

Look at 223 through 308 in any of the three.

If just whitetails and practice the Howa mini in 6ARC, 6.5 Grendel, or 7.62x39

The one area I wouldn't scrimp on is the glass, pull something GOOD off one or your rifle and get them a solid optics ability.

 

[MacJenkins]

Lots of entry level rifles out there that are sold “hunt ready” with an entry level scope on them that will easily kill a deer or hog at any distance you can see them…

Ruger American
Savage Axis
Howa 1500

Topped with something like a vortex crossfire II …can all be had for somewhere between $700-$800 out the door, new in the box..

Used, rifles like that can be had for next to nothing…

And are all plenty accurate, plenty reliable, etc for any hunter

I have a buddy that has bought a couple wood stocked Ruger American's second hand for around $300. They are not my cup of tea but I will say they sure do shoot good. I was shocked.