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Deer rifle advise

Big Sky RedneckBig Sky Redneck Member Posts: 19,752 ✭✭✭
edited March 2002 in General Discussion
My boy will be 12 this year and it's time to get him a rifle. Now I really like the NEF Handi Rifles because they are some accurate little guns for the money and I'm of the opinion that a single shot will teach patience and marksmanship. I have told both of my kids that when they turn 16 they will get a deer rifle of their choice but they need to hunt with the single untill then. I already have 2 .243's and a .223. I'm looking at either a .270 or a 25-06. I have no experieance with the 25-06 but I have heard some bragging about it. The .270 I have used before and feel it is adequate for deer but it does have more recoil than the .243. How is the 25-06 in that regard and is it a good beginner round? I don't want to buy another .243 or .223, I want something different but I want something that will "do the job". Any suggestions?
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Comments

  • NateNate Member Posts: 168 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Why not 7-08????I am sure you have lots of 7mm bullets around the reloading room, would making getting the right load for the rifle a whole lots easier.
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  • .280 freak.280 freak Member Posts: 1,942 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    For a 12 year old boy, just starting out, if you don't want another .243, you should seriously consider either the .260 Rem., or the 7mm-08. Both of these have low to moderate recoil, and have plenty of power for whitetails at moderate range.
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  • Big Sky RedneckBig Sky Redneck Member Posts: 19,752 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Im not sure if NEF is making the 7mm-08. I have a friend that has one of those and it is an awsome round for deer but the recoil is to harsh for the kids. Eventualy I want to have one of each in the handi rifle but for now I need to get JR one to hunt with. The .243 works good but I want to try and keep them carrying diff calibers because the .243's I have take 100% different loads and I don't want them mixing ammo because the accuracy is unmbelievably different between the two with the others ammo. I quess what I need to know is the difference in recoil between the 25-06 and the .270 and will the '06 perfrom well on deer.
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  • He DogHe Dog Member Posts: 51,593 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    The .25-06 will indeed perform well on deer, the .257 does a fine job with less go. If the guys are going to be useing bolt actions later on, I would consider useing bolt actions as starters. What real difference will a couple of more rounds make if they have been properly trained? It would also save buying starters, or maybe allow a bolt .22 for practices. If it is a reason to buy a new gun, then forget I said anything!
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  • Big Sky RedneckBig Sky Redneck Member Posts: 19,752 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    One reason for buying the NEF is the price, I can get them for $185 new. I cant seem to get on NEF's web page, I get the home page but cannot get past it. I wanted to see what all cals are available for the handi rifle. The .260 sounds tepting also but I don't know if they offer it. As far as the 25-06, what is the recoil like compared to the .243 and .270?
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  • agloreaglore Member Posts: 6,012
    edited November -1
    I started my daughter with the 7mm-08 when she was 10 years old. Have a handload with the 140 Barnes X that is very mild in recoil but yet enough for moose. It was chronographed at 2570. This was in a Ruger Mod. 77.
    AlleninAlaska[This message has been edited by aglore (edited 03-24-2002).]
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  • Hans GrueberHans Grueber Member Posts: 244 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    .257 Roberts is a good deer cartridge.
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  • BoltactionManBoltactionMan Member Posts: 2,048 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Don't have a lot of experience with the .25-06, but it will work on deer. I can't imagine it being much less recoil than the .270 since they are basically the same round. Like bullet weights will recoil alike. Think .270, if you reload you can tune up some lighter bullet weight loads for practice, then go to the 130 gr. for hunting. My father uses 100 gr handloads for deer here in Missouri, thats the bullet weight that works well in the .243. My push for the .270 is that it is a more versatile round, in my opinion, than the .25-06.KC
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  • ysacresysacres Member Posts: 294 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Recoil in either of these calibers will be excessive for a 12 yr old.
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  • groundhog devastationgroundhog devastation Member Posts: 4,495
    edited November -1
    25-06 will perform well on anything on this continent!!! Well maybe if faced with a Brown Bear or Grizzly I'd like a little more but don't shoot a bull in the * with a BB gun!!! Seriously the 25 is a good caliber for a growing boy!! He might wince at the shooting bench a little but won't even know that a gun has recoil when shooting a whitetail!! The 25-06 is in my opinion(everybody has one just like something else everybody has unless they have been struck by a terrible malady) is the most amazing caliber and the most versitile of anything out there today that is readily available!!
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  • Rafter-SRafter-S Member Posts: 2,173 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I disagree with the concern of recoil. A normal size 12 year old boy can handle up to a 30-06 for a hunting rifle. Choose lighter weight bullets to minimize the recoil, like 150 grain 30 caliber or 140 grain 7mm. But don't sell the kid short. At 12, he is a small man, and he will respond more like a man when treated as such...plus he will appreciate it.Dad: Be sure to coach him at first--when getting used to the gun. Don't let him get "bit" by the scope. Once he learns to hold the rifle tight against his shoulder, he will be OK. [This message has been edited by Rafter-S (edited 03-25-2002).]
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  • Big Sky RedneckBig Sky Redneck Member Posts: 19,752 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    LOL, we already tried the 30-06 and that was funny! The little stinker wants to shoot the biggest thing we got but I want him to be able to shoot well and I think the big boomers will give him a flinch like dad got. Even loaded down with loads that will still kill deer the 30 is too much.
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  • agloreaglore Member Posts: 6,012
    edited November -1
    Must be like my 16 year old son, let him shoot my ported Ruger #1 in 416 Rigby and now he thinks he should own it.
    AlleninAlaska
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  • michael minarikmichael minarik Member Posts: 478 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Aglore, I have family in friends up there what town r u in?
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  • michael minarikmichael minarik Member Posts: 478 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    7MM, my son's first rifle was and is a Marlin, LA, 44 mag with a 2x Weaver. On his first Deer hunting trip with his own permit he shot A 9 point White on the run at 70 yards, hit him in the shoulder twice. Impact points were 6 inches apart...don't let anyone fool you 180 hollow points outta a rifle blow up on impact...there were two gaping holes in the side of the Deer when we got to him and had to put him down with my 338. Anyway, so far he has out shot me with his Marlin v my magnums...he's staying home next year...LOL.... This Year I hunted with a stainlss Marlin 30-30 and after 30 years of Deer hunting in Nebraska Sandhills...that 30-30 is going with me from now on. Don't be fooled by glitz and glamour of high power calibers -like I have been- hunting savvy and shooting skill is what really matters! Right now above my head is un-registered A-Typical, Boone and Crocket MULE Deer my Dad got with his 30-30 more'n 40 years ago...field dressed it weight 300 lbs. It has 14 points and is 21' between opposing points on the low beam...can send you picture if you want...by the way got my Deer this year at 180 yard's with my 30-30 and Weaver stainlss 2x rifle scope...Nebraska Sandhills can offer a hunter a shot at 5 yards to 1,000 yards...
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  • idsman75idsman75 Member Posts: 13,398 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Definitely coach him on the scope bite. I wish someone would have told me about that. I bought my first scoped rifle when I was 21. I had never owned a rifle before and the only rifle that I had ever fired was the M-16. I don't come from a family of hunters even though my whole family is from the country (farm town Iowa). I am of average size (5'10", 180). I was afraid of the recoil from that Remington 700 ADL in .30-06 until I actually pulled the trigger. Hell, I've fired .308's that have given my shoulder more punishment than that '06. If your boy has already tasted the .30-06 and has proven that he's not ready for it then don't progress in calibers too quickly. It's a sin to take a child and force a caliber on him/her that he/she is not yet ready for. We all progress through bigger calibers at different rates. I've never had a need or desire to own anything more than a .30-06 and most of the people I've gone to the range with have never owned anything bigger than .30-06. Hence, the .30-06 is the biggest caliber (in civilian firearms) that I've ever fired. I am probably not ready for the "big guns" myself but I am not ashamed to admit it because I probably will never have a need or desire to own anything bigger than .30-06. My personal philosophy is to allow an individual to progrerss through the calibers at their own pace. Let their passion for hunting and shooting be their guide to bigger calibers.
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