Rifle for my 9 year old son

Marbles

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If you reload (or will put a break on it), 280 AI. 7mm-08 is a great choice if you don't.
 
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When I was 70 lbs I was working changing water pipe all summer. TF is wrong with you dude. You don't know what goes on in people's lives. Who the hell are you to give parenting advice

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You also have no clue what I was doing at 70 lbs., clearly. Don't act like you're the only one here who ever worked as a kid. God lawd.
 
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mtjimbo

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You need to calm tf down

Asking questions and offering suggestions is not violating any rules here.
I'm perfectly calm you are the one that started questions a parent because of gun they want to get a kid. I never said you were violating rules, I just don't understand where people like you get off in giving parenting advice and nobody asked for

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mtjimbo

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You also have no fking clue what I was doing at 70 lbs., clearly. Don't act like you're the only one here who ever worked as a kid. God lawd.
I never questioned what you did in ur life as a kid wth? You are the one that said make him earn it like you know what his kid does

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mtjimbo

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sorry I ruined this thread. I'm out. I'm apparently not "calm" and cant speak up when someone is questioning another parents choices for no reason at all. Sorry OP ! Hope your kiddo loves the gun!

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I never questioned what you did in ur life as a kid wth? You are the one that said make him earn it like you know what his kid does

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So you're saying you earned $2200 when you were 70 lbs. LOL Okay sure

Feel free to quote where I offered parenting advice. I would question why anyone would buy a 2200 rig for a kid who won't be shooting beyond 150 yards, but that's my prerogative to ask. Don't let it bunch you up.

OP, get whatever the hell you want for your kid. But I would encourage you to err on the light side for calibers and not subject them to head trauma at that age.
 
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6.5 CM is a fine choice, cheaper ammo around too (relatively speaking). The Hornady American Gunner can be had in 200 round boxes for $170 (before covid and Biden) and shoots great. I use that brass for reloading, also works great.

7-08 or 280 also a fine choice but ammo not nearly as common in my experience. I’d consider getting a caliber you already have or have interest in.

Good luck on ammo or reloading components, things are crazy right now! Congrats on getting your boy set up - awesome experience.
 

Oohmatron

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I was given a matched pair of Purdey shotguns for rough shooting game birds as a 15 yo. Probably worth $40-50,000 now, maybe more. Did I "earn" them? - no. Do I still treasure them and use them - yes. Did I value them then? - yes because I was taught to do so at the time. I will pass them on to a youngster with the right attitude one day and teach them the same values..... Life goes on.
 

Haney

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I have pretty much settled on the new 110 savage ultralight for my sons first rifle due to the adjustability of fit and budget. It will be shot suppressed using a ultra 7 and will be topped with a zeiss v4 4-16 x50. I’m struggling on caliber. My choices are between the 6.5 creed, 6.5prc, and 280 ai. He is about 70lbs and scrawny. His first hunt will be spring bear in 2021 followed by deer and elk. Thanks in advance for the input.
Good on you Dad, good to see folks getting them started young.

Of the three choices I would choose the 6.5 Creedmoor , with the right bullet choice it will do it's intended job with manageable recoil from a light gun . Less recoil at that age and size will help him become a better shooter right from the start .
 
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Little story from this weekend. My 11 yr old was walking through the woods behind me. Rocky Arkansas wooded hill side when he step on a rock below the leaves. He slipped and fell straight down. Gun was slung on his shoulder. Scope hit the rock and put a big dent in the bell. Just be prepared, accidents do happen. Luckily it was on a Savage Axis Youth with a $200 scope. I am curious to shoot it and see how that scope did with the impact.
 
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I know a few kids that have killed enough elk (some pretty nice bulls too) with their 6.5cm, that their dads have bought one for themselves to hunt with. One is an outfitter that has seen many elk killed with lots of magnums......they really dont die any faster than with the little 6.5.

On the scope....the couple zeiss scopes that I have used had really poor eye relief, could make it hard for a kid that doesnt fit the best behind the rifle yet.

I would strongly consider a 223 for them to get as much cheap, recoil free trigger time as possible
 
OP
541hunter

541hunter

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Little story from this weekend. My 11 yr old was walking through the woods behind me. Rocky Arkansas wooded hill side when he step on a rock below the leaves. He slipped and fell straight down. Gun was slung on his shoulder. Scope hit the rock and put a big dent in the bell. Just be prepared, accidents do happen. Luckily it was on a Savage Axis Youth with a $200 scope. I am curious to shoot it and see how that scope did with the impact.
Thank you for the advice. I constantly have to remind myself of that when raising my boys. I always joke with my wife telling this is why we cant have nice things.
 
OP
541hunter

541hunter

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Can these have the barrels swapped easily like other savages?
Im not sure, but since its built on the 110 action I would think so. It was really a toss up between the savage ultralight and the sig cross. The ultralight is ugly as hell but has a longer barrel and is slightly less weight.
 
OP
541hunter

541hunter

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I know a few kids that have killed enough elk (some pretty nice bulls too) with their 6.5cm, that their dads have bought one for themselves to hunt with. One is an outfitter that has seen many elk killed with lots of magnums......they really dont die any faster than with the little 6.5.

On the scope....the couple zeiss scopes that I have used had really poor eye relief, could make it hard for a kid that doesnt fit the best behind the rifle yet.

I would strongly consider a 223 for them to get as much cheap, recoil free trigger time as possible
That is my plan. Currently he shoots an open sight 22 lr. Then he will move to a scoped 17 hmr, then on to a bolt action 223 I already have and then on to a fitted hunting rifle that will grow with him.
 

rkcdvm

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I think my dad got me a marlin 35 remington at 9 or 10 years old. I still have that darn rifle. Works here in Texas brush . I got my son a savage 308 when he was 11-ish or 12-ish.
 
OP
541hunter

541hunter

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For those looking to get their kids into hunting early, Oregon offers the mentor youth program. The program allows the kids 9+ to fill their mentor's tag. I believe non-residents can participate as well ( I could be wrong). From my understanding the youth can have as many mentors as you want, therefore giving them the ability to fill multiple tags in season.
 

wytx

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So you're saying you earned $2200 when you were 70 lbs. LOL Okay sure

Feel free to quote where I offered parenting advice. I would question why anyone would buy a 2200 rig for a kid who won't be shooting beyond 150 yards, but that's my prerogative to ask. Don't let it bunch you up.

OP, get whatever the hell you want for your kid. But I would encourage you to err on the light side for calibers and not subject them to head trauma at that age.
Sorry I missed the part where he said shooting only out to 150 yds.
Perhaps he's thinking buy one rifle that will last a lifetime and be handed down after the second son.
His money to spend as he sees fit.
Seems advice on caliber is warranted not advice on how to spend his own money.

I agree with the 7mm-08 folks.
 
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Can these have the barrels swapped easily like other savages?
Yes. Plus all Axis rifles are long action, so with some basic tools and knowledge, you could take it from a .223 to an '06 all on the same action.

Swapping barrels and bolt heads would be a fun father/son project too.

The new Savage stocks are IMO the best fitting factory stocks in the industry, and the fact that you can easily change the length of pull and (on some) the comb height makes them an easy choice for a growing child. That said, the Axis series doesn't have the modular stocks. You have to get into the 110 series for those.
 
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