I'm starting to research a new rifle project I want to put together. Growing up I always remember my grandpa hunting with the same Winchester mdl 70 in .243. Had a small Tasco scope with Weaver rings Before he died in 2001 he passed it down to me. I value that gun probably more than any other material possession I own....so much that I hardly carry it into the woods. I've been hunting for years with another base model 70 but think its time to purchase a "lifetime" rifle to starting taking my daughter hunting with. I'm wanting her to remember this new rifle like I remember my grandpas .243. Been looking around at what's out there and without seeing or shooting any of these, I'm liking a Remington XCR II or the Winchester Ultimate Shadow Hunter. My only requirements is that it have some form of a synthetic stock and put em under .75" at 100 yards. I just want something that will last cause I want to pass it down one day. Any suggestions?

I like the Browning Abolt. The Micro-hunter is smaller in physical size and fits women/children well. All of my Brownings have shot sub-MOA right out of the box.

On another note, I understand your attachment to your grandpa's old .243 but would that be cool if your kid made some memories with that rifle. She'd likely develop the same attachment that you have. I'm sure your grandpa would be smiling down from above too. Guns like that were meant to be used and make memories.

I agree with the two other gentleman... Buy you another synthetic stock and put it on that Win Model 70 and let your daughter hunt with it (keep the original stock). I think it'd mean more to you all... When she gets old enough, then buy her a rifle that will be hers and you'll get your rifle back, eventually passing it on to her.

Every bump and scratch is a memory of a hunt or a lesson! Adds character too.

This, I too have been wanting a rifle to pass down once I have kids. My Grandpaw gave my dad a rem 700 BDL for his 15th birthday and I got it for Christmas when I was 16. There is no other rifle like it in the world because of the history it has to me. I cant carry any other rifle into the field because of what it means to me. A lot of rifles have come and gone but this one will stay and be passed on.

Look at the Savages.


My hunting rifle is a long-ago sporterized Spanish Mauser in 7mm Mauser. Wood stocked and done well, excellent conversion.

It's got some dings and scratches, the previous two owners put them there. It's still beautiful, just with battle scars.

Chicks dig scars. They all have their own stories.

Rifles like to get out of the safe and go hunting.

Its likely not the rifle she is going to remember. Its that you took her hunting. You remember the Winchester because that is what you grands had when he took you. You would remember a Remington or Marlin just the same because it was his. I have my fathers old sporterized mauser. It's old and scratched but the action is silky smooth and I like to see it thump a whitetail every couple years.

Excellent point. I have several firarms that I have purchased myself through the years, and a shotgun that my dad bought for me as a teenager. But the gun I value as much if not more any of them is an old .22 Remington that belonged to my grandfather.

I went for the middle ground many years ago and purchased a Browning Micro Medallion as hand-me-down gun for a future grandchild. I've always considered it my "compact gun" because if its smaller size, but I really wanted something that would be a good gun for a kid to start with. I've also been doing my best to increase it's hand-me-down value by taking good numbers of deer and hogs with it.

Buy a quality gun that will appreciate in value and put as many notches (not physically of course) on it while you can.