A good friend of mine is getting ready to take his boy deer hunting and they are pumped! His son is taking Hunter Ed today and is in need of his first rifle.
Great kid, pretty good size, and pretty tough. Looking for synthetic so it can handle bumps and scratches, but something he could shoot for a long time. Not trying to break the bank, but looking for a good quality rifle.

What would you guys suggest? And what caliber as well for primarily Texas WT Deer?

Thanks!

Would be hard to beat this deal (Savage bashers notwithstanding)...especially with the $100 rebate Savage is running through the end of the year. I have one on order now for my boys to use.

https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/mobile/product/5202/savage_11doa_xp_65_creed_bushnell

I started out with a Marlin 336 30-30 when I was 10. I think if I had a boy, I would start him with the same.

Ruger American in .243 or the Howa mini action in 6.5 Grendel. Both will do a great job on deer and hogs, low recoil and also do great on targets at longer distances. P_102

I would look at the Ruger American in a .243 or 7mm-08. I don't think you would be going wrong spending a little more for a good quality rifle.

Ruger American Ranch in 300 Blackout.

30-30

Buy the right one from the beginning so when he's older he will still want to use it

Don't get a 30-30

What does the boy want???

How far will he be shooting or whats the norm where he'll be hunting? How familiar is he with a rifle?

I started my son with a Rem 222. He shot it for several years. No recoil and still kills.

I woukd suggest a .25-06 it’s a solid caliber with plenty of stopping power and won’t kick too much at all. I think there’s a few Savage combos that wouldn’t break the bank that should work plenty well.

This
Low recoil, plenty of ammo options
Supressor ready
Kills Deer and hogs all day and all night long

I think he is looking for a bolt gun for his son. Not sure of shooting distance but I'd imagine not over 100 yards or so. Lots of good choices above. Thanks!

I would get him one he could use for years.



Either of those would fill the bill and with managed recoil or Hornady lite loads roll with the 7mm-08 in the Ruger. The Howa Mini is now available with a youth stock and there have been some great deals on the Howa on line. Whittacker has had some of the youth ones on sale lately for well under 400.

Youth model 243.

Tikka T3X Lite in 7mm-08.

I would go the Tikka T3 route also. 7mm-08 or .260 Rem.

Lifetime rifle right there.

Hear me out. I decided on an ar15 in 6.8 for my girls. Get a collapsible stock for a proper length of pull. Bob sled instead of a magazine, and an adjustable gas block to turn off the gas. As they grow more responsible, I'll give them a magazine. Then later on, I will turn on the gas. They'll never out grow an ar15.

I would go with a 7-08. It will do a lot of things well. Start him with 120's for lower recoil. As he grows, progress to 139-140's. At 11 I would purchase the Rem 700 youth model. As he matures, a multitude of full size stocks are readily available. What fits now, won't fit for long. In the event he eventually wants to dable with long range shooting, he has something to work with there as well. Good luck to the young man and his father. Those are good times.

Depending on budget lots of ways to go

Low. Savage. Haven’t seen one yet that won’t shoot very well
Middle. Ruger American. Shot one a few weeks ago. A rifle I’d never picked up and shot and put a bullet in a hogs ear. Very impressed for a cheaper gun
Higher. Tikka. Only downfall from the ones I’ve shot is very light weight in factory form. More recoil but easily fixable.

Of course others out there and plenty of good shooting guns these days. Just about everything would do the trick.

Loving the feedback guys! I've sent my buddy a link so he can follow along.

I told him to take a look at them. I've never shot a tikka, but have heard great things from quite a few on here and I know you guys know what you are talking about. Also hear great things of the 7mm-08 cartridge.

How does the 7mm-08 stack up with the .243?

.243 is faster

7mm-08 can deliver a larger payload, and punch a bigger hole.

7mm-08 is now the only cartridge I have two rifles chambered in. But in all fairness the second one is 7mm-08 A.I.

Why not get a .223? With the right bullet it will work perfectly on deer and hogs. Light recoil, cheap to shoot and if you have an AR15 no need to buy new bullets.