Youth elk rifle?

[Irrelevant]

My daughter has a Tikka 243. My son will also be hunting this fall. I'll need another youth rifle. I'm thinking my daughter will be ready to bump up (slightly). And my son can take over the 243. I'm looking really hard at a 7mm-08. There's obviously a lot of other options. My budget is under $1k with optics. Thoughts or suggestions?

 

[rmyoung1]

Vanguard® Synthetic Compact – Weatherby, Inc.

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We settled on the 7mm-08 and topped it with a Leupold VX2 from @schmalts. A huge hit in my house!

 

[cgasner1]

Ruger American in a 6.5 prc

 

[mtmuley]

Ruger American in a 6.5 prc

Yep. Except 7mm-08. mtmuley

 

[Irrelevant]

Ruger American in a 6.5 prc

Can I ask why?

Chat had this to say:

Attribute	6.5 PRC	7 mm-08 Remington
Recoil	Moderate–High	Low–Moderate ✔
Best Range	Long (300 – 500+ yds) ✔	Moderate (0–350 yds)
Trajectory	Flatter	Slightly more arc
Knockdown Energy	High out past 400 yds	Very capable at moderate range
Ease of Shooting (Youth)	Tougher for recoil-sensitive shooters	More forgiving ✔
Ammo Cost & Availability	Higher / less common	Lower / common ✔
Big-Game Versatility	Excellent with correct bullets	Excellent and balanced ✔

That American Gen II does look really cool, but I don't know anyone who has one. Does they shoot pretty good?

 

[cgasner1]

Can I ask why?

Chat had this to say:

Attribute	6.5 PRC	7 mm-08 Remington
Recoil	Moderate–High	Low–Moderate ✔
Best Range	Long (300 – 500+ yds) ✔	Moderate (0–350 yds)
Trajectory	Flatter	Slightly more arc
Knockdown Energy	High out past 400 yds	Very capable at moderate range
Ease of Shooting (Youth)	Tougher for recoil-sensitive shooters	More forgiving ✔
Ammo Cost & Availability	Higher / less common	Lower / common ✔
Big-Game Versatility	Excellent with correct bullets	Excellent and balanced ✔

That American Gen II does look really cool, but I don't know anyone who has one. Does they shoot pretty good?

With my suppressor it has zero recoil an it’s killed everything I’ve pointed it at from audad to Sitka buck to a moose. Personal preference on a cartridge is all. My first moose I shot at 550 and had all 4 in the air before I got my second round chambered.

 

[cgasner1]

I’d spend a little less on the gun and more on the glass if it was me. The new factory rifles shoot factory ammo extremely well for your intended use

 

[mtmuley]

With my suppressor it has zero recoil an it’s killed everything I’ve pointed it at

This always cracks me up. The Savage Axis is worth a look. I'm dinking around with a couple my kid bought cheap. In 7mm-08. mtmuley

 

[cgasner1]

This always cracks me up. The Savage Axis is worth a look. I'm dinking around with a couple my kid bought cheap. In 7mm-08. mtmuley

Probably also a great pick I just like the looks of the rugers for the price. I’ll probably end up buying myself a really nice rifle when my boys start packing and just hand them down my savage 6.5 it’s set up ready to roll and already beat to hell

 

[mtmuley]

Probably also a great pick I just like the looks of the rugers for the price. I’ll probably end up buying myself a really nice rifle when my boys start packing and just hand them down my savage 6.5 it’s set up ready to roll and already beat to hell

My SIL has been deadly with an Axis in .30-06. Good glass on it. He upgraded to a Tikka Roughtech in 7mm RM recently with better glass. Interesting how bargain rifles can shoot the way they do these days. mtmuley

 

[BuzzH]

I kept it simple and in your price range all in for rifle, scope, and 5 boxes of ammo for my youngest nephew.

Tikka 7-08, 3-9x40 leupy...seems to work pretty fair on elk.

 

[Irrelevant]

I kept it simple and in your price range all in for rifle, scope, and 5 boxes of ammo for my youngest nephew.

Tikka 7-08, 3-9x40 leupy...seems to work pretty fair on elk.

You found some good deals then, because I was pricing that combo as being out of my range. Unless I went with a vx-freedom, but I'd like to do vx3.

 

[Chingon]

My Tikka 243 and 22 Creed rained hell on elk this year in NM. Last year it was 6.5 creed doing the same thing. Other than barrel life, I see no reason to go above 243. 223 has virtually infinite barrel life and with the right bullet it only give up a couple hundred yards to the creed version...

All my rifles run handloads that are under 1MOA for 10 shots with me behind the bolt. However, my sons shoot increasingly poorly with increased recoil. They will shoot the 6.5 creed but don't like it. They'll bang steel out to 800 yds all day long though with the 22 calibers and 243. I'm guessing that's pretty standard in that more gun doesn't always equal more lethal.

 

[BuzzH]

You found some good deals then, because I was pricing that combo as being out of my range. Unless I went with a vx-freedom, but I'd like to do vx3.

$600 for the rifle, $200 for the scope (lightly used 3-9 leupy), found some rings/bases for $75...and bought those hornandy whitetail factory for a decent deal as well, $19/box.

 

[mtmuley]

A VX1 is for sale here in HT. The early ones are solid scopes for what you need. mtmuley

 

[Nick87]

Yah I'd try to find a used vx2 if it were me. They pop up often on classifieds on different forums but they dont always last long. Everyone seems to love the tikkas. Never shot one but I'm sure they are great. Browning micro midas is a great compact rifle as well and is worth a look imo.

 

[mtmuley]

Yah I'd try to find a used vx2 if it were me. They pop up often on classifieds on different forums but they dont always last long. Everyone seems to love the tikkas. Never shot one but I'm sure they are great. Browning micro midas is a great compact rifle as well and is worth a look imo.

The VX2 scopes were great. I have three of them. Also, I have a coupke Sightron scopes. Can't complain. mtmuley

 

[Nick87]

The VX2 scopes were great. I have three of them. mtmuley

Was just looking the other day. I've got two of those and two vx3's laying around. One designated for .243 I bought the boys. I'm sure they'll have plenty of other purchases for me to mount the others on soon enough.

 

[Irrelevant]

$600 for the rifle, $200 for the scope (lightly used 3-9 leupy), found some rings/bases for $75...and bought those hornandy whitetail factory for a decent deal as well, $19/box.

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1156288310

not a lot of tikka 7mm-08 around me. $770+$100 rings, and leaves me less than $200 for a scope. I love tikkas, don't get me wrong, that's what both my daughter and I shoot. But They just seemed to have jumped in price.

Vs that American Gen II https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1149985264
@$600 + bases, I still have $300 for a scope, and I think I can get one used for that. And I like that it comes with a brake, she's definitely recoil shy.

....
Maybe a better way to say it, is my gun budget is $600 ish. Unless it's a packaged deal.

 

[Nick87]

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1156288310

not a lot of tikka 7mm-08 around me. $770+$100 rings, and leaves me less than $200 for a scope. I love tikkas, don't get me wrong, that's what both my daughter and I shoot. But They just seemed to have jumped in price.

Vs that American Gen II https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1149985264
@$600 + bases, I still have $300 for a scope, and I think I can get one used for that. And I like that it comes with a brake, she's definitely recoil shy.

....
Maybe a better way to say it, is my gun budget is $600 ish. Unless it's a packaged deal.

Does it have to be a shorter LOP?