My brother-in-law is thinking about getting a rifle for his son for his 16th birthday coming up. This will more than likely (at least for the foreseeable future) a person that will only have one rifle. He does some deer hunting in MO as well has hogs here in TX. He might at sometime do an Elk hunt in the future. I don't see anything bigger than that and that is a "maybe". He nor his dad handload. He has fired a couple of my magnums. While he handled it I think something lighter would be better.

He has seen the Rem 700 Mtn DM and like the looks and feel. I was thinking of suggesting a 280. Near term I can load for him for a 280. But, never having a 30-06 I might be just a little prejudice.

What do you guys think? A 280 or 30-06? Something else non magnum?

quote:

He nor his dad handload

You should do something to change that.

The '06 is the ultimate in versatility and universal popularity. That translates into the widest selection of any caliber of ammo made. Even the reduced recoil type.

Ever try to find 280 ammo in the middle of Podunk?
Go with the -06 and he will never have a problem buying (or even borrowing) ammo, and it comes in a wide varity of brands, flavors, bullet styles and bullet weights.

There is one downside to the -06, and that is it is just so darn versitale (Groundhogs to Grizzley) that it makes choosing his next rifle very hard to select

Another vote for the century old 30-06!! Hope it is around for another 100 years.

.30-06 +1

quote:

Ever try to find 280 ammo in the middle of Podunk?

Never been to Podunk. Anything like the "middle of nowhere"? To be honest I don't buy any ammo since I handload for everything except my 358Norma (can we say closeout). Very valid points for the 06. Thanks.

As to his dad handloading. Can't see it happening. He fires a box of rifle ammo every 2-3 years. He shoots a bunch of 9mm but buys reloads in bulk. The son has asked questions about it but since he is in MO and I live in Tx hard to spend any time teaching him.

The 30-06 is the do it all caliber. I own one and wouldn't give for it.

However, tell him not to down a 308 Win if he finds a good deal on one. For all intents and purposes, its just as good as an 06.

I also suggest the '06. Next on my list would be either the 280 or 270.

30-06 with out a doubt

For a handloader.....the 280.

If one is reliant on factory fodder the 30-06 reigns supreme.

Go with the 30-06. The best all around caliber out there. Just because there is distance between you and the boy does not mean you can't spark his interests. Kids these days can pick things up on their own rather quickly and can get information from many good websites and manuals. What they sometimes do need (and wait for) is someone to get the ball rolling. Did you intro him to this site?

30-06 or 308 either would be my choice.

My youngest son (28) just went on a elk hunt with me last year he had never showen any intrest in hunting BG just birds I took a nice elk and now he wants to hunt so I gave him one of my 3 30-06.

For a one gun do it all rifle, there is only one choice, the 30-06. If only deer and hogs are your main thing, you might want to look at the 7mm-08.

I too have to offer the idea of a 308 Winchester. I most applications it is on a short action which makes it a small amount shorter and lighter in weight. Able to take most Noth American game. It is more accurate than most and an accurate rifle is just plain fun to shoot.

If the kids' mostly hunting deer and hogs then a 270Win or 308Win would be my first choice. By the time he chases larger game with it ... he will more than likely be confident enough to get the job done with the smaller cartridge.
Cheers...
Con

It took someone from down under to say .270. Great choice even in Podunk.Just get him some Jack O'Conner literature to get his mind correctly oriented than take him to-de-range. roger

I second the 7/08 or even suggest the 260 Rem or the 6.5 x 55....

But the 30/06's ammo availability is equal to what 10w30 is to motor oil... you can find it anywhere!

270 fo' sure.

I'd go with the 7MM/08 for a number of reasons.
Probably as wide a bullet selection you'll find short of 30 Caliber. High B/C's as well. Heavier bullets than the 6MM's and quarter bores. But for someone young learning to hunt and shoot it is very manageable with light recoil. It can use heavier bullets and is adequate for all the game you mention at reasonable ranges.

Recoil

How physically large is this boy/man, and how recoil sensitive is he? If he is relatively small and/or recoil sensitive, then something smaller than a 30-06 would be good.

Does he anticipate doing any amount of varmint hunting/shooting? If so, the 30-06 would not be the best choice; instead something in the 6mm or 25 caliber area may be significantly better. A .270 might be a good one-rifle compromise to fill that gap because 110 grain bullets in a .270 can make it into a good varmint rifle, if somewhat hard-kicking for that purpose.

If he is physically large and/or not recoil sensitive, and if he will not do varmint hunting, then a 30-06 might be best. But a .308 might be slightly better because it will kick a little less, it will probably be a tad lighter to carry, and it is likely to be a bit more accurate. Also .308 ammo is now almost as widely available as 30-06, and, in addition, inexpensive .308 military ammo is now easily available for target shooting, while 30-06 military ammo is becoming scarce.

If he handloaded, I would say .280. Factory only then a 7mmrem mag or the good ole 30-06.

I am a 280 fan myself but in this case I would have to say 30-06.

Ever find yourself making decisions that make no sense?

I have never had a real use for the 308 or the rounds made from it. While I do have a 243 I will grab my 6mm every time. Likewise the 7-08 never enters my mind but my wifes main rifle is a 7X57. Go figure. My choice since I reload would have been 280 but I didn't think of the 270.

He is 6'1+ and 200+ football player. He shot several of my mags but it was easy to tell that he like the 25-06 better.

I have no clue if 7-08 ammo is easy to find in the sticks. But 270 & 06 would be. I had thought 06 in the case he went for elk. But then again my wife shoots Elk with a 7x57. For now I don't see him doing any varmints.If he did it would be with me and my stepson so I could cover him.

After sleep and coffee the 270 has worked it's way to the top. I'll show him this site next time I see him. But, being almost 16 if it doesn't contain cars or girls don't know how much attention it will see. LOL

Thanks for all your imput.

In the Book of the Springfield that he wrote ages ago, Captain Jim Crossman said "It is every free-born American's right to purchase a rifle chambered for some caliber other than the .30/'06. But it is no great tribute to his intelligence if he does!"

For the one-rifle man, this was good advice then, and it still is today!

quote:

"It is every free-born American's right to purchase a rifle chambered for some caliber other than the .30/'06. But it is no great tribute to his intelligence if he does!"

I like it.

You can't go wrong with either. However, as mentioned above, if you handload go with the 280; if not go with the 30-06. If he likes the Mountain rifle, perhaps you may consider the 7-08.

7RM or 06'

Both have about the same recoil, ammo is easily obtainable anywhere, and they'll take any animal in NA.

Good Luck

Reloader

quote:

Originally posted by ramrod340:
My brother-in-law is thinking about getting a rifle for his son for his 16th birthday coming up. This will more than likely (at least for the foreseeable future) a person that will only have one rifle. He does some deer hunting in MO as well has hogs here in TX. He might at sometime do an Elk hunt in the future. I don't see anything bigger than that and that is a "maybe". He nor his dad handload. ....

Based on that criteria I'd say .270 Winchester or .30-06 Springfield. It would be hard to go wrong with either one.

-Bob F.

quote:

Originally posted by ramrod340:
?

I have never had a real use for the 308 or the rounds made from it.

My sentiments exactly, yet My Wife bought me a .243 Ruger Varmint and a friend gave me a Mauser .308 with a Varment barrel.*** It's hard not to enjoy them even if they are a poor design. roger

I bought my son a .30-06 when he was about 14 to replace his "training rifle", a .243. Although the .30-06 was his gun, he could have shot any of mine, ranging in caliber from .22 Hornet to .375 H & H and including virtually every caliber that has been mentioned in this thread.

He's now 30, and whether the game is coyotes, deer, antelope, mule deer, elk, or hogs, he always chooses to use his .30-06 and never takes a back seat to anyone hunting with a more "specialized" round (including me).

Lots of cartridges will "do" as an all-around gun, but the .30-06 will "do" exceedingly well.

If he gets a 30-06 now, he'll have to work hard to come up with an excuse to get another rifle later. It sounds like something like a 7x57 would serve him now and still leave him room for other rifles later if he wants one.

Dean

30-06...... one man + one rifle + experience = clean kills (and, truth be told, the envy of others).

quote:

Originally posted by ramrod340:
What do you guys think? A 280 or 30-06? Something else non magnum?

You have just landed on the single best reason why the 30-06 reigns supreme, flexibility.
When all else is said and done, no other single cartridge is as useful. Some, like the 270/280 come close given a niche, but none equal the 30-06 in all-around use, even with handloaded ammo. Excluding Alaskan bears, there is no doubt about the 30-06.

Not wishing to be redundant;as my opinion corresponds with everything stated above concerning the 30-06.Great versatility + almost worldwide availability of ammo.That being said,I don't know ifthis still applies,but a few years back we were not allowed to take our 06's into Mexico,or brass with that headstamp.Military cart.,fear of rev.,etc.,etc.As I have stated before elsewhere IF I could only have 1 rifle,it would undoubtedly be the 375 H+H.But thats just me.I don't think that really applies here though.As you say,he's still young;and I've never known anyone that once they've begun to enjoy the sport was satisfied with only 1 rifle.So for now,go with the 30-06.

I would go with a 30-06 or a 308.
I have killed 3 pigs with the Federal low recoil load out of my 30-06 drilling.
It worked just perfect. They make the same load for the 308. It is a 170 grain bullet.
It would be a good choice for a load to break in the rifle/shooter.

On my deer lease most of my shots are under 100 yards, so I plan to use this load a lot. I am also going to test it on small game, and may use it in my drilling on the small cats in Zimbabwe this Oct.

In the past 12 months a friend's son has become heavily involved in hunting deer. To date using his father's 270Win and factory PMC 130gr ammunition, he has taken 2 Sambar (elk-sized; one hind and one spiker) and a great representative fallow stag. His mother offered to buy him a Sako 30/06 for his 15th birthday which he declined with, "But the 270 does pretty good". There was also something about him not wanting to carry the rifle when Dad was such a good gun-bearer ... but we wont go there In the coming weeks I'll be putting this boy on the tracks of a nice representative Sambar stag, and am totally confident that he will get the job done if presented with the opportunity. Both 270Win and 308Win offer light recoil in portable rifles, readily available factory ammunition for varminting through to premium ammunition, great accuracy and mild muzzle blast. Watching this lad's progress and success has been a bit of a revelation for someone that began with a 30/06 and then went to a 458WM and is now using a 375H&H and 350RemMag for Sambar in the timber. I'll be lending him my 358Win though at some point ... kid needs to go "Big-Bore" to satisfy my ego
Cheers...
Con

I have 3 rifles and 1 pistol in thirty ought six.This calber has taken every species of big game in N. America and many elsewhere in the world,take tour pick from 110 grain to 250 grain projectiles I'm biased.

If he doesn't handload, then 270 Win, 308 Win or 30-06, for the almost universal availability of a wide variety of factory loads.

Same advice here.

.270 Win, .308 Win, or .30-06 Springfield.

The '06 will give him a huge selection of loads to choose from, though the first two will do anything you mentioned. If he chooses the '06 advise him to begin with the lighter ones first and work up to heavier recoil.

I gotta chip in here - you mentioned this young man is 6-1 and 200 pounds. My first rifle was a 7 Rem. I was 5.9 and 140. I have shot 8 elk the last 8 years with a 375 - a "lucky" rifle. This stout young fellow won't be bothered by an 06, which is - as everybody has said - still the best all around factory cartridge, with rifles to match. That being said, I still have a soft spot for the 284 caliber - and the 7 Rem Mag will do very nicely thank you. Even the 300 WSM would be ok, even if not quite so available as the 06. If he hasn't done a lot of shooting, just remember to teach him breath and trigger control, then put a good pad on the old 06 and have at it. The hardest kicking rifle I ever shot (other than an Enfield 458) was a Mod 700 06 with a steel butplate and iron sites, 220's. No past pad!!! I flinch at the thought of it. Good luck. I do know where there is a pre 64 270 barreled action in mint condition reasonable - no it ain't mine. Call Green Mountain Guns in Lakewood Co. That in a nice stock would be a helluva graduation gift.