Nice rifle for a teenager to pass down

[WVmike]

Currently researching which rifle to pick up for my son who is currently 10 but I would like to get him a nice rifle when he turns 13/14 and is in high school so I have a few years. He uses a .243 now it is a Ruger American and he does fine with it. I would just like to get a him a nice rifle that he could keep and use for a long time to possibly pass down when he has kids and also a way of maybe looking back one day and saying my dad got me this when I was so on and so forth. Not really interested in what calibers to choose since I will probably be getting him a .308 since I have one and I can reload. I have a Win Model 70, Rem 700 ADL, Seekins PH2 and a few ARs. I was looking into a Win Model 70, Bergara (I've never had one but would like to), Tikka (same as the Bergara), Weatherby or another Ruger. Any input is appreciated.

 

[Bambistew]

Thats a tough one, sentimental vs a tool. I will say that my favorite heirlooms are old M70/M700/721 rifles passed form my grandfather/dad to me.

I just couldn't warm up to a SS plastic rifle as much.

 

[morley.tyler]

I've got the FWT Model 70 (new pre-64) my dad bought me in the 90s. It's still dynamite and accurate, and it's starting to have that cool patina that comes from carrying a rifle for 30 years. Blue fading on the floor plate and bolt knob, that damn scratch on the buttstock from when it slid off of my lap while I was sitting, looking for elk in Hell's Canyon. Every mark on that thing reminds me of a moment in time.
Also, every time I look at it or pick it up, I think of Dad, who's been gone a while now.

 

[Bambistew]

I've got the FWT Model 70 (new pre-64) my dad bought me in the 90s. It's still dynamite and accurate, and it's starting to have that cool patina that comes from carrying a rifle for 30 years. Blue fading on the floor plate and bolt knob, that damn scratch on the buttstock from when it slid off of my lap while I was sitting, looking for elk in Hell's Canyon. Every mark on that thing reminds me of a moment in time.
Also, every time I look at it or pick it up, I think of Dad, who's been gone a while now.

I have an early production ('64) M700 ADL in 308win that was my grampas. It has a big gouge on the but stock from rubbing on the frame of his snowmobile. He traded the horse for a sled late in the season to chase elk, and strapped the leather saddle scabbard to the frame. I also have the scabbard...

It was always an adventure to go out with him hunting. Every time I see that gouge I think of the 1969 arctic cat 634ci he rode, and flying across the the flats on the top of the Gravellys, in MT. It was a beast and he was a local legend for having that "monster" sled that could climb anything. I tried to keep up with my little 340 panther, but never could.

I have a featherweight M70 in 308 that was my other grampa's that killed more elk than the plauge... Also think of the 1000s of miles it had on it in saddle scabbard while chasign elk in Madisons in MT. My dad used it for decades as well. Takes me back to wood stoves, canvas tents and the smell of horse sweat every time I look at it.

The memory attached to them is far more valuable than the rifle itself, to be honest. I have (wierd trend going here) a Kimber Montana M84 in 308 that has been on countless adventures here in AK, lots of scrars on it and I hope that one of my kids gets it and reminises about the sheep/bear and cariobu hunts it got to experience with their dad (and mom). The rifle is nothing fancy, but has scars to show its age.

My dad and grampa's have/had a lot of other rifles but none of them really had the same sentimental value. That said, I'm not sure you can chose a rifle that you kid will use. I rarely use the first rifle my dad bought me. Its certainly doesn't have the same sentimental value as others I have.