2rocky
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jul 23, 2010
- Messages
- 5,147
I'm a big fan of the 7mm-08. If I was to buy another centerfire rifle I'd likely choose that caliber regardless of your question. Good luck to your son.
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Does it? I thought the only difference was the CF barrel, but I don't remember all of the specs off hand.
Either way you guys will be happy. Reloading or factory ammo?
The Mesa has a spiral flute bolt as well. I looked at them pretty hard when I bought my new .280.Factory ammo. I'm looking at the Mesa. I think the difference is the CF barrel and the fluted bolt. Maybe not worth the difference.
The Mesa has a spiral flute bolt as well. I looked at them pretty hard when I bought my new .280.
We can thank the likes of Jack O'Connor and Hornady for driving us to these fun discussions!For me it was a Mossberg in .270 win that we had duct tape over the magazine cover because otherwise all the shells would drop out the bottom at the first shot. I have no idea what brand of scope it had on it but it was a 3-9X but I think it came with the gun as a package deal. I loved that gun and was pretty confident in it. It wasn't "my" gun though and Dad kept it when I moved off to college. No idea where it ended up.
Shhhh... When my wife asks me "Why do you need all those rifles, you can only shoot one at a time?!" I reply "One of the rifles is yours [predictably, I receive an eye roll in response], and our boys will all need a rifle someday." I don't mention it may not be one of MY rifles they getDo kids save up their money to buy a secondhand rifle for their first rifles any more?
Now that I think of it, My parents covered my car and fuel, but by goodness I had to buy my own rifle if I didn't want a hand-me-down...
I'm still shooting it.
Talking about a long-term, really nice rifle, I'd lean towards the 7mm-08. The only thing that gives me pause is a lack of factory options for elk-worthy reduced loads, if he really is significantly recoil-shy now. If it were me, I'd get a 7mm-08 and I'd handload really good bullets down a bit to reduce kick.
That said, he'll be set either way.
After this past fall with my 12yo, that last sentence of yours rings very, very true!! Something I wish I'd spent more time on with him.He's not significantly recoil-shy. He's fine with the .223 and has a 20 gauge Benelli M2 field shotgun now that he shoots decently but he takes a little warming up to it.
I'm thinking that we will shoot a bunch of reduced recoil rounds for practice to get started and then move up to the desired elk loads with the brake on it. I'm planning on replacing the brake for the cap for the actual hunt. The biggest thing we are going to have to work on is quicker target acquisition and a variety of shooting positions and we can do a lot of that with a .22 rimfire.
Ok, I'm solidifying my vote for 7mm-08, then. Have fun on that hunt!He's not significantly recoil-shy. He's fine with the .223 and has a 20 gauge Benelli M2 field shotgun now that he shoots decently but he takes a little warming up to it.
I'm thinking that we will shoot a bunch of reduced recoil rounds for practice to get started and then move up to the desired elk loads with the brake on it. I'm planning on replacing the brake for the cap for the actual hunt. The biggest thing we are going to have to work on is quicker target acquisition and a variety of shooting positions and we can do a lot of that with a .22 rimfire.
Well I hope your son appreciates that setup, it's quite a high bar to set right off the bat.
Nicer rifle and scope than anything I've ever had! LOL.
I stepped up a couple years ago to a used Kimber Montana with a VX-3i scope!
I guess I'm not the only one, bought my oldest a franchi compact autolaoader today for his first shotgun. When I started I dont think they were making youth guns i started with a hand me down 870 12 gauge at around 11 years old I believe. I remember complaining that those 3" mags were pretty unpleasant. I was told "just hold on tighter!"My wife just about fell over when she saw what kind of a set up I bought for my son's first rifle,