Thread: First Rifle For Lad

Fat chick's need love too, they just have to pay more.
Plus they put in way more effort.

It's a gun, you squeeze the trigger and by magic the thing in front falls over, think it fills orakis need at a very reasonable price.

If you want a .270, check out the one I put up on the forum tonight, best value for money in NZ right now, by a long way.

7-08 or 243
7-08 would be my choice if not reloading...the 243 with 95 he Targex goes good

Thanks for the input guys. I'll try and track down a few rifles to put shots through, and see how they fit etc. May even try 7m

Where are you from Oraki? If I could get it to you conveniently or hook up with you I've got a nice little suppressed 243 he could try to see what he thinks of it. Its not for sale, but it would give him a feel for a .243. Maybe could do the same for a 6.5x55 too.

Same as Tahr suggested from me, I've got a couple of 7.62x39's he can try out. Short barrel suppressed or standard.

I reckon with a suppressor on, all of the above calibres (other than .338 Edge) would feel the same recoil-wise, and none of them would be an issue even for the recoil shy. I'm a pussy when it comes to noise/recoil but suppressed .270's and .308's both feel like .223 to me. I honestly don't think recoil factors into it if you have decided to suppress it anyway, just consider ammo availability (which will also effect resale value/desirability) and terminal ballistics. I don't think you can go wrong with 7mm08, .308, 6.5x55 or (god forbid) .270, the animal isn't going to know the difference. Probably wouldn't go as small a pill as .243, I know people will disagree but if you don't think you'll have perfect shot placement (I know I wouldn't) then I'd rather hedge my bets with something with more mass. Of course .243 is capable, especially with handloads, but I don't think it's fair on the young shooter, or the animal to expect him to make a headshot when he could smack it in the shoulder with a .308, for example. How the rifle behaves while pointing and shooting with it ought to be a big consideration too, most decent hunting rifles will shoot 1-1.5 moa these days if you find ammo they like, it might be a good idea to head to the gun store with him and let him fondle the usual suspects; Remington, Winchester, Tikka, Savage, Howa, Ruger etc.

Whatever I get, it will be suppressed. At the time I bought my one, that was all I could afford and about the only caliber around. It was my first and it will always hold a place in my heart, no matter how good or bad. I was really after info on what is out there now in comparison to my 270, and I've got some options to look at

As in all conversations, there's always one who says something inappropriate (338 edge), but you know who to listen to to, and who talks BS. There's been so many offers coming through pm's, I can't get back to you all now, but will work through them all, thanks

Originally Posted by oraki

As in all conversations, there's always one who says something inappropriate (338 edge), but you know who to listen to to, and who talks BS. There's been so many offers coming through pm's, I can't get back to you all now, but will work through them all, thanks

Oraki, Gibo is a good prick really. He just says dumb arsed shit sometimes. Ha ha ha ha

Actually, I took my first stag with a .338 edge.

I was pleasantly surprised by how nice it was to shoot!!

Originally Posted by SlimySquirrel

Actually, I took my first stag with a .338 edge.

I was pleasantly surprised by how nice it was to shoot!!

@BRADS got my mate his first deer with an edge.
Soft to shoot and 300gr berger at 2800+fps is pure goodness.
Not sure how soft they are suppressed though

The one I shot was suppressed. I'm a recoil shy pussy...hence my 243 but it's made me more accurate since I shoot it more!

That's also a fair point in this discussion mate, my 12 is only mildly keen to shoot the 243 and it's lightish so if it's a carry rifle, it may be worth the smaller caliber so they can shoot it more and get used to it without flinching. Or, just get a 16lb 338 edge.

Recoil is a function of bullet weight, powder charge, rifle mass, and stock shape. Many years ago Graeme Henry in R&R wrote a great article about introducing young shooters to rifle. His suggestion was basically to get the rifle thay would use as an adult, but down load. Some calibres are better suited than others to this.
But if you want a .270 then get him one, get some lighter varmint style projectiles but download a few hundred fps. A 130gr at 2700 fps or similar, plus a suppressor, no flinch, dead deer.

I'm still trying to grow up, so ,can one of you fine gentlemen buy me a Sako Finnlight in .260 and load it down for me. Thanks.