[Jeff Higgins]

I have a tradition of giving my two sons firearms on significant birthdays. Both received Chipmunk .22 rimfire single shot bolt guns at six years old. At 12 years old, the oldest received a Model 70 Featherweight in 6.5 Swede. The younger received a Ruger #1 Light Sporter in .30-'06. The rifle weighs about six pounds, so I would imagine it's pretty close to that Savage.

I started him with the 100 grain Speer "plinkers" at about 2,000 fps. We worked up to shooting .30-30 level loads, a 150 grain Sierra at about 2,200 fps. He shot his first deer at 12 years old with that load.

As he grew older, we went to full power .30-'06 level loads. It really likes 200 grain Nosler Partitions over a stiff load of Reloder 22, for just under 2,700 fps. Fairly stout load for the old '06, but that #1 is about the strongest commercial action ever made. We get great case life, with over a dozen reloads at that power level, indicating pressures are very acceptable. He's been shooting those loads since he was about 15-16 years old.

While recoil might be a bit "stiff", neither one of us finds those loads in that little rifle objectionable in the least. Probably a matter of perspective and familiarity. If we only shoot these kinds of rifles and loads enough to sight them in once a year prior to hunting then, well, yes, I can see where it might be a little unnerving to do so. Shoot them year round, practice all the time, and pretty soon it takes a really stout .45-70, or .375 H&H, or .458 Win Mag to get our attention. Practice, practice, practice, and eventually it gets far less intimidating.