New rifle for my son

[azasadny]

My 13 year old son (he'll be 14 on 12/10) just went deer hunbting with his grandfather fr the first time. They had a great time but didn't get a deer. I went to my local Gander Mtn. and bought my son a Browning A-Bolt II in .243 for Christmas. My father is getting him a Nikon 3-9 x40mm scope to go with it.

Here's the rifle:



Here are the specs:

Item Number 035013211
Caliber / Gauge 243 Win.
Magazine Capacity 4
Barrel Length 22"
Nominal Overall Length 41 3/4"
Nominal Length of Pull 13 5/8"
Nominal Drop at Comb 5/8"
Nominal Drop at Heel 1/2"
Nominal Weight 6 lbs. 7 oz.
Rate of Twist One Turn in 10
Metal Finish Low-luster Blueing
Stock Finish Satin Finish
U.S. Suggested Retail $705

What do you guys think? I like the fact that my son and father have found something they like to do together and have bonded. I'm not a deer hunter, but I like to shoot my pistol and occasionally do sporting clays and bird hunt with my shotgun.

[targa911S]

Nice choice. I wish MY first gun was a Browning. Lucky boy!

[azasadny]

He's a great son and he consistently get all A's in school and helps around the house. He had never met his grandfather until about 6 months ago (long story) and the two of them get along great. My father has a nice piece of property in northern MI and he hunts there every year. This was my son's first hunting experience and he really enjoyed it. We have a gun safe in the basement, so all of the firearms are secured. My wife was a little hesitant (aren't they always?), but she started to come around after she saw my son's expression when he returned yesterday! He and my father had a great time but didn't get a deer... I wanted to get him a rifle that he can keep the rest of his life and maybe pass down to one of his children someday...

[widebody911]

He's gonna put an eye out with that thing!

[azasadny]

Hopefully, the deer's eye!

[KFC911]

Originally posted by azasadny

What do you guys think? I like the fact that my son and father have found something they like to do together and have bonded.... .

That's pretty awesome ...he'll never forget this Christmas present and it'll last him a lifetime!

[Joe Bob]

Quality firearms rule. Gud yob, Art.

[vash]

nice!

what has better ballistics? that .243 or a 7mm-08? how big are the deer in your area? whitetails?

[Joeaksa]

7mm will be better in brush, a 30.06 even better. The .243 is a good round and fairly flat within reasonable distance. The lighter the round, the easier it is to be deflected in the woods. As long as he has a descent clear shot this will be fine.

Thing is, most young teenage boys do not need the kick that the 7mm gives you and the .243 will give him a reasonable powered shell without too much recoil.

Agree with Targa, wish my first rifle had been a Browning! Great choice!

JoeA

[pwd72s]

Nice choice...VERY nice. Vash, .243 is perfectly adequate for deer...heck, in Oregon, .223 is a legal caliber, though I consider it to be too lightweight for the job.

[chibone_914]

Art,

Very, very nice! Browning A-bolts are nice, strong actions. .243 is more than adequate for a 13 yr old to handle. My first was a Ruger Mini-14 stainless with a folding stock. I saved up the money doing chores and working for neighbours cleaning backyards and so on. Then Dad and I went down to the local GEMCO (remember GEMCO?) and picked it up. I think I paid around $299.99

[vash]

the 7mm-08 us a tiny rifle too. necked down .308 shell, to accept a 7mm. i have a .243 that i have never even shot. not a nice one like that browning. i cannot imagine shooting a deer with any .22 caliber.

i love it when a kid starts young. i heard an old man tell someone once, "you teach a kid to hunt and fish, you wont find him off spraying graffiti anywhere" i think there is alot of truth in it.

[id10t]

One of the posters on forums.gunbroker.com has a sig line - "Take your kid hunting now, you won't have to hunt for him later"

[Rick Lee]

Wow. I'm jealous. My first gun, other than air guns, was a sweet Remington single shot .22 my dad got for me when I was around 10 yrs. old. Next gun was a WWII Japanese Arisaka for my 12th b-day. Grandpa got it in Saipan. That was it until I started buying my own about 10 yrs. later.

[Rick Lee]

These are my newest ones.

[azasadny]

Guys, Thanks for the comments! My father recommended the .243 caliber for my son and claims that's the best "all around" rifle for the deer in that part of MI (Kalkaska area). My father has been a deer hunter for 57 years and he's a retired cop/detective, so I figure he knows what he's talking about. The Browning A-Bolt was stickered at $679.99 and had $150 off at the register, so I got it for $530. My father is getting Dan the Nikon Buckmaster 3-9x40mm scope, so he'll be set!

[azasadny]

My brother and father both want me to get a Sig 249. I think I may get one after Christmas from my local Gander Mtn. I like to shoot at the range and I have a Beretta 92FS, but my brother and father are both "Sig guys" and are convinced that I'll enjoy that pistol. I have a small hand and the grip of the Sig 249 fits my hand well, especially with Pachmayrs on it.

[Jeff Higgins]

Way to go, Art!! Good man. That's a gift your son will cherish for the rest of his life, and will some day be able to pass on to his own son. Literally "the gift that keeps on giving".

Both of my sons, now 14 and 17, received their first big game rifles on their 12th Christmas after getting their first .22's on their sixth. Both have successfully bagged big game already. Both chose their own rifles to suit their tastes, with the older choosing a Model 70 Featherweight in 6.5x55 and the younger a Ruger #1A in .30-06.

I can't think of a better way to spend time with your son, or you father for that matter. You should pick up a rifle and join in on the fun.

[Yellowbird RS]

lucky kid!
nice rifle

[targa911S]

I've been good can I have a Browning BSS sidelock? pleeeeeeease?