Help with a gun purchase, please

[Jody Simcox]

I would like to buy my 19 y/o son his own rifle. Not a big hunter, he always wants to set up somewhere he can see 500 yds or so- all other hunters typically shoot 150-250 yds max at whitetails at our place. I do have steel plates set up to 500 yds and room to go to about 800 when we’re ready, and he does enjoy ringing steel. The most important thing to him right now is shooting a short barreled, suppressed rifle. Is a .308 my best option in a reasonably accurate short barrel? What else should I consider? Thanks. To be clear, when I say short barrel, I mean 16–18”

 

[JLT]

I would like to buy my 19 y/o son his own rifle. Not a big hunter, he always wants to set up somewhere he can see 500 yds or so- all other hunters typically shoot 150-250 yds max at whitetails at our place. I do have steel plates set up to 500 yds and room to go to about 800 when we’re ready, and he does enjoy ringing steel. The most important thing to him right now is shooting a short barreled, suppressed rifle. Is a .308 my best option in a reasonably accurate short barrel? What else should I consider? Thanks. To be clear, when I say short barrel, I mean 16–18”

It would be hard to beat a .308 for what you've described. The .308 is well-behaved out of a stubby barrel and the velocity penalty is somewhat less than most.

 

[sawcarver]

I shoot specialty pistols with short barrels in 6mm Dasher, 7-300win mag, 6.5 creedmoor, and a slew of other stuff. Short barrels are accurate, in June I'll be shooting to 1k and beyond with them.

I would think the 6.5 creed, 6.5x47 or 7-08 would work really well for him. Could go bigger with a 7mm mag or 7-300 but more recoil. I do know whitetails don't like 195gr bergers at 630 yards.

 

[284winner]

The 308 may or may not be the best option but it's as good as any for a beginner. Definitely the 308 or any of it's offspring from it's case will do perfectly.

 

[Dgd6mm]

I would like to buy my 19 y/o son his own rifle. Not a big hunter, he always wants to set up somewhere he can see 500 yds or so- all other hunters typically shoot 150-250 yds max at whitetails at our place. I do have steel plates set up to 500 yds and room to go to about 800 when we’re ready, and he does enjoy ringing steel. The most important thing to him right now is shooting a short barreled, suppressed rifle. Is a .308 my best option in a reasonably accurate short barrel? What else should I consider? Thanks. To be clear, when I say short barrel, I mean 16–18”

Jody, do you reload? If so choose a caliber from 6.5-.30 cal off of the .308 case and go with it. If you don't load you should still be able to find a factory ammo that will shoot decently to 500 yards out of a 18" barrel.

 

[Bc'z]

My nephew got me a Ruger American Predator for Christmas last year in 6.5 creed.
Rifle sells for 350-400 dollars.
Not the prettiest gun on the rack. But I've learned some basic smithing seance then.
Lighten trigger changed stock gonna bed it next. Accuracy is there w/lots of factory ammo offerings
Shot factory Norma 130 otm really well .3-.4
Handloaded 143eldx 5 into a dime.
One of my favorite toys in the box.

 

[Bc'z]

Check out dansgunsandstuff.com
I hear he's trying to retire.
Thought I saw a 30-06, 243,Or maybe a 270
For sale there.
All of which, are great first gun calibers.

 

[Jody Simcox]

I’ve reloaded for 3 hunting rifles this past year. My 270 WSM and a 243 are shooting extremely well, but for the life of me, I cannot get my 16 y/o’s ruger American in 270 to shoot good groups. Kills deer (typically less than 200 yds), but can’t hit an 8” plate at 300 yds. I can ring steel at 500 all day long with the other two- my ruger American is for sell...everything I read was positive before I bought it.

 

[FFEMT]

..... my ruger American is for sell...everything I read was positive before I bought it.

I’ve reloaded for 3 hunting rifles this past year. My 270 WSM and a 243 are shooting extremely well, but for the life of me, I cannot get my 16 y/o’s ruger American in 270 to shoot good groups. Kills deer (typically less than 200 yds), but can’t hit an 8” plate at 300 yds. I can ring steel at 500 all day long with the other two- my ruger American is for sell...everything I read was positive before I bought it.

 

[4xforfun]

Love my 6-47L. Just getting into the 6.5-47L. If you reload....that is where I would go. But...the 308 would also be a GREAT choice.

To me it would boil down to recoil. I LOVE my big kickers....LOVE EM....but.....9 out of 10 times when i go out, it is with my 6-47L or my 6.5 WSSM. Just plain old fun to shoot.

I don't have either, but the 6.5 Creed and the 260 have huge followings......but with long bullets...will they fit in a SA? Same with the 308 and the longer bullets.

No matter what...have BIG FUN!!!!

Tod

 

[Larryh128]

I would like to buy my 19 y/o son his own rifle. Not a big hunter, he always wants to set up somewhere he can see 500 yds or so- all other hunters typically shoot 150-250 yds max at whitetails at our place. I do have steel plates set up to 500 yds and room to go to about 800 when we’re ready, and he does enjoy ringing steel. The most important thing to him right now is shooting a short barreled, suppressed rifle. Is a .308 my best option in a reasonably accurate short barrel? What else should I consider? Thanks. To be clear, when I say short barrel, I mean 16–18”

308's work good but I really think the 6.5 Creedmoor is much better. I shot 2 last night and the 6.5 won on accuracy and also lack of recoil. 6.5 Creed, 6.5x47 get my votes. EASY to load for the 6.5 Creed and factory ammo is very accurate if you don't reload.

 

[Steve Donlon]

I would think a Ruger Scout with a 16.1" barrel in 308 would make him happy. It's already threaded for what ever you want at the end of the barrel.

 

[Tommie]

Even a .308 can put a thump on the boy’s shoulder: especially in a lighter weight rifle. If he’s tougher than I was at that age then a .308 is great for the combo you’re describing. A 7mm-08 might be a good compromise though. I personally wouldn’t go with a bore smaller than 7mm with a barrel that short.

 

[Zero333]

Tikka T3

For a newer shooter looking for a hunting rig...

6.5 Creedmoore is ideal if you shoot the rifle less than 500 rounds per year.

308win is better if you shoot more than 500 round a year.

 

[Richard Coody]

Tikka T3

For a newer shooter looking for a hunting rig...

6.5 Creedmoore is ideal if you shoot the rifle less than 500 rounds per year.

308win is better if you shoot more than 500 round a year.

i use a .308 for hunting but it certainly isn't my choice for.a range gun. Competition shooters have moved away from the .30 cals. found better accuracy with less recoil. less recoil will make a better shooter out of a young shooter.

 

[long40shot]

I would take a look at the Remington 700 aac-sd in 308. They have a 16.5" & 20" long version. Both barrel lengths come threaded. They come with a Houge over molded stock which are less than desirable, but that is easily swapped.

 

[jdh47]

The 6.5 Creedmoor is being produced by Savage, Tikka, Remington and Ruger. It works fine in a short action and would be my choice. The 7-08 or one of the various 6mm's would work fine also. I mentioned the Creedmoor because good ammo is available at reasonable prices.

 

[Jody Simcox]

I would take a look at the Remington 700 aac-sd in 308. They have a 16.5" & 20" long version. Both barrel lengths come threaded. They come with a Houge over molded stock which are less than desirable, but that is easily swapped.

THIS is exactly where we’ve been heading for some time now- I’ve been holding off only because I believe he would have more success (at least in the short run) with the 6.5 CM when it comes to shooting steel out to 800 yds. I like the Remington because we could improve the gun (trigger, stock, action blueprinting, etc) if we chose to. I just was wondering if there was a caliber that I wasn’t aware of that would shoot well out of a 16” barrel that had a better flight path than the 308...

 

[long40shot]

THIS is exactly where we’ve been heading for some time now- I’ve been holding off only because I believe he would have more success (at least in the short run) with the 6.5 CM when it comes to shooting steel out to 800 yds. I like the Remington because we could improve the gun (trigger, stock, action blueprinting, etc) if we chose to. I just was wondering if there was a caliber that I wasn’t aware of that would shoot well out of a 16” barrel that had a better flight path than the 308...

I took a look at remington's website. Looks like they now offer a 6.5cm with a 22" barrel in the same rifle.

 

[NDAR15MAN]

6.5 creedmoor is best choice in my opinion. I have 2. Ruger m77 and
AR10 Shaw in 6.5 creedmoor.
Ammo has come down a lot in last 6 months. Very accurate caliber and will shoot well past 1000 yards accurately. My 308 was only accurate to 900 yards. Maybe just me I am not the best shot, but 900 yards was it. If it was me I would buy the Savage brand over the Ruger M77. Savage has better trigger out of box in my opinion. Marty