Son's First Hunting Rifle Build Ideas

[BigDMT]

Dan06,
I was contemplating the 6.5 swede as well when I thought about the 260. The Swede is a great round that has been long proven in the field. Definitely an option for both of those there.

Valar,
The 6.5 Grendel is a great little round, but Im not going to have him use an AR15 for serious hunting. Too many things to go wrong and I really hate brass catchers or searching for brass on the ground. I just dont feel that an AR is a very reliable rifle for serious big game hunting. I own 4 of them, couple 5.56/couple 6.8, and they operate very well, but I wouldnt want to rely on them in freezing temps with heavy snow coming down trying to get off a shot on the trophy of a lifetime that only gives me a split second window to shoot. He can plink with Dads ARs all he wants, but when we need to put meat in the freezer, we will use the precision and reliablity of a bolt action rifle.

 

[357Mag]

BigD -

Howdy !

I recommend a .250 Savage.... such as the current Savage " Factory Classic " 22" .250 - 3000.


With regards,
357Mag

 

[p-man]

You said FIRST rifle didn't you? Here some thoughts and you can draw your own conclusions:

1) The Scandinavians and northern Europeans have been taking everything that walks over there - including Red Stag, Moose, and Boar - for over 100 years with 6.5 x 55 at nominal velocities around 2500-2600fps.

2) Lapua just developed a sweet, SUPER-EFFICIENT, short action round called the 6.5 x 47 Lapua - the long-range shooters on here will tell you what a great round it is but as an example with 107gr bullets they're getting velocities over 3100fps, with 120gr they're getting over 3000fps, and with 140g over 2800fps.

3) I have various grandkids coming up and I am building a stable of rifles that they can range shoot and hunt with that will be just as accurate as anything I shoot. So I have a 250 Sav that will accurately shoot 100g to 2900fps and 115gr at 2800fps. I also just had built a Model 7 rebarreled to 6.5 x 47 with a 22" LW sporter barrel - this thing is silly it's so accurate with 120's and the recoil is negligible, even on this light little frame rifle - for comparison, before the conversion, this was a factory Rem 260 with 21" barrel and the barrel whip and recoil was more than I would want a young and/or light-weight shooter to contend with. The point is I am really impressed with both these calibers but especially the 6.5 x 47 and I really think that if you do a build on a Mod 7 or a SA Mod 700, in this caliber it will fit all the categories that you're trying to fill. PM me if you want and I share all my data with you. You really owe it to yourself to research this sweet little round.

 

[MQ1]

BigDMT,

Are you looking for an all around rifle, or just a big game rifle? Is it to be used more often for prairie dogs, marmots and coyotes, or deer...or elk?

Are you looking for a wildcat project, or something that you can purchase ammo commercially in a pinch?

MQ1

 

[Valar]

Understood, you asked and I answered. Never had a issue with my ar hunting coyote in fridgid weather. But I do think it has drawbacks with young shooters as well.
Dan06,
I was contemplating the 6.5 swede as well when I thought about the 260. The Swede is a great round that has been long proven in the field. Definitely an option for both of those there.

Valar,
The 6.5 Grendel is a great little round, but Im not going to have him use an AR15 for serious hunting. Too many things to go wrong and I really hate brass catchers or searching for brass on the ground. I just dont feel that an AR is a very reliable rifle for serious big game hunting. I own 4 of them, couple 5.56/couple 6.8, and they operate very well, but I wouldnt want to rely on them in freezing temps with heavy snow coming down trying to get off a shot on the trophy of a lifetime that only gives me a split second window to shoot. He can plink with Dads ARs all he wants, but when we need to put meat in the freezer, we will use the precision and reliablity of a bolt action rifle.
[/quote]

 

[BigDMT]

BigDMT,

Are you looking for an all around rifle, or just a big game rifle? Is it to be used more often for prairie dogs, marmots and coyotes, or deer...or elk?

Are you looking for a wildcat project, or something that you can purchase ammo commercially in a pinch?

MQ1

Not exactly sure. There are so many mild recoiling rounds out there capable of taking big game. Hard to decide. Not afraid to go wildcat if a round intrigues me enough.

Now here's one that hasn't been mentioned yet. The 6.5 Creedmoor. .
Less recoil than the 6.5 Swede, duplicates 260 velocities with better case design and efficiency, low recoil, very accurate, etc...
And now here's the kicker since I've been thinking more about the 6.5s: I already have over 800 Berger 140gr VLDs sitting on the shelf along with some 123gr Amax bullets. That's enough to last a hunting rifle dang near a lifetime. I currently don't have a 30 cal rifle so I would have to buy bullets for it. I'm already stocked up for the 6.5s. So now I'm starting to lean away from the 308. This is why brainstorming with others is good

 

[Raythemanroe]

6.5 slr

 

[Alex Wheeler]

Pick the cartridge that you would choose for yourself, then load it lighter until he can manage the recoil. I wouldn't build something he will grow out of. 7mm rem mag.

 

[dan06]

Look around and find a used 700 rem classic in 6.5X55. My friends daughter, (10) after a stock adjustment, used mine for a few years and killed a few deer and a moose with it before her cheap dad finally bought her a browning a bolt in .260 rem. LOL....... You can load it from under .243 balistics and recoil with light bullets up to a pretty respectable round for hunting about anything depending how the boy likes recoil. When she was done with it I had it rebarreled to a 6,5X284 and replaced the cut down wood stock with an HS precision.

 

[LHSmith]

7/08 or .308 starting him off with reduced loads of H-4895.....http://www.hodgdon.com/PDF/H4895%20Reduced%20Rifle%20Loads.pdf

 

[MQ1]

BigDMT,

I think you are mistaken when you say that there are not many bullet choices for .25 caliber. If you are looking for match rounds for killing paper perfectly, I'll agree, however hunting bullets are a plenty...just look at Sierra:

In .25 caliber there are 11 bullet options available, of which only 1 is a match bullet.

In 6mm there are 13 bullet options...of which 3 are officially target bullets...

Now, of the 6.5 caliber is supported by only 10 options, of which 5 are designated match bullets...

MQ1

...I also agree that a .250 Savage would be classically awesome for a first rifle.

 

[BigDMT]

Due to my current bullet inventory, I have narrowed my decision down to a 6.5mm of some sort.

Tikka makes a really nice lightweight adjustable T3 rifle in 6.5x55mm. Would be ready to rock right out of the box...

Tikka also makes a 260 Remington. Tomorrow I'm gonna call the fella I buy a lot of guns from and see what my options are. He can get Tikka, Sako, Rem, Ruger, Howa, Mossberg, Marlin, Browning, Savage, you name it, their distributor can get it.

Just ordered the scope for whichever rifle I get him. Went with the new 2014 Vortex Diamondback "HP" model in 4-16x42. It is the newly designed Diamondback model with ED glass, glass etched BDC reticle, upgraded turrets, and side focus. Plus it has 80 MOA of adjustment, comes with a 4" sunshade and only weighs 18 oz.

 

[Webster]

Nosler said 15% less apparent recoil. I take that to mean if you look at recoil force VS time the peak is less. The total force is the same.

 

[expiper]

http://www.remington.com/products/firearms/centerfire/model-700/model-700-cdl-sf.aspx

This is a gun that any hunter would be proud to carry no matter what his age or quarry,,,,Roger

 

[BigDMT]

Well I made my final decision and purchased a rifle today. After doing a bunch of digging and researching on what was available to my local dealer, I ended up going with the Howa 1500 Legacy in Stainless chambered in 6.5x55mm. Has a 22" barrel with 1in 8" twist so I can load it with the 140gr Berger VLDs for hunting. Also ordered a set of Redding dies, a forming die for brass shortage emergencies and 4 boxes of Lapua factory ammo for barrel break in, practice, and top quality brass for reloading after all the rounds have been fired.

I think it will make an excellent all weather hunting rifle. Will update everyone when we get it put together and start shooting. Thanks for all the help on this important decision fellas.

 

[BigDMT]

Change of plans!!!

I didn't really review the Howa's accuracy in that caliber before buying. I can't find one good review! Every single person who has one in 6.5x55mm talks about not getting it to shoot worth beans. Don't even want to chance giving my son the experience of hating his first rifle. So I called my dealer back up and changed the order...

Now I am going with the all new CZ 557 in 6.5x55mm Swede. It is the new replacement for their older model 550 action. Comes with a nice walnut stock, 20.5" barrel and typical CZ top notch craftsmanship. I feel much more confident in my purchase now because I have NEVER heard anything bad about any rifle made by CZ. I just felt that I may really crush my son's shooting confidence if I ended up with a Howa rifle that wouldn't shoot. Not too worried about getting the CZ to shoot. Plus the wood stock will be much easier to cut and modify with spacers for different pull lengths as he grows. Really like the classic blued walnut look too

Here's a brief review on the new CZ-557...
http://www.gunsandammo.com/reviews/cz-557-sporter-review/

 

[JabaliHunter]

Due to my current bullet inventory, I have narrowed my decision down to a 6.5mm of some sort.

6.5x47 would make a lovely hunting rifle that the lad would never outgrow; and he can always get something larger if required for a graduation present!

 

[Trapper243]

I don't know about the Howa 6.5x55 , but you can now get it a Howa from Weatherby as a Vanguard in 6.5 Creedmoor. They advertise 1MOA so I suppose you could send it back if it did not shoot.

 

[BigDMT]

I don't know about the Howa 6.5x55 , but you can now get it a Howa from Weatherby as a Vanguard in 6.5 Creedmoor. They advertise 1MOA so I suppose you could send it back if it did not shoot.

Too late. All the 6.5x55mm reloading components and ammo have shipped. Pretty sure the Vanguard is actually made by Howa, not the other way around. Heard many reports of the Howa barrels being very rough and fouling badly. Not sure that an action screw mounted to the bottom surface of the recoil lug is a very good design either.

CZ, however, hand laps their barrels and have better triggers. From what I've read on reviews , the new model 557 is supposedly one very nice piece of engineering resulting from over 3 years of careful design. Got plenty of time. I think it will be well worth the wait.

 

[Trapper243]

You are correct. Howa makes the Vanguard for Weatherby. I do have one in 243. Shoots MOA and that includes the flyers, LOL. It needed bedding work and that was about it to get it shooting ok. The action itself was in a bind as it came from the factory. Had I not had my Remington go down on short notice I never would have bought it. As is, it has been very consistent once I bedded it. I almost sent it back to weatherby. I only mentioned it because of the warranty, and the Creedmoor is a sweet cartridge. Also for a factory gun the action seems very smooth. Trigger, not so good but a 3 position Timney fixed that. I wish we had more 6.5 factory options, as it is such a practical round. Trouble with the factory guns is they seem to get the barrel length or twist wrong and the barrels are rough. Lots of factory barrels are mediocre. Best to have a bad barrel IMO and you get forced to put a good one on or get a new gun. It is worse to have a borderline barrel that is picky and torments you forever. Good luck with your son and the CZ, hope it is a shooter.