Help me choose a 7mm-08 Youth Rifle for my Grandson

[airbiscuit]

My grandson will be 12 next deer season. His Dad has a 7mm-08 Browning A-bolt. This season and last, he used a Ruger 44 Carbine (great gun). It's time for him to have his own, and it will be a 7mm-08 because it is a great caliber and the simplicity of having the same caliber as his dad. Here's what's on my radar.


Browning AB3 Micro Composite (I like Browning Quality)
Ruger American Compact (nice youth dimensions, decent action)
Savage Apex (stock adjustable, youth - adult)
Savage Axis II Compact (Cheap and good shooting, but stiff action)
Tikka T3x Lite Compact (stock adjustable, youth - adult, felt plasiicy and didn't feel the love for the money)

Kind of ruled out :
Weatherby (no detachable magazine)
Mossberg (meh)

So, please share your words of wisdom.

 

[nybirdman]

Great caliber,7MM/08:family has three of them.Model 7 Remington,Savage and a Winchester.
Since this will be a "life-time" gun,adjustable stock for sure ,I really like the Tika;their actions are like butter.

 

[airbiscuit]

Great caliber,7MM/08:family has three of them.Model 7 Remington,Savage and a Winchester.
Since this will be a "life-time" gun,adjustable stock for sure ,I really like the Tika;their actions are like butter.

If I end up getting a youth rifle without an adjustabe stock, We'll sell it a few years down the road and buy a Browning XBolt in 7nmm-08.

 

[TractorTYMe]

7mm08 is a great caliber, as is most calibers derived from the 308 case.

 

[shooterdon]

Just something to consider. Look at the Boyd At-One stock:

Boyds At-One Adjustable Gunstock | Boyds Hardwood Gunstocks

Boyds At-One Adjustable Gunstock allows you to custom fit your gun quickly and easily. Precisely adjust your gun’s butt, comb, and grip for a truly comfortable fit.

www.boydsgunstocks.com

The stock is adjustable for LOP. The comb is adjustable, and it has interchangeable grips and forend.

I think it is perfect for a shooter that will "grow into" a rifle. If I was making a lifetime purchase for the boy, I would go with the Tikka and add the At-One stock. Not cheap but it will last a lifetime.

 

[sea2summit]

My grandson will be 12 next deer season. His Dad has a 7mm-08 Browning A-bolt. This season and last, he used a Ruger 44 Carbine (great gun). It's time for him to have his own, and it will be a 7mm-08 because it is a great caliber and the simplicity of having the same caliber as his dad. Here's what's on my radar.


Browning AB3 Micro Composite (I like Browning Quality)
Ruger American Compact (nice youth dimensions, decent action)
Savage Apex (stock adjustable, youth - adult)
Savage Axis II Compact (Cheap and good shooting, but stiff action)
Tikka T3x Lite Compact (stock adjustable, youth - adult, felt plasiicy and didn't feel the love for the money)

Kind of ruled out :
Weatherby (no detachable magazine)
Mossberg (meh)

So, please share your words of wisdom.

Everyone has opinions...and you asked.

I would not do the Ruger, I don't think the American series is a lifetime gun.
I agree about mossberg.
I would add Bergara's B-14 (pretty good accuracy and higher than average quality at the price) or CZ's 557 (much higher quality than the Ruger American for the $$).

In order for me:
Browning/Bergara
Tikka
Weatherby
CZ
Savage

 

[scaredychicken]

I'm learning as I go ... I have no gun knowledge or experience (2 pellet guns, that's it) ... fishing poles for me.

However, this post interested me. The caliber seems to be decided.

My observation:

Browning AB3 Micro Composite (I like Browning Quality)

this one is in your list, can't argue brand... then you noted

If I end up getting a youth rifle without an adjustabe stock, We'll sell it a few years down the road and buy a Browning XBolt in 7nmm-08.

My Question:
is the Browning XBolt in 7mm-08 too much gun at this point, for a 12 year old ???
I have no idea, and I have no idea on pricing, features etc, just asking...
IF that is the ultimate solution, why not start there ?

happy hunting

 

[Complete Turf Care]

I own 4 Browning A-Bolts and XBolts, so I like that rifle. I suggest you do not get him a youth model rifle.

Three of my rifles are 25-06 caliber. I got these for my 2 daughters when each of them starting hunting deer at about age 13. The 7mm-08 is a similar caliber to the .25-06.

My girls were comfortable with the A-Bolts and we all shoot the same thing now many years later.

 

[Straightgrain3016]

Breaking ranks with pop-culture...

"The Next Generation Is The Greatest"

We'll be expecting to see some pictures of his 2023 harvest!

 

[airbiscuit]

Good comments. Keep em coming.

My grandson actually shot a deer with his dad's full size A-Bolt this year. The reason I want to get him a youth gun is that he is kind of small and I would like him to have a rifle that fits rather than a stretched out posture on a full size rifle. I expect that would serve him for 3-5 years (potentially with a slip on recoil pad).

If I bought a youth gun, it would not be a forever gun. When he outgrows it, I can put it up on one of our local online firearms auctions and recover most of the original cost.

I like CZs and have never seen a Bergara. I will have to look into that.

I wish the Weatherby had a detachable magazine.

Here is a pic from November 2021 with the Ruger 44 Carbine