Bought the boy a new rifle today...

Big TULE · 01-11-2009, 07:26 PM

With all the research i have done i was ready to buy a savage in 7mm-08, so i drove the 100 miles to cabelas and got there 10 minutes after they opened. I waited in line for an hour to look at a few guns. While waiting i went and looked at ammo, while lookign for ammo in 7mm-08 i quickly changed my mind on a 7mm-08 for my son. All the research points to it being a fantastic round but in the end i purchased a Marlin chambered in .270 win. I bought it in a package deal with a 3x9 leupold rifleman scope with weaver bases and leupold rings for 500 even. Now i bought him the reduced load 115 grain bullets for plinking. I think he will be happier in the long run with the 270.

Old Coot · 01-11-2009, 09:30 PM

Great choice, the .270 is a very versatile cartridge that he never needs to outgrow.

You're a nice dad. I'm an orphan, need another kid? I'm toilet trained - at least for a little while longer -and come with my own bifocals, a 12 X 16 tent; and a 30-day supply of heart, blood pressure and arthritis medications.

Daddy!

Quaka Wacka · 01-11-2009, 10:13 PM

Can't go wrong with either one of those. I assume you changed your mind because of lack of factory ammo choices for the 7-08?

Big TULE · 01-12-2009, 04:25 AM

That was the main reasosn. Ya know i was at the great "cabelas" and they only had 5-6 different choices of ammo for the 7mm-08, and then when i asked the clerk about the 2 guns they had set up with scope and all he said 1 was an 06 the other was a .270. They are marlin bolt actions, i didn't even know marlin made bolt actions, but now i do. It also came with the leupold 3x9, I have never seen a combo with a leupold in it. I guess it was a managers special, he put it together, i am just glad i found it.

Jonah's Revenge · 01-12-2009, 05:39 AM

That is a great deal. Usually they put an inexpensive scope on the package deals.
Yes, the 7mm-08 does have limitations on ammo from the factory. I've seen that also. But reloading fixes that problem.
You couldn't go wrong with either of those rounds.
THis year deer hunting, I shot a deer with those reduced recoil loads out of my 270. Deer took just two steps. I had it set up for my son, but he decided to sleep in that morning. So I used that gun to try out.

Grantspastor · 01-12-2009, 06:47 AM

Perfect!

Scoots · 01-12-2009, 06:54 AM

It happens to everyone at least once ...... or someone you know of, somebody goes a long ways out into the boonies on a hunting trip, and when they get there - forgot the ammo!

Maybe not in the exact loading the rifle had been sighted in for, but 270 ammo will always be found, even in Podunkville.

Wise choice!

salmonslayer204 · 01-12-2009, 07:04 AM

Perfect choice! I think the .270 is the way to go! A versatile gun that you can find ammo for anywhere. I think it beats the 7mm-08 any day. He'll love it I'm sure!

ehunter · 01-12-2009, 10:01 AM

Can you report back after you go to the range I am curious to hear how accurate that marlin is. I think you also picked the right caliber he can hunt every thing from deer to elk and predators with that gun.

Big TULE · 01-12-2009, 03:42 PM

Ehunter, from what i have read it is good. 1 review i read was of a guy with a 3 shot group at 200 yard all shots were touching. Not sure if it is true or not but that is what i read. I will let you know how it shoots.

hicapacity · 01-12-2009, 04:13 PM

went through the same process w/ my 12 year old also, went w/ the savage w/ accutrigger in the 7mm-08 and wasnt very impressed w/ the accuracy at first but shot a box for the brass went and got some dies and powder ( varget) and i was shocked ! that little gun wil actualy shot .50 groups at 100 yards w/ nossler balistic tipped 140 grainers!
got his elk w/ it at 80 yards using nossler partion 140 grn. and looked just like a 300mag damage! elk went 50 yards.

ehunter · 01-12-2009, 06:17 PM

BigTule I am not knocking that gun I just saw a TV show I think it was guns and ammo they showed the gun it looks like a good addation.

Tilla · 01-12-2009, 06:34 PM

Your a good dad and made a great choice!

Or is that a great dad and made a good choice!

Big TULE · 01-12-2009, 08:42 PM

Ehunter, i didn't even do any research on the gun untill i bought it. I really bought it becaue of the availability of the ammo and the name. Marlin is synonimous with good guns, i had never heard of marlin bolt actions before, it felt like a quality gun in my hands and it had a quality scope on it. So i bought it, and i really feel like i made great choice, for my son. I hope he will use it like it should be used. And if he doesn't i will.
I will be hunting Elk in clorado next year and when i get home it will be all about him. I could care less about hunting for myself when i get home from CO. It will be all about safety and his first year after that.

James in Idaho · 01-13-2009, 07:14 AM

If you don't have 'em, go buy or make some shooting sticks! Huge help for young folks learning to shoot from sitting and kneeling postions. I made for my daughter out of a couple of 5/8" (I think) hardwood dowels. Cheap a very effective! Oh yeah, she liked shooting ballons at various ranges vs. just punching holes in a target.

The .270 is a great round, if you reload try a load around 2900 fps (pretty mild in the .270). Due to a slightly excessive headspace I have to keep mine around that, but I get great accuracy, the animals I've shot haven't seemed to notice that my 130 grain Partition starts about 200 fps slower than factory, and the recoil is very mild.

Yea Dad, nothing beats hunting with your kid.