Texas Sheepdawg wrote:Apology humbly accepted and now that the picture you was painting has more colour, I must strongly agree with you.
At seven, that's a bit of a game changer. I would agree that the 243 is the most probable solution. But since I live in TX if I was starting over with a rug rat, I would fix him up a bolt action 223 Remmy and let him shove 60-70 grain soft points. But that's only cuz it's legal here in TX to shoot big game with .223 caliber centerfires. It may not be legal where you live. So, yes I agree. 243 in a bolt action like a Ruger or a Browning. There's all other brands too. I just prefer the latter.
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Start 'em out with a Savage Model 11 .243. With a barrel nut wrench and headspace gauges, you can change calibers for around $139.00 and that's a decent ER Shaw air-gauged barrel. The parent case allows you to move them up to either .260 Remington, 7mm-08, .308, or .358 Winchester.
Starting with an assembled rifle, a caliber change will take you maybe an hour back to assembled rifle after your first one, which will probably cost you another hour due to apprehension.
Midway and Brownells sells kits that includes the barrel, wrench, headspace gauges and instructions for ~$199. You can then reuse the barrel wrench and headspace gauges and just buy the barrels. If you just want a new, Savage sporting contour take-off barrel, you can get them for around $85.
I'd say start them out with a .223 Model 11, but the bolt face doesn't fit the .308 parent case calibers and you'd have to buy an additional bolt face and mag well liner to change up in caliber. Not that the bolt faces are expensive, or hard to change. That would add an additional half hour the first time.
There is no magic or special knowledge necessary to do a caliber change on Savages. Just basic tool skills and the ability to follow instructions and they're great
Dad & Lad projects The Savage rifles are the bolt-action version of black rifles.