Even being light it still going to kick less then 270, both Tikka and browning are fairly light also. Rebarreling to any short action caliber with similar bolt face shouldn’t be an issue.

The plastic stock on the Tikka is ugly as sin. The Tikka, Weatherby andBrowning will all likely shoot really well. I’m not sure what model Tikka you are looking at but the stainless laminate stock Tikka is really nice in my opinion and is in the same price range as the others. The plastic Tikkas are cheaper of course.

IMO there’s nothing wrong with any of your choices.
IMO the .270 Win is a fine caliber and recoil is nothing a 13 year old boy can’t handle. In certain situations he may one day appreciate the added versatility a little more power can give. I got my first .270 when I was 15 and it remains my go-to rifle for medium sized game to this day. I am 54.
IMO handloads are well and good, but not at all necessary for hunting at normal ranges. Factory ammo is much improved and there are tons of factory options for the .270.
IMO any of those three rifles you mention are good choices - the choice really comes down to personal preference.
IMO a rifle he chooses will more than likely be a rifle he will have confidence in as the years go by. We all tend to like our personal choices in rifles and other gear.
IMO a suppressor is not necessary - and adds issues to a hunting rifle that outweigh their advantages (weight, balance, streamlining/carry issues). There are lots of ways to protect one’s hearing without using a suppressor.
IMO talk of re-stocking, rebarreling, re-this, re-that is well and good, but not necessary unless you simply like doing those things and spending the $$ to do them for whatever advantages you think they might provide. Keep in mind that these things not only cost money, but often lower the ability to sell an existing rifle once they are done. It’s often more cost effective to sell your unmolested rifle and put those proceeds towards a new rifle that fits the need for all those changes you are contemplating making to your existing rifle.
IMO long range performance is not an issue unless your son plans to get into the long range hunting game. If he does, there’s a whole lot more involved than just caliber - namely dedication and lots of practice and $$ for precision rifles, optics, etc., etc. That’s a whole different ball game with a whole different set of parameters.

IMO talk of all these interesting (but unnecessary) things has a tendency to cloud the issue, confuse, and cause doubt where none should creep in on straightforward questions like yours.

I hope your son finds a rifle he likes that will serve him for many years to come.

I’m thinking it has more felt recoil not because of the shorter barrel but the smaller and lighter stock. A longer barrel would kick more since the expanding gases take longer to exit, correct?

Maybe I missed it, but are you looking for a solution because he’s having problems with accuracy due to excessive recoil? You mentioned rifles with a muzzle break in your OP. They can reduce recoil but at the expense of a much louder blast towards the shooter, which might impact accuracy for a younger shooter.

Another option might be a 30-30 with reduced recoil ammo. It would be middle weight gun with very comfortable recoil that he could use for life. Heck, everyone should have at least one lever gun.

Scottfromcommonsense.

Tikka 7mm-08, throw a limbsaver on the rifle butt.
if vanity is an issue you can always upgrade the stock or go for one of the laminated models instead of the plastic. Personally I went with the lightweight synthetic stock because we treck many miles stalking mule deer.
Unlike my brother's 270 I can pull the trigger and still see the impact through my scope and often see the bullet Trail through the air. Within normal hunting ranges there is very little difference in the ballistics between a 270 and a 708 although the 708 maybe shooting a slightly smaller bullet to achieve that. I use a hundred and thirty-nine grain bullet and it will drop a mule deer before he can take a step with proper shot placement.
I will openly admit I haven't done much homework on a 6.5 Creedmoor but it seems to be very popular with folks so you may look at how that performs compared to a 7-08 in relation to the ranges you expect to be hunting.

I believe the Excellence of the Tikka trigger has already been mentioned as well. They are great out of the box and I have mine turned down to the lightest pull weight possible.

I was hesitant to get my Tikka and thought hard on getting a Browning... But I have had zero buyer's remorse and if I ever upgraded, it would probably be to a Sako.

Hope this information helps you good luck with whatever you decide on!

I like the Weatherby. The others are good too, you wont go wrong with any of them. Everyone has their own taste in rifles and your son will too. I would let him pick.

As for caliber, I think he will be well served with the 270. The 260 is probably fantastic, if he handloads, which I doubt. Don't do it for him or pay someone else to, you will create a monster.

You know the original T3 in 7-08 with a wood stock is still for sale at euro optics at a closeout price $5xx. I can’t remember exact price but it’s between $5-600. ALL that rifle needs is is a $30 limbsaver, Talley Lite Weight rings, and a deserving scope. To me the extra $$ saved over the other rifles is well spent on glass. No matter what your optics budget adding $2-300 to it generally yields appreciable low light hunting performance. No need for turrets and gizmos just quality glass.



Dang nice rifle in my opinion.

I stand corrected. The 7-08 is sold out but .270 is still in stock for $494 ish

https://www.eurooptic.com/tikka-t3-forest-270-win-10in-twist-224in-bbl-jrtf618.aspx

That’s an incredible buy on an excellent rifle.

Make sure the LOP fits him !!!

make sure he has a solid grip on the .270 !!!!!!!! or he will have a scope ring on his forehead, if hes too close

at the range fold up a towel, put it on his shoulder it will take a little bite off and he can concentrate on the trigger and breathing which you taught him....right????

Recoil effects people different. To me the 30-06 kicks like a MOTHER. To most its fine.

Get him to the range !!!!!!!!!! let him shoot allot so he wont think about it when the cross hairs are settling on the deers shoulder.,

i know hes 13 but if you can get the trigger pull weight to 3lbs instead of the factory 6lb pull it will help allot!!!

Don’t own a Hells Canyon, have handled several. I own several Vanguards and really like them but I believe what you stated is true.

to me the hells canyon has a shorter length of pull. How big is your 13 year old? arm length?

He is a pretty good sized kid. No issues with the recoil on the 260 for him at all. I was just saying that I was told by a few others that the particular 260 Model 7 has more felt recoil than expected. I felt it had to do with the light 18 inch barrel and short light stock. I figured I would buy him a 6.5 or a 270 just because I could get a larger profile rifle that handles better. Also, I thought a 270 becuase we have a 260 and honestly I like more knock down power. Last year he shot an axis in the neck andit fell over immediately and necer got up but took some time to expire. His whitetail in the neck never moved just dropped dead. He is a good shot.

I did all of my deer hunting from 1972 until 2010 with a .270. I was 13 in 1972. Since 2010 I’ve done all of my deer hunting with a 6.5x55, and I assume most everyone will agree there is no real difference in a .260 and Swede performance wise in factory ammo. I’ve never looked at 400 yard ballistics but have looked at 300 yards. I do believe from 300 yards in a .270 hits harder than a .260 and a .260 will penetrate deeper with the same weight bullet. I also believe no deer would be able to tell the difference and in the real world it makes no difference which cartridge is used under 300 yards and that includes .7mm-08 too. Though the .270 recoils more to my shoulder it’s not a whole lot. So let the kid decide what cartridge he wants to use, from .243 to .280 Remington.

I get the complaints about the Tikka T3, but Tikka addressed a lot of them with the T3X. I have a T3X in 300 Win Mag and despite its light weight, it feels good in the hands and is a pleasure to shoot.

Have you considered looking at the new Savage Storms? I know that it was not on your list but they do allow you to adjust the length of pull as well as comb. For a growing individual, that could be a good course of action. While not sexy, they tend to be great shooters.

There are lots of great calibers out there, with relatively low recoil, that will have no issue killing most anything in TX within 500 yards when you do your part. These same calibers potentially will have no issue killing paper or ringing steel much further. Also, recoil is extremely subjective; what is painful to one person may be pleasurable to another. Do not overlook using something like Limbsaver. Can be very effective at reducing felt recoil without running the risk of doing permanent hearing damage to the shooter and everyone else around him like a muzzle brake can.

IMO most of the recoil differences discussed between the smaller calibers mentioned and the .270 Win are between the ears. The difference between 12-14lbs of recoil and 16-18lbs of recoil is simply not very much.

IMO it has a lot to do with how you think and talk about it. If you talk a .270 up to a young shooter or a lady shooter as having lots of recoil - they are going to listen to you and be focused on the recoil. If you don’t, they won’t.

I have had several newer shooters try my .270. All I tell them is “You are going to feel a little more push with this rifle than your _____.” Not one of them has had a problem.

I handled all three at the NRA show. Own Tikka and Browning. Can't go wrong with any of the choices. I would see which one he likes the best for fit and trigger pull.

My 13 at the time year old daughter never complained once about shooting my 270s shooting 130 gr. Great all around choice IMO out to 400 yards.

However if ammo availability and choices are not a concern the 7mm08 would be my caliber choice for this need. No problem getting what you need at Cabela's but you could have a problem at small town gun shops or Walmart.

https://www.eurooptic.com/sako-synthetic-black.aspx

Buy it and don't look back, the best of the best for the money IMO if your looking for a 270!

You want to handle and shoot one before you buy and your in the DFW area hit me up.

Excellent deal!

Many good options, the 270 w/Rem 130 CL is not bad on recoil, it's not loaded hot.

If only using factory ammo, the Creedmoor, 7/08 and 270 are tough to beat, but even a 243 can do a LOT of killing on deer with shot placement and good bullets like the 95 Ballistic Tip.

That said, I think the Creedmoor and 260 are very tough to beat on deer....the latter almost needing handloads.

They are all more similar than different in effectiveness to most common ranges using good ammo and placement.

Love my hells canyon great shooting gun

I'm partial to Weatherby's but the Hells Canyon is a damn fine rifle and the 270 is a round capable of getting the job done on a wide variety of critters. Were it me I would probably go with the Hells Canyon simply because it's going to hold it's value better than the other two plus it just has allot of eye appeal. As for the rest of the banter on this thread I kind of have to agree with NG on this. There was three rifles mentioned and one caliber considered, not a hard topic to keep up with yet once again we see a subject get hijacked and pushed in a direction you didn't even mention.

I’ve had weatherbys and I have a hells canyon. Never had a tikka - I can’t stand the name. Not sure in tikka but the 60 degree bolt throw is a game changer on the hells canyon and weatherby.