Help Me Decide

[squirrel_hunter6]

Hi
 
Myself and two of my brothers are thinking about going in together and buying our cousin a deer rifle for Christmas. This will be the first year that our cousin has ever been deer hunting and I told him that he could borrow one of my guns when he goes with us. I think getting him his own rifle would a great Christmas present.  
 
My brothers and I are trying to decide what caliber to get him. I was thinking about a 30-30 or a 7mm-08. Shots at deer would probably never be over 100 yards.  
 
I was looking at the H & R website and the 30-30 comes with iron sights which is good because we probably will have to buy him a scope at a later time, like for his birthday in April. But the funny thing is that the boy is blind as a bat without his glasses.  :roll:  So, I don't know how well he could use a rifle with only iron sights.  
 
I personnally like the 7mm-08 myself and the recoil is mild so, I think my cousin would like that aspect. I know that this rifle doesn't have iron sights so, if we get him this one we may save up a little more and get him a scope.
 
Which rifle do you think we should get him? Will one be more accurate than the other?
 
Thanks. :mrgreen:

[Mac11700]

Go for the 30-30...100 yards or less it won't really matter what he's using..you can always get a set of Williams peep sites for it..and he shouldn't have any problems looking thru them with his glasses..

Mac

[Cottonwood]

30-30's are great, but if there is a chance of a food plot that has longer range to shoot across... ya just never know.

But hey, I live in Montana and bought my son a Marlin 336 30-30 too... great little lever gun.  :-D

[MSP Ret]

I say go for the 30-30 and have him wear his glasses when hunting, I am sure many here do. With spitzer bullet reloads and the new Lever gun Hornady ammo that "little" 30-30 turns into a great 200 yard gun if needed. And remember, it has often been said that more deer have been killed with the 30-30 than with all other calibers combined. My sons first deer gun was a Marlin 30-30 and it is still his favorite. it has never let him down, and he opted for iron (reciever) sights instead of a scope. No deer is safe within 150 yards from him, even though where we hunt in Maine most times you cannot see more than 40-50 yards max....<><.... :grin:

[Extremesolo]

I am going to say go with the 7-08.  You already mentioned you have one and like it and I have never met anyone who used one and had anything bad to say about it.  I for one do not like open sights and the 7-08 is hard to beat for an all purpose round.  It has mild recoil and excellent ballistics as well as a number of good factory bullets for it.  I am sure either would be fine but I would pick the 7-08 everytime.