[Elkaholic6]

Originally Posted by EZM

This is good advice, and the comment above sealed the deal - (along with many great opinions from others here).

The 700SPS "did not fit him" (the feel was just not right) so we spent a few more bucks and will purchase;

Weatherby Mark V Sythetic in 257Wby mag.

A good caliber that can do the job for most big game and not too punishing. Ammo will be a few buck more but ....what the heck - maybe we will start re-loading. I always wanted to do that anyways - a good father son activity on rainy days.

Leopold VX-I 3-9 40mm scope - I'm a big fan of good optics.

Ok so ....$1500 later - the kid is happy and there will be no regrets on buying something too cheap. This is about building memories of his first gun and heck .... what’s another extra $500 when you consider all of that?

I guess there is an old adage .... I can't afford to buy cheap things. I might have "missed the point" when limiting my mind (and budget) to $1000 for his first rifle. The kids are not going to miss any meals because of the extra $500.

After reading the above comment from 6.5 Shooter - how do I explain the BMW in our driveway and give the kid a cheap rifle? - I bought the car for his mom because of the quality, safety, resale and "feel". I spent an extra few bucks ..... so why wouldn’t the same rules apply to something else you buy? I guess I'd be a hypocrite as all my firearms (and optics) are quality pieces and I enjoy them.

I appreciate all the comments and perspectives here - it made this process a little easier for me.

Thanks 6.5 (and others) for snapping me back to reality.

He's gonna keep that gun for the rest of his life. I have pretty much the same set up, and it ain't going no where Except mine was $300 more

Weatherby Mark V Fibermark in .25-06 with a Leupold VX-3 4.5-14x40. Gonna be a life long gun for sure.