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Probably one of the best deals out there today in a new rifle is the Stevens Model 200. AS per caliber / chambering they are offered in both Short and Long Action versions. Short action calibers include .223 Remington, .22-250 Remington, .243 Winchester, 7mm-08 Remington and .308 Winchester.
Everyone was talking about the Stevens Model 200 so last year at Christmas time I picked up one chambered in .223 Remington. This is a no frills rifle with a dark Grey Synthetic Stock that has alluminum pillars insert molded when the stock is molded so they are like they are part of the stock. The metal work is a matte blue. This Rifle is basically a Savage without the Accutrigger (uses the old style Savage Trigger System).
I picked my Stevens Model 200 up at Sportsmans Warehouse for $259.99. I then mounted a 3x9x40mm Nikon Buckmaster Rifle Scope in Warne Rings and Bases. Prior to shooting the Rifle I did the normal things I do to a new rifle. I tuned the trigger which ended up quite crisp and smooth at 2 3/4 pounds. I then Hand Lapped the Bore (it seemed a little rough) with FLITZ Bore Polish followed by my usual shoot-n-clean barrel break in procedure.
For Barrel Break In I used Ultra Max Commercial Reloads that were loaded with 55gr. Winchester Pointed Soft Point Bullets. Right off the bat this Rifle was printing sub 1" 5 shot groups at 100 yards. Throughout my 50 round barrel break in I shot 8 - 5 shot groups at 100 yards and the largest came in at 1" and the smallest came in at 5/8".
Not long after I had started shooting this Stevens a young lad from town here was admiring it one day. This young lad is an aspiring Coyote Hunter and despirately wanted a .223 for a Coyote Rifle. Well this young lads father weakened (as did I) and purchased this Stevens Model 200 from me for his son.
I guess what I am trying to say is that for a bare bones Hunting Rifle at a reasonable cost I think the Stevens Model 200 is a lot of rifle. For a Deer Rifle Cartridge everyone has their own opinions as to what they like and dislike, and I am no different.
Back in 2000 & again in 2001 my right lung collapsed. In 2001 it was surgically repaired (the lung was glued to my chest wall so it will not collapse again), and my Dr. cautioned me about shooting guns with too much recoil so as to not irritate the bond between my lung and chest wall.
Well I have long been a huge fan of the .243 Winchester Cartridge. I use my .243's year round for everything from small varmints, to coyotes to whitetail deer. For whitetail deer I wanted a load that would produce a lot of shok to the animal so as to eliminate tracking if possible. I have tried several different bullets and have settled on the 95gr. Nosler Ballistic Tips. I handload these with H-4350, and the accuracy in my Ruger .243 is amazing. Muzzle velocity averages 3071 FPS.So far all ofthe whitetail deer I have shot with this bullet / load combination has been a one shot kill. The farthest any of these whitetails have traveled after the shot was about 50 yards (and that was in a circle). Most have either taken a single leap or dropped in their tracks.
Recoil of the .243 is quite mild and my recoil shy wife even enjoys shooting this load in my .243 (she's 5'4").
Probably the best advice I can offer is to take your son to a gun shop and have him handle all the rifles you can find that are in your price range. Like has been stated don't overlook the used rifle racks either as at times really good bargins can be found when a person trades in a rifle for no other reason that to try a different chambering and there may not be anything wrong with the rifle they traded in.
Good luck with your quest and good luck to your son.
Larry
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