what would be good for dear old dad?

Question

I have been thinking and can't decide. I have two boys.
if I should buy them a:
thompson center encore with a muzzelloading barrel, 243 barrel, and a 20 gauge barrel.
Cva optima elite with the same
or if i should get them seperate guns like a rifle shotgun and muzzeloader???
it is quite a dilema
also will be buying them a 22lr no matter what option i chose
sugestions on guns or calibers
I reload, but want them to be able to buy ammo anywhere as i am not sure if they will want to reload when they move away from home

o k i'm not buying one gun and they have to share they will each get identical firearms no favoritism

D58
I have been considering the thompson encore for a while now because i could start them off a 243 and they could then but what ever caliber/ chambering they want but the goal is to start them off the ability to hunt what ever they decide they want to with out breaking dad

i never ment to buy 1 gun for them to share sorry if the question was confusing

doc the encore is a mutiple caliber weapon you can get barrels for 45 and 50 cal mulleloader 12 and 20 gauge shotgun and rifle barrels from 17HMR through 375H&H
I agree with the writer, but i don't like tarus and try to buy american when i can

D58 sorry if I didn't see itin time they are 5&6 now so i have a couple od years for the centerfire rifle and shot gun but 22lr is coming soon so don't tell them ok

Answer 1

If it was me...I would get one of them a Remington or Mossberg 20ga youth and the other one a 243 rifle.....22lr for everyone, you too dad....
Good Luck!!!

Answer 2

Why not just get them each a Thompson Center Encore or Pro Hunter in .22 LR caliber to start with. That way no one feels cheated or gets preferential treatment. You can always buy additional barrels in Center-fire Rifle calibers or Black Powder, or Shotgun barrels anytime later. There are an incredible choice of barrels and calibers to choose from and each can have his own personal favorite caliber. Eliminate the guesswork and they both wind up with a gun with options that will last a lifetime. Just a suggestion...

Answer 3

How about a combo gun? Or at least a switch barrel battery. A 12 gauge, a .50 cal muzzle-loader, and a .243 Win rifle.

Here is a link to an article on Gunblast.Com : http://gunblast.com/Rossi-Trifecta.htm

I know Jeff Quinn and I don't think he'd steer people wrong about this rifle set.

Of course you still need a couple of .22's. I really like Marlin lever-actions, but I've heard good reports of Henry .22's.

Doc

Answer 4

What would be good for dear old dad?

I’m a dear old dad and thank a 22 year old girl friend would be good for dad!

But as to guns stop to consider that the Thompson Center is Quality from day one.
That believes in their weapons so much that it backs them with a 100% Lifetime Full Replacement Warranty.
Brake the stock and you get a new stock free, shoot out the rifling in the barrels and you get a new barrel free.
Man I do like that word “FREE”
You can bet TC will be around a long time to come.

Now I’m going to upset the CVA fans.

CVA first started out as crap in the mid 70s I thank, now they have changed hands and are “suppose” to be of better quality.
Personally you could not trade me a boxcar load of CVAs for my TC Encore.
Now as to the CVA Optima elite to me that a cheese copy of a TC that I bet wont be around very long and if it brakes, well you have a broken CVA with a Limited Warranty ( and you will see just how limited it is when you have try to use it) .

As to calibers TC has all you could wont and then some.
I would say your first selection sounds good. Also the 223, 25-06, 308, 30-06 are also very good and very available as well.
I have the Encore in 223 heavy barrel, 25-06 heavy barrel, 308 standard taper and 45-70 standard taper.
The 223 and 25-06 are for varmints, but I am getting a 25-06 in standard taper for antelope and deer.
The 308 is an all time favorite to me and as a reloaded you know that no other caliber has the selection or diversity in bullet style and weight as the 30 caliber from 100gr to 200gr.
And every mom and pop shop every where has 308 on the shelf.
I to would have to say the 308 recoil is not bad at all if they can handle a 20 gauge shotgun they will knock a deer, elk, moose, bear or wild hog on it’s @ss with the 308 and dads reloads.

I do understand this dad reload stuff, my son is 28 years old and refuses to buy factory ammo.
He has offered to pay for all the supplies that I need to reload for him, he just loves to see those 5 shot one hole groups he get with the reloads tailored just to his weapons.


D58

Like I said your selection sounds good, 243 has accounted for many deer.
If you don’t mind me asking, how old are they.

D58

Hunting with Rifle, Pistol, Muzzle loader and Bow for over 3 decades.
Reloading Rifle, Pistol and shotgun for over 3 decades.

Answer 5

A 10/22, a Beretta semi-auto in 12-20g (depending on their physical size) and a Ruger M77 in 243 each.
I just hope that they appreciate their father!
Whatever you decide, the 10/22's are a must, they are the most fun that you can have with your clothes on!

Answer 6

the .22 a ruger 10/22 - becuase amo is everwhere very reliable and easy on the bank - 180 bucks get a remington 870 or 11-87 for shotguns...... they are very nice

Answer 7

If it was me I would go with 22, 22-250, 30-06, 12 gauge or 20 gauge*.. Mossberg or Savage*. You decide the type of actions*.

Answer 8

don't fall for the "single shot" hype. it is a gun control ploy. buy them bolt action .243. i started all my kids out with a savage youth model .243 and its been great. the encore is so much money for a single shot rifle.

Answer 9

Buy them each a Ruger 10/22 rifle and let them make their decisions from there as to exactly what they prefer. I leared from experience that it doesn't pay to try and think for others; especially children.

Answer 10

Get them both the rossi trifecta. it is a bunch of guns in one and it retails for $340 or so. it just won a best of the best award from field and stream. so i am sure it is a good gun.