Rifle for Older Guy with a Bad Neck....

[tmwtrfwler]

My father is having some neck issues that he's currently working through with his doctors. C3 / 5&6 are being a real pain in the ***. Not unusual for a 69 year old guy. His pain at the moment would certainly prevent him from shooting heavy kick rifles. They're going the steroid shot route for now as they try to figure out a long term solution. As of right now the shooting pains from the nerves, etc. hit frequent enough that shooting wouldn't be much fun. So being that we are inherently stubborn creatures and don't want to miss a hunting season or practice we need to figure out what he'll shoot so long as he gets the ok from the Dr.

So, the question to the group is what would you choose in his situation to shoot for whitetail hunting this season. Elevated box blinds, 300 yards max distance in Virginia

He currently has the following options:
1) LMT .308 ar10 with suppressor - really heavy gun to tote around
2) 300 blackout ar with suppressor - lacks range for most blinds but is the perfect rifle for kick/weight
3) A Bolt 7WSM - could add a break to calm it down in consideration of the neck...it's not a bad kick now
4) Use his CZ 308 with reduced recoil loads
5) Seeing as how we love guns should he buy a 6.5cm or a 7-08 or the like and use the neck as an excuse to buy something new?
6) Put the 7wsm or 308 in a different stock with adjustable comb/lop so he can really dial in his head vs. a stock pad

Fire away.

 

[lancetkenyon]

6CM/.243Win/6x47L

 

[bpcrshooter]

7mm-08 with a break, 139gr bullets. would make the rifle around 10-11lbs. that would be more than enough for any whitetail out to that range. heck the .308 should be more than enough with 155's and the right twist for them.....7mm-06 should give you a lil more pop if you would like to build one, you can always down load that to 7-08 speeds (or close to it anyway). he would be able to take larger game if ever wishes to with those rifles as well...... 139gr at 27-2800 is more than enough for deer out to 300yards.

 

[silverhair]

I'm 69 years old. I don't have the neck issues, but find have had problems that necessitate a low-recoil rifle. At least one with no sharp recoil.

I bought a Howa 6.5CM GameKing package. Moved the barreled action to a ProMag Archangel stock (I'm hard to fit - very long arms, high cheek). Very adjustable. Gentle recoil. The scope is fairly good (bright, clear, easy to zero, holds zero, returns to zero). I don't like the built-in bipod on the Archangel stock, replaced it with a Harris.

For such a budget rifle, it shoots very accurately, easily sub-MOA, using low-end Hornady ammo. "Point blank range" of around 250 yds. Very little holdover needed at your max 300 yds range. It is a little on the heavy side, but since you're in a blind and not hiking around, that shouldn't be an issue.

That's just my $00,000.02 woirth. And from an inexperienced shooter.

 

[Deleted member 25294]

6CM/.243Win/6x47L

Yep a 6 creed would be perfect,
factory options are fast twist and it'll hammer whitetails with a 115 Berger. Recoil is silly light

 

[dmj]

Might not be the best idea. But you said you like firearms. Not sure if this caliber would be legal in your State. What about a 22-250. Might have to be careful about the twist so you could shoot the heavier bullets.

 

[piute]

257 Roberts! Point & shoot, my2cnt's.

 

[Frog4aday]

<SNIPPED STUFF> So, the question to the group is what would you choose in his situation to shoot for whitetail hunting this season. Elevated box blinds, 300 yards max distance in Virginia.
He currently has the following options:
1) LMT .308 ar10 with suppressor - really heavy gun to tote around
2) 300 blackout ar with suppressor - lacks range for most blinds but is the perfect rifle for kick/weight
3) A Bolt 7WSM - could add a break to calm it down in consideration of the neck...it's not a bad kick now
4) Use his CZ 308 with reduced recoil loads
5) Seeing as how we love guns should he buy a 6.5cm or a 7-08 or the like and use the neck as an excuse to buy something new?
6) Put the 7wsm or 308 in a different stock with adjustable comb/lop so he can really dial in his head vs. a stock pad
Fire away.

I'm in two camps here:
Camp 1 - any excuse for a new gun! The 6mm Creedmoor seems to be the sexy, hot new thing and would be perfect for the game/distance you are mentioning. I like the 'old' .243 Win just fine, too, and there is a Rem 788 for sale in that caliber in the classifieds on here that would be just the ticket.
https://www.longrangehunting.com/threads/remington-788.220883/#post-1642277
He's at $400 for a 'classic', accurate shooting gun. Not too heavy with light recoil.
Something with an adjustable comb would seem 'good' under the circumstances, but you can always buy things to 'fix' a stock without an adjustment. A couple of examples:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01F6C9GMY/?tag=lrhmag19-20
or
https://www.accu-riser.com/categories/Accu%2dRiser-Cheek-Pads-and-Comb-Raisers/

Camp 2 - You're hunting from BLINDS, so he won't be carrying the gun. People will be helping him get in and out of the blind? They could help him with the gun, too, right? If so, then the LMT in .308 Win AR-10 with suppressor would be just the ticket. It is HEAVY, and a semi-auto, and has a suppressor, so recoil would be mild with a 'soft-ish' push but he'd have plenty of power and range. Also, if he got off a 'bad' first shot, he'd easily be able to quickly make another try without having to work an action.

If not that, then my second 'vote' would be for the the CZ .308 Win with reduced recoil loads AND add a "Limbsaver" recoil pad to it. Those things are amazing at softening the blow of recoil.

Sorry your Dad is hurting. I hope the steroid shots provide some relief and they can figure out a long-term 'fix' to get him comfortable again.

 

[tmwtrfwler]

He's more responsible than I am about spending $. He's thinking about sticking with the LMT as you noted or using my model 70 .243 that I don't use anymore. I bet you he'll go with the LMT. Wonder if the AR10 will cycle reduced recoil loads. May have to try a couple and see.

 

[rjtaylor]

.243 suppressed would be fun and could kill any whitetail at that distance.

 

[Frog4aday]

Does the LMT have an adjustable gas block? If so, it MIGHT cycle a reduced load. That'd be great.

The Model 70 in .243 Win sounds good, too.

Also, you can buy "slip-on" Limbsaver pads. I use one on my .338 Win Mag OVER the ground-to-fit pad when sighting in or doing 'bench' work (load development.) It does make the LOP longer (of course) so that's an issue to keep in mind if he doesn't have long arms.

 

[tmwtrfwler]

No adjustable gas block on the LMT. Gives me a reason to shoot it and see.

He, ironically enough has another LMT that he's never shot. He could put a different barrel in it just for fun to have another round. Just remembered that. Long story there.

 

[Frog4aday]

He could put a .243 Win barrel in his SECOND LMT and be golden!

 

[tmwtrfwler]

He could put a .243 Win barrel in his SECOND LMT and be golden!

yessir. funny i mention he has a 2nd unused LMT one post after saying he's more responsible with his $ than I am. hahah. In that platform he can use 6.5/.243/7-08.....decisions decisions......

https://lmtdefense.com/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Upper_Lower-Compatibility.pdf