The Patriot Super Bantam is Mossberg's youth-sized bolt action, here in .350 Legend with a 3-9x40mm scope already mounted and bore sighted on Weaver-style bases. Stock spacers move the length of pull between 12 and 13 inches, so the rifle grows with the shooter. The 22-inch fluted barrel is button rifled with a 1:16 twist, has a recessed target crown and is threaded at the muzzle. It feeds from a detachable four-round magazine, the LBA trigger adjusts for pull weight, the bolt is spiral fluted with an oversized handle, and a tang safety sits under the thumb. Weight is 7.5 pounds, overall length 40.5 inches, finish matte blued.

This is the rifle for a young North Carolina hunter's first deer season. Rifles are legal statewide during gun season, which opens October 17 in the Northeastern and Southeastern zones and in November elsewhere, and the adjustable stock means the same gun works through several seasons. Hunter orange is required, so budget for a vest too.

Key features

• .350 Legend bolt action, 4-round detachable magazine
• 22-inch fluted, threaded barrel, 1:16 twist
• Length of pull adjusts 12 to 13 inches
• 3-9x40mm scope mounted and bore sighted
• LBA adjustable trigger, tang safety

Ships to a North Carolina FFL dealer for pickup; the buyer completes Form 4473 and the NICS check there.