What's a good first deer rifle for kids?

[markathome]

Thought I would post this here rather than the new hunter thread (more traffic here). Both my girls are shooting 22's for the first time this year and my oldest will be 12 next year (her sister will be 10).

So, if they're into it, I'd like to get set up for lots of practice this upcoming summer with a deer rifle. Both of my girls are average height/weight and athletic/strong kids.

Any recommendations? Any Dad's out there who've already been down this road and want to share some advice? Thinking a .243 or maybe a 308 with half rounds? Are kid sized guns worth it? Sell it when they're full grown?

[smallfry14]

I recommend .243 every time simply because it worked very well for me. I got the Savage 111 youth model when I was 12 and I still use it as my deer rifle now even with the youth stock, nice little bush gun and definitely enough stopping power for deer and black bear!

[RiverOtter]

With today's bullets, a 243 is a giant slayer. Get them a gun that fits, even if it means flogging it later, as fit is crucial to being proficient, which builds confidence.
Swapping out the stock later is another option, so consider a rifle that has options for that.

[Mosin]

My 12 year old cousin started with a swedish mauser in 6.5x55 and loved it

[Badlands62]

My daughter started shooting her 243 at the age of 10, she is now 15. She has taken 4 deer with it thus far and she shoots it with no problem. Get them out shooting and and you will have hunting partners for a lifetime .

[j270wsm]

My 13yr old uses a 6.5x55. Super accurate and low recoil. So far he's taken 2 elk 1 bear a bunch of white tails and a goat.

[MAMMOET]

My 13yr old uses a 6.5x55. Super accurate and low recoil. So far he's taken 2 elk 1 bear a bunch of white tails and a goat.
Just bought a Tikka lite in 6.5x55.
Love it.
Took a 2 point 2 weeks ago with it.
Very flat shooting.
Good choice.

[blacktail18]

I got my kids a 7mm-08 13 and 8 the 8 year old shoots it with no problems

[KodiakHntr]

Like Otter said, fit is important. Likely most important.

My kids started with a 223, and all 3 of them shoot it well. And again to agree with Otter, a 243 is a giant slayer.

[Cordillera]

I am really happy I bought a Weatherby Vanguard Youth in 7 mm 08. The weatherby is the only rifle I know of that has a small butt plate spacer so this could be a rifle they start with and keep forever. I love the 7 mm 08 for both low kick and the power to hunt a moose if needed. if you get managed recoil ammo the kick is less than a 243, and if you get premium ammo it can take a moose well over 200 yards.

[markathome]

Thanks guys - I think for my little crew the proper fit and a very low recoil will be the winning combo. I don't want the girls to be afraid of the kick. So maybe a .243 with light grain count for the target shooting in the summer and then work up to higher grain count.

[mpotzold]

A .243 !-using 100 gr. medium velocity properly constructed/designed bullets.
The heavier the rifle the less the recoil. Target practice with the same bullets that you will use for hunting. I still have a 243 that was used to hunt ground hogs in Ont. in the 60's. The recoil is negligible.

[Drillbit]

There's a reason you don't see many 243's for sale.

Great for kids and very versatile. 58grn for predators to 100 grn for big game.

Buy a quality rifle, and it will last a lifetime.

[dru88]

I bought my son a Ruger American in the 243 cal and he is very happy with it. Hopefully he can get his first deer with it this year. Fingers crossed.

[Ltbullken]

243 or 257 Roberts.

[Citori54]

I like the 7-08 for the reasons mentioned.........low recoil and can be used for game larger than deer. My son who was a pretty light kid, maybe 90 lbs at 12 years old, started with a .308 for which I hand loaded reduced loads. He had no problems with recoil and was very accurate with it. He shot his first deer with one shot at 175 yards. As he got older/bigger I just upped the powder charge and he was able to use it on a moose trip with 165 grain Nosler Partition. The .243 and .257 are great deer rounds but very marginal for larger game IMHO.

[Dad and son]

get a 243, my son got his first deer and moose with one. I choose to get a youth model, so even smaller than normal. Make sure to get one with a removable magazine, makes it easy for them to load etc. I choose the Browning BLR youth. Another thing to consider is availability of ammo. 243 is always easy to find, sometimes you end up out of town and short ammo, especially because kids like to target practice when hunting is slow. Some of the calibres suggested might not be readily available if you need to visit a Canadian tire in the evening before next morning's hunt

[Surrey Boy]

With today's bullets, a 243 is a giant slayer. Get them a gun that fits, even if it means flogging it later, as fit is crucial to being proficient, which builds confidence.
Swapping out the stock later is another option, so consider a rifle that has options for that.

Excellent advice.

[bigneily]

Another vote for the 7-08.

[bcsteve]

I have an stainless Remington Mountain rifle in a Ti stock in .260 Rem and recently got a Kimber Montana in .260 Rem as well. The Remington will be my daughters first deer rifle if she's into it. I actually have a second Ti take off stock so one might get chopped off until the second one fits her.

[jtred]

I bought my two daughters a Savage Axis in 7mm-08, very manageable recoil and depending on the bullet choice more than adequate for most big game species found in N.A. My daughters are 13 and 15, they really like shooting their new rifle and have become very proficient with it in the short time we've had it. On the plus side to date I've tried 5 different bullet types in it (ranging from Hornady 120gr SST reduced recoil to 139gr Hornady GMX) and it prints each of them very well. The best being the GMX at just under an inch to the 120grSST which group 1.5 inches. The only real problem with the gun is that I've used it on a couple of back pack trips and have come to really like this little gun. With the 20" barrel, short action, and reduced LOP it come in 3.5" shorter than my normal hunting rifles. Makes it pretty handy when strapped to my pack it definitely hangs up a lot less in the thick stuff and it just seems to come up and lock on so well. In fact I have used it on every single hunt this year. I have a much better Tikka that is feeling very left out so far this year.

[stinkyduck]

Just come in the mail today, 7-08 ruger youth synthetic. on sale at cabelas $100 off. He doesn't get it till his tenth birthday on the 30th.

[LuckyIfYouGetOne]

Ruger compact 243 works great

[elch jager]

+1

Haven't pointed him at game yet... but my 11 yr old southpaw is doing real well with the 308 lever. 125 -180 grains gives more flexibility for NA game. Recoil a negligable 9lbs at the low end to 18lbs once they are ready for full power.

If they only carry one gun and a heavy predator comes around, they will be thankful for the 180's in their pocket.

[RadHimself]

.270 loaded with 110gr tsx's

then as they grow, getm shooting 150grn partitions

[markathome]

Lots of great info guys thanks. My hunting buddy (four kids) is heading my way with a few rifles to try out this year so we'll see what fits best and what the girls like shooting and go from there. Trying a remi .243, model 80 .308 and a .270. Cheers!

[Timberjack]

Gotta agree with the 243 train. any compact short action with the right load would seem appropriate be it a 260, 708, or 308 with mild loads...

But a question for you all. My 9 year old is a lefty and we live on the wet coast, so the ideal setup would be a compact, left handed stainless bolt action... Does such a thing exist? The browning micro midas is the closest I've found, but obviously not stainless. Not so keen on the lever actions and their crappy triggers.. The other thing though is that he's just turned 9 and is 5'2''. Don't think he's going to be in a compact gun for long, unless I stop feeding him...

[Rotorwash]

260 remington or 6.5 creedmoor?

Only a touch more recoil than a 243 and hits the same as 6.5 x 55. Kills deer bears and moose. Flat shooting and good for a shooting long range. Great for kids and adults alike. Both of them are equally good. 260 rem is great for reloaders but harder to find factory ammo for. 6.5 creedmoor is readily available factory ammo. Both shoot pretty much identically and I love them both. My favorite calibers

[Rotorwash]

260 can be found in a savage 116 stainless. There's also hodgdon reduced recoil loads for reloaders. I did some testing for my 270. The load listed shot 1/2" groups and recoiled like a 223. 7" drop at 200 yards. But more than good enough for shooting 150 yards. h4895 for all calibers I think

[Bugle M In]

I learned on a .270, after shooting .22's as a young child.
Still use that same .270 today (love that husky)
I think my father started me off with 100 gr bullets to practice with.
Not the lightest rifle to pack around, so a 243 might be better for the younger kids if weight is an issue.
But, a 270 will drop elk size game, and ammo is always available wherever you go.
You won't go wrong with any the advice that was given by others...you are on the right track.
Hope it is a good season for you and the kids.

[todbartell]

I like the Ruger American Compact in either 243 or 7mm-08 with the Hornady CustomLite low recoil ammo for kids. 18" barrel, shorter LOP in the stock, very easy to control and handle. I'd like to see them offer this rifle in either 260 Rem or 6.5 Creedmoor too, both great choices for youth

[RiverOtter]

.270 loaded with 110gr tsx's

then as they grow, getm shooting 150grn partitions
The 110 TTSX smokes the 150 Nobler, ugly style. If a guy thought he needed more than the 110, the 130 TTSX is next in line.

[SaintSix]

I'm another vote for the .243, plenty of stopping power for deer with that caliber. Low recoil keeps them practicing at aiming instead of worrying about the kick and flinching. Even when I teach grown men to shoot, I start them with my 22-250 just so they can practice the basic shooting principles.

[jamesvtr]

i vote for the 243 or a 7mm-08. ive killed my share of bears and deer with a 100gr 243

[Busterpayton54]

I like the Ruger American Compact in either 243 or 7mm-08 with the Hornady CustomLite low recoil ammo for kids. 18" barrel, shorter LOP in the stock, very easy to control and handle. I'd like to see them offer this rifle in either 260 Rem or 6.5 Creedmoor too, both great choices for youth

I picked one of these up for a girl I was touching in .308 win, and let me tell ya, it smacks me around a bunch. It's not fun. Shooting for 30 years without incident and this thing splits my face wide open. It's the most practical firearm I own, it's the one I like the least, but it's the one on my shoulder most of the time these days. A real love hate relationship.

[bcsteve]

If you touch a girl you're bound to get smacked! :shock::razz: