youth rifle?

[nomad]

starting to look for a good youth rifle for my son. He's 10 now, and loves to shoot .22's ! Something he can take a deer with is the idea now! I'm new to this myself so need some feed back from others experiences with their sons/daughters!

[NaStY]

My brother inlaws 2 kids shoot a 270. One is 10 and the other is 12. My 11 yr old has shot my 7mm-08.

Only you could be the judge of that as you should know what he can handle....

[Will]

Yes every Youth will have a different "tolerance" for what they can or cannot shoot effectively.

Stick with a smaller Cartridge...243, 308, 30-30 etc. there are tons.

Something they can shoot comfortably and often. Practise is key.

Most importantly however is to ensure the Rifle "Fits" them properly......this is by far the most important and overlooked factor in selecting a rifle for the younger ones:cool:

[guest]

Try the rifles and for sale threads.

I personally recommend a .308, it's a short action, almost the same ballistics as 30/06, the 30 cal. comes in probably the best bullet selection of all calibers, it is manufactured by almost every company out there. I have taken, deer, bear, moose, elk with it.
Good luck and way to go getting our younger generation into our sport. My wife and daughters shoot .308.

[nomad]

soooo many calibers and bullet selections out there! I know it's going to be a personal fit to him but just to get some experience feed back. All your ideas and suggestions are excellent and just plain fun to read! everything you guys say here helps in some direction of narrowing down the field of seemingly endless possibilities!!! Thanks to everyone that posts!

[JRG94]

7mm-08 is what i was shooting at 10-yo

[25tikka]

I have started both of my boys 10 and 12 with a 25-06. Excellent cartridge for deer and we have taken several moose with it as well. Bullets from 75gr to 120gr. Very light recoil.

[35 Whelen]

My friend bought a Remington Model 7 in a 7mm08 in a youth model...scaled down beautifully for a younger shooter. His son is very small for his age (12) and he uses reduced loads with 120 grn bullets. He is an excellent shot with it and finds the recoil completely manageable , and he is a very tiny lad.

Hope that helps.

His son took a VERY nice 4 point whitetail with it last fall.....made me jealous...LOL

[Shermdog]

I would start him with a 338 lapua haha. But really anything from 243, 7mm-08, 25-06, .270, to .308. I think .308 would be my choice!

[rocksteady]

Savage .243 package deal.....$440 from SIR....

Great rifle for him to hunt with, once he outgrows it, you get a really nice predator gun...

[CanuckShooter]

I shot a 308 Browning Micro Medallion one time...it kicked like a little devil, so I would never recommend it for a young fella. You'll find less recoil from a semi-auto...for deer I'd recommend the 243.

[todbartell]

Weatherby Vanguard Compact in 243 Winchester. Its got a light contour 20" barrel, comes with a short youth stock as well as a full size synthetic for when they grow older. Guaranteed to shoot 1.5" 3 shot groups at 100 yards. Price is around $600

http://www.weatherby.com/_images/products/rifles/vanguard/profile/large/vanguard_compact.jpg

I would have them shoot cheap Federal 80 gr soft points for summer practice, then shoot Federal premium 85 gr Barnes TSX for hunting.

[nomad]

I'll definitely be checkin that one out! thanks bartel

[Gun Babe]

I have a youth rifle....a Remmington 770 - 243.....came with a great scope and shoots very very well. I have short arms so this was the best rifle for me! I am sure your son would be happy with it as it has little recoil and shooting Federal Premium Vital Shock 100 gr nosler worked awesome on my first deer this year.

[nomad]

Nice! the .243 is starting to look real good! Any pros/cons on the brands new/old? like the looks of that Weatherby. Having a second stock to increase the lenght for a growing boy is smart! Cutting a stock to fit then later refitting the piece is an idea that I wouldn't have a problem with either.

[abbyfireguy]

Got my son a Remington Mohawk(Model 600) a couple of years ago. Its a 308 and he has taken a moose and deer with it.. I like to shoot it as it is a tack driver and a lot lighter than my Weatherby 300 mag. Great to pack all day at 6.5 lbs..
Mohawks are hard to find as they have been out of production for quite a few years but if you look you will find one...

[hunter1947]

If I where you I would get him a 243 ,very sweet gun for a young fella to use.

[Bow Walker]

I took a calf moose with a .243 once. The shot was not hard - it just required proper placement from a stable rest. Although I don't recommend it for moose, the .243 is a great gun.

[aletheuo]

Since no one here has mentioned it maybe I'll chime in... if do reloading you can make up some "light" loads - light bullet, less powder. If you don't reload then pick up some managed recoil loads. Available in the popular calibers such as 30-06, 270, etc. The ballistics are definitely weak if you are shooting over 200 yards but perhaps better range than a 30-30. It's only for a couple of years anyways. If you aren't target shooting much except to zero in the low-power loads then you could get away with a box or two and he'll have a rifle for a lifetime.

Should probably add not to make up light loads without doing some research in reloading manuals or at least a trusted source on the net. Light loads have been known to occasionally suffer from detonation.

[nomad]

Not into the reloading just yet. Interested in doing that but not for quite awhile.

Wow! Bow Walker! Taking a calf moose is with a .243! I would never have thought. I see it's quite possible. Not that I'd let my boy try that just yet! We'll most likely go with a .243 by the response I've seen here! I like the idea of having a nice light varmint rifle around too!!

[Will]

Wow! Bow Walker! Taking a calf moose is with a .243! I would never have thought.
I've seen a few Full size Bulls go down with the Lowly 243 as well.;)

With Proper bullets and a good shot it'll Kill as good as anything......

[Dad and son]

In the last few years I have bought a rifle for my sons when they were 10 and 11. I do not think the calibre is the most important thing to consider, but rather the rifle. I highly recommend 2 things. First only buy a rifle with a detachable magazine, and second make sure it is a youth rifle. The regular rifles are just too heavy and big. For example Browning makes a youth rifle in various calibres with a detachable magazine. I bought this one for my 10 year old in .243. By age 13 both kids were comfortable enough to shoot a 300 win and took game at that age with the 300. I started them out with a small lighweight gun got them comfortable then moved them up to the 300 with reduced recoil ammo which is available in gun stores

[bad arrow]

All these cartridges are exellent, I started my son's on some of these but found letting them pack an expensive and beautiful rifle was too painful. So I got an old 303 for under 100 bucks, with a scope, this rifle has killed 8 deer now in the hands of my son's, it has been replaced with newer prettier rifles but it is such an accurate grouper we wont sell it now, makes an exellent backup rifle, 303 is the most underated cartridge around IMO.

[rishu_pepper]

bartell shoots deer with a 221 Fireball, so it's all about shot placement :D

Something like a 243 in a Rem 700 SPS would be nice (I think there's a youth model?). Down the road when the kid grows up, you can buy another stock that fits him better, and tons of options for the Rem 700. Equipped with a Bushnell 3200 and you have yourself a nice little package.

IMO I think the 308 might be a little too much for a 10-year-old who has little experience with centrefires. I had a Savage 114 in 308 as my first centrefire and I did not enjoy the recoil; then I got the 25-06. After practicing with that for about a year, I got used to recoil and now a lightweight 7WSM doesn't bother me at all. :D

[bridger]

hi this is an important choice. i started my boys out with a .243 light light recoil and with good bullets a good choice. they took deer and moose with it and then moved up to .270's and then on to larger calibres. a 25/06 is also a very good choice. I used one for years and took several moose and elk with it. light recoil as well. good luck

[aletheuo]

I've looked into the 25-06 but seems most stock rifles have a 2" longer barrel for this load. More like a magnum sized barrel??

[Chilako]

I love my weatherby vangaurd. can you get the youth as a combo package as well???

[nomad]

Excellent input guys! Really helps open my eyes to the better selections out there!! Rishu's point on the REm 700 is well taken as they have a lot of upgrades and versatility. In a .243 I think my boy will have a very usable and enjoyable rifle! The Weatherby is a very nice package as well. Having a youth sized stock and full sized for when he grows is a great idea! Glad to hear so many have used and enjoyed the .243!! I'll be looking at this calibre for the most part! Although as Bad Arrow pointed out there's something to be said about a decent used rifle that can be tossed around with no worries! In that scenario I'll be a little more open to calibre selection as the used gun market dictates itself.

Any good suggestions on older die hard's is also helpfull!! Thanks again guys

[winbuckhunter]

i would personally go with a 30-30.. something like one of those old bolt action savages with the three shot clip.. with the 30-30, the ammo is cheap so he can target practice lots without emptying your pockets... i got a 30-30 when i was 11 and i still have it.. i shot that 7x7 whitetail with it..

[BcBob]

I started my son at 9 with a 30-30 tryed the 308 just a little big he shoots a hot loaded 300 savage 99E now he likes it. He 12 now.

[frenchbar]

My teanaged sons last 2 muleys were taken with a bsa 243 100 grain bullet ,dropped them both with 1 shot ,nice light rife with not much recoil .great starter caliber.

[TimberPig]

I've looked into the 25-06 but seems most stock rifles have a 2" longer barrel for this load. More like a magnum sized barrel??


That's because its case capacity to bore ratio makes it somewhat overbore, just like any other magnum. It may not be listed as a magnum, but it is really a non-belted magnum.

The longer barrel helps it burn the powder more efficiently and completely to generate velocities closer to its potential. With less than a 24" barrel, a .25-06 delivers only a little more than the much more efficient .257 Roberts will with the same length of barrel.

[scallywag]

my step dad put me behind a 30 06 a bunch of year back.. i loved it.. took me to the PG range atleast once a week for a month before every hunt to make sure i was alright with it.. i shot a 270 and it is a mild cal but does the trick... what ever you get him make sure you let him bang off a few box before he puts the crosshair on some fur just to make sure he is comfortable..

[lilhoss]

I started with a savage over and under. 222 on top,20 gauge on bottom,great gun.Shot lots of Island bucks as well as grouse.Gives you lots of options.You can get them in larger calibers on top as well as larger gauge on bottom.Single shot,breach action though.We've outfitted it with a straight 4 x scope,and it performs well as a slug gun here locally,up to 75 yds.

[Crimson Viking]

I have lots of experience with 243. It shoots like a lazer , fast and flat with plenty of energy out to 200 yrds. I have dropped many bucks and does with mine with just a 4x scope in it. One was a 4pt mulie at over 150yds, it anchored him on the spot. I am totally happy and impressed whit this gun.

[aletheuo]

i shot a 270 and it is a mild cal but does the trick...

Magnum mayhem strikes again. :roll:

[curt]

243 would be perfect little kick but reall a decent little round

[shantz]

243 shot it for years on the charlottes at love the caliber have takin many, many deer with it...Comes in youth sized rifles from remington, weatherby and winchester which is a plus.

[Camp Cook]

Years ago I read an article by John Wooters (spelling??) he stated that all the women and youth that went to his hunting camp used 243's but they found that they were doing a fair amount of tracking to find the deer after they were shot.

They started switching over to the 257 Roberts and all of a sudden they weren't tracking deer as aften.

I'd recommend a short action like the REm model 7 in 257 Roberts/260/7mm-08/308 to start.

My son's first hunting rifle was a stainless steel T/C Contender carbine in 30/30 then when he got older and wanted more power we had it rechambered to a wildcat called 308 Bellm which is 444 Marlin brass necked down with 308 Win dies gives 2600fps with 150gr bullets from a 21" barrel.

The rifle weighs around 5 pounds with a scope it is also a switch barrel so we now have 5 barrels for it the 308 Bellm, 10mm, 22LR match chamber, 45-70 and 223.

Shot my last buck yesterday with the 308 Bellm barrel installed @ 210 yards.

[todbartell]

Wooter's ladies were also probably shooting Winchester Power Points or Remington Cor Lokts ;)

[Camp Cook]

Dropped this fellow with a 150gr Core Lok from my T/C Contender carbine chambered in the wildcat 308Bellm yesterday the Core Lok seemed to work fine.



http://www.hunt101.com/data/504/medium/375RUM_420_and_460_yard_Shots_Nov_28_2008_Buck_015 .jpg

[The Hermit]

I started shooting a Model 70 in .308 when I was about 10. Get some light bullets to start off for practice then move up for hunting.

[Hermen]

My favourite gun is a Savage .243 Win with accutrigger and 3-9 x 30 Bushnell. Very affordable. Nothing fancy but shoots like a house on fire. No runners with it. All one shot kills that didn't move too far. One that I got high because it was running down hill got another one but I don't think it was necessary. I hand load with Nosler Partitions to be more sure but not convinced I need to. Very nice to shoot which helps to get good shot placement. Had worse luck with my 7mm that shoots 1/4 MOA groups at 300 yards (OK, once) but point being it has to feel good. Am looking for one in .223 for a training gun for my kids so there is no difference in feel when they move up to a hunting caliber.

[nomad]

Nice one there Camp Cook!! .308 is a beauty! So is the Buck!

Hermen...That's one I was just researching online! The savage!
My bud has a new savage. Don't like their synthetic stocks at all. cheap feeling. the laminate would be real nice. the accutrigger is supposed to be a real plus for them also!

Still comparing brands. Going to try borrowing another friends .243 win to see how my boy likes the feel of shooting that. He's getting real excited about the possibilities with a new rifle!! Asking a lot of questions and starting to voice a few qualities he has noticed and likes in a gun! LOL lovin it!

[Hermen]

There are very cheap looking stocks on some of the Savage package guns and nicer ones on the others. Just bought a couple, two had nice stocks, one had an awful one that had major seams from the mold in it. I like the nice ones better than the Tikka stocks which feel too slippery to me. Still looking for a .223 in stainless that the kids can hold, the one I got is a heavy barrel bench gun.

[Dad and son]

All the calibres mentioned are fine. I bought my 10 year old a .243 and he has taken bear, deer, and moose with it in the past 3 years. I think the calibre is a very small thing to worry about, all the calibres mentioned above will kill a deer. I think the most important thing is the rifle. You want a small light rifle in a youth size. A few rifle companies do make youth size rifles. I also think a very important thing is to have a detachable magazine. It makes loading the rifle when you see game much easier. For example I bought him a Browning micro hunter. A light rifle makes it easy for him to handle. A youth rifle makes aiming and finding the game in the sights a whole lot easier. My personal suggestion for calibre is 7mm-08 because of the great flexibility in bullet weight. Of interest I started my son with reduced recoil hand loads in his .243. I had him initially comfortable with the .22 so when he progressed to a .243 he experienced very little recoil target shooting with small loads. This year at 14 years old he harvested a moose at 230 yards, a caribou at 125 yards and a bison at 75 yards all with my 300 Winchester. That would not have been possible had he not started with a small gun and harvested animals with it. ( again he used a Tikka with a detachable magazine)

[Fisher-Dude]

I started out with a 250/3000 Savage 99. Kills deer dead! Not as popular as the 243s though, and bullet selection is a bit limited. There are lots of those old Savages for sale fairly cheap, and if you get a takedown model like the one I (still) have, it can be stowed in a pack for a hike-in. I use 100gr in it...looking for some better ammo than the old Silvertips though.

[gameslayer]

I too am interested next spring in a couple of rifles for my kids (11 year old Girl will be then, 7 & 5 year old boy's plan on sharing), a 22 (looked at the Mauser cub) is one rifle, and from reading this thread and speaking to others either a 243 or a 7mm- 08.
The actual fit and weight of the rifle is the most important thing for my kids I feel but was wondering :
Is the cost of the ammo for the 7mm-08 comparing apples to apples much more than the 243 ? I like the idea of being able to take a moose with it if she ever got a LEH but I also want her to practice a lot and if it is going to kill the bank account unfortunately that likely will not happen.

[Nooker77]

I'd go with the 243 for the first years...no recoil so they wont flinch...shoot lots at the range...then they can move up...My wife loves her 243..great rifle! My 2cents!

[BuriedByTheDead]

.243 is a perfect starter deer gun

[gitnadoix]

Convince the wife he needs....I mean really needs a Remington Alaskan Ti in 270 ........then sneek it out yourself when he's not lookin.....

Actualy I started on a BSA 243, loved shooting that as a lad and wished I never sold it.....the confidence to know where the bullet was gonna be exactly was always comforting.

[scope]

When i was your sons age i got a winchester 30-30 for christmas and it was fine a bit of a kick at first but i got use to it. id go with that or a 7mm-08 those to guns were my deer guns when i was a kid and they still are my go to guns.

[roberto mervici]

When my son was 10 I offer him a 6.5x55 sporterized, 22" barrel, 3-9x scope lo swing safety but in the original stock also sporterized and cut down to fit his size, later the stock was replaced with a tactical t.hole laminated. I am a reloader and at thhe time I taught of making some reduced load for him , but soon realized that was not necessary, and that was his up grade from a .22 rimfire.
He shoot buckets of cartridges with it and become a very good shoot, funny I dont think He never kill any game with it only paper punch... his first large game was taken with a 7x57 a good size black bear, fallowed by caribous with a 7rem. mag., moose with a .300WSM. and deers with a.243 and .50 mzzle loader.
For a youth, as firsth center fire hunting rifle, the market offer a large selection of good and non punishing (recoil) calibers to choose from: .243, 250-3000 savage, 6.5x55, 7x57, 7-08, .300 savage. Important to fit the stock to the correct length of pull of the young hunter... that imply restock later on as he or she become adult . All the above caliber are capable with a decent contructed tip to properly take a large non dangerous game provided the bullet placement is in a killing zone.
_______
roberto

[steelheadSABO]

a ruger m77 compact in 243 or 308 would be good

[Glassman]

My 16 year old shoots a .257 Roberts, and he loves it. He has been using it for 3 years now. very little kick. Uses 117 grainers. Shoots a deer every year with it, except this year., can't seem to find a buck. 14 year old uses a .270 with reduced loads. It has a little more kick but it does not bother him and he only weighs 85 pounds. He has been using it for 2 years now. The rifle is a tikka m65. It weighs a little more that a "light weight" rifle but I can't afford to buy him a light rifle and then 5 years later something a little heavyer. He uses a shooting stick and does very well with it. The sticks are a must for youth.

[valleycowboy]

what ever calibre you decide on(243,is what my 10 year old shoots),get a good recoil pad.a good recoil pad will help out a ton. a buddy got his son a savage 243(youth gun),and it had a good kick,and once we put on a recoil pad,it was just like shooting a 22.one other thing to invest in for him.....pair of good shooting sticks and get him too practise with them.

[hunter1947]

If I was going to get a rifle for my son or daughter that was in the age group of 10 or so it would be a 2.43.

[Squamch]

I started off hunting with a rifle at 12 carrying my dad's old marlin .44 mag with some kinda 1/2" thick recoil pad on it. Never did shoot a deer with it, but I burned alotta powder at the range with it quite happily.
My first hunting rifle that was my own I still have, 10 years later, a winchester model 70 .243. Contrary to what alot of people here have said, it does still kick, and for a young guy, you should probably have a good recoil pad on it. I had a brutal flinch for quite a while...Although I think I might have started out with some pretty hot handloads.
I'm not a huge fan of a hinge plate mag, I definitely prefer the detachable box mag just for ease of operation.
All this being said, I love that rifle and doubt that I'll ever sell it...wait...why would you sell a rifle again?

[frenchbar]

Convince the wife he needs....I mean really needs a Remington Alaskan Ti in 270 ........then sneek it out yourself when he's not lookin.....

Actualy I started on a BSA 243, loved shooting that as a lad and wished I never sold it.....the confidence to know where the bullet was gonna be exactly was always comforting.
I bought my boys a 243 bsa ..and i now pack it more than my 270 or 30-06 when im deer hunting..love that gun.. shoots awesome .