Elk hunters First Rifle.
 

I would post this in the gun section but I think I would get more replise here.

This year is my siters boy first year hunting and hear in Montana if you are under 14 yrs old you can shoot a cow about any where there is a general elk season.
My question is my brother in law is limited to the guns he can use,and asked me if I could loan one to him.I have several rifles he can use but wich would be the best for his age(he is 12 yrs old,Large kid about 140 Lbs,stout but dose not like recoil)
Here are the choices
1. 243 win (100 gr. Nos.)
2. 6mm (100 gr. Nos)
3. 25-06 rem (115 nos or 120 core-loks)
4. 30-30 win (170 gr. Flt-nose)
5. 280 rem (160 gr Nos.)
6. 30-06 (180 gr. Nos)
I have bigger rifles for me but not much for young shooters,I started out with a 30-06 w/180 loads,but he can' t handle a 20 ga. 3" mag in my wife' s 870.So what do you guys say.His dad can' t aford a new rifle and he uses the only 270 win my colection.Let me know what you would use.

RE: Elk hunters First Rifle.
 

If I understand you correctly, you say his dad uses a .270 of yours. Well if the lad can handle such rifles as a .243 up to a 30-30 in the recoil area, then he can handle the .270 in 130grn nos. That combo is more than a match for any cow, like any rifle you may choose, take out heart or lungs and game over. Limit his shots to whatever he can shoot consistently accurate and the gun will do its part.
Make sure he practices a plenty to build his confidence. Also make sure he' s coached at the moment it' s time to take his elk so as to relax and assure him.
elknut1

RE: Elk hunters First Rifle.
 

I would let him use the 270 but it is not a light recoiler.It is a the old remington Spotsman 78, with the ugly white camo stock and it only has 20 in barrel (I got it cheap cause someone cut the Barrel off).It has a terible muzzle blast.
I do have a 7mm-08 in a remington Mtn. Rifle (I forgot about that one)how about that 140 gr slugs it is almost a twin to the 280.What ya think will it kick him to hard?

RE: Elk hunters First Rifle.
 

BBJ,
Of the relevant calibers mentioned they are pretty close in terms of recoil. I' d say more importance than the cartridges mentioned will be how (or whether) each rifle fits him (fundamentals), how he is taught to handle it (true training vs. just winging it) and last but not perhaps least, whether it is a gun he wants to use (attitude).

Take the ones you are comfortable letting him pursue elk with, lay them out -- address the " fit" issue with each one, train him on the fundamentals doing a bunch of dry fire, go light on the bullet weight, let him shoot them and then let him choose.


It is a good thing to take a young one hunting,
EKM

RE: Elk hunters First Rifle.
 

The 25-06 with 115gr partitions will do a fine job on a cow elk and recoil is relatively light.I killed my first bull elk(small raghorn) with a 257wby shooting 100gr partitions and the bull took a few steps and fell over.

RE: Elk hunters First Rifle.
 

Perhaps the Winchester model 94 .30-30 loaded with the Federal premium Nosler partition. If he can properly place the bullet in the kill zone, and keep his shots within 100-125 yards, he should be able to humanely harvest an elk.

Kindest regards,
Boltaction ;)

RE: Elk hunters First Rifle.
 

I posted earlier:

Just a follow up to that one:

HOWEVER, if he lumps all the elk-capable rifles that you have to offer in with the 3" 20 gauge, that is too much recoil, then I' d say the most elk hunting the lad ought to do this year is hike along, check out the action, whet his appetite and grow up/toughen up a little more -- regardless of his physical size now. Once he sees what is really involved he may change a lot in a year and have more fun this year.

[No comment on 30-30' s for elk, especially when in the hands of a novice.]


It is a good thing to take a young one hunting,
EKM

RE: Elk hunters First Rifle.
 

Yes the 7mm-08 in 140 grn nos. would do the job quite nicely. As long as the lad is comftorable with the rifle. As EKM mentioned, see which rifles that fit him best and can handle the recoil then make a choice. If he' s got a sincere desire to hunt and isn' t being pushed into it, I' d work with him and find a rifle that fits him best and get him out there. elknut1

RE: Elk hunters First Rifle.
 

If he is comfortable with the .270 that is a good choice with a quality bullet like a X.

RE: Elk hunters First Rifle.
 

ElkNut1 makes an important distinction regarding desire.... just to follow up on that....

A wiry 11 year old with burning desire to go and a proven " tough mind set" in other adventures is better company than a stout 17 year old that is there because he is being " taken" along, but is not really into it.

Either the 11 or the 17 year old may be unable to carry his own pack and rifle and keep up the pace or simply keep up the endurance or tolerate the sleep deprivation (the 11 yr old by lack of raw physical strength, the 17 yr old possibly by lack of drive or attitude).

In any case be prepared to scale back your own elk hunting ambitions in order to be a worthy " guide" who works within the " client' s" limitations. They' ll be the new hard chargers in your group soon enough if they don' t get " burned" on that first trip.

It is a good thing to take a young one hunting,
EKM