Guy's

What is a good 45cal. ML rifle for my 11 year old son to start shooting. He has become very interested in the ML thing and is very excited to get started with one of his own. I would like to stay with a sidelock in 45 cal so I can keep the load low for less recoil to get him started?

I have a traditions Lightning with a scope that shoots very well out of the fast twist barrel.

But heck I think any of the 45 caliber rifles are good.

You can keep the load low with an inline as well as a sidelock, the rifle I mentioned I shoot with 80gr 3F or 80gr 2F loose and recoil is very light. I have not even tried the rifle with pellets. To be honest on the sidelock in 45 I have been away from what is on the market to know what is out there. My daughter who is recoil sensitive shoots a Traditions Deer Hunter Scout in 50 cal, with either a 490 round ball, or 300 grain conical pushed with 80 grains 3F.

I was thinking about a deerhunter, like the trad. 50 cal. have you or anyone else ever shot one of the Yukons?

Personally a .50, even a .54 caliberwill not really kick anymore then a .45 caliber in a side lock. You just load it down. Those big heavy barrels take a lot of the bite out of a rifle. When the guys would get together on weekends, we let the kids shoot .54 caliber Renegades with 60 grains of powder, and they would beg to shoot again.

But something you need to keep in mind is weight. I would get him something like a .50 cal Lyman or I have two Traditions WoodsmanHawkins in .50 caliber and they are small, light, and with a light powder charge, very little recoil and are real accurate. I would watch the auction sites and see if you can get a nice.50caliberin Traditions, Lymans,T/C or a CVA sidelock.

I think Cayugad has it right Big Paul. My experience with youngsters is that weight and length of pull are more important than anything else. A stock that's too long for his arms will be uncomfortable to hold and shoot, and will deliver recoil to the wrong places - like his cheek. I would go with something like a .50 Traditions also, and be willing to cut the stock to fit, and maybe even trim 3 or 4 inches off the barrel. By the time he outgrows it he will know exactly what gun he wants. He can always pass the gun along to another youngster (or keep it for your first grandson. ).

You both bring up very good pionts. I have a 50 cal. I'm refinishing right now, I could get another stock of ebay and shorten it up for him.

That's a great idea because then the rifle had a personal touch that kids for some reason take such pleasure in. My Dad gave me a couple rifles, and while they are not the best guns in the world, I treasure them because they were something my Dad gave me.

If you can find a White Mountain Carbine or carbine barrel on a Hawkins, that also is a very small well balanced, light weight (tack driving I might add) rifle. I have a small flintlock like that and its a perfect stalking, walk all day rifle. It would also make a great kids rifle.