New deer rifle for my 8 year old?
 

I'm looking to get my 8 year old a rifle to hunt deer with next year. I'm pretty much set on it being a .243 but I'm undecided on the make. I've looked at the Rossi matched pairs and I'm leaning that way but am looking for input. I never started hunting till I was 12 and my first deer gun was a used Marlin 30-30 that I still have. I always wanted that to be his first gun but seeing how he is only 8 it's just a little too big for him. He's not afraid of recoil at all I'm just trying to find something that fits his smaller frame. Anyone out there have any advice?

my 11 year ol was shootin her rossi 223 with a scope from academy fer $200? or maybe 300, since she was 8..been awhile..but she still shoots it and has become quite a marks(wo)man...they even make a 69 gr bullet jus fer her, and made em available to everyone, right from the factory..lol doe ran less than 20 yards on her 1st youth hunt weekend. i was shakin more than her lol..wish ya luk..

a few tips, have ya had em on a 22lr yet, plinkin havin fun? jus do that til openin day, make sure your rifle is sighted in to the T...and throw that new rifle up there fer deer season...as to not let em know it is a different type of rifle, jus tell em its the same thing we been shootin, ....after that 1st kill with the new gun, they won even talk bout the recoil.....and if ya dont think its a good idea, do the same thing just at the range..i bet the shot is less than 2 inches off!plz add me and leme know how it turned out

I have a little Marlin semi .22 that he loves burning up my ammo with! He shot my 22-250 the other weekend, it was a little more than he expected but he wants to shoot it again. It's just to big for him, it's a normal sized Remmy 700 SPS. That's a good idea about switching guns but I just wouldn't feel comfy not seeing how he would shoot a new gun at a deer without him putting a few through it at the range. So that Rossi has been a good gun for her?

.243 for sure.
weatherby vanguard for 399.00 is a darn good deal.
savage, howa or tika would be my next choices

yeah its good, comes with a scope bore sighted and everything....i would jus keep em on the 22-250 then, more juice than a 223, and i use it (22-250) fer deer all the time, great gun, drops hogs too!!think 22-250 is more powerful than a 243 even...4200 fps, you do the maf!!

I have used both, the .243 has more.
I also have never seen a .22-250 shoot 4200 fps
more like 3750 with a 55 gr,
3300 with a 70 gr
a .243 shoots a 55 gr to around 3950,
an 85gr to around 3350
and a 100 gr to around 3150
you do the maf.

I bought my 7 year old the Rossi Trifecta with the .243/22/20g barrels. The 243 is a bit heavy for him right now, but from a bench he has been able to shoot it. He was able to hit at 50 yards with it for now, which is plenty for stand hunting.

Another vote for the Rossi Trifecta. Great deal on a 3 barreled set with a shorter stock for youth shooter in calibers that make shooting fun.

TUK has the ticket


.22/.243/20 gauge - good to go for years.

One I have yet to see mentioned is the H&R Handi Rifle.

Another option would be trying some of the "managed recoil" ammo in a rifle you already have.