Gundigest

The Sims recoil pads do a very good job of reducing recoil and put one on my Ruger 300 WSM and it still kicks a lot but it is better than it was.

Rebel Hog

Konaboy, do you still have the pictures of the mooseI sent you?
If you do can you post them?

Ivanab

My brother and I started shooting my dad's 308 at eight. It may be to large for some kid's, but I am sure most 8 year-old's can handle a 243. I have bought a 243 winchester youth model for my son to use when he gets older. It has very little kick.

cj7zrcool

Thanks for the opinions on calibers, guys. Keep 'em coming.

Vapodog & Virginia7, she started with BB & pellet guns when she was 5. Was shooting .22's when she was 6, and has for the last several months been shooting a .17HMR. She's ready to move up.

Handles

I'd take a hard look at a .25-06. Softer than a .260, better performance than a 257 Roberts. Both of my cousin's daughters have them in Savage 110. They each started hunting at 12 and love their guns. An aftermarket recoil pad like a Kick-eze or Sims should also be considered to be on the safe side. Don't want her to hurt, that's negative feedback from the gun,vs. the positive of shot placement.

m.t.hands

i bought my wife a remington model 7 in 260, i was actually looking for the -08 because i have a encore pistol in -08 and reload, well a friend of mine was selling the 260 and gave me a great deal, had been used one season, and he is meticulous on everything he owns. now this is the gun i pick up 98% of the time, it's a dream to shoot, so far the caliber has proven to be very accurate, and it's a dream to carry, and great in a portable climber, i have 2 7mmmag's a 7mmSTW, that don't see alot of action anymore unless if i'm hunting a big bean/corn field. as far as the age my 9 year old grandson has been shooting it for 2 years, being a boy he thinks the recoil is "kinda cool" but i believe the young lady could handle it, if not it won't be long, and you got another great little deer gun, btw i would say the 260, 08, the 6.5 sweede, will all be close, imo, the one advantage of the -08 is the broader bullet selection

Georgetownboys

I bought a remington Model 7 in a .260 for my boys then 7 and 11. After the trigger job this is one sweet shooting little gun. My 7 year old was no monster when he shot his first few deer and hogs with it last fall, maybe 50 lbs. I've been shooting a 120gr round through it using a VX-II 3x9 40MM and you will find that you are tempted to borrow it from your kids. A nice little tack driver.