Suggestions on caliber for youth?
 

I'm thinking about getting a rifle in 25-06 for my son who will be 12 in a couple of years and I really want to take hunting. We mostly hunt from a tower blind over-looking a 357 yard firing range. I was also thinking about a .243 Win but I think the 25-06 might offer a slight advantage for distance and increase his chances for a good clean harvest.

So, I guess my question is, does a 25-06 have much more recoil then a .243 Win?

RE: Suggestions on caliber for youth?
 

the 25-06 has about 13 ft lbs of recoil energy, compared to the 8 ft lbs that the .243 generates, both cartridges would do fine for your son, they don't kick bad at all.

RE: Suggestions on caliber for youth?
 

Go with the 25-06. I has a .243 when i was younger and when i got to be 14 i wanted something bigger so i went and got a 30-06. Id like to have had a 25-06 but i was young and didnt really have anyone to teach em much so i went with what i knew.

RE: Suggestions on caliber for youth?
 

Might I reccommend looking at the Vanguard line? They have a youth model that comes with both the youth sized stock and an adult stock so as his body grows, so can the rifle, per se. I have a set-up waiting for my son in the safe, just waiting on him to age a bit more. ;)They are heavy rifles to me, but from a recoil stand point, a lil' extra weight is a good thing.

RE: Suggestions on caliber for youth?
 

Thanks for the info on the Vanguard, not a bad idea because I was debating whether or not to just pass on the youth versions or not! Yeah, I've recently handled the Vanguards and found them to be a little on the heavy side, more front end, not exactly a well balanced rifle but seems to be accurate anyway from what I've heard. The heavier weight will build character anyway. :D

I guess it will come down to what he likes but maybe I'll point this one out to him first.

So far I'm leaning towards the 25-06 but the only thing that bothers me is that I haven't seen any polymer tipped rounds on sale for this caliber?

RE: Suggestions on caliber for youth?
 

Winchester has the Balistic Silvertips in 85 and 115 grain and Nosler Accubondsin 110 grain. I shoot Winchesterbalistic Silvertips in my 30-06 and they shoot great. When i do my part they shoot 1/2in at 100 yards. I know not all guns will shoot the same with them but they work well on deer.

RE: Suggestions on caliber for youth?
 

You also might give consideration to the .260 Remington and the 7MM-08. These calibers have a very pleasant recoil impulse, and are adequate for just about all game in the lower 48.

RE: Suggestions on caliber for youth?
 

Get him a 7mm08 and you will never have to worry about it.
Low recoil,good bullet weight,flat trajectory,good retained energy,VERY accurate. What more could you ask for?

RE: Suggestions on caliber for youth?
 

I also would suggest the 7mm-08, short action, mild recoil and many factory loads available.

RE: Suggestions on caliber for youth?
 

Recoil on either gun is not bad at all. The .25-06 has a slight advantage over a .243 in that it will handle bullets up to 120 grains. If your son ever gets into hand loading, the .25-06 is a blast. I've got a few loads for heavier game, and a load with 75 grain Hornady V-Max's for predators. So while a lot of deer rifles are put back in the safe when the season's over, mine's downing open country coyotes.

The .25-06 shoots nice and flat, so it makes it a little easier for less experienced shooters to shoot longer distances accurately. And the recoil shouldn't be enough you son develops any bad habits, like flinching.

RE: Suggestions on caliber for youth?
 

another vote for 25-06 and i also shoot winchester ballistic silvertips out of my 270 and they shoot good

RE: Suggestions on caliber for youth?
 

I'm with Retaks on this one. I started with a .243 when I was 11, and while I harvested several bucks with it, none were put down with too much authority. I'd like to remember myself as being a good shot, but the odds are that it wasn't all the caliber's fault...

In any case, I think if I would've started with a .25-06 or a 7mm-08, I'd have been better off.

The biggest problem for me was the massive recoil of the .243! It took me quite a while to realize thatI was really flinching from the muzzle blast of shooting without hearing protection. I'm glad Dad introduced me to shooting & hunting, but I guess hearing protection wasn't stressed too hard to him when he learned back in the 1940's.

Pick anything from .25-06 up to 7mm-08, then get him to the range so he can shoot enough to get comfortable with it. AND MAKE SURE HE'S GOT EYE & EAR PROTECTION!

FC

RE: Suggestions on caliber for youth?
 

Ok, 7mm - 08 sounds like a good option also. Now we just have to go handle them all and see how they fit with him. Thanks for all of the replies!

RE: Suggestions on caliber for youth?
 

You can't go wrong with the 7mm-08. I'd pick it over both the 243 and the 25-06. Loaded with 140gr bullets, it's effective on all big game animals in North America (excluding grizzlies and polar bears of course). And recoil is very manageable. The 7mm-08 is what my cousins, my brother, and I all learned on, and none of us have ever had an issue with recoil. I honestly don't think there is a better caliber made for young hunters.

Having said that, the 6.5x55 Swede is close in performance and recoil from what I have heard, but I personally have no experience with it.

RE: Suggestions on caliber for youth?
 

I'll second that ...

RE: Suggestions on caliber for youth?
 

Both calibers great for deer and stuff. But I recommend to think about getting him a 30-06 and a small start in reloading. The reloader can easilyreduce the 30-06to next to nothing and charged up beyond the 7mag. I shot my first whitetail with Dads 70030-06 when I was five. Still usea 30-06 now almost 23 years later.
A little Lee Classic loader can be had for $10-20 and a rubber mallet for $2 more. A few componets and you have a start. My Opinion.

RE: Suggestions on caliber for youth?
 

I would go with the .243

RE: Suggestions on caliber for youth?
 

Thanks for the reply Cryptic, I've given it some thought to because my backup rifle is a 710 in 30-06 but I don't want to start the boy off wrong. My cousin for instance started off like you did with the heavy calibers and 12 guage shot guns but he's a big, BIG, guy and can handle the recoil a lot better then I can. He shoots a .300 Win Mag and I a 7mm Rem Mag. My boy has a small frame, I don't under estimate him, but I want to ease him into it. Of course, I did think about trying out the managed recoil rounds also. Maybe another option....

But then again, I'm also looking for another excuse to get another rifle in another caliber ;)

RE: Suggestions on caliber for youth?
 

I started off on a on a .410 when I was 4, didnt get my 12gauntilI was 10 and could not rabbit hunt with it for awhile later,I just couldnt pack it for long.AsI think about this in my head, he would probally be better off with a good recoil pad added to asynthetic youth modelchambered for243 or 308. 260 and 7-08 great but harder to find ammo in a pinch. If you decide to get into reloading go 260 Remington. Little youth 308 great mountain rifle for future use in his lifetime.

RE: Suggestions on caliber for youth?
 

I was going to recommend 243 over 25'06 because of the Short Action.
But 308 Youth would be a good backup for him in the years to come.
Youth models generally always come with open sights also.
A great backup on a backup rifle.

Recoil pads tame recoil down but properformabsorbs recoil better than anything.

Ilike Savage myself.
http://www.savagearms.com/10GY.htm

RE: Suggestions on caliber for youth?
 

I have noticed, that people who were shooting heavy kickers, when they were in a very developemental stage in their life, go on to want to shoot heavy recoiling firearms. Take for example, someone who shoots a 12 Gauge, when they are like 10-13 years old, well, a couple years down the road, they start looking into buying rifles, like the .300 Win Mag, or 45-70, or something.

RE: Suggestions on caliber for youth?
 

243 the more fun it is for a youngster to shoot the better shot they'll be. A deer wont know the difference between a 100grn bullet from a 243 and a 115 from a 25-06 but your shoulder will. A small short action is the way to go.

RE: Suggestions on caliber for youth?
 

I agree with that 100%
I think learning young helps to build form based oninstinct.
"Form is the recoil absorber."
The earlier you learn proper form and the heavier the recoil is when learning, the easier it will be to achieve accuracywhen using the "shoulder busters".
But if proper form is not taught to begin with, the use of harder hitters can create flinching.

RE: Suggestions on caliber for youth?
 

Yeah, and I agree with you.Proper form is a must with any firearm but, it really comes into play with the "heavy kickers". I just cannot understand why so many people hate "magnums", if they would just learn to use them, they would build a new found respect for them, i think.

RE: Suggestions on caliber for youth?
 

I would take the 30-06 over the 7mag
I would take the35 Whelen over the 300mag
I have no problems with "Magnums".
I Love to shoot them.
If I was in the middle of Alaska "alone" I wouldnot be withoutone.
378 Weatherby Magnum

250 yard 30'06/308, 280/7mm08, 243/25'06shooters/hunters gain nothing going to a "Magnum", I think.

RE: Suggestions on caliber for youth?
 

I dont know if thats true or not but when i was 13 i got a Mossberg 835 and was shooting 3 1/2's at deer and then got a30-06when i was 15 and it was no problem to shoot accutratly. Now im 19 and have no problem shooting about any caliber that is handed to me. I started when i was younger and shot smaller guns to learn but went to larger gunsas soon as i could.But my little brother who is actually bigger then me cant take therecoil of anyting over a 30-06 and shot the same as me growing up. He is 6' 3" and 185 pound and im 5' 10" and 155 pounds.

RE: Suggestions on caliber for youth?
 

I understand, that there are a few exceptions, but, for the most part, the muscle memory, and mindset, that is developed from shooting "hard kickers" often leads to one, wanting bigger rifles.

RE: Suggestions on caliber for youth?
 

I guess its true. I do love to shoot big guns. I just orderd a Arma lite AR50 in 50 BMG and my next is prob gonna eb a Weatherby in 30-378.

RE: Suggestions on caliber for youth?
 

You gonna load some match ammo for that .50? I have a brother who owns one, and we shoot 800-900 yards with it, sweet set up. that 30-378 is awesome, too.

RE: Suggestions on caliber for youth?
 

I have a friend that shootsd with me and he has one. He isa active dutyMarine and works at thearmory so he gets us all the ammo we want and free range time out to 2,000 yards. Its alot of fun. IM just gonna use mil specammo in it. Ive never shot a 30-378 but ive shot a 338-378 and it was nice so i wanted to be different so im gonna get a 30-378.

RE: Suggestions on caliber for youth?
 

Yeah, I used to own a Mark V in 30-378, that muzzle break got annoying, now I shoot a 300 RUM, it does almost the same things, and a lot cheaper and funner to shoot. May I also suggest you look into a 20mm rifle? shoots flatter and hits harder than the .50 BMG. I'll give you the link if you want it.

RE: Suggestions on caliber for youth?
 

Im actually getting the .50 weds. Im waiting for my gunshop to get it in. I have a .338 ultra mag its fun to shoot. Who makes a 20mm Rifle? I might want one of them also.

RE: Suggestions on caliber for youth?
 

http://www.anzioironworks.com/20MM-TAKE-DOWN-RIFLE.htm

RE: Suggestions on caliber for youth?
 

Its funny how this thread was about a good youth rifle, and here we are talking about tank killers.:D

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Ill have to get one of them as soon as i turn 21.

RE: Suggestions on caliber for youth?
 

Yea that is funny. :D

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I been looking into one of those 20mm's, gotta have a Class III though.

RE: Suggestions on caliber for youth?
 

Yea i gotta wait till im 21. I know ill pass all the background checks. I passed them for special clearance when i get in the Marine Corps to do Intelegence so i shouldnt have a problem with getting that.

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You seem like a good guy, Retaks, and BTW, thanks for your service.

RE: Suggestions on caliber for youth?
 

Retaks, do you ever get criticized for "overkill" or "too much gun"?