outgrowing the youth .243... what's next?
 

So my son has been using a youth model .243 since he was 10 years old. He is now almost 15 and definitely is too small for him (the fit, not necessarily the caliber) so... the question becomes, if I need to spend some money anyway, what would be the logical next step for him that he can stay with going forward? a couple people have recommended the .270, others are saying to stay with the .243 but go to a full size model... thoughts here? I think he wants to step up to a bigger caliber, but I want the gun to stay comfortable for him to shoot and be effective. He has killed every deer he has shot with his 243... shot placement obviously is key...

Please throw your thoughts at me, I am not opposed to buying another rifle, but looking for the next one to be good enough going forward and not kick him too hard the first couple years.
Thanks!

Buy an adult replacement stock and install it. Most major manufacturers can supply one.

+1

I believe that is the best recommendation also !

.270 is just one level up; if you are looking to go "bigger", I would recommend a .30-06 or a 7MM RM. :arms:

I kind of favor oldtimr's answer above. Less expense, your son keeps a rifle he obviously knows and shoots well and he can reconvert it back to the youth stock when he has a son or daughter of his own. Now if you both just want to buy another rifle for him to shoot and hunt with, hey, one can never have too many guns. :happy0001:

My son has used his .243 since age 8, now 18. I couldn't pry it away from him.

His is a ruger compact, sweet little rifle. I used to think you needed bigger, he's proved me dead wrong.

This is what I would do as well. If he likes the gun and shoots it well why mess with a winning combo?

Thanks guys, he really likes the gun and that definitely does sound like the best option, appreciate all the feedback!!

What model gun is it?

+1 or check out the TC venture...7mm/08 that comes with an adjustable recoil pad...3sizes:s4: Awesome rifle for anyone!

Like other have said, a stock replacement might be the best option. then again he may just want something different.

Its an H&R Single shot...

If he wants to stick with a single shot I'd say he might like to move on into Ruger #1 with some good wood. I know I would!


:cool2:

Knowing that, perhaps it would be nice to own a bolt gun in .243 as well.

Take a look at these;


http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/ruge...-p-127532.html

http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/weat...-p-121954.html

http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/marl...-p-117249.html

http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/ruge...h-p-99578.html

http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/tikk...h-p-90826.html

http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/remi...h-p-86358.html

http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/howa...h-p-99595.html

http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/sava...m-p-86703.html

http://www.remington.com/product-fam...model-783.aspx

http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/thom...-p-121934.html

I am all for keeping the rifle and restocking it. The gun has been sweet and has to have a place in his heart already. Can't mess with that.

Fortunately restocking and H&R with new stocks is very inexpensive. There are many, many options available and choosing might be the tough part. You name they got it.

I would seek for him a .270 bolt action or Rem semi-auto.

I'd stay .243 unless Elk or Moose are in the picture then a .270 is about right.

Were it my son and only hunting for deer and other similar size game he would get a new longer stock.
If he were just wanting a new bolt action rifle I would let him pick it out himself and not people on the internet.
Of course being 15 he would have to explain to me why he chose what he did, I have veto power being the parent.

:D Al

You could always get a slip on recoil pad, that would probably add a good bit. Might make it perfect, though certainly not as pretty as an updated stock would be.

I know they make various types of stocks on those rifles if you choose to go that route. I think they even have laminated which are pretty, to me anyhow. :D

This should be taken to the Political Forum where we can cut this clueless Clinton supporter a new one, LOL!!! PS: We're not just judging the beast on one thing, since she hasn't even done a single postive thing in her life to be running for President.

Even though it's late for the thread, I'll throw my $.02 cents.

If he can handle a 30-06, I'd go with that because because he's soon to be off on his own or off to college. He'll have a rifle he can use on virtually anywhere on anything until he's able to start buying guns on his own.

Another possibility is the .308--less expensive ammo that's lets him plink without blowing the bank.

243 is a great cartridge and some of the more recent bullet additions like the Hornady GMX have made it more effective. My personal preference is the 6.5x55. Rifle selection is slim but the round is an absolute joy to shoot.

DON'T VOTE FOR THE WIFE OF MONICA'S BOYFRIEND!

BTW Flags im sending you a PM which will yield some insight

I would agree with that. BUT...hunting/shooting rights often pale in comparison to the other things many liberals feel they have to have. I know a couple liberals that would love Hildabeast to get in, in hopes that they could get more free $ than under Obutthead to use on hunting or their other hobbies. Meanwhile I pay for them with my tax $. :mad:

I feel this next election will be the deciding election on which way our country goes. I pray it ain't left or we are all in trouble. Well maybe not many of us, but definitely our kids. Study history, no democracy has ever made it long once the majority of the population are takers. Our gov't and its senseless waste is already out of control. Our entire system needs reform, but if the left stays in charge it will never happen, and down we will go.

Sorry for the off topic post, it just amazes me how some folks think.

I also like the Swede. I've got a Rem Model 700 Classic chambered for this caliber. It's taken a lot of deer and pronghorns. Superb cartridge, low in recoil but big on performance. I'll be headed to CO in Dec to hunt deer, 2 tags, and I'll probably use the 6.5x55.

Its a shame its not more popular in the USA. The 6.5x55 is still very popular in many parts of Europe including using it for game larger than our deer.

Im trying to get my father to sell his Ljungman rifle and build a custom on the Swedish Mauser action instead. He already has the ammo and a small ring Mauser action would make by far a better hunting rifle than the Ljungman.

DON'T VOTE FOR THE WIFE OF MONICA'S BOYFRIEND!

I would either go with a larger Caliber, maybe a 7mm-08 or simply get a Browning A-bolt Hunter in a wood stock Bolt-action Rifle in the same .243 Caliber He has been using!

One thing to consider is the size of the deer you are hunting. Do you plan on hunting 80 pound Coues deer or 300 pound Canadian giants? How about making your choice based on the whitetail subgroup you are hunting. Here are some suggestions:

Whitetail Subgroup____________Caliber Suggestions
Dakota________________________28/7mm/30/8mm/338/35
Northern Woodlands_____________28/7mm/30/8mm/338/35
Northwestern___________________28/7mm/30/8mm/338/35
South Central Plains________________25/26/6.5mm/270
Southeastern______________________25/26/6.5mm/270
Gulf Coast_________________________25/26/6.5mm/270
Seminole____________________________24/6mm
Coues______________________________24/6mm

Why, do you think the .243 is too small for larger deer????

Ha. That is a loaded question (no pun intended). :s4:

Ok, this conversation will go nowhere and get a lot of clicks, but it is deer season so what the heck. :s4:

I think the 243 will kill deer of any size. All I was suggesting is that you could use a 35 Whelen to hunt Coues deer and you could use 243 to hunt deer in Canada. They will both get the job done, but there are probably better choices.

Now I might have to explain why I think a 35 Whelen is too big for Cues deer to the Whelen guys…:s4:

I have hunted with a 243 a little bit just to try it on does. I have seen the results of both a 243 and 6mm rem mag on dozens bucks up here of various sizes (up to around 200 lbs live weight). Boiler rooms shots of various angles. I can best sum it up as this. When you start to approach 200 lbs live weight, you will start to see a difference in the recovery distance for the 243 (unless you go for shoulder, head or neck shots).

I will also add that you will not see a difference in recovery for deer closer to 100 lbs live weight.

What I have seen is that with larger calibers, there is normally an immediate reaction from the deer and short recovery. With the 243, the deer seem to build up a head of steam before they react to the shot. I would say this is the case about 80% of the time. In fact, on deer that are closer to 200 lbs it is not uncommon to see them start to run away from the hunter, then either circle back around past the hunter again. It is an odd behavior that we don’t see with something like a 30 caliber, but that delayed reaction buys them some time and distance.

And this is not something that has happened once. It has happened multiple times to multiple hunters. I don’t know if this behavior happens in mule deer or other species. I have just seen it in large northern whitetails.