Pro-Line

Bigcountry...Are you happy with the low-power loads?

I was going to pick up a small caliber rifle for my wife, but I have a Rem 760 in 270 that would be perfect...but it does have some recoil for a small woman.

How much did the low power ammo affect elevation at say 100yds?

Georgetownboys

Being in Texas you will be able to use a rifle. I picked up a used rem Model 7 in a .260 for my 6 and 10 year old boys to shoot. It fits the bigger boy great and the younger one can manage OK too. Both each took an 8pt. and a doe last fall.
This gun had some trigger work and porting done. The trigger work is great but the porting makes it REAL loud in a stand, protect those ears well.

Texxan

Thanks for the quick responses. Looks like I've got some comparison shopping to do!

Moose_Maximus

How about one of those cut-stock Marlins in .30-30? My wife is very petite (5' on her tiptoes) and doesn't like recoil, but she handles a .30-30 pretty well.

Or a Marlin 1894C in .357 magnum? No recoil to speak of, and just so darned cute! (You may not want the kiddoes to have it, though, 'cause they're so much fun you'll want it for yourself.)

8mm/06

Do you handload? If you do, I'd say there is no better bore for starters than the .264 and no better cartridge than the 6.5 X 55.....IF YOU HANDLOAD.
You can load the 6.5 Swede cartridge down to fairly small pellets for varmints, and the twist on the Swede and the cartridge capacity will easily handle 160 grain bullets with plenty of velocity for reaching out and killing fairly large game at significant distances. This would make the 6.5 cartridge a lifetime purchase instead of a stepping stone rifle. You may have to start with a cut-down stock though for a 9 yr old.

NVMIKE

Good calibers are 243,6mm, 250savage,257roberts,260rem,7mm-08. Good models are rem-600,660,7, also browning makes nice lever guns as well as the savage 99lever gun. There are others that are fine also, these are just the ones I like.

LAbushman

I went with a Ruger Carbine chambered in a 44 Mag for my kid. Gun weight is about 6 -61/2lbs and the gun is small enough for even the smallest of kids. The gun had no recoil to speak of and he can practice with a Ruger 10/22 and it is basically the same gun. The gun shoots fine out to 100 yards.

Nomercy

Here's my suggestion: Marlin 336Y Spikehorn .30-30 or 1894 in .44mag. I'm not an overly tall guy, 5'11", 175#, my lil'lady brought me a .30-30 home the last week overall length is 34", bbl is 16", GREAT accuracy, it's a little short on pull, but it's a youth model, what should I expect, but since it's so small overall, you don't notice the short pull (better than long anyway!!!).

The 1894's are great, I don't know that there is a shorter youth version, but shortening a stock is easy, and they're really short anyway 37" so they balance very well. The .44mag isn't necessarily a beginners cartridge in most peoples eyes, however, as far as field performance goes, it's every bit as potent as the .30-30 (and occasionally even surpasses it on paper too!)

Although my hatred for winchester 94's makes me wish I couldn't say this, but they've got a 94 Trapper in .30-30 that would work well (DO NOT GET A WINCHESTER PISTOL CALIBER 94!!!!!), I owned one for a while in .30-30 and loved it, but my hatred for winchester leverguns forced it out of the house.

Leveractions are great beginners guns, and they're more fun to shoot, not to mention how mild they are on the shoulder in .30-30 and .44mag, they're light, compact, and every bit as deadly as their bolt action brothers

Otherwise a .243 NEF single shot would be good, teaches discipline and accuracy, and they're cheap enough that if he drops it in the mud, who cares?

cgturner7

Another vote for the .257 Roberts. I wish I had one for myself. Hornady makes factory ammo, so does Remington.

bigcountry

Proline, it only affected drop about 1" or less at 100 yards. Only dropped velocity about 200fps, but with the ligher bullet and that drop, the recoil was like in half and with the energy of a decent 243 but bigger bore. He hasn't dropped a deer yet with it. Hopefully my brother will be giving him the opportunity this year. I think its a great idea. He has no business taking shots over 50 yards yet. I took him out shooting this weekend with a 204 and 22LR. He was having trouble freehanded. Told him, he needs to be able to hit the vitals 5 times at 50 yards sitting down, and then maybe.