Best Youth caliber/gun?
 

My daughter (age 10) recently passed her hunter safety test. I would like to get her a firearm which she will be comfortable shooting and not scared of. Some youth guns are still a little big for her to hold comfortably. We hunt both deer and turkey here in Vermont. I know a .243 is a popular caliber for youth. She has a .410 which she shoots so something with a kick similar to that would be great.

Any recommendations on a nice youth size firearm for deer and what do you think is a good caliber?

Thanks, Rob

RE: Best Youth caliber/gun?
 

A .243 is a great caliber to start deer hunting with. I got one for my two grandsons, two shots, two dead deer. Very easy on the recoil. At about $230 at Wal-Mart the H&R breech loading rifles are hard to beat.

RE: Best Youth caliber/gun?
 

:)I started out when I was young with a Winchester 94 30-30. The stock was cut off some so it would fit me. I even added a scope to it later (get the angle eject).:)

I still use it!!!!! It is a great gun for less than 100 yd shots and has little or no recoil....(at least it doesn't when a deer is in the crosshairs....LOL).;) It has taken 69 deer since the first year I hunted with it.:)

RE: Best Youth caliber/gun?
 

I would go with Rem. 7mm-08 in the lightweight700 Mountain Rifle..bout 6-1/2lbs. anduse 139gr. Hornaday SST's. a little under max. The recoil what little there is...is less than a 410 and the rifle will begood for her lifetime.

RE: Best Youth caliber/gun?
 

I started, and still use a remington 30-30 (top eject, side mounted scope) never failed me.

RE: Best Youth caliber/gun?
 

Im 14 years old and I shoot a .260 which doesnt have too much recoil, but afriend of minejust turned 12 and he's a pretty small guy for his age, and he shoots a .25-06 with 115 grain bullets for deer, the recoil is barely noticable


Mike

RE: Best Youth caliber/gun?
 

I started with a model 94 in 30-30 but I would not recommend it for a youngor very small shooter.While the 30-30 cartridge is very mild,it is ballistcally very poor and the design of the 94 does not absorb recoil well.I would recommend a bolt rifle with recoil pad in 243win,257 roberts,260 or 7mm-08.

RE: Best Youth caliber/gun?
 

I will have to second the .257 Roberts. I used it to kill my first deer at 12. My brother uses his to hunt deer every year in Canada. He likes it because it is easy to shoot and has very little recoil. A .243 is a tough caliber to beat for a youth as well. You won't go wrong with either of these.

RE: Best Youth caliber/gun?
 

I also agree!

RE: Best Youth caliber/gun?
 

I would get the Browning BAR Short Trac in .243 Winchester. The rifle will have virtually zero recoil, and will take deer reliably at whatever distances you can hit them at.

RE: Best Youth caliber/gun?
 

My dad started me with a 4-10 slugger,then said here use this 8mm mauser military rifle. Was that a beast

RE: Best Youth caliber/gun?
 

hard to beat a rem model 7 or ruger compact in .243, 260rem, 7mm-08, .308 fits small frames nicely and recoil will be comparable to the 410 she is already shooting;)

RE: Best Youth caliber/gun?
 

Yep! Especially around noon time! It feels like you are lifting a small Pine tree!!!;)

RE: Best Youth caliber/gun?
 

yea wet with all the limbs[:-]

RE: Best Youth caliber/gun?
 

guy at work here was asking basicly the same thing, & I told him to look up Rossi. they make some nice youth guns. He did, and found they have a model that has 2 interchangeable barrells;243 & 410, for about $175.00. I don't think that is a bad deal for starters.

RE: Best Youth caliber/gun?
 

When i started hunting at age 10 i started with a 410. The next year i got a 243 and still use it to this day and i am now 15. It works great.

RE: Best Youth caliber/gun?
 

H&R Handi rifle in 243 or 7mm-08, around $200........they have youth models too.........

RE: Best Youth caliber/gun?
 

I started with a model 94 in 30-30 but I would not recommend it for a youngor very small shooter.While the 30-30 cartridge is very mild,it is ballistcally very poor and the design of the 94 does not absorb recoil well.

My response to that is a 170 gr. hollowpoint has GREAT ballistics!! One bullet....ONE deer!! A nice recoil pad after cutting off the stock to fit is fine. With the lever action, it also teaches "well placement" since ya only got one chance before making noise! LOL :D

RE: Best Youth caliber/gun?
 

Great ballistics compared to what?Perhaps compared to a muzzleloader.Almost every other centerfire cartridge available has a flatter trajectory than the 30-30.

RE: Best Youth caliber/gun?
 

Rob

Take a look at Remington's Model 7 Youth Synthetic in 7mm-08. As mentioned above, 7mmm-08 recoil is probably about the sameas that of a 410, especially with less than max loads. Also with the 7mm-08 you have a caliber that would last her a lifetime and usable on game up through black bear & Elk. When she gets older just replace the synthetic youth stock with a full size stock, preferably a laminated one. (Personally, I likelaminated stocks.)

Good Luck

firstshot
--------------------------------
Make your first shot count!

RE: Best Youth caliber/gun?
 

Thanks for all the replys. The Remington Model 7 in 7mm-08 sounds like a sweet rifle. I really like the thought of being able to get a full size stock as she gets older and still being able to take big game with it. I will check one out.

Thanks again . . . Rob

RE: Best Youth caliber/gun?
 

Can't go wrong with the .243. I still have mine and hope to give it to my son someday.

RE: Best Youth caliber/gun?
 

I p/u a remmy model 7 in 6mm and will teach my sons on that (after a .22). I got it used and it was in great shape. If I were to buy new I would go w/ a 7mm-08. It is a very versatile round w/ very litttle recoil(in the end though, recoil is all relative to the shooter) and will last a life time.Good luck...keep you kids hunting w/you now and you won't have to hunt for them later. Be safe.

RE: Best Youth caliber/gun?
 

if you get one and its half the one i bought for my wife (model 7 s/s in 260 rem that will shoot cloverleafs @ 100yds all day long) you be happy, personally i don't think you can go wrong with that choice;)

RE: Best Youth caliber/gun?
 

I like the .243 me and dad both use them and they shot great