Advice on new rifle needed......
 

Well, my 9 year old daughter is absolutely driving me crazy wanting to go deer hunting this year, so I'm gonna take her. Problem is, the "smallest" deer rifle I have is a 30-30 which would send her tumbling end over end down the hill. So, I am gonna purchase a .243 this year for this purpose. Actually, I need it to pull double duty. I also want to use it for varmint hunting, so I need something that we could potentially both use. Something in a single shot would be fine.

Hey, I'm a bowhunter and know diddly squat about rifles, really. Any help is appreciated as always! Thanks.

RE: Advice on new rifle needed......
 

I got my 12 year old a Remington Model 7 Youth in .243. Sweet rifle, and, when he gets bigger, we can swap a regular stock onto it... Worked great last fall on a couple of jackrabbits and a couple of does.

RE: Advice on new rifle needed......
 

both my sons ages 9 and 7 both 243s .they yet to hunt with it but this will be their year to go . the 243 is great for kids to start with .

RE: Advice on new rifle needed......
 

Ditto

RE: Advice on new rifle needed......
 

I have a model seven in 260rem and I consider it to bemuch better then a 243win more power and penetration and with an 85gr pill it makes a great varmint gun and the recoil is about the same. But there is nothing wrong with the good old 243win and the model seven is one of the best rifles I have ever owned and I would highly recommend one.

RE: Advice on new rifle needed......
 

I think the 243 would be a good choice and the ammo should be readily available...

RE: Advice on new rifle needed......
 

My 25-06 pulls double duty. I use it for deer and hogs, and occasionally carry it varmint hunting. I haven't had a lot of trouble finding 75 grain V-Max loads and 115 gr. Accubond loads that shoot about the same, so I don't have to resight each time I change ammo.

RE: Advice on new rifle needed......
 

.243 is nice or .223 or any large cased small caliber

RE: Advice on new rifle needed......
 

.223 isn't a legal deer rifle in many states, so, be sure you check local regulations.

RE: Advice on new rifle needed......
 

.243 will absolutely work fine for deer and has a mild recoil. The problem noone has mentioned yet is that if the stock of the rifle fits you the length of pull will likely be way too long for a 9 yr old girl, unless she is real tall or you are real short. Even the youth model stocks of some actions tend to be a bit too short for grown men.

I would look into getting her a single shot youth H&R in .243 they are very affordable. Then also getting yourself a good used remington for shooting varmints. That way your each have a rifle that fits and will be more accurate shooters for it.

Hope that helps

RE: Advice on new rifle needed......
 

Savage makes a youth/women's model .243 that's really small, and super accurate. I think they offer a package that comes with a scope already mounted for about $400'ish. My uncle bought one last year for his daughter. She gave up hunting after one season, so he uses it now for groundhogs and doe hunting. The trigger on this gun is as good as you'll find on any factory rifle. It's a little short on an adult man, but since it barely recoils, it doesn't make much difference. You won't find anything much cheaper or more accurate.

SAVAGE 11FYXP3 YOUTH MODEL

RE: Advice on new rifle needed......
 

.243 is the obvious choice,my wife hunts with the ruger m77 frontier rifle in .243. the scope mounts forward of the receiver on this gun so it keeps her from getting gun shy. It also has a short pull and short barrel which smaller framed people tend to find more easily maneuverable. Also it isn't the lightest gun, therefore has less recoil than the model 7. I do like the model 7, but to me it kicks a bunch even with the mild cartridges, I have one in 7mm-08 which I find gives me a hell of a whollop.