mobow

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.

ipscshooter

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.

scmtnhnter

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 .

cardeer

Ditto

260rem

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.

trailer

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

North Texan

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.

deerhunter518

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

ipscshooter

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

PhoenixMA

.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