WHAT WOULD BE BETTER FOR FIRST TIME HUNTER
 

i am bring a first time hunter deer hunting. he is 12 years old.
what would be better for them to shoot a 243. or 30-30?

RE: WHAT WOULD BE BETTER FOR FIRST TIME HUNTER
 

Before shooting any of those guns try him out on a .22. See if he can hit the target at a hundred yards and slowly move it back.

If he continues to progress put him on the .243. If not the 30-30 is probably the one. Let him choose the correct one buy his proficientcy...

RE: WHAT WOULD BE BETTER FOR FIRST TIME HUNTER
 

I'm assuming he's already proficiant at shooting at the range?

If so, I don't really think it matters. A 30-30 lever gun might be more fun for him, but my own son is much better with a bolt gun. They tend to take the rifle out of shoulder placement when working a lever action.

RE: WHAT WOULD BE BETTER FOR FIRST TIME HUNTER
 

I will defer to others who are more experienced with deer hunting with centerfire rifles, but it seems to me that the decision would be based on where you plan to hunt. If its woodland where shots may be measured in feet instead of yards, I would think a 30-30 with open sights would be best. If its gonna be open terrain, then wouldn't a scoped 243 be better?

RE: WHAT WOULD BE BETTER FOR FIRST TIME HUNTER
 

when i was tweleve all i got to carry was a bag of cheetos... but hmm

RE: WHAT WOULD BE BETTER FOR FIRST TIME HUNTER
 

Depends on what you are going for, and what he can handle. (assuming it is first time hunter and not first time shooter) My first deer rifle wasa Marlin lever in 44mag, only because it was what my father could afford that year. The next year it was a 6mm Rem that he borrowed (and had to buy since I got my first buck with it) But since I was 10 I had been shooting his M14 and Garand for target and could handle anything under heavy magnums so I had also used his and my brothers rifles as well. My rifles were more a case of what I could handle carrying and lugging up the mountain and into the stand, not the caliber of the weapon.
But what your answer comes down to is what he can handle himself.

Ideally, if you had, or could borrow, both rifles and have him try some shooting from each, you could see what is best for him right now and go with that.

RE: WHAT WOULD BE BETTER FOR FIRST TIME HUNTER
 

When I was 9 my dad shoved a 8 MM in my arms.Said if I come home without a deer I get my butt beat. He gave me one bullit. I came home empty handed and got gun butt beat over the head.

RE: WHAT WOULD BE BETTER FOR FIRST TIME HUNTER
 

Ouch!

Mine figured if I didn't get my animal, HE didn't teach me well enough.
(of course "teach" is subjective. I used to have to play "hound dog" when I was first hunting with him. ie "you go over there and walk back and forth thru all of that brush and try to flush any rabbits over toward us","go run up and get my birds for me")

RE: WHAT WOULD BE BETTER FOR FIRST TIME HUNTER
 

I would go with a youth model .243. Very dependable and fun to shoot. Just be sure that you get a rifle that is sized to the size of the hunter.

RE: WHAT WOULD BE BETTER FOR FIRST TIME HUNTER
 

Both are good deer cartridges.

For a beginner, I think a bolt action .243 would safer. I think kids may have more trouble letting the hammer down,on a 30.30,after loading up or not getting a shot. That hammer could slip out from under their small thumb, causing an accident.

I also think that some kids may have more trouble working the lever as opposed to a bolt.

RE: WHAT WOULD BE BETTER FOR FIRST TIME HUNTER
 

Great thread!!

I would've probably asked this question here before long myself!

My opinion...

I'm going to start my son off with my ole Model 94 30/30. I want him to be proficient with open sights before I introduce him to a scoped rifle. At the age of 10-12 I think that it would be easy to get so caught up in "buck (or doe) fever" that he/she could have trouble finding the deer in a scope, and open sights would just eliminate that worry. Again, just my opinion.
I have a couple of scoped 22's and we'll spend some serious range time shooting, and then after a couple of years when he's ready to move up to the next level, I'll buy hima nice 270.

Good luck with the boy!!

RE: WHAT WOULD BE BETTER FOR FIRST TIME HUNTER
 

Actually, I found the opposite to be true with my daughter and step son. They did much better with a scope.

Just get a couple bricks of .22's, a scoped rifle and take them to the range several times. Kids learn quickly.


I tied an empty soda bottle to the end of a fishing line and set it out at about 40 yds. I'd reel it a little and stop. Reel a bit more and stop. All along the kids would try to hit it when I'd stop reeling. This taught them to find their target in the scope and get off a shot.

Several trips to the range, and they got really good.

RE: WHAT WOULD BE BETTER FOR FIRST TIME HUNTER
 

Thanks a lot Windwalker7!!

I have a couple of years before my boy will be carrying a gun, but what you said makes sense to me!

I'll give it a try.

RE: WHAT WOULD BE BETTER FOR FIRST TIME HUNTER
 

I hope that taught you a lesson:D:D:D:D

RE: WHAT WOULD BE BETTER FOR FIRST TIME HUNTER
 

I agree with windwalker about the 30-30 not being the safest gun for a new hunter. I remember being twelve in Pa and the hammer was really not a good thing for me to have. I swore I would never start my kids with a gun with a hammer. Just not safe for a kid. I know thousands of people started with a 30-30, but in my opinion it's not the best.

RE: WHAT WOULD BE BETTER FOR FIRST TIME HUNTER
 

Cold fingers, a cocked hammer and kids are a bad combination.

RE: WHAT WOULD BE BETTER FOR FIRST TIME HUNTER
 

i started with the trusty ole 30-30 and i had the decision of 3 rifles to take out that year... 30-30 marlin, 243 pump action or a 35 rem pump....35 rem jammed up 2 easily in the cold and ice, and the 30-30 seemed a better and safer choice at the time, itmay not be the safest with the hammer but at least you know when that hammer is down its not gonna go off...i know first year hunters get a lil trigger happy when they see that deer and the safety on the trigger ofthat gun is NOT as reliable as a hammer at half cock.....just my opinion...plus that way you can look over and easily see if he forgot to let the hammer down or forgot to pull it back before the shot....

RE: WHAT WOULD BE BETTER FOR FIRST TIME HUNTER
 

last year was my daughters 1st year ., we got her a .243 .,about 3 years ago ., and we have been practicing for 3 years with that gun., so when it came time to the hunt ., she was ready ,.and she knocked one down .,im glad i went with the .243 bolt because she really did get the heepie geebies when she shot ., i did have to help her steady the shooting stick cause she was a shaking ., just my 2 cents worth.,good luck on your choice

RE: WHAT WOULD BE BETTER FOR FIRST TIME HUNTER
 

243 - reason - less kick more accuracy - drawback will be knock down power -on the other handa well placed shot will produce - this buck was taken with a 243 - the gun is a short model bolt action used by prison guards!

RE: WHAT WOULD BE BETTER FOR FIRST TIME HUNTER
 

Last fall, my son took his first 2 deer (the 2 on the right). Remington Model 7 Youth .223 - He was 8 at the time.

I have since updated to a .243 due to lack of "knock down" power of the .223.

The upside is I now have a dedicated varmint rifle in the .223. :)

RE: WHAT WOULD BE BETTER FOR FIRST TIME HUNTER
 

243 all the way the hammer isnt good but i used a 30 30 starting at age 11 and took my first one at age 12 but letting the hammer down was hard for after i had shot the deer

RE: WHAT WOULD BE BETTER FOR FIRST TIME HUNTER
 

Oops. The pic did not post. Try again:

RE: WHAT WOULD BE BETTER FOR FIRST TIME HUNTER
 

Oh well. Guess I need to read instructions and try again later.

RE: WHAT WOULD BE BETTER FOR FIRST TIME HUNTER
 

My son just turned 12 last year. He went to the hunters safety course and the instructor had a 30-30 to let the kids practice with. The hammer was way too hard for most of the kids to operate. Try some of the reduced recoil ammunition. I cut down the stock on one of my 30-06 rifles and bought some of the Remington reduced recoil bullets and it worked pretty good. My son only weighs 100lbs soaking wet and he wasn't scared to shoot the gun. He would up killing a doe last year.

RE: WHAT WOULD BE BETTER FOR FIRST TIME HUNTER
 

Go with the 243. If you want them to learn barrel sights then buy a243 with barrel sights. I know savage and remington make them.You can always add the scope to it later. Bolt actions are easier and safer for kids just because you don't have to mess around with the hammer if they choose not to shoot. 243's are more accurate, kick less, and are fun to shoot. I think ammo is probably a little bit cheaper to.

RE: WHAT WOULD BE BETTER FOR FIRST TIME HUNTER
 

i shot my first 2 deer at age 12. i used a .270 on both of them.

RE: WHAT WOULD BE BETTER FOR FIRST TIME HUNTER
 

I cant believe people still believe in the knock down power theory.
Sorry but theres no such thing as knock down power. Its all about how much tissue is destroyed by the bullet passing through it.
Go with the .243. At 1 yd or 300yds the .243 is a better gun.

RE: WHAT WOULD BE BETTER FOR FIRST TIME HUNTER
 

I know when i was twelve i was a small kid and i was shooting a 30.30 and i found it to be just fine as long as i was shooting at an animal but at the range it hurt my shoulder cause i didnt have the adrenaline pumping so maybe the 243 would be better

RE: WHAT WOULD BE BETTER FOR FIRST TIME HUNTER
 

.243 all day.
It wouldnt hurt to take him to do a little squirrel hunting before gun season either.

RE: WHAT WOULD BE BETTER FOR FIRST TIME HUNTER
 

I started with a 243. Just make sure the gun fits the kid. I also like a scope. A scoped 22 and some bushytails to chase will be plenty of "scope" practice.

RE: WHAT WOULD BE BETTER FOR FIRST TIME HUNTER
 

.243 is the way to go...I am in the market for one for my seven soon to be eight year old. I have him shooting a .22 and .410 now. Hope to get him shooting at squirrels this year.

RE: WHAT WOULD BE BETTER FOR FIRST TIME HUNTER
 

.243. That will do him till he's adult size and it has a better selection ofpremium bullets to make it work well.
If the scope is a problem try a red dot. It will do well for at least 100 yard shots, maybe more?

RE: WHAT WOULD BE BETTER FOR FIRST TIME HUNTER
 

I shot a 308 to get started and anticipated growing into a bigger gun. But I still absolutely love to shoot that gun and will probably always use it for whitetail because my dad gave it to me.