Youth Rifle
 

I am sure this topic has been reviewed several times but here it goes again.

I have an 11 year old that weighs 70lbs soaking wet and I need to get him a deer gun. What caliber do you guys suggest and why?

Thanks!

RE: Youth Rifle
 

The two that come to mind are the .243, and 7mm-08. They seem to have little recoil, and both are adequate at taking deer. I personally like the .243 over the 7mm-08 because I cannot find ammo for the 7mm around here.
Good luck, hope the kid enjoys the season.

RE: Youth Rifle
 

I SHOT BAMBI. WITH MY YOUTH RIFLE.
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RE: Youth Rifle
 

Either of them would do very well, but I would go with the .243 just for that little less recoil. My daughter shot both and liked the .243 better, she said the other one punched harder and actually scared her a bit with that.

RE: Youth Rifle
 

I'd certainly say one of the .308 versions.....

years ago when I was youngster I remember my .270 feeling like a cannon. I want to say I was probably 5' 100lbs ish.

I think a .243 with a premium bullet on deer would be plenty lethal, minimal kick/ideal, and a perfect antelope rifle too. Otherwise I'd consider the 7mm-08

Get a .243, you and him both won't regret it.

RE: Youth Rifle
 

i would go with a 243 wssm , these are devastating on deer

RE: Youth Rifle
 

I know I will get slammed for this but my son and another kid on our lease uses a .243. I wish I would have went the 7mm-08 route now. Reason being both deer that these two shot last year had no blood trail and yes both shots were put where they needed to be. Both deer one a 9 point 130 class and the other a good doe both ran about fifty yards with no blood trail. My son shoots the remington core lok 90 grain. Not to say the .243 is not a good gun but looking back I wish I would have gotten the 7mm-08. Again just my opinion after what I have seen from both of these deer.

RE: Youth Rifle
 

Are you opposed to a 20 gage smoothbore and Foster slugs? They make the 20 gage in youth sizes, and they kill deer very dead.

RE: Youth Rifle
 

I'm curious... How much do deer weigh in your area? Did they get complete penetration? If not, you might want to switch to the 100 gr. core lokt or one of the more sturdily built premium rounds in the lighter weight load. If you did get complete penetration, do you think that the extra 41/1000ths of an inch diameter of the 7mm would leave a significantly bigger blood trail?

If it were me, I'd get him the .243. That's what I got for my son when he turned 12, and I liked his so much, I got one for myself. At that age and size, the difference between the 8.8 ft lbs of recoil from the .243, and 12.6 ft lbs of recoil from the 7mm-08 is likely to be significant. I sighted my 7 Mag in a couple weeks ago, using the Remington Managed Recoil ammo, which closely duplicates the 7mm-08 ballistics, and the difference in recoil between the .243 and the 7mm is quite noticeable. I started shooting a .30-06 when I was too young and too small for it, and developed a flinch that I still struggle with 35 years later. But, I have no problem at all with the .243, and, based on my limited experience, it has dropped deer just as quickly as my '06 did.

RE: Youth Rifle
 

The 9 point probably weighed about 200lbs before it was gutted. The doe probably wieghed about 100lbs. Both shots were pass through. The buck was shot with a 90 grain rem corelok at about 30 yards and the doe was probably about 150yards.I am no gun smith but I have seen deer shot with a 7mm-08 and the exit hole was bigger than what I have seen with the .243, maybe we just need to change ammo like you said. Now don't get me wrong I love how the .243 shoots I mean you can drive nails with it and there is no kick. I just wish it would leave a better blood trail. Again just my opinion and I am sure there are better people to talk about which calibers are better.

RE: Youth Rifle
 

I guess I wasn't really thinking about the possible differences in size after the bullet mushrooms. I use the 100 grain corelokt's and have never had to track a deer very far, and you're right, the exits can't really be described as "gaping" but, the deer my son and I have shot with it have usually died within immediate line of sight, so blood trails haven't been a real issue. I've seen pics on here of some pretty good sized exits from .243's, so maybe someone can give you advice on something a little more "explosive..."

My first deer was killed using a .30-06, and it left no blood trail whatsoever. Not even a drop.

RE: Youth Rifle
 

Just curious do you hunt south texas? I have hunted down there with customer a couple of times. I have seen the racks on the deer there but how much does an average Buck or doe weigh. They look like small bodied deer compared to the huge rack on their heads. I hunted in Mason Texas about5 years ago and was not lucky enough to take a deer. I did see a nice 8pt that I could not get around on fast enough with my bow.

RE: Youth Rifle
 

Anyone from .243 to .308.........

RE: Youth Rifle
 

thats a dead deer running. If its dead i.e. heart not pumping there will be no blood trail. Heart shot deer do this a lot.
another thing there are no 90 gr core locks. 100 or 80 gr.
remington makes a 90gr swift sirroco bonded.

RE: Youth Rifle
 

I have killed bucks dowm here that have gone 200lbs, average is probably 150 to 180 on a mature one. 120 on a young one. south texas they get a little over 200, mature.
does go from 80-150.

RE: Youth Rifle
 

.243 with a nice quality scope. My grandsons use the 100 grain Hornady Lt Mag BTSPcartridges and have had very good success.

RE: Youth Rifle
 

I have two boys 9 and 12. Both boys started hunting deer at 8 years of age. The older son has a .243. My youngest shoots a .308 with remington reduced recoil loads (less recoil than the .243). I would recommend the .243. Every deer we've shot drops within view. I liked the .243 so much I bought one for myself!

RE: Youth Rifle
 

Zrex mentioned what I was thinking about here. We load our own shells, and we put the 90gr Sirrocco bullets in my daughter's .243. The exit hole was about the same size as one from a 30-06 on a doe that weighed 112 dressed. You could also look into the Winchester Supreme ammo that has the ballistic silvertips; actually Nosler bullets and much better ammo than any Remington IMO.

RE: Youth Rifle
 

I've been hunting on a lease in Mason County, Texas, not far from Doss since 2004. As I understand it, our Hill Country deer aren't quite as big as the South Texas deer. The buck I shot last year weighed 158 on the hoof. He was a 5 1/2 year old 9 point. If you are on a South Texas ranch that has a supplemental feeding program and good management, I believe the deer reach the 200-250 lb. range.

RE: Youth Rifle
 

I think that happens a LOT...:D

RE: Youth Rifle
 

I do have a youth 20ga for him but I'm not too interested in him trying it out. Kind of a mental thing for me??

I have checked on the .243 based on all of your suggestions and I might go that route. However, my friend has a 7mm-08 and he said we could try it out on the range to see how comfortable my son is. Now I need to find someone with a .243 to see if I can try it out.

Thank you all for the info!

RE: Youth Rifle
 

Both of those are going to be pretty similar. The 7mm-08 having heavier bullet choices. If you can get a deal on a 7mm-08 I wouldn't pass it up.

My opinion anyway.

Paul

RE: Youth Rifle
 

There really ain't a ounce worth of difference.

They'll both kill a deer. I would stay away from ballistic tips in these small calibers---as they leave alot less blood on the ground.

RE: Youth Rifle
 

IAM AM 11 year old soon to be 12 and when i was 10 i killed my first deer with a 243 open sight bolt action its a good gun first of all its light weight small kick yo it and if he can kill a deer open sighted he can defiantly use a scope

RE: Youth Rifle
 

.223 or a .243, both make excellent youth rifles