youth caliber

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cecil30-30

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So i've been bitten by the youth caliber/gun bug.My little girl isn't even 2 yet,but I wanna get her a youth rifle for her to deer hunt with.I know I may be jumping the gun by a few years,but hey, it's an excuse to buy another rifle,so why not?? :D

I'm either gonna get her a Remington Model 7 or a 700 or a Ruger M77 compact.It's gonna be a wood stock,I hate plastic stocks.The calibers I have it narrowed down to are 243,260,or 7mm-08.Any other suggestions I should consider? I'm not real familar with the 260,is it a viable youth caliber recoil wise?
 
7mm-08 and don't look back, I bought my daughter a model 7 chambered in 7mm-08. I put a B&C medalist stock on it, a set of Talley LWs, Zeiss Conquest 3-9x40. I find myself taking this rifle to the woods even when she doesn't go.
 
243 & I will put a savage up against any 7mm08 for recoil & accuracy, just tell the time & place, buncha folks don't know what recoil means to kids, put your $ where your mouth is!
 
mike243 said:
243 & I will put a savage up against any 7mm08 for recoil & accuracy, just tell the time & place, buncha folks don't know what recoil means to kids, put your $ where your mouth is!

:whistle: My daughters have been shooting a 7mm-08 since they were 9 yrs old. I started them out shooting 120 grain ammo. Then moved them up to Hornady 139 SSTs when they got alittle older. I'm glad you like your Savage. LOL.....
 
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A trapper style lever action in 44 magnum or 45 Colt. Buy an extra stock and have it cut down about 2-2 1/2 inches. While they are young and growing the short stock will work. Eventually, she'll grow big enough to swap back to the original stock.

Lever actions in pistol calibers are light and nimble. They also have little recoil and muzzle blast so kids learn to shoot them quickly. Cec, in the type of terrain we hunt where shots are on the short side, a pistol caliber lever action rifle is perfect!
 
348Winchester said:
A trapper style lever action in 44 magnum or 45 Colt. Buy an extra stock and have it cut down about 2-2 1/2 inches. While they are young and growing the short stock will work. Eventually, she'll grow big enough to swap back to the original stock.

Lever actions in pistol calibers are light and nimble. They also have little recoil and muzzle blast so kids learn to shoot them quickly. Cec, in the type of terrain we hunt where shots are on the short side, a pistol caliber lever action rifle is perfect!
Well, I have been pondering a Marlin 1894 in 44mag.I had one and sold it a few years ago,regreted it ever since.I plan to buy one in the future.I only killed 2 deer with it,but they don't run far from a 240gr JHP out of a 20 inch barrel. The recoil was very light.
 
348Winchester said:
A trapper style lever action in 44 magnum or 45 Colt. Buy an extra stock and have it cut down about 2-2 1/2 inches. While they are young and growing the short stock will work. Eventually, she'll grow big enough to swap back to the original stock.

Lever actions in pistol calibers are light and nimble. They also have little recoil and muzzle blast so kids learn to shoot them quickly. Cec, in the type of terrain we hunt where shots are on the short side, a pistol caliber lever action rifle is perfect!


This sounds like a good choice also, I carried my grandfathers old Winchester 38-40 lever action a couple times this passed season. But didn't see anything to shoot the times I carried it.
Your right Mike the Savage rifle chambered in .243 would be by far the best choice. LOL.........
 
I'd have to recommend a single shot. I just got my ten year old a nice H&R Superlight in .243. Recoil with 100 grain loads is very manageable for her. It's also safe because you can't shoot it until the hammer is cocked.

There are some good loads out there for the .243 as well, and they aren't expensive like many 7mm-08 (also a fine cartridge).

I think a .243 is the way to go for versatility and light recoil.
 
cecil30-30 said:
348Winchester said:
A trapper style lever action in 44 magnum or 45 Colt. Buy an extra stock and have it cut down about 2-2 1/2 inches. While they are young and growing the short stock will work. Eventually, she'll grow big enough to swap back to the original stock.

Lever actions in pistol calibers are light and nimble. They also have little recoil and muzzle blast so kids learn to shoot them quickly. Cec, in the type of terrain we hunt where shots are on the short side, a pistol caliber lever action rifle is perfect!
Well, I have been pondering a Marlin 1894 in 44mag.I had one and sold it a few years ago,regreted it ever since.I plan to buy one in the future.I only killed 2 deer with it,but they don't run far from a 240gr JHP out of a 20 inch barrel. The recoil was very light.

i will be listing one for sell real soon


but IMO

700 7/08
 
Deer Assassin said:
cecil30-30 said:
348Winchester said:
A trapper style lever action in 44 magnum or 45 Colt. Buy an extra stock and have it cut down about 2-2 1/2 inches. While they are young and growing the short stock will work. Eventually, she'll grow big enough to swap back to the original stock.

Lever actions in pistol calibers are light and nimble. They also have little recoil and muzzle blast so kids learn to shoot them quickly. Cec, in the type of terrain we hunt where shots are on the short side, a pistol caliber lever action rifle is perfect!
Well, I have been pondering a Marlin 1894 in 44mag.I had one and sold it a few years ago,regreted it ever since.I plan to buy one in the future.I only killed 2 deer with it,but they don't run far from a 240gr JHP out of a 20 inch barrel. The recoil was very light.

i will be listing one for sell real soon


but IMO

700 7/08
a Marlin 1894?
 
A 44;kicks a little but all kids are different.let them shoot the biggesf 1 they can but without shutting their eyes or yanking the trigger.I wil let folks try what rifles I have.Never let it be said I didnt help folks out.only the best for our kids imo
 
The biggest problem with a lever action is most have a stiff trigger. That could lead to trigger problems the same as using too big a round. A 243 isn't a bad choice. Or a 7-08. And I don't much difference in ammo prices. My suggestion would be borrowing a few guns and letting them try them out. Obviously that may not be the case for a 2 yr old but if possible I would.
 
cecil30-30 said:
Deer Assassin said:
cecil30-30 said:
348Winchester said:
A trapper style lever action in 44 magnum or 45 Colt. Buy an extra stock and have it cut down about 2-2 1/2 inches. While they are young and growing the short stock will work. Eventually, she'll grow big enough to swap back to the original stock.

Lever actions in pistol calibers are light and nimble. They also have little recoil and muzzle blast so kids learn to shoot them quickly. Cec, in the type of terrain we hunt where shots are on the short side, a pistol caliber lever action rifle is perfect!
Well, I have been pondering a Marlin 1894 in 44mag.I had one and sold it a few years ago,regreted it ever since.I plan to buy one in the future.I only killed 2 deer with it,but they don't run far from a 240gr JHP out of a 20 inch barrel. The recoil was very light.

i will be listing one for sell real soon


but IMO

700 7/08
a Marlin 1894?

yep

i owned it sold it to a buddy and now he wants me to sell it for him

but i would not recommend it for a youth gun but that it me

my son was shootin a marlin 336 30 30 at six he was so so till he got his 7/08 we both love that round
 
you can shoot any of our 243 if you would like, as long as you teach them to shoot there is no finer caliber imo. all this its not a good deer round, wont let one in my camp crap is just people who don't focus kids on accuracy! if a kid cant hit a 6in circle at 100 how do you expect them to kill a deer when the nerves hit! if you gut shoot it, it doesn't matter what you use! there isn't a deer made that a well placed shot with a quality bullet out of a 243 that can hold it! but that's just my observation lol
 
knightrider said:
you can shoot any of our 243 if you would like, as long as you teach them to shoot there is no finer caliber imo. all this its not a good deer round, wont let one in my camp crap is just people who don't focus kids on accuracy! if a kid cant hit a 6in circle at 100 how do you expect them to kill a deer when the nerves hit! if you gut shoot it, it doesn't matter what you use! there isn't a deer made that a well placed shot with a quality bullet out of a 243 that can hold it! but that's just my observation lol


excellent point, but a Savage 243 is so accurite anyone can kill a deer with it,LOL...... :grin:
 
I think the 6.8 SPC is pretty much perfect for your application. Drawback is it is fairly pricy to get into. I think there were some M7s made, of course the AR, and the best way may be the TC Contender carbine.
 
Hey Cec, I've had my daughter shooting her Rem .243 for two years nearly now. She's 9 and has been shooting since she was 6. She started with the bb gun of course, then up to a .22, then she was shooting my old m1 carbine, then I bought her her very own rifle, the Rem .243. I plan to post video of our weekend shoot this past weekend tomorrow. She puts a little padding between her shoulder and the butt stock, and she fires away. Good luck making your decision ;)
 
Plateau Hunter said:
I think the 6.8 SPC is pretty much perfect for your application. Drawback is it is fairly pricy to get into. I think there were some M7s made, of course the AR, and the best way may be the TC Contender carbine.

I am a fanatical 6.8er myself. It is a great round but in this context I would suggest a .243. There is larger room for error with a .243.In my experience, shot placement is crucial with this round and it helps if the shooter can get behind the rifle a lot. (speaking on 6.8)

6.8SPCII is good for someone who enjoys reloading a lot and can squeeze that extra velocity out of their rounds. It also helps to already have an AR build so someone can just buy the upper.
 
I have to say most what have been suggested would be good. I would try to stay away from a hard kicking gun, I have seen em ruin a child from hunting. Now that being said I know a few when young liked a kicker..
 
7-08. If recoil is thought to be a problem.......managed recoil ammo.My daughter started at 7 with a 7-08 with reduced handloads. 260 is a great round as well.
 
Go with the 260!!!!!!
I had a ruger m77 in 260 and that would have been the PERFECT caliber for a small framed shooter or child. Recoil was almost non-existent.
Just be careful with young shooters. I'd say the majority of young shooters ARE scared of the recoil. Sad part, they will not admit it because their dad/whoever told them it would'nt kick hard, then their ashamed to say anything. I see it all the time shooting skeet. 12-14 year olds think their "cool" cause their shooting a 12 gauge when in reality, they should be shooting a 28 gauge or a .22 rifle and its very difficult to correct that flinch or fear of the gun. Even worse, even the kid does not realize how much it affects their accuracy. Poor fit and too much recoil will ruin a new shooter.
 
'There is larger room for error with a .243.In my experience, shot placement is crucial with this round and it helps if the shooter can get behind the rifle a lot. (speaking on 6.8)'

IME shot placement is no more crucial with the 6.8spc than the .243. The .243 launches a 10% lighter bullet at 300fps greater speed while burning 25-30% more powder when compared with the 6.8. The .243 does have more horsepower(larger capacity) but at juvenile deer hunting ranges you aren't giving up much, if anything, if you use a 6.8spc in either original or II configuration. Just saying- you got to hit them right to get them with a (fill in the blank).
 

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