Youth hunt caliber

[MarlinSlayer]

i know we are at the start of the "Elite" hunting season, but I've got two youngsters to take on the youth hunt. I am already researching youth .243 rifles. Wanted to get your opinion on AR's.

223 ok? I've tried to search here and couldn't tell. I've looked at other forums, but trust your judgement here the best.

Both small framed. 13year old Girl, and 11 year old boy. I think the girl can handle the .308, (she shoots trap). Will get them out to the range...I also have a cva muzle loader I have not shot yet.

Just researching the options.....have ruled out the M1 Carbine...though both kids are good shots.....

 

[Brownie]

I don't have personal experience with .223, but some guys at the range I shoot at swear that the 60-70 grain soft points do numbers on whitetail. .223 will get the job done with the proper bullet and proper shot placement.

Thought about a 7mm-08? Great sectional density in the 7mm and not a lot of recoil.

 

[MUP]

I moved my daughter up from a .30 carbine to a .243 last year when she was 8. She shoots factory loaded Rem ammo just fine. Hope this helps .

 

[7wsm]

i know we are at the start of the "Elite" hunting season, but I've got two youngsters to take on the youth hunt. I am already researching youth .243 rifles. Wanted to get your opinion on AR's.

223 ok? I've tried to search here and couldn't tell. I've looked at other forums, but trust your judgement here the best.

Both small framed. 13year old Girl, and 11 year old boy. I think the girl can handle the .308, (she shoots trap). Will get them out to the range...I also have a cva muzle loader I have not shot yet.

Just researching the options.....have ruled out the M1 Carbine...though both kids are good shots.....

223's will do the job 60 gr soft point or the hp either one my daughter killed 2 with 223 1 with 22-250 and one with a 6x47 all dropped like a sack of rocks.once again shot placement

 

[2in1shot]

.7-08, .260, or .308 in a bolt gun. 300 AAC blackout in an AR-15. Or anything AR-10. One great thing about the AR platforms is the adjustable stock. Good for the kids with a short LOP. .223 is good if the shot is right through the motor room. They do not do well at all in the shoulder. If it's a kid pulling the trigger I would not use .223.

 

[Gravey]

My son is 10 and has been shooting a .243 since he was 7 with 95-grain Fusions. Works like a charm and matter of fact its what I shoot most of the time too.

 

[muddyboots]

7/08

 

[Tennessee Lead]

I started out with a Remington woods master in .243 killed a bunch with it and still do .

 

[Tennessee Lead]

At 10 I may asd

 

[deerhunter10]

25-06 or 270. not a fan of the 243.

 

[UTGrad]

When my son I ready I will opt for the 7mm08 but the .243 is appealing due to ammo availability.

 

[tasaman]

I agree with 2in1shot. People choose too small a caliber for youth. Smaller calibers are effective with a well placed shot but on what may be a marginal shot by a nervous first kill you want a margin of error in the kill. Train the kids with a 223 but choose anything from 257 Robers on up to a 308 for the hunt. If your really worried about practicing with the the gun they hunt with you can get 308 reduced recoil loads from Remington in the Corlokt.

If it were my kids I'd go with the 7-08 or 308.

 

[Solo Hunter]

I started both of my daughters and son on a .243. They all loved shooting it and wasn't scared of it either. I tried a 30-30 with my first daughter and had her scared to shoot. But with the .243 everything was fine. I have the Remington Model 7 in the Youth model.

 

[TNhunter]

Son killed his first with a .223 using 55 grain trophy bonded bear claw. Perfect double lung broadside shot. Deer ran 250 yards before taking a dirt nap. Like to have never found him - but did. Second deer shot with a .243 youth model 700 with Federal Fusion 95. Perfect double lung broadside shot. Deer ran about 50 yards before taking a dirt nap. If he (or I) use the AR for deer it will be with 62 grain Federal fusion. We will both be using an AR in 6.8 SPC this year with several different rounds (120 SST, 110 Accubond, 115 Federal fusion, 95 Barnes TTSX).

The adjustable stock and light recoil is the main reason for going with the AR platform (either .223 or 6.8 SPC). Use the right bullet and take the right shot.

 

[chiggerbit]

I agree with 2in1shot. People choose too small a caliber for youth. Smaller calibers are effective with a well placed shot but on what may be a marginal shot by a nervous first kill you want a margin of error in the kill. Train the kids with a 223 but choose anything from 257 Robers on up to a 308 for the hunt. If your really worried about practicing with the the gun they hunt with you can get 308 reduced recoil loads from Remington in the Corlokt.

If it were my kids I'd go with the 7-08 or 308.

Yep. I concur, and if someone still decides to go with a .243 I'd suggest make sure it's the 95 grain. Problem is, at least one .243 I know of doesn't shoot the heavy bullets well. Don't let your kid go out there with 75 grain hollowpoints. Been there done that.

 

[348Winchester]

Pistol calibers in rifles are excellent for anyone but especially so for children of all ages. My little girl uses a 45 Colt and a 44-40. Both are very effective. There are many different rifle available in 44 magnum as well. Perhaps the 44 mag holds an edge over the other pistol calibers for 44 special loads can be fired interchangeably if one is extremely recoil sensitive. Pistol calibers also do not produce much of a muzzle blast like the 223, 243, 7-08 calibers do. I believe muzzle blast to be as much of a detriment to new shooters as recoil.

The big, heavy bullets in pistol calibers let a lot of air into an animal and a lot of blood out!

 

[Spikes Tactical]

AR-15 in 6.8SPC is what my daughter will be using (of course that is several years from now)...

 

[MarlinSlayer]

THanks for all the good input. May go with a reduced load .308 for the 13 year old girl and .243 for the young man. CVA Hunter single shot break open with scope mount and cheap glass is $250 at Academy sports. Fits my wife well too....

 

[Merrick]

Worked in Retail for some time and heard lots of horror stories about .223 cal shots with little or no blood trail. Its all about shot placement. My opinion, go with the .243 may only be 30+ grains more but more likely to recover the animal if the shot is slightly off since its for a youth.

 

[woodsman87]

7mm08. Can't beat it for whitetails in the southeast. Big kids or little kids.

 

[infoman jr.]

7-08 or .243

 

[Lost Lake]

I haven't heard a bad recommendation so far but don't forget about the old standby lever cartridges. My Uncle had a 44 mag lever that he cut the stock down on and put on a thick recoil pad. My cousins all killed their first deer with that rifle and one cousin still carries it today as his main deer rifle 35 years later!
30-30, 35 Rem., 44 mag and the likes are excellent big and small kid calibers.

 

[MUP]

I started both of my daughters and son on a .243. They all loved shooting it and wasn't scared of it either. I tried a 30-30 with my first daughter and had her scared to shoot. But with the .243 everything was fine. I have the Remington Model 7 in the Youth model.

I had some recovery work to go thru with my daughter as well after having her shoot my 30-30. One more time with the .30 cal carbine, then went to the .243. Got a nice deal at academy on a Rem mod 770...she shoots lights out with that thing!

 

[feathersandfur2214]

My daughter is 11, and a very small framed 11 at that. I just bought her a Marlin X7Y in 243.