Overthinking kids first rifle; .223 or bigger is better

[Bert01]

I just started my 9 yo daughter on a 223 bolt this year. Silenced and a cut down Tupperware stock that I painted pink for her, she shot her first deer Saturday at 150yds. Go with the 223 so that they will shoot it. Getting them shooting and not scared of it or the recoil is key. Once they can shoot, either see how they do with 223 or borrow a larger caliber for them to try.

 

[goalie]

I have had great luck with the neighbor kids shooting my recently acquired Ruger American Ranch gen2 in 5.56. It takes about a minute to switch the stock from "adult" to "T-Rex arms" and has almost no recoil or blast suppressed.

 

[ResearchinStuff]

I feel like a bot because of how often I drop this link into kids rifle threads, but it is worth reading if you haven't yet. And then read the .223 for everything thread to quash any doubts about with it can do with the right ammo.

Thread 'Kids rifle manifesto'

Feb 24, 2024

I've chimed in on so many different "what rifle for my age XX kid?" threads that I thought I'd try to consolidate my thoughts here.

My oldest son is 14 now, started shooting centerfire rifles at 9. My younger kids started shooting centerfire rifles at between 5-7 yrs old. 5 kids shooting now, and a bunch of their friends that I have been involved or around as they learn to shoot. probably 20-ish kids? Here's what I've learned in the last 5-6 years.

Recoil matters, a lot. "Handles it pretty well" is way way different from "ideal for building skills as a rifleman." My oldest loves to...

• eric1115
• Replies: 267
• Forum: Firearms

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We need a bot to do this, it's tiring linking the same thing 5x a week

 

[SloppyJ]

I was in your shoes and I started mine off with a 16" Tikka 223. If I could do it all over again, I'd do the same exact thing. I had the same thoughts as you and was talked out of it. The comfort level my son was able to build with that rifle was amazing. Bonus, it doubles as a really sweet truck gun. Another big factor is that we only shoot suppressed. The report from an unsuppressed rifle might be worse than the recoil for the little ones in my opinion.

 

[Remington1]

Started my boys and grandson with a Tikka compact 7-08. Downloaded the 120gn sst bullets to reduce recoil. Tikka compact now has short LOP but comes with a spacer so when they get bigger you can lengthen it to 13.5”.

 

[wind gypsy]

I cant help but like the idea of a 6 ARC better than 223 but 223 is probably the right answer.

 

[Ozarkansas]

Would a .243 be a bit more forgiving on game animals for a beginner?

The .243 will be more forgiving only in the sense that it is more “bullet agnostic”- in that you can buy pretty much any hunting .243 bullet and be confident it will work well. In terms of shot placement, a bad shot is a bad shot whether it’s a .223 or a 7mm magnum.

I will say that i’ve had great success with certain .243 bullets that reliably exit and leave good blood trails while still doing plenty of internal damage, something that’s harder to pull off with the .223. Good blood trails help a lot in thick brush or if a kid single-lungs a deer, doesn’t take note of where it was standing, doesn’t watch where it ran, etc.

 

[Brack28]

223 all the way. Just make sure and use the right bullet for hunting.

 

[omicron1792]

I cant help but like the idea of a 6 ARC better than 223 but 223 is probably the right answer.

You old fud! Ha

 

[rking453]

I'm planning on a 30-30 single shot for my kids when they are old enough, not much recoil, plenty of energy for deer under 150 yards. Single shot makes it easy for kids to keep track of loaded or not and easy for me to check safe.

 

[dsotm]

I cant help but like the idea of a 6 ARC better than 223 but 223 is probably the right answer.

I've got a Howa Mini in 6 ARC I picked up for my niece and kid when she's old enough. It's a fun gun to shoot.

 

[goalie]

I'm planning on a 30-30 single shot for my kids when they are old enough, not much recoil, plenty of energy for deer under 150 yards. Single shot makes it easy for kids to keep track of loaded or not and easy for me to check safe.

I hunt a lot with single shots. Handi rifle, Contender, CVA. They are not safer than a bolt IMO with kids. Lowering the hammer safely is not nearly as intuitive as opening the bolt

That said, 30-30 with SSK barrel and Gemtech Tracker doesn't suck

 

[gbflyer]

I have a Savage Axis Pro 2 Lefty Compact in 6 ARC inbound for a friend of mines kid then we’ll pass it along to grandkids etc. I’ll have a report this week hopefully. I have the 108gr ELDm factory ammo to try in it. We may get a deer or two in yet, got another month to go.


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To follow up on this:

I haven’t fired it yet. The PDI found one side of the barrel channel touching, the pic rail not tight enough, the action screws not tight enough, and the bore dirty. Those things were quickly remedied. Function test for feeding with 108gr Eldm factory rounds. The mag is hard to load (a kid will struggle with it) and it’s a little temperamental to seat in the mag well. It feeds and extracts with no issue. In order to mount a 1” scope that isn’t 14” long, one must use medium rings or scope objective hits the pic rail. It’s not difficult to get behind even on mediums, which is good. Weights around 7.5lbs with a 2.5-8 Leupy on steel Warne rings. The trigger was adjusted to minimum pull weight and it is still heavy but usable.

I suspect accuracy will be like most every other Savage, which is usually quite good. It’s front heavy, will not be good for a kid for offhand shooting. Barrel should be a lighter contour. The stock is 12.5 lop, the trigger is pretty close to the vertical grip. I find it oddly comfortable even at the short length.

In closing, I would recommend. It will take some close supervision to manipulate the magazine to start with, but in my world that’s perfectly fine. Will need to fire from rest. It is a modern looking rifle, a kid will probably really dig it, especially with a tactical scope.

 

[TechsanHunter]

To follow up on this:

I haven’t fired it yet. The PDI found one side of the barrel channel touching, the pic rail not tight enough, the action screws not tight enough, and the bore dirty. Those things were quickly remedied. Function test for feeding with 108gr Eldm factory rounds. The mag is hard to load (a kid will struggle with it) and it’s a little temperamental to seat in the mag well. It feeds and extracts with no issue. In order to mount a 1” scope that isn’t 14” long, one must use medium rings or scope objective hits the pic rail. It’s not difficult to get behind even on mediums, which is good. Weights around 7.5lbs with a 2.5-8 Leupy on steel Warne rings. The trigger was adjusted to minimum pull weight and it is still heavy but usable.

I suspect accuracy will be like most every other Savage, which is usually quite good. It’s front heavy, will not be good for a kid for offhand shooting. Barrel should be a lighter contour. The stock is 12.5 lop, the trigger is pretty close to the vertical grip. I find it oddly comfortable even at the short length.

In closing, I would recommend. It will take some close supervision to manipulate the magazine to start with, but in my world that’s perfectly fine. Will need to fire from rest. It is a modern looking rifle, a kid will probably really dig it, especially with a tactical scope.

I really appreciate it!

 

[gbflyer]

9 hasty rounds at 120 yards. 4 degrees outside, suppressor was making all kinds of mirage, and my feet were frozen Lol. 108gr Hornady Match.

The magazine sucks. Nose dives the last round, recoil drives the cartridges forward and the last one hang at the front on the bullet tip. Savage is sending me a new mag, I am hoping it’s all poly, this one is metal and it’s typical Savage garbage. I will get the adapter from Fire Castle and run AICS if the new Savage mag doesn’t fix it.

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[ncstewart]

Disclaimer haven’t read all thread but I don’t like 223. Tried that recently with my kid and not good. Got a 350 legend with suppressor and been crazy happy. He 9 and killed 3 this year.


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[khuber84]

6 arc VS 223 recoil in similar weight rifles wasn't much a difference in my experience, the 6arc was lighter too. I'd go 6arc myself.

 

[eric1115]

Disclaimer haven’t read all thread but I don’t like 223. Tried that recently with my kid and not good. Got a 350 legend with suppressor and been crazy happy. He 9 and killed 3 this year.


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What bullets did you try in the .223? It is super effective with the right bullets but can def be underwhelming with the wrong ones. 77TMK'S produce more tissue damage than any .350 legend loading I'm aware of (disclaimer, I've never personally used .350 legend, but know guys that have and I have seen quite a few photos of .350L wound channels).

 

[voltage]

Disclaimer haven’t read all thread but I don’t like 223. Tried that recently with my kid and not good. Got a 350 legend with suppressor and been crazy happy. He 9 and killed 3 this year.


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Tons of dudes with beards and substantial 401(k)s are super pleased with their 223, so can you please tell us what issue you have with your 223?

 

[dreamingWest]

Based on my experience, the only reason to pick 243 over 223 for a deer gun or kid's first rifle is to simply avoid arguing with deer camp Fudds. (And this is a valid reason.)

223 with 77 TMK is incredibly effective. (And I love 243. My first rifle was a 243.)