Overthinking kids first rifle; .223 or bigger is better

[ncstewart]

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?

Mainly cause animal recovery isn’t good in my experience. I get they can do it but why with a kid if there something better. Kids don’t like losing animals and then they don’t wanna go.


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[ncstewart]

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).

I don’t claim to have killed a lot with a 223. We shot one that should have been a slam dunk. We didn’t recover the deer. With a 243 it would have been for sure. I have killed a lot with those and like a 243. The 350 man for kids is sweet. I’m sold on it. It’s not sexy and range ain’t its thing but sub 100 and for a young kid that enough in my opinion. 180 grain bullet and 4 deer now… haven’t tracked one. All exits except one quartering to


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[Kaleb]

Mainly cause animal recovery isn’t good in my experience. I get they can do it but why with a kid if there something better. Kids don’t like losing animals and then they don’t wanna go.


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Good on you for having your kid out killing stuff. That's awesome. I totally agree with what you're saying we've just had different experiences with 223's is all. They have worked great for my group but we might be using different bullets or something? Glad y'all have something working well for you.

 

[ncstewart]

Good on you for having your kid out killing stuff. That's awesome. I totally agree with what you're saying we've just had different experiences with 223's is all. They have worked great for my group but we might be using different bullets or something? Glad y'all have something working well for you.

Ya man I get that also. I got buddies that swear by 223. Regardless of caliber for kids I can’t say enough to suppress!! Man I got nieces that never shot before cause of being scared that love shooting with by boys rifle. I think noise scares a lot of kids as much as fear of recoil.


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[Kaleb]

That's exactly right. It's great the things we have available now. Stuff just seems to keep getting a little better too.

 

[gbflyer]

To follow up, the new generation of plastic magazine has cured the Axis 6ARC feeding issue. Bad news is that it is even harder to load than the metal one. As an adult, I was wanting help loading it. Lol.


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[2rsquared]

It's been a while (almost 20 years) but started my 8 year old son out with Remington 700 in .308.

It was the only rifle I had.

No muzzle brake or suppressor.

Changed out the adult stock for a youth stock I got off eBay for $40.

He used the Remington Reduced Recoil 125 grain bullets. Recoil felt less than a .243 out of a 10 pound rifle.

He could have been shooting a .300 WM and not known the difference when he shot his first buck because he was so full of adrenaline and smiling from ear to ear.

He still shoots the same .308 to this very day as his primary.

A lot of things have changed since then. Kids have a lot more options.

I would go with an AR-15 with an adjustable stock.

If .223 is not legal in your state or you want something in a larger caliber, plenty of low recoiling options that will fit in AR-15 magazine.

 

[jmez]

350 Legend. Same case as 223 with 180gr bullet. Basically no recoil and great on deer 150 yards in. Started all 4 of my boys with one and have been very happy. Boys love shooting it.

I got it in a Ruger compact Ranch rifle. Fits kids well and they shoot it well. They started shooting it at 8 and no recoil issues.

It absolutely hammers deer.


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[Dave0317]

I don’t claim to have killed a lot with a 223. We shot one that should have been a slam dunk. We didn’t recover the deer. With a 243 it would have been for sure. I have killed a lot with those and like a 243. The 350 man for kids is sweet. I’m sold on it. It’s not sexy and range ain’t its thing but sub 100 and for a young kid that enough in my opinion. 180 grain bullet and 4 deer now… haven’t tracked one. All exits except one quartering to


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What bullet was it and any idea on where the shot placement was?

 

[4570neal]

After 55 years of hunting and seeing and learning alot . Give a kid the 243 win.
With the mild recoil and flat shooting I plan on getting the grand kids each one of their own.

 

[Rock’N Tacos]

Another vote for the 6 ARC. Mine is a howa mini and I love it.

 

[207North]

Another here for 6 ARC.

 

[Ryan_1129]

My kids started with .223. Perfect. 77tmk makes it forgiving haha

Is unknown mun. Best place to get 77tmk, are they out of stock a lot?

 

[Lou270]

223 or 243 is fine. With 243 there are reduced recoil option that work well (Hornady for ex). That is what I started my kids with. Length of pull is the biggest challenge I found when starting young. Obviously depends on kid but pay attention to it as most youth guns fit 12-13 yr old but still to long for younger. Can get a doner stock and cut short and put on a slip over limbsaver and put bigger stock on as kid grows.

Lou

 

[North of 60]

Mine started and did well with a .243 downloaded to right at .223 recoil at 7 yrs old and he grew into full 243.

That was a long time ago...today i would probably start him with a .223 and 77TMKs.

 

[PKR]

Started mine at close to 6 with a 22 rascal. He can pretty consistently hit a pie size plate at 100 with it, stock sights.
Then I picked him up a compact 223 tikka 1/8. His now 7. Put a vx5HD I’d taken off another rifle and it’s been a great gun for him.
I was contemplating 243 but glad I went with 223. The lower recoil makes it so he has no care about what’s coming when he pulls the trigger.
He smoked a doe about a month ago with a perfect heart shot. Didn’t go 20.

 

[Robpiat]

Good, off the shelf, 223 is no longer significantly cheaper than several other calibers that are more flexible. I’d advocate 6arc. I also like 6gt alot if you load.

300blk also has cheap readily ammo that gets stuff done.

 

[eric1115]

Good, off the shelf, 223 is no longer significantly cheaper than several other calibers that are more flexible. I’d advocate 6arc. I also like 6gt alot if you load.

300blk also has cheap readily ammo that gets stuff done.

Good off the shelf hunting ammo, you can spend $2/round for Black Hills if you don't shop smart. There are options around $1/round (Bone Frog, AAC when they get back into production).

The big deal though, is you can get some good practice ammo like ADI or AAC 77OTM for well under $1 per round. Shoot buckets of that all year, then switch to the 77 TMK a month or two before hunting seasons start.

Cheap 6mm ARC is around $1.25 per, and what I prefer for hunting is more like $1.50-1.75. I do very much like 6ARC and own one, but if I had to get rid of that or the .223 bolt gun it would definitely be the .223 that stays.

 

[LongWayAround]

I don't have kids, but I would advocate for giving them the smallest amount of recoil available.

Last weekend I watched a small kid just getting hammered by recoil at a bench while three grown men provided "instruction". Poor little dude looked like a crash test dummy. I can't imagine standing next to that and thinking it looked alright.

I could just picture his old man saying "my boy handles the *** just fine."

Meanwhile my buddy and I are banging away with our little .223s.

 

[Kaleb]

I was started wrong and so were all of my friends. Kids are little but grow fast. To each their own but a small 7(or whatever) year old doesn't have to be able to slay big game if a youth stocked or factory chopped 223 is still too big for them. It will fit next year. Set them up with a decent 22 then swap over to the same in 223. Going too fast because of our egos will do more harm than good.