Rifle suggestion for my 9 year old and 12 year old for elk hunting

[arri1942]

my boys are both slight of build. Trying to get some good recommendations on a youth rifle that would pack enough punch to put down an elk and their short arms could still handle. I know that their will still be quite a punch regardless but I am not worried about that as much as making sure the rifle fits them well to be able to safely take the recoil. We target shoot with a lead sled and so the longer stock we have worked around, but neither has long enough arms to shoot my 7mm or 30.06. My 12 year old is close but my 9yo will be likely doing a mentored cow hunt this year. Thanks for the info.

 

[MTHunter20]

Here's what I would do. T3x Lite Compact in 7mm-08 and on sale too..

e-Commerce

 

[elkguide]

7mm08 is a good caliber choice.

 

[Grumman]

My son is 9 and has shot my 270 with Hornady Custom Lite loads and he just got a 308. The Custom Lite or other reduced recoil loads can make a big difference for them. His 308 is a M700 ADL youth. My mom gave it to him for his birthday yesterday, she won it in a raffle 17 years ago and has been waiting to give it to him.


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[Thinkingman]

I love the Tikka Compact 7-08.
Great cartridge but elk deserve a premium bullet.
I bought Barnes 120gr TTSX for loading for my son.
Tough bullet and recoil is less than 140gr.
Don't ignore bullet construction.

 

[AK Troutbum]

I bought a Tikka T3 lite 7mm– 08 for my ten-year-old (now almost 14), and it's been a great rifle/cartridge for him. He is also smaller in stature, I can't remember what he weighed when I bought it for him but he'll be 14 next month and weighs 92 lbs. He has never had any issues firing this rifle and is a very good shot.


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[GKPrice]

7mm-08 is an obvious stand-out - it is what I have and will continue to start new ELK hunters with

 

[eagle#eyes]

With no experience shooting a 7mm-08, how does the recoil compare to a 243?

 

[AK Troutbum]

That's a tough question, unless you're shooting the exact same rifle chambered in each caliber, it's really hard to compare recoil. I have a .243 that probably kicks a little less than the 7-08 but it's also a lot heavier rifle. So not really an apples to apples comparison.


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[Formidilosus]

With no experience shooting a 7mm-08, how does the recoil compare to a 243?

The 243 has a bit more than half the recoil of a 7/08. Adult males are not the best judges of the differences in recoil. Between children and woman the vast majority have greatly preferred the 243 to 7/08/308 in my experience.


I would be looking at the 243 or 6.5 Creedmoor.

 

[eagle#eyes]

The 243 has a bit more than half the recoil of a 7/08. Adult males are not the best judges of the differences in recoil. Between children and woman the vast majority have greatly preferred the 243 to 7/08/308 in my experience.


I would be looking at the 243 or 6.5 Creedmoor.

Thanks
I am looking for something similar to the OP but for my wife that my kids can shoot as they grow up. Just don't want anyone to get scared off from recoil or develop bad habits. She has shot a 243 and didn't mind it at all, I just didn't want buy something else for her before she has actually handled or shot it.

 

[Jimbob]

.243 Savage LWH kicks less then 7mm-08 Ruger american compact (similar weight guns). My son shoots both but enjoyed the .243 more. I made some reduced load 7mm-08 and he likes that.

 

[bhylton]

if you handload and are going to try reduced loads, remember that the premium bullets that perform well in magnum rifles/ magnum velocity might not perform well at lower velocity. vis versa, a lighter constructed bullet might perform more like a tougher bullet when moving slower. just food for thought.
I too think the 7-08 would be a good choice. tikka compact would be a great rifle for it as well. nothing wrong with a savage axis or ruger american compact either. about the same weight, 1/2 the price. accuracy will be good enough i would think. Good luck!

 

[HiMtnHntr]

7mm-08 and 140 gn noslers partitions is a great combo.

 

[AK Troutbum]

If you're really concerned about recoil and, it's not something that you're opposed to doing, putting a brake on the 7–08 might be a good option. I took my 12-year-old son on a goat hunt to Kodiak, and wanted to have a little more powerful rifle then his 7–08, so I ended up putting a brake on my 300wsm, so It wouldn't beat him up too bad. After a few range sessions, I dare say that he is a better shot with it than myself. He ended up killing a nice goat at over 200 yards with that rifle. I've never been a fan of brakes, but they do work, and I'm starting to change my mind about them.


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[Pn8hall]

This past year I took my 11 year old son for his 1st whitetail hunt. He average build and weighs about 70 lbs. I had him use my Thompson Center Venture in .270 with the Hornady Custom Lite Ammo. During practice sessions I shot that load side by side with a Remington 783 compact youth in .243 and the recoil with the Hornady loads was significantly less than the .243. I was very impressed. I also had another setup his 13 year old daughter with his Vanguard .308 using the same ammo and she handled it like a champ. She is quite tall and skinny probably weighs 80lbs at best. Both kids harvested their 1st deer this year! I dont know if that ammo is suitable for elk but hopefully someone does. Could be an option though.

 

[AK Troutbum]

This past year I took my 11 year old son for his 1st whitetail hunt. He average build and weighs about 70 lbs. I had him use my Thompson Center Venture in .270 with the Hornady Custom Lite Ammo. During practice sessions I shot that load side by side with a Remington 783 compact youth in .243 and the recoil with the Hornady loads was significantly less than the .243. I was very impressed. I also had another setup his 13 year old daughter with his Vanguard .308 using the same ammo and she handled it like a champ. She is quite tall and skinny probably weighs 80lbs at best. Both kids harvested their 1st deer this year! I dont know if that ammo is suitable for elk but hopefully someone does. Could be an option though.

I really enjoy hearing stories like this. It's all about shot placement, and as long as you're within a couple hundred yards or so, i'm sure that ammo in that caliber would work just fine on elk.


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[hodgeman]

I started my son out with the 7-08....a pile of dead caribou later, he still likes the 7-08 although I did get him a .270 this Christmas.

Tough to beat the 7-08 for a low recoil killing stick with capability.

 

[hunter1181]

I was in the same situation you are two years ago and ended up buying a TC Encore in 7mm-08 with a muzzle break. My son has been hunting with it ever since and has had no issues with the recoil.

 

[Thinkingman]

I would never expose my son's hearing to a muzzle brake.