son's (10yrs old) first rifle caliber selection for elk

[Mtncowboy]

I got a 6 arc in a ruger american gen 2 ranch rifle wtih a suppressor for my 10 year old and it's perfect. It may not be perfect for elk, but he could shoot it for the next year developing his skills and having fun, and then you could get him something else if you wanted. But having said that, I have seen that caliber kill a six point bull and it was as dead as any other elk on hanging on the wall.

 

[Nosteponsnek]

thank you for the responses everyone I think after looking over everything I'm going to go with a 6 CM since I already have the reamer and the loading dies for it. For bullets I think I will go with a ELD M 108 or maybe the new 109gr

 

[Mtaylor]

When it comes to my son who is also 10 I use the KISS method! He shot a deer with a 243 last year that I cut the stock down to fit him. 1 shot and drop, he shoots it so well I would use that for elk too, just limit the range and make sure conditions were right to make him successful. However looks like your looking at getting him a great all around rifle. Those 3 calibers I think are great! Of those calibers you listed I’m looking into a 6 creedmore or 6.5 prc. I like the 6.5 creedmore too but I do like speed!

 

[medvedyt]

when i guided the 243 win, 260 rem and 7-08 rem were the king/queen for the kids and it was for mostly barrenland caribou and sometimes moose and black bear.

so i imagine all of that plus the calibers mentionned should work.

try to find if factory what they call a compact/youth combo and then get later on a regular stock thus the stories of hunting and shooting will remain in.

 

[mtnbound]

thank you for the responses everyone I think after looking over everything I'm going to go with a 6 CM since I already have the reamer and the loading dies for it. For bullets I think I will go with a ELD M 108 or maybe the new 109gr

Good plan.

 

[Outlaw99]

Or let him be a cool kid and just use a good old 243. Elk isn’t going to notice the difference between that and any other 6

 

[Nosteponsnek]

I already have a extra 737 impact action and sort action custom creedmoor dies so doing a 6cm would be the easiest for me instead of a 243