Son’s first deer rifle

[optimusprime]

My son is going to be deer hunting for the first time this year. He is 11 and around 95lbs. I’ve heard .243 is a great youth round but I’ve also heard 6.5 may be better and more versatile while providing slightly more recoil. What do you guys think? I just want him to actually enjoy shooting the gun without the recoil getting in his head.


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[rookieforever33]

.223 and lots of practice

 

[rookieforever33]

I also recommend looking into the single shot break action rifles. They are usually about 6 inches shorter with the same length barrel. Makes it easier for kids to hold. Good learning rifle on other fronts also

 

[Snowhunter11]

I started with thinking 6.5 creedmore with a break.. way to much gun for kids. Now I have purchased a .223, silenced, to shoot 77gr TMK at deer. Stupid light recoil, minimal DB, and wicked accurate. What more could you want for your kid? Just look at the .223 for everything forum! I agree with most on here shoot more in comfort!

 

[optimusprime]

Does 223 perform as well as 243 for deer? I’m fairly ignorant on deer guns because I primarily archery hunt and bear hunt with a 7mm mag.


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[Snowhunter11]

Thread '.223 for bear, mountain goat, deer, elk, and moose.'
https://rokslide.com/forums/threads/223-for-bear-mountain-goat-deer-elk-and-moose.130488/

According to hundreds of users they slay deer

 

[juju]

Does 223 perform as well as 243 for deer? I’m fairly ignorant on deer guns because I primarily archery hunt and bear hunt with a 7mm mag.


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223 does as well as 243. The advantage of the .223 is low recoil whereas a youth size/weight 243 is not. There's only downsides to using 243 instead of 223.

Also low recoil but better than is 6.5 Grendel.

If you already have an AR, just use that.

 

[optimusprime]

I dont have a rifle yet so I will end up going and looking at those very soon. I’ve got all Tikkas so far so maybe I’ll go that route.


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[tuffcity]

Probably a bit hard to find and rapidly becoming obsolete, but I started my kids out with a TC contender carbine in 7-30 Waters. It was easy to shoot, and short/light enough to make packing it around nice for them.

I'm a believer that if you teach your kids to shoot properly, by the time they're "adults" (pick an age) they can shoot anything - caliber wise. I use my daughter as an example, at about a buck thirty and 5' 7" she can roll my .375 H&H (Sako Kodiak, so no brake) like nobodies business.

 

[bymers311]

I have gotten a couple of kids into deer hunting recently with a Howa mini chambered in 6mm ARC. I have been very happy with it and the kids have really enjoyed shooting it too.

 

[MatukaJoe]

Most important will be fit to the shooter, then depending on the ranges they will be hunting, which aren't stated in the OP, a caliber can be selected. I suggest the smallest caliber that will reach the ranges one wants for Maximum expansion. This is different than the advertised expansion velocity.

E

Post in thread 'Kids rifle manifesto'

Mar 27, 2024

.243 with a 108

6mm ARC with a 108

.223 with a 77

Suppressor brought .243 to near unsuppressed ARC and brought ARC to near unsuppressed .223, I can upload those too if people want to see.

• eric1115

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[optimusprime]

Expected range will probably be 200 yards or less, maybe a little further. That’s just my best guess.


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[MarkOrtiz]

I started both of my kids with 7mm-08. If I could do it again I would go 6.5 Creedmoor. Easy to find rifles, easy to find ammo, accurate, easy to shoot and will still do everything they would need for a long time.

 

[eric1115]

This thread has a bunch of great information from a bunch of different people, I've not seen a better source of information on the topic of teaching kids to shoot compiled in one place.

E

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: 211
• Forum: Firearms

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[MOLC09]

A 30-30 is a pleasant shooting deer rifle.

 

[optimusprime]

Update. Just found out where I live (WA) the minimum hunting caliber is .24. Looks like .223 is not an option.


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[MarkOrtiz]

6mm Creedmoor or .25 creed would work too then

 

[MannyMedeiros21]

6mm creed. Really no recoil and very accurate. AIM for the shoulder blade…..bang flop


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[TaperPin]

In many families everyone gets a 243 as their first rifle, some outgrow it and some don’t, but there is always a use for a spare 243 as a loaner, coyotes, varmints, plinking, truck gun, etc. A youth model is easier to handle and as he grows up normal length factory stocks are dirt cheap, but you’re likely to find someone looking for a youth stock that will trade straight across. To help reduce recoil even more, some factory ammo is known to be slow by 100 fps or more. Mason Leather Outdoors has a few dozen 243 ammo test videos.