Youth Elk Rifle

[HiMtnHntr]

My kids all started with 7mm-08. When it came time to hunt elk they all used my 300 ‘s and never had an issue, even at 12 years old. I think it’s important to tame recoil for target shooting for the younguns but it doesn’t seem to be a factor while shooting in the field.

 

[Rat]

7mm-08, daughter, wife and son all use them. My daughter killed an elk at 362 yards last year, one shot kill. They have killed probably 20 or more whitetails, several antelope and one bear. It is a great round, I have no experience with the 6.5 CM because of the performance I've seen from the 7mm-08 I never seen the need to get one.

 

[Bissmatt87]

Tikka compact in 6.5 or 308.

 

[Marble]

I have both 7-08 and 6.5 PRC in multiple different rifles. Also a couple. 243s. None of them kick much at all and the PRCs have a removable muzzle brake. I like the added speed if the PRC vs the CM. And the 7-08 puts out a 140 grain bullet at over 2900. All very similar balistically.

I wouldn't put too much money into a rifle for a kid that age since most likely they will end up "upgrading" at some point.

Sent from my SM-S918U using Tapatalk

 

[roadrunner]

.270 will handle any animal you shoot and common enough to find ammunition most anywhere.

My oldest daughter shot her first deer and elk at age 10 with a .270 and her first off range oryx with a 7mm mag when she was 14. She's killed many more elk and a second off range oryx since with her .270

Never using a "can" has not caused her to take on an appearance like Sloth from  Goonies.

Kids can handle more recoil than we give them credit for...

 

[camelcluch]

The 7-08 is hard to beat especially with a break. The 270 is another good choice and still stacks up to today’s specs. However, I think you be better off with a tikka over the Ruger. My gen 2 is the worst money I have ever spent on a firearm. The gen 2 runs like it’s full of gravel. Empty it’s fine. Loaded with mag and I won’t use it as a speed bump.

 

[SUD1988]

Each of my kids will be given a 6 ARC for their first rifle. Of the factory options currently available it will be a Howa mini in a Stockys VG stock.

If Tikka ever starts making factory 6 ARC’s it will be a tikka.

 

[kcm2]

My Ruger American in 6mm Creedmoor is extremely accurate. They way outshoot their price. As for caliber, Hornady does make managed recoil ammo in 270 to start, if you don't want to stick with the 6.5 CM. But I always go back to Patrick Smith's rule: 1. Shot placement. 2. Shot placement. 3. Shot placement. 4. Use enough gun. 5. Use enough bullet.

Have fun.

 

[sierracharlie338]

A lot of good options in here and some I personally wouldn’t choose.

25cm/257/25-06
260/6.5
7-08

All solid options that will last them a life time. I’m a fan of 25 anything

 

[Gone4Days]

buy a Howa barreled action in 6.5 cm from Brownells black friday sale and put it in a chassis that has adjustable LOP. thats what I did for my daughters.

 

[Anschutz]

My only suggestion is to get them an action they can use forever with a stock change. If my 4yo daughter wasn't left eye dominant, she'd be getting a Howa 6ARC to start. I just got her a Red Ryder and no BBs for Christmas so she can practice safe gun handling. It'll be a while before she's behind a CF rifle.

 

[firewood]

When in doubt go with a larger caliber and they can grow into it. My daughter likes her .25-06 but next year is shooting my old Tikka 7 mag with a muzzle break and 139 barnes ttx anyone can shoot it. My wife fell in love with it now I'm having to build another one. It's a subject with a lot of opinions but your on the right track.

 

[TradLife406]

22 or 6 creedmoor

 

[AZ_Hunter]

An ultralight AR15 in 6ARC with adj stock, suppressor and nice two stage trigger.

The two stage trigger really helps to learn trigger control.

 

[260284]

Ill throw out what I did for my kiddo.
He started with an 22lr at 5yo.
Was shooting an ar15 55gr fmj around 7yo.
Started on a ruger american gen 1 in 6cm at 9yo. He was shooting 75gr v max downloaded with h4895 2900fps ish. WITH A SUPRESSOR and a bag of sand in the buttstock.
With that he was able to shoot sub moa 5 shots out to 400 with the occasional flyer.
At 10 with his first 2 elk tags in his pocket he is shooting the 103eldx at 3000fps. He shot his bull on his 10th birthday and has a cow hunt in December.
He put 3 shots in the bull in about 15 seconds at 320yds. Never lost the bull in the scope and shot a 1.5moa group at his first big game animal.View attachment 975226View attachment 975215
This would be very hard for a kid to do with a larger chambering. If you are a reloader you can make your own reduced recoil loads and make the best learning experience possible.
Get a gun the kid wants to shoot hundreds of rounds a year.
Then take them shooting!

The 6 Creedmoor is highly underrated for big game. Look up what Steve with Exo and his vidoes on the Experience project. He uses a 16" 6 Creed with 108 ELDM. @kswaterfowl dropped a cow elk in her tracks with 108 handloads at 658 yards. I have taken 4 Kansas whitetail and my grandson shot a 250+ lb buck at 253 yards this year with the same load.

 

[cuerro viejo]

My oldest daughter is 12. She has killed dozens of animals from pigs, elk, whitetail to aoudad with 130 TMK and 139 Scenars from 6.5cm.

With that said I built her a 18” 6 CM this year and her accuracy and long range shooting improved dramatically. The 108 eldm has been just as impressive as the 6.5 CM with less recoil in a lighter gun.

We are chasing cow elk in Jan, I expect not issues after seeing damage on aoudad and mule deer

 

[IDElkmagnet]

The 6 Creedmoor is highly underrated for big game. Look up what Steve with Exo and his vidoes on the Experience project. He uses a 16" 6 Creed with 108 ELDM. @kswaterfowl dropped a cow elk in her tracks with 108 handloads at 658 yards. I have taken 4 Kansas whitetail and my grandson shot a 250+ lb buck at 253 yards this year with the same load.

Cow tag update.
This one was with a 89gr hammer HBC at 3175fps. Quartering away I told him to aim at the offside leg and he broke it upon impact. The hammer HBC bullet was very effective.
That evening at camp he was shooting rocks and spotting his own impacts from 320 to 640yds.
He truly enjoys shooting it.