First youth hunting rifle?

[OntarioHunter]

I am glad I started out with the same cartridge my dad and mom used for hunting. Dad shot the other surplus Springfield (he ordered a pair from an ad in American Rifleman) and mom used the 760 30-06 her dad gave them a few days after I was born. I was legally just old enough to hunt. If I was that grown up, why shouldn't I shoot a grown up gun? I think it would have been a let down to be given a "lightweight" gun. That would speak "You're still just a little kid" every time I picked it up. Dad only had loading dies for 30-06 ... but he and a coworker shared loading tools (loading was done at Bob's place) and the coworker did have dies for .243 as that's what his wife shot. So I suppose one of those could have been a starter gun for me and my three brothers. We lived in grizzly country and I suspect that may have influenced Dad's decision to have us start out with a man-sized caliber.

Anyway, the point I'm trying to make is you should maybe consider the psychological effect of buying a special kid's gun for a thirteen year-old boy. If it was me, I would get him a "grown up" gun, especially if I was shooting one. Hunting is a grown up thing after all.

Edit: It is interesting that Dad bought both me and my older brother 16 gauge pumps to start bird hunting while he shot a Model 11 twelve gauge. There was some sense in that choice. First, for many reasons he never considered semiautomatic anything a good option for starting kids. I agree. Second, back in the days when we could use lead shot and before geese made a recovery from near extinction, a 16 gauge was an excellent duck and upland gun. And we were almost exclusively limited to jump shooting which involved a lot of walking. I'm sure there were many days Dad wished he was carrying something lighter, especially after he developed back problems. Perhaps Dad bought Mike and I the kind of shotgun he wished he had.

 

[wihunter12]

Browning Micro Midas in 7mm-08 is my go-to recommendation for a youth gun

Started my son with this also, it has been an awesome gun for him. Need to move on soon to a full size stock.

 

[belshawelk]

I would advise against what my dad gave me and had me use so I would go with .243

 

[Deleted member 16014]

.243 Tikka was my choice, no regrets. If truly deer or antelope only, I'd strongly consider a fast twist .223 for the short to medium range stand setup you describe.

 

[OntarioHunter]

And there is the consumeristic "use it and throw it away" message to consider. My dad grew up in the Depression. He didn't believe in that shit. He bought stuff that was intended to last. Passing that philosophy on to me has made a big difference in my life. Buy your boy a gun he will use for a lifetime.

 

[Redman]

Browning Micro Midas in 7mm-08 is my go-to recommendation for a youth gun

This..purchased this for my wife in a Xbolt. She was very recoil shy and had never had proper training. She is left handed but right eye dominant. Over the summer I worked with her. She shoots it right handed, is very accurate, and killed 2 deer with it this fall. Oh plus Browning offers a stock upgrade as your youth grows.

 

[Irrelevant]

The correct answer is a .243 Tikka.

This is what I got my kids, but I honestly regret not going suppressed 6.5cm.

 

[OntarioHunter]

This boy is THIRTEEN, not nine or ten. I wasn't "man-size" by the time I was thirteen but I was getting there fast. I'm sorry, but I just don't see much point in buying a young man that age a little kid's gun. He might be too big for it by the time season opens next fall ... when he'll probably be fourteen.

 

[Deleted member 16014]

This is what I got my kids, but I honestly regret not going suppressed 6.5cm.

What makes you wish you'd have gone with the latter? Both great, just curious.
Obviously suppressed is sweet but it adds @ $1,000 off the top unless you've already got one.

 

[Wild Bill]

My dad started my brother and I out on matching Remington Model 7 Mountain Rifles chambered in 7mm-08. We both killed dozens of deer with those guns.
The 7mm-08 is a perfect caliber for kids. You can shoot small enough loads to have minimal recoil and plenty of range and oompf to grow into shooting larger loads at bigger game. The only issue that I can see with that specific gun that we started with is that when fired, the barrel jumps quite a bit since its a shorter barrel rather than kicking back into the shooter. Not a huge deal, but it can be difficult to get back on target for a follow up shot if necessary.
I agree with what was said above, with recoil management being a top priority. I will be getting a suppressor for my son's first rifle before he starts shooting.

 

[Steelsearchin]

I started with Dad's old 30-06 (pre-WW2 model 70) at 14 and I did fine with it, but I was a big kid.
My son is a skinny little dude (12 years @ 5'7" & 85#), so I didn't go that route. When he was 8, I started him with a .243 and a .44 mag single shot with a heavy barrel. Ear plugs AND muffs and he was fine with the recoil on both at 8 years old. Youth stocks, limbsaver pads, and a neoprene cheek pad probably helped with some of the perceived recoil.

Keep him plinking with a .22 and iron sights, its great for learning, but a clear 2-7X scope will help with confidence and low light conditions.

 

[Wild Bill]

Obviously suppressed is sweet but it adds @ $1,000 off the top unless you've already got one.

I don't have one (yet) but I just think of it as an investment. Yeah, they're a PITA to acquire, and they're not cheap, but they're just so great to shoot it's worth it.

 

[Stone_Ice_1]

I started at 12 years old with a .270. Use that, recoil shouldn't be a problem, just teach him proper use of the gun. Unless that is you just need an excuse to get a new gun. My 8 year old just shot his new .243 this past summer without any issues.

 

[Deleted member 16014]

I don't have one (yet) but I just think of it as an investment. Yeah, they're a PITA to acquire, and they're not cheap, but they're just so great to shoot it's worth it.

I'm with you, just thinking in light of the OP's situation he's maybe not looking to acquire one on top of a rifle for the youngster.

 

[nastynate]

Im thinking 6.5 Creedmore. Have no idea. I was just going to have him shoot my .270 carbine w/ iron sights. He shoots a .22 I have pretty regularly and is a good shot. I was going to start him shooting at the range in the spring with the .270.

If the 270 fits him, see what's out there in the reduced recoil rounds (or load your own if you do that). But if going the new rifle route, I'd also recommend a 243, because it is probably the easiest on recoil while being plenty for deer. Easy on recoil = more fun to shoot = kid will shoot it more and enjoy the sport, which is most likely what you're hoping for. I absolutely have more fun shooting guns with less recoil. My 22 > 243 > 30-06 for just pure fun. And I've never had any problem killing game with 243.

 

[Irrelevant]

What makes you wish you'd have gone with the latter? Both great, just curious.
Obviously suppressed is sweet but it adds @ $1,000 off the top unless you've already got one.

Honestly, there's not a great reason, other than there's more models that come standard with a threaded barrel, and that I'm not going to let her shoot it at elk, vs I would a 6.5. But we're not at elk yet, so I really shouldn't worry.

 

[Beignet]

In regards to a full sized vs compact stock, I do believe that the stocks are interchangeable between some of the Ruger/Savage/Tikka price points. Consider getting the full sized rifle but know you could get a compact take-off stock from fleabay or even the manufacturer that’ll bolt right on if the gun doesn’t fit the kid. Save the full sized stock and switch it back out after eats his Wheaties for another year or two.

Then again, you could also size up the .22’s length of pull compared to whatever you were looking for if the .22 fits him well.

I think @SFC B works for one of the big retailers and could confirm if I’m correct about interchangeability?

 

[elkantlers]

243 Win is hard to beat for a first or last rifle.

 

[2rocky]

I grew up shooting a hand me down model 64 Winchester 25-35 (lever action hammer). My bird gun was an H&R 20 Gauge single shot hammer gun. My father seemed to think open sights and exposed hammer were the safest for a kid.

One of the few redeeming things about my former Father in law was he gave his daughter a Remington 7mm-08 and a Remington 870 in 20 gauge. My girls got to learn on those.

I'd find the rifle that fits the kid. Make the shopping part of the experience. Feel the differences between a lever action and a bolt action or a break open hammer gun. Discuss the aesthetic differences between wood and composite stocks. The individual rifle is more important than the caliber. I'd say about anything above .240 but under .30 with less than 15 fp of recoil. (many Western states require .24 or larger for deer.)

 

[2rocky]

	Cartridge (Wb@MV)	Rifle Weight	Recoil energy	Recoil velocity
	.25-20 Win. (86 at 1460)	6.5​	1.3​	3.5​
	.256 Win. Mag. (75 at 2400)	7.5​	2.4​	4.5​
	.30 Carbine (110 at 1990)	7​	3.5​	5.7​
	6mm-223 (75 at 2950)	7.5​	4.6​	n/a
	6mm BR Rem. (80 at 3100)	8.5​	5.2​	6.3​
	6mm PPC (85 at 2800)	7.5​	5.3​	n/a
	6mm Norma BR (95 at 2914)	8.5​	5.9​	6.7​
	.25-35 Win. (110 at 2425)	7.5​	6​	7.2​
	6mm Lee Navy (112 at 2650)	8.5​	6.5​	7​
	.30-30 Win. (125 at 2175)	7.5​	6.6​	7.5​
	.25-35 Win. (117 at 2230)	6.5​	7​	8.3​
	.300 Blackout (135 at 2085)	8​	7​	n/a
	.243 Win. (75 at 3400)	8.5​	7.2​	7.4​
	6.8mm Rem. SPC (120 at 2460)	8​	7.5​	n/a
	.250 Savage (100 at 2900)	7.5​	7.8​	8.2​
	6.5x52 M-C (140 at 2200)	8​	7.8​	n/a
	6.5mm Grendel (123 at 2590)	8​	7.9​	8​
	6.8mm Rem. SPC (115 at 2625)	7.5​	8​	8.3​
	.243 Win. (100 at 2960)	7.5​	8.8​	8.7​
	6.5mm Grendel (120 at 2600)	7.5​	8.9​	8.8​
	.308 Win. (125 at 2675)	8.75​	9​	8.1​
	.257 Roberts (100 at 3000)	7.5​	9.3​	8.9​
	.30-30 Win. (150 at 2364)	8​	9.4​	8.7​
	.260 Rem. (140 at 2360)	8​	9.5​	8.8​
	.30 Rem. (170 at 2120)	7.5​	9.8​	9.2​
	6mm Rem. (100 at 3100)	8​	10​	9​
	6.5x50 Arisaka (140 at 2600)	8​	10​	n/a
	.270 Win. (120 at 2675)	8​	10​	9​
	7-30 Waters (120 at 2700)	7​	10​	9.6​
	.243 WSSM (100 at 3100)	7.5​	10.1​	9.3​
	6mm-06 (105 at 3000)	8​	10.2​	9.1​
	6.5x55 Swede (140 at 2650)	9​	10.6​	8.7​
	.30-30 Win. (150 at 2400)	7.5​	10.6​	9.5​
	.257 Roberts (120 at 2800)	8​	10.7​	9.3​
	.257 Rob. Imp. (115 at 2900)	8​	10.8​	9.3​
	6mm-284 (105 at 3000)	7.5​	10.9​	9.7​
	.243 Win. (95 at 3100)	7.25​	11​	9.9​
	.25-06 Rem. (100 at 3230)	8​	11​	9.4​
	.30-30 Win. (170 at 2200)	7.5​	11​	9.7​
	6.5x54 M-S (140 at 2400)	7.5​	11.1​	9.7​
	7.5x54 MAS (150 at 2600)	9​	11.3​	9​
	7x57 Mauser (139 at 2700)	8.75​	11.7​	9.3​
	.260 Rem. (140 at 2750)	8.25​	11.9​	9.7​
	6.5x55 Swede (140 at 2735)	8.5​	12.1​	9.6​
	7mm-08 Rem. (120 at 3000)	7.5​	12.1​	10.2​
	.25-06 Rem. (120 at 3000)	8​	12.5​	10​
	6.5x55 Swede (129 at 2700)	8​	12.5​	10​
	.260 Rem. (129 at 2900)	8.25​	12.5​	9.9​
	6.5x57 (140 at 2700)	8​	12.5​	10​
	7mm-08 Rem. (140 at 2860)	8​	12.6​	10.1​
	6.5x55 Swede (160 at 2300)	8​	12.7​	10.1​
	.30-30 Win. (160 at 2400)	7.5​	12.7​	10.5​
	7.5x55 Swiss (150 at 2800)	9​	12.9​	9.6​
	.260 Rem. (120 at 2860)	7.5​	13​	10.6​
	7x57 Mauser (145 at 2725)	8.5​	13​	9.9​
	6.5mm Rem. Mag. (120 at 3100)	8​	13.1​	10.3​
	.308 Marlin Express (160 at 2660)	8​	13.4​	10.4​
	7x57 Mauser (140 at 2660)	8​	13.5​	10.4​
	.307 Win. (150 at 2600)	7.5​	13.7​	10.9​
	.25 WSSM (120 at 2990)	7.25​	13.8​	11.1​
	6.5mm-06 (140 at 2800)	8​	13.9​	10.6​
	6.5mm Rem. Mag. (140 at 2900)	8.5​	13.9​	10.3​
	7mm-08 Rem. (150 at 2750)	7.5​	13.9​	10.9​
	7x57 Mauser (160 at 2600)	8​	14.3​	n/a
	6.5mm-284 Norma (140 at 2920)	8​	14.7​	10.9​
	.300 Sav. (150 at 2630)	7.5​	14.8​	n/a
	.257 Wby. Mag. (120 at 3300)	9.25​	15.1​	10.3​