Best YOUTH Hunting Rifle?

[milehighassassin]

actually, if you want something that will get them comfortable shooting try getting a short stock ar15... they have very little kick, about like a 22lr and are effective out to some serious distances...

That is not a very good weapon to learn with. I high discourage giving them anything that is semi-automatic.

Get them a rifle. Make they put a new shell in after each shot. This way they learn the importance of making your first shot count. With an auto many people rely on the quick reload time and don't put a lot of focus on the first shot.

 

[Makaveli_Rev]

270 WSM is a sniperin little bugger, with not bad kick

 

[xrated]

I would recommend not getting him a large caliber at first. I am living proof of this, I started out on a 22-250 when I was 12, no kick, fast and accurate and I shot it great. Then I switched to 7mm-mag when I was around 14, against my dad's advice. A couple of good scope rings above my eye and a sore shoulder and I have developed a flinch that still takes a lot of self coaching to get rid of. I was stubborn and kept shooting it.

I wish I would have never put down that 22-250 till I had some meat on my bones and some testosterone in my veins. I feel I would never have that flinch I fight with now.

I am not saying that the 22-250 is the way to go, just start him on something light till he is ready to move on. I wouldnt jump right to the 7mm when he is ready to move, just ease him into the larger calibers.

I know I am opening myself up to being called some names referring to what type of genitalia I may have, I am just being honest and hoping to help the young man out.

Heck along these lines get the kid a 22 to plink and master shooting with. Give him whatever for hunting...he won't notice the kick when a critter is on the other end...I've never noticed a kick hunting duck, grouse or deer. Or if you do go bigger, get a shooting shoulder pad they work wonders.

 

[xrated]

That is not a very good weapon to learn with. I high discourage giving them anything that is semi-automatic.

Get them a rifle. Make they put a new shell in after each shot. This way they learn the importance of making your first shot count. With an auto many people rely on the quick reload time and don't put a lot of focus on the first shot.

Always a prayer with lead in the air.

 

[hilinerider]

x2 on the short stock 243 or 6mm, 223 and 22-250 are good for coyotes goats

 

[Mag]

My son shoots a 7mm, he's been hunting with it for 2 years now, started @ 12.
Just an old savage model I took 1.5" off the stock and had a machinest port the barrel. He is also left handed and shoot's very well only problem is now after doing so much paintball he's more comfortable shooting right handed! With the porting there's virtually no recoil.

 

[Kevco]

I had to skip to the end I was getting impatient. DO NOT get a 12yr old little guy a 270 or bigger. Think guys a 12 yr old aint near as macho as you fellers. The last thing ya wanna do is get your boy afraid of recoil? That 25.06 would be ok, I try to find a .243. IMHO 30.30 is not a Mnt. gun (I own 3). that 243 or the 25 can be a good varmit gun too.

 

[slyrydr]

rem model 7 in 7-08

 

[AKSNOWRIDER]

rem model 7 in 7-08

my son got his remington model 7 youth in 308 when he was 11..he has never had a problem shooting it..I offered to put a wild west gun recoil brake on it but he said no...and a brake is what I would recomend if he needs a larger caliber for actual hunting...if he is just wanting to shoot..then a smaller caliber is what I would recomend...

 

[MARV1]

.22/250 first choice

My 11y old son has one, bought it for him almost 2 years ago and he's dead nuts accurate with it. It is a Rem 700 w/youth stock and it fits him great, heck, it works for me too as I'm only 5'4". I put on a Nikon Buckmaster 3-9x40BDC scope on it and I cannot complain on its accuracy, no one can.
He shot this bull on 8/12/08 at 200 yards!


Second choice would be a .30/06 as he can start off with 55g Accelerators or 125grain loads. He'll grow into this rifle and learn to shoot it well as it is a very versatile rifle and accurate also.

 

[Idaho Slim]

Larry, a couple of factors need answered for the best answer.

What game are you intending to pursue?

Is he a big kid? ( I assume so since yer a big toad yerself )

If you are only going for thin skinned eastern whitetails, I suggest a good ol .30/30.

I was a small kid when I started big game hunting here in Idaho at the age of 12, I carried a BIg pre.64 ,270 (IMO, the greatest big game caliber of alltime), back then if a "small frame" .270 was available it would have been better but was not available. For SoJo's first rifle, she uses a Ruger "youth" in .270, and took a Bighorn ram at 550 yds with one shot. She is very petite at 108 lbs & 5'3", and the recoil does not bother her. A .270 has enuf power to knock down for good any big game animal in the states, even moose, the key is practice, practice.

IMHO, if you are hunting big game, the 22-250 is a mistake and in most western states illegal to take a big game animal.

Good Luck and lets see pics whe he gets it and starts hunting!!!

 

[Burndown1]

Don't get a gun with a hard recoil. You will not only make him a bad shot you will make him not want to go. All these calibers, All good. We will get to my dog is better than yours. Get the correct gun. The worst gun to start a little guy on is the 30-30 carbine.

 

[Wyoming T/A]

Grandson took his first elk at 13 with his 270 --great rifle and good for anything he plans on hunting

 

[summitone]

LOL Slim, he's my STEP-SON but not many know that as I've had him since he was 15 months and he calls me DAD.

With that said, his "dad", aka spermdonor, is a little guy. My 9 year old is 3 inches taller and 20 lbs heavier (thats my boy ).

He's been shooting a .22 w/ a scope for 2 summers now, and pretty dang good at it. For a first gun, I'd lean towards a 30-30 (what I shot my 1st few deer w/) but I'm leaning towards a 7mm-08 and put a scope on it.

We'll just be shootin' at some whitetail this year (dumbazz dad forgot to put in for tags).

MY QUESTION IS, WHAT BRAND TO AVOID??? There was a thread (maybe a different forum) as to which what brand to avoid? A lot of people said this certain brand was a POS. I need to get one ordered and don't want to make a several hundred $$$ mistake!

 

[Nate]

id lean on the 7mm-08 myself.

 

[bonz50]

That is not a very good weapon to learn with. I high discourage giving them anything that is semi-automatic.

Get them a rifle. Make they put a new shell in after each shot. This way they learn the importance of making your first shot count. With an auto many people rely on the quick reload time and don't put a lot of focus on the first shot.

are you telling me you can't load one round at a time in an AR there gunny hartmann??? you should know better than that...

 

[DaveB]

I was gonna make a wise-crack that any rifle that'll knock a youth down should be big enough. Are youths in season right now? Do you need a tag?

But I won't....so carry on. LOL

 

[snow_knight]

id lean on the 7mm-08 myself.

This is the only way to go.. purchase the gun.. take to a good gunsmith.. have them adjust the pull and drop.. and put on a limbsaver recoil pad..


END OF STORY

 

[bonz50]

This is the only way to go.. purchase the gun.. take to a good gunsmith.. have them adjust the pull and drop.. and put on a limbsaver recoil pad..


END OF STORY

the only limbsavers I have are on my bow...

 

[Bubba700]

As far as gun, for price and quality I would lean twards the rugers. Good out of the box not to pricey ( comparatively speeking). Im a lefty and I know its a pain looking for left rifles since most people don't stock them. A round that may be up your alley for him where he is small. 7x57 also know as a 7mm mouser (sp?) We have one in a remington and it shoots great, limited to about 300 on deer and 200 on elk with the right bullets but the recoil is pretty light for the performance. Similar to a 7mm 08 I believe from the reloading charts I looked at.