youth Rifle - 243/25-06/257 what?

[MountainWalk]

Another point about the 7mm Mauser. You can buy mil surp rifles, carbine models for next to nothing. Real cheap quality rifles that you wont be afraid to ding up and give to a beginner. The ammo is quite cheap, cheaper than 7mm-08, and more readily available.  I agree witht he comment about the 243 not being a great choice for new elk hunters. I have a soft spot for it, myself. All the above choices are good, but not as good an all around choice.

[AWS]

The Stevens 200 in 7mm-08 is the best deal going.  The stock is very easy to shorten or have shortenned and the are a number of inexpensive prefit fullsize stocks if you ever want to bring it back to fullsize.

AWS

[jdb]

I'd also say the 7mm08 and I am not trying to start trouble but I think ammo for it would be just as available, just as cheap, and just as plentiful.JB

[Sagedawg]

 I really like the 260 rem, but like has been said if your not a reloader, then its not the round for you. I 100% agree on the recommendation of the 7mm/08. That is a great round for a smaller framed shooter with great loads available from the factory. Plus you can sneek it out during elk season and have a sshorter rifle for sneeking in the timber with. 



Sage

[runningboard]

My wife shoots a Rem Model 700 in 7-08, we both love it. I bought the youth model since she is 4'-11" and will never get any bigger and I sorta went different in that I had a new take-off in 7-08 I picked up at a gunshow for $60 and paid my smith to put it on and tune the new X-mark trigger to 3# and we got the shorter stock with the longer(24") barrel. Great cartridge, good luck with your search.

[high country]

I would shy away from the 25/06 just because the barrel length. they are the undisputed velocity king of the rounds you listed, but it will be a heavier gun. 260, 243, 7/08, 257bob any of them are gonna be fine. pick one and get lots of practice in.

[Kent Hunter]

Tat. My vote is for the 7mm-08. More than a few choices both in make and bullet weights. You'll love it.

[jeff100]

Add me to the list of folks recommending the .260 Remington.  I bought a Ruger M77 Compact in .260 Rem a couple of years ago, with the laminated stock, put a Leupold 3-9 Vari-X III on it with ranging reticle, and I consider this to be the perfect hunting rifle.  I went with this combination as I have a very bad neck with multiple level fusion, and I can't take a lot of recoil anymore without suffering a lot and putting my last disc at risk.  This cartridge has minimal felt recoil.  I do a lot of load development and a lot of long distance shooting and have found this cartridge to be a very flat shooting and highly accurate round.  The only downside is there's not much of a selection in commercial ammunition available...

[Gutpile]

Jeff100, what load are you running? I've been useing 125grn partitions and have been very impressed.

[Vek]

Don't buy him something that he'll grow out of.  I sort of loathe the notion of a "youth rifle". 

Do you handload?  If so, you can do some things to mimic the performance of milder cartridges with chamberings like the 280 or 308 or 30-06.  In the case of the 308 or 30-06, you can use certain kinds of powder to drive a bullet meant for the slower 30-30 at 30-30 speeds, and 30-30 recoil levels.  If you don't handload, take a look at Remington's factory-loaded "managed recoil" ammo - they offer it for a bunch of chamberings (270, 7-08, 7mm mag, 308, 30-06).  Basically a slower, softer bullet meant to kill deer at 30-30 or 243 ranges (less than 200 yards or so). 

I'd be looking for an older Remington ADL or Winchester 670 with a junky wood stock, and cut the stock down to whatever size he needs.  Then, as he grows, keep your eye out for an aftermarket lightweight stock from McMillan or Bansner, and move him into that as he grows. 

As for chambering, I'd get something that will kill elk without compromise.  That means a 270, 7-08, 280, 308, or 30-06.  260 or 25-06 at a minimum. 

I like the 280 and the 30-06.

[MountainWalk]

I fully agree with the said above about "youth" rifles. I think we were having this sort of talk a few months ago.  Kids dont stay small forever.  I still say the best compromise is a 7mauser. It doesnt get much mention, but it will kill everything you need to, cheaply and without kick. After doing some checking, even the 7mm-08 doesnt have many more loads than the old 7. Besides, like Vek said, you can buy old, perfectly functional, dinged up rifles for a song. A kids first gun shouldnt be a fine walnut stocked gun anyhow.

To me, a kid should first hunt with irons and learn the basics before giving him another thing that could, might, might not, who knows, fail him.

[LongTatLaw]

Its settled!

Im getting the Stevens Model 200 in 7mm08

I like the ballistics on it and as I dont reload and maybe never will...this has decent options for factory ammo.

I know this is already a shorter rifle with a 22 inch barrel...   but, where is a good place to have a few inches chopped off of the stock?

I live in Olymia but will travel if theres just no where near olympia to get it done?

whats should expect to pay for such a service? 20$ 100$ ?

I bet there is someone commenting on here that could do a fine job for me for a reasonable fee?  I wonder if catwithboost can? he is pretty handy

------------

FYI  the rifle is really for my wife.
But I have two boys babies still that will need a good starter rifle in like 6 years...I wanted something my wife wont mind the kick from...and she is kick shy after an unexpected shock while shooting my 300 win mag and 444.

I do wonder how much felt recoil difference there will be between this 7mm08 and my stevens 308???


Thanks for all the help guys.

[Slenk]

Go on E-bay and by a takeoff from a savage Model 10 in a Youth stock.
Cheaper in the long run.
Slenk