Youth rifle suggestions

[irish52084]

I've got a nephew who's 9 and is taking his hunters education course soon. So, my brother and I are going to surprise him with a rifle, we just don't know what to buy.
I'm leaning toward a savage youth rifle because its not overly expensive and people keep telling me they're really accurate rifles. The Weatherby vanguard youth rifle is another suggestion that was given to us.

So, I guess I'm looking for a few suggestions and opinions to make a more comprehensive list. We'd prefer either .243WIN or 7mm-08 as I already reload for .243 and 7mm.

[2labs]

Look at the Rem. youth .243 in the classifieds here.

[Mongo Hunter]

I was gunna say .308 but being you already do .243 for reloading that's the way I would go. My first hunting rifle was a Remington 788 in .243, worked great. Now a days I would say either Remington 700 or the Savage equivalent. both are great rifles and you can find parts easy for them like bases, stocks ect.

[Holg3107]

Look at the Rem. youth .243 in the classifieds here.

 

I have this gun in 6mm Rem as my first rifle. Couldn't ask for a better gun!

[Jolten]

Savage Axis II would be an amazing first rifle. I have an original axis in 243 and absolutely love it.

[carpsniperg2]

Ruger American compact or full size depending on his size. Much better gun then the savage and not very much more.

[Bob33]

Savage makes rifles that are good value. They're not the prettiest, but shoot well.

As for caliber, you will get lots of recommendations for 243 which is the smallest legal big game caliber in Washington and thus has relatively mild recoil. It's a good caliber, but there's nothing wrong with considering larger calibers as well. You can buy or load "reduced recoil" ammunition that allows calibers even as large as 30-06 to have the same recoil as a 243. The 7mm-08 is what I would be looking for. It is based on the same case as the 243, but shoots larger bullets.

[huntnphool]

 Another vote for the Ruger American Compact.

[724wd]

I'm getting my daughter (7 years old) a H&R Survivor in .308.  With reduced recoil rounds it's like a 30-30 and as she grows, she can fling big pills and full house loads if she likes.     Single shot, exposed hammer, make each shot count and you know when it's cocked!

[CplRaines]

Got both my kids Thompson Encores.  Started them out with 243 barrels. Daughter now has a 270 barrel and will be putting a 7mm on the boys this year. Great rifles. Thinking about getting myself one.

[irish52084]

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm gonna head out shopping this weekend and see if I can get my hands on a few rifles before I buy.

[b23]

Howa has their 2-1 youth model that should make a nice little youth setup.  Weatherby, with their Vanguard (Howa made) line, has some cool youth models with adjustable length of pull.  A spacer system that will allow you to change LOP as the kiddo gets bigger would be a nice feature.

[outlawbuck]

I bought my daughter the Savage 7mm-08 and must say that is a sweet shooting rifle. It has very little kick for a small framed shooters my daughter weighs 90lbs soaking wet and she has no problem handling it. It's an absolute tack driving deer slaying rifle, so much so I stole it from her last year to bike hunt with. She shot two deer with it and I shot one and not one went more than 20yds. They also give you a coupon for a discounted full size stock so the gun can grow with the hunter.

[Halo]

I got the Ruger American Compact in 7mm-08 a while back for the kids and I love it. Shoots a 1/2" group at 100 yards. I think they are known for feed problems so I would rack a few rounds through before I buy.