looking to buy a new rifle for my 8 year old daughter need suggestions

[JDHasty]

I set Bridget up with a Contender carbine w/a Match Grade Machine 17 Hornet heavy barrel and a vintage 7-30 Waters tapered barrel.  She has been killing rockchucks w/it and is very comfortable shooting it.  I will load up some lighter weight bullets for her 7mm barrel for her to practice w/at the range later this summer and then will sight it in with either Accubond or Partitions for big game hunting.

Shot placement is a concept she understands very well and she is as cool as a cucumber now when shooting chucks.  We shot last weekend and she will wait for her shot and then will tell you where her shot went. 

She passed Hunter Education last year (in September), she was seven, but she decided she wanted to wait until after she had shot rockchucks before going deer hunting.  She is pretty sharp.

I am going to try to set her up where she can shoot out to a hundred or hundred-fifty yards off her short bipod and rear bag on a straw/hay bale, but if need be she is proficient with her long Harris bipod too. 

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,214694.0.html

   

[Bob33]

My vote is for a 7mm-08, but in fact most calibers can be tamed to low levels of recoil with the right ammunition. A 300 Win Mag with mild loads can have recoil equivalent to a .243. Starting out with a 7mm or larger caliber will give you more options should the gun be used on larger game such as elk.

Of equal or greater importance is finding a gun that properly fits a small shooter.

Lastly, don’t overlook the importance of proper ear protection. I’d encourage the use of foam plugs and muffs. I believe more flinches are developed in new shooters from anticipation of a loud bang than recoil.

My son started with a 7mm-08 and killed quite a few critters with it. When he’s not looking I like to sneak out with it.

[JDHasty]

My vote is for a 7mm-08, but in fact most calibers can be tamed to low levels of recoil with the right ammunition. A 300 Win Mag with mild loads can have recoil equivalent to a .243. Starting out with a 7mm or larger caliber will give you more options should the gun be used on larger game such as elk.

Of equal or greater importance is finding a gun that properly fits a small shooter.

Lastly, don’t overlook the importance of proper ear protection. I’d encourage the use of foam plugs and muffs. I believe more flinches are developed in new shooters from anticipation of a loud bang than recoil.

My son started with a 7mm-08 and killed quite a few critters with it. When he’s not looking I like to sneak out with it.

We use Pro Ears Gold.  First rate protection and with kids being able to communicate clearly is extremely important.