Youth rifle caliber

[Boyd1212]

My daughter (9) has been shooting her 223 and 243 for a few years now and she’s ready to move into either a 7mm-08 or a 6.5 Creedmoor. I’m planning on taking her on her first bear hunt this August and I’m torn between the 2 calibers. So I would like to get y’alls opinion on the 2 since y’all have been hunting big game here in Washington longer than I have. Thanks!

[carpsniperg2]

Both are dandy for the purpose you are looking for. I would go 7mm-08 with a better choice of heavy bullets since she probably wont be taking real long shots on bear. I would go for more heavy bullet weights in the 7mm flavor.


That said I have killed a ton of animals with the 6.5 143 eldx and it would be a fine choice as well.

[Dan-o]

Both are dandy for the purpose you are looking for. I would go 7mm-08 with a better choice of heavy bullets since she probably wont be taking real long shots on bear. I would go for more heavy bullet weights in the 7mm flavor.


That said I have killed a ton of animals with the 6.5 143 eldx and it would be a fine choice as well.

Agreed.

Those are 2 fine calibers.

I'm partial to the 7mm-08 for no particular reason.

[jasnt]

I’ve killed several bear with my 243 but I would agree a 7/08 would be a great choice for her next rifle

[Jason]

Make that four votes for the 7mm-08. 

[ghosthunter]

Yep 7mm 08

Bought a savage for my grandson couple years ago.

If I can find a left handed one I might get it for my self.

[b23]

If you are shooting factory ammo I think it definitely favors the 6.5 Creedmoor, if you're reloading, I'd say it's a coin toss between the two.

[Karl Blanchard]

260 rem just to be difficult

[Bob33]

With extensive modern ammunition choices available today its pretty hard to go wrong. You can buy (or reload) 30-06 ammunition with less recoil than a .243, and boost the killing power of a .243 to levels previously requiring a .270 or greater caliber.

I personally like the 7mm-08 but think the fit of the rifle and the choice of ammunition will make a bigger difference for a youth than the bore's diameter.

[fishngamereaper]

Love the 6.5 I bought the kid for his first youth gun...love it so much I think I've used it more than him.

[highside74]

One son has the 7mm-08 the other just past hunter safety last Saturday and is getting the 6.5 creedmoor. They are both awesome rounds but the 6.5 is just a bit better with marginal kick difference if any at all.

[Pathfinder101]

I just bought a 6.5 Creedmoor as a backup rifle.  Little Pathfinder was at the range with me when I sighted it in. "His" rifle is a Marlin XS7Y in .308 (has killed 3 deer with it).
 This was his first group with it at 100 yards with the Creedmoor,  Hornandy 143 gr ELD X.

He has more or less claimed this rifle.   

[Fl0und3rz]

.270 win and light loads, room to grow.

[huntnphool]

 My daughter has been shooting a Ruger M77 Hawkeye Compact in 7mm-08 since she passed hunters ed at 10. Very little recoil and light weight gun to pack around.

 First pick is her first whitetail, shot at 285 yards, one shot.

 Second pick was this past hunting season, 9 years later, after she packed it 7 miles up hill.

[Fl0und3rz]

SA for the win.  Well done, dad.

[HillHound]

Pathfinder is that a Ruger American predator? I just won one in a nra raffle also in 6.5 cm  and I was thinking about switching my 13 year old son to it this year from his 243 that he has got his first three deer with. What scope did you go with? The barrel is threaded but did you see any need to add a muzzle break or was the recoil pretty comparable to his 308?

[Pathfinder101]

Pathfinder is that a Ruger American predator? I just won one in a nra raffle also in 6.5 cm  and I was thinking about switching my 13 year old son to it this year from his 243 that he has got his first three deer with. What scope did you go with? The barrel is threaded but did you see any need to add a muzzle break or was the recoil pretty comparable to his 308?

Yes, it's the Ruger Am Predator.  I had a Leupold VXIII that has a turret for 7mm mag, so I disregarded the turret markings and started making notes.  We've got DOPE out to 400 yards so far.  Yes, the barrel is threaded.  My son is small for his age, but says the kick doesn't bother him at all, so I am not getting a brake for it. We shot reduced recoil Hornandy loads from his .308 and he says the regular loads out of the CM kick less.
I bought this gun because 5 people I know have one and ALL of them say it shoots WAY better than a $400 rifle should shoot.  CoryTDF got one for his daughter (who is 10) and he put a brake and a youth stock on it.  I know she pops gallon milk jugs at 500 yards with it pretty much every shot.  He topped his with a Sig Whiskey 5 (which I was considering - I have a W5 on my 7mm now- but the Leupy seems to work just fine so I'm leaving it). 

[HillHound]

Awesome. Thanks for the info. I look forward to getting him behind it.

[Boyd1212]

Thanks for all the reply’s. I ended up buying her a new Savage in a 7mm-08 today. It should be here next week. Also went ahead and ordered her a new vortex viper scope to put on top of it. Hope she’s happy with it.

[Bob33]

Great choice. She will love it!

[Stein]

Thanks for all the reply’s. I ended up buying her a new Savage in a 7mm-08 today. It should be here next week. Also went ahead and ordered her a new vortex viper scope to put on top of it. Hope she’s happy with it.

If not, send it my way!

Good luck!