BEST YOUTH RIFLE FOR SMALL KID

[TeacherMan]

My 9 year old will start deer and elk hunting this next year with me and she is TINY. She’s about 49” tall and about 60 lbs (scale batteries died 😂). Anyways I’ve been looking for a deer rifle that has a length of pull around 11.5”. Looking for a .243, possible 7mm08. Open to single shots even.

Ideas?

[Karl Blanchard]

As a dad of small shooters myself I recommend a Ruger American compact in 7/08 for the win.

[cem3434]

As a dad of small shooters myself I recommend a Ruger American compact in 7/08 for the win.

  and add a clamp on Witt Machine muzzlebrake for a great all around kids gun. That's what I did with the one I setup for my kiddos. I could meet up with you and let her shoot it to try it out the next time I visit St. Maries.

[TeacherMan]

As a dad of small shooters myself I recommend a Ruger American compact in 7/08 for the win.

I’ve looked at that rifle and it’s very tempting. I was hoping for .5-1” less on the length of pull. Maybe I’m just setting her up to grow out of to fast though.

[TeacherMan]

As a dad of small shooters myself I recommend a Ruger American compact in 7/08 for the win.

  and add a clamp on Witt Machine muzzlebrake for a great all around kids gun. That's what I did with the one I setup for my kiddos. I could meet up with you and let her shoot it to try it out the next time I visit St. Maries.

Shoot me a pm if you’re ever headed this way I’d love to actually check it out and let her try it!

[cem3434]

I have family there and was just in town a couple weeks ago. I don't know when I will be over that way again this winter, but I'll shoot you a PM when I do head that way.

[Karl Blanchard]

As a dad of small shooters myself I recommend a Ruger American compact in 7/08 for the win.

I’ve looked at that rifle and it’s very tempting. I was hoping for .5-1” less on the length of pull. Maybe I’m just setting her up to grow out of to fast though.

I don't think your daughter needs 11.5" lop personally. My daughter was 3'10" and 49lb when she shot her first deer with it. You may have to set the scope back a touch but she'll reach the trigger just fine.

[builtfordtough]

Ruger American 7mm-08.  Bought it for my son 2 yrs ago and now he's 11.  Cannot be happier with this gun. Super accurate  less recoil with the ammo I buy for it.  Pretty loud but well worth it

[cem3434]

You can also trade out the youth stock for a full length stock as they grow where you don't have to buy another rifle for them as they grow. Pretty versatile caliber and rifle. 

[TeacherMan]

How much felt recoil are in the 7mm08 reduced recoil loads? I always shot a 243 as a kid, even killed two elk with it. With that said everyone is saying the 7mm08 has replaced it.

[elkrack]

Recoil in the reduced loads is very minimal! I bought the ruger American in 7mm08 also and it’s is a great rifle for kids! my to boys were pretty small for their age and they both shot that rifle with zero issues

[ghosthunter]

7 mm 08 that’s what did for my grandson with a Savage.

Liked it so well Put my 30 06 in the safe and bought one in 110 Storm left handed when I retired.

[Antlershed]

My son has been shooting his Ruger American Compact in 6.5 creed since he was 8. They are great little guns.

[jrebel]

My son was very small statured so I bought a savage 7-8 youth model and put it in a MDT chassis with adjustable stock so he could grow with it.  I had the barrel threaded and put a muzzle brake on it.  The chassis added weight, which is a double edge sword....reduced recoil but was not good for a youth to carry or shoot without a tripod.  Other con was the cost.....I was into this rifle 1500 before the optics.  With that said....savage makes a great youth rifle.  7mm-08 is a great caliber and is very versatile.  I still have the rifle and have since put it back in the original youth stock.  It is now a compact rifle for anything from varmints to bear....shooting a 101 grain HH at 3150+ fps with almost no recoil. 

Any youth 7mm-08 with a 20-22" barrel will work.  If you can find one to put a brake on, even better in my opinion.  If you handload....even better, though there are plenty of choices for factory ammo.  I did not have much luck with hornady's reduce recoil in this 7mm-08....groups were not very good and were minute of deer to 100 yards max. 

[huntnphool]

 https://www.gunbroker.com/item/959041226

 Highly recommend the Ruger M77 Hawkeye compact. My kids both used these in 7mm-08, fantastic little rifles for kids!

[highside74]

We have 2 compact 7mm-08 guns. One is the Ruger American and the other is the Savage model 11. Both are great rifles. I like the Savage because it is a 20" barrel over the Ruger that is an 18"

[TommyH]

Got our son a Ruger American compact, it has really surprised me how accurate it is.  Buddie gave me a cheap scope so I could have it ready for his birthday, couple adjustments at 100 yards... stepped back to 300 and put all 3 shots on the steel. I have been grabbing his rifle more than my rifle when I go out.

[C-Money]

If you could find a Remington Model 7....243 or 7mm08. Hope you find something your kiddo likes!!

[2MANY]

Got our son a Ruger American compact, it has really surprised me how accurate it is.  Buddie gave me a cheap scope so I could have it ready for his birthday, couple adjustments at 100 yards... stepped back to 300 and put all 3 shots on the steel. I have been grabbing his rifle more than my rifle when I go out.

This.

[b23]

Take a look at the Tikka Lite Compact it comes with a modular stock that allows you to have a shorter 12.5 LOP and a longer section that is a 13.5 LOP.

[thinkingman]

I never thought making a gun louder was a good idea for kids OR adults.
I'd skip the brake and shoot reduced-recoil loads instead.
Hearing damage is permanent.

[Practical Approach]

My 9 year old will start deer and elk hunting this next year with me and she is TINY. She’s about 49” tall and about 60 lbs (scale batteries died 😂). Anyways I’ve been looking for a deer rifle that has a length of pull around 11.5”. Looking for a .243, possible 7mm08. Open to single shots even.

Ideas?

My son started with a compact 7mm08 last year when he was 9 years old.  I would say he was in the size range that your daughter is in.  The regular ammo at 140-150 grain gave him a pretty good thumping.  I would recommend finding some of the Hornaday lite loads if you go with the 7mm08 at least for deer. 

[D-Rock425]

2 pages in and nobody's suggested a 6.5 Creedmoor I guess the Creedmoor phase is dying  .  I also started my oldest daughter with a 7mm08.  She's now moved into a full size rifle but stuck with the 7mm08.

[highside74]

2 pages in and nobody's suggested a 6.5 Creedmoor I guess the Creedmoor phase is dying  .  I also started my oldest daughter with a 7mm08.  She's now moved into a full size rifle but stuck with the 7mm08.

If we didn't already have a 7mm-08 to share ammo I would have went 6.5 on the second one.

[jrebel]

I never thought making a gun louder was a good idea for kids OR adults.
I'd skip the brake and shoot reduced-recoil loads instead.
Hearing damage is permanent.

Hearing protection is a must and should be worn with or without a brake.  In the event you have to take a shot in the hunting scenario a .243 / 7-08 / 6.5 creedmoor etc. with a brake will not cause permanent hearing loss for one or two shots.   It’s prolonged / frequent exposure to loud noises that cause permanent damage.  This is not the case with magnum calibers that will make your ears ring for a weak.   With that said…..even in a hunting scenario…if you’re able, you should put on hearing protection for the shot.   

[Bob33]

I never thought making a gun louder was a good idea for kids OR adults.
I'd skip the brake and shoot reduced-recoil loads instead.
Hearing damage is permanent.

Hearing protection is a must and should be worn with or without a brake.  In the event you have to take a shot in the hunting scenario a .243 / 7-08 / 6.5 creedmoor etc. with a brake will not cause permanent hearing loss for one or two shots.   It’s prolonged / frequent exposure to loud noises that cause permanent damage.  This is not the case with magnum calibers that will make your ears ring for a weak.   With that said…..even in a hunting scenario…if you’re able, you should put on hearing protection for the shot.   

I agree about the brake and hearing protection. One shot from a braked rifle can cause permanent hearing damage. It may be unnoticeable but hearing loss is cumulative and never gets better.

[jrebel]

Felt recoil from a certain caliber can be different from one rifle to another (assuming same ammo / bullet weight).  Lots of factors play into felt recoil…weight of rifle, recoil pad, fit of rifle to shooter, bench vs off hand shooting etc….

If money is not an issue and you want the one and done for the rest of the kids hunting career, buy a savage with the accu stock so you can adjust LOP and comb height.  As the kid grows adjust the stock out.   If I were to do it again it would be a savage ultralite in 7-08, 6.5 creed, .308, etc.   only problem is the initial start up price. 

I own two ultralite an and they shoot amazing and the ability to adjust the stock is priceless….at 1/3 the price of a custom rifle. 

[jrebel]

I never thought making a gun louder was a good idea for kids OR adults.
I'd skip the brake and shoot reduced-recoil loads instead.
Hearing damage is permanent.

Hearing protection is a must and should be worn with or without a brake.  In the event you have to take a shot in the hunting scenario a .243 / 7-08 / 6.5 creedmoor etc. with a brake will not cause permanent hearing loss for one or two shots.   It’s prolonged / frequent exposure to loud noises that cause permanent damage.  This is not the case with magnum calibers that will make your ears ring for a weak.   With that said…..even in a hunting scenario…if you’re able, you should put on hearing protection for the shot.   

I agree about the brake and hearing protection. One shot from a braked rifle can cause permanent hearing damage. It may be unnoticeable but hearing loss is cumulative and never gets better.

You are correct, but the same is true for everything we do in life.  You will have more cumulative hearing loss from horns, sirens industrial noise, etc over the years than you will from a couple shots of a rifle a year.   Point being wear hearing protection if possible but to think one or two rifle shots per year without is causing irreparable damage is just an exaggeration of the facts.

Now if your shoot thousands of rounds per year without good hearing protection…..it’s gonna make car rides with the wife more manageable later in life. 

[wannabhntr]

2 pages in and nobody's suggested a 6.5 Creedmoor I guess the Creedmoor phase is dying  .  I also started my oldest daughter with a 7mm08.  She's now moved into a full size rifle but stuck with the 7mm08.

I bought my daughter a youth model Mossberg in 6.5. She is about the same size as the OP's daughter. I've had her shooting the HSM reduced recoil rounds. It is surprisingly accurate for a cheap box store gun. She killed her first deer with it this year. I am slowly going to start working in regular loads with out her knowing to see how she handles the difference in felt recoil.

[TeacherMan]

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/959041226

 Highly recommend the Ruger M77 Hawkeye compact. My kids both used these in 7mm-08, fantastic little rifles for kids!

I have actually looked for one in stainless.243 for some time.

[treefarmer]

Another vote for the ruger American.   I bought the cheap savage youth combo at cabelas a few years ago on sale for 250 bucks or something.  Hardest kicking 6.5 creedmore I’ve ever shot.  Horrible trigger.  Kid won’t shoot it so it stays under the seat in my truck pretty much full time

[Karl Blanchard]

All the rifles in our house have brakes but We wear hearing protection always. Young shooters aren't gonna be or shouldn't be taking quick snap shots or moving shots so take the 3 seconds and put your plugs in.  I'm pretty positive everyone commenting here grew up banging away with no ear pro and have some level of loss due to it. For me, I'm positive I've shot thousands of unprotected rounds. Wasn't until I started using brakes and then taking kids hunting that I really committed to ear pro always. Hasn't cost us a single animal. Of course it's all western hunting spot and stalk. May be different for you brush beatin west side boys 

[thinkingman]

I never thought making a gun louder was a good idea for kids OR adults.
I'd skip the brake and shoot reduced-recoil loads instead.
Hearing damage is permanent.

Hearing protection is a must and should be worn with or without a brake.  In the event you have to take a shot in the hunting scenario a .243 / 7-08 / 6.5 creedmoor etc. with a brake will not cause permanent hearing loss for one or two shots.   It’s prolonged / frequent exposure to loud noises that cause permanent damage.  This is not the case with magnum calibers that will make your ears ring for a weak.   With that said…..even in a hunting scenario…if you’re able, you should put on hearing protection for the shot.   

I agree about the brake and hearing protection. One shot from a braked rifle can cause permanent hearing damage. It may be unnoticeable but hearing loss is cumulative and never gets better.

You are correct, but the same is true for everything we do in life.  You will have more cumulative hearing loss from horns, sirens industrial noise, etc over the years than you will from a couple shots of a rifle a year.   Point being wear hearing protection if possible but to think one or two rifle shots per year without is causing irreparable damage is just an exaggeration of the facts.

Now if your shoot thousands of rounds per year without good hearing protection…..it’s gonna make car rides with the wife more manageable later in life.

I guess the experts are wrong....

[D-Rock425]

Another vote for the ruger American.   I bought the cheap savage youth combo at cabelas a few years ago on sale for 250 bucks or something.  Hardest kicking 6.5 creedmore I’ve ever shot.  Horrible trigger.  Kid won’t shoot it so it stays under the seat in my truck pretty much full time

actually bought my middle daughter the same savage in 243 and she hated it.

[highside74]

https://www.themeateater.com/hunt/firearm-hunting/caliber-battle-7mm-08-remington-vs-6-5-creedmoor

[TeacherMan]

Another vote for the ruger American.   I bought the cheap savage youth combo at cabelas a few years ago on sale for 250 bucks or something.  Hardest kicking 6.5 creedmore I’ve ever shot.  Horrible trigger.  Kid won’t shoot it so it stays under the seat in my truck pretty much full time

actually bought my middle daughter the same savage in 243 and she hated it.

Good to know!

[Sliverslinger]

My daughters are small as well 8 and 11.

Ruger American Compact GO Wild in 6.5 Creedmoor with a muzzle break topped with a Zeiss Conquest V4 4-16x44 has proven perfect.

[boneaddict]

I’m a little partial to the 30 30 myself.  Maybe because I just think it’s such a great gun and that’s what I started with

[D-Rock425]

Another vote for the ruger American.   I bought the cheap savage youth combo at cabelas a few years ago on sale for 250 bucks or something.  Hardest kicking 6.5 creedmore I’ve ever shot.  Horrible trigger.  Kid won’t shoot it so it stays under the seat in my truck pretty much full time

actually bought my middle daughter the same savage in 243 and she hated it.

Good to know!

it's for sale if you're interested