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!