Youth guns

[Shooting Stix]

This is a question I have for anybody who has daughters if you get them a youth rifle caliber when they grow up do they out grow the rifle my oldest is 15 years old so in 3-5 years she will be an adult so should I not buy her a youth gun and just make her shoot a regular rifle I just don’t see her grow much in the next couple years and she can’t get her face close to the scope and when she does it doesn’t look natural

[Rem14]

Had the same problem with the wife. After trying many different rifles and nothing would fit found the Lady Savage no turning back. I have a happy camper that will never give up that rifle.

[redi]

Most youth models have a shorter barrel and shorter length of pull , but they still weigh an excess of 7 pounds and are very heavy. I prefer Tikka stainless super lites. They are awesome rifles

[ghosthunter]

I would look to Savage.

They in my opinion have spent some time on this issue. With ACU Fit.
I have a 110 Storm in 7 mm 08 I love but maybe a little heavy. But I bet there is something in the Savage lineup which could be a life time rifle for her.

[fowl smacker]

Both my girls shoot the Ruger American compact in 7mm-08. Fits them both, shoots great.

[jrebel]

With girls specifically.....fit is everything!!  If they don't have the proper length of pull and comb, it will make eye relief with scopes very difficult.  My wife hated shooting my rifles because she couldn't shoulder it and they have proper eye relief (mostly due to the comb height).  We purchased her a Savage Lady hunter and it fits like a glove....she actually enjoys shooting it.  My daughter had the same problem.  We considered another lady hunter, but then went with a Savage Ultralite in 6.5 creedmoor.  We shortened the LOP and raised the Comb.  As she has grown, she prefers to just leave it as it is and not lengthen it.  She shoots it very well.  My wife also shoots my daughters well....because the comb height allows for proper alignment with the scope. 

If you choose to use one of your rifles....modify the comb height to your daughters liking.  If you don't, they get discouraged when trying to look through the scope and shooting becomes not fun.  This was our experience.   

To a specific point you raise when you say "Caliber".....My wife's is a 7-08 and my daughter's is a 6.5 creed.  Both calibers are light on recoil and pack enough punch to kill anything they will hunt in North America. 

[Shooting Stix]

Thanks everyone for the input i watched my daughter on the elk hunt and she would have her head towards the back of the stock and couldn’t get closer on a 30-06 which is too much gun as it is so I bumped into another hunter and he was talking about the Ruger American youth gun but was afraid both kids will outgrow the youth guns and now I have 2 guns that nobody uses and don’t want to waste my money now I didn’t know Savage makes a lady hunter rifle so I will look into it because both daughters are the same size and they are 15 and 11 years old

[buglebuster]

Mine have been shooting a full size tikka t3x lite in 6.5 PRC for last couple years 11-13 years old. It’s perfect. We all use it 

[highside74]

My son started with his rifle at 10ish as a 4ft nothing little guy. He is now 16, 5'7 160 and still shoots his Savage Compact 7mm-08. Next year probably moving to an adult rifle but the Savage compact still gets it done. I have a Ruger American Compact also in 7mm-08 that you can feel free to take to the range with the her and shoot if you like. (Rounds not included 😁)

[treefarmer]

I got my son the ruger American gen 2.  Awesome rifle and you can remove the stock spacer and make it a youth rifle.  When he gets bigger I’ll just put it back in. 

[Bob33]

My son started hunting big game when he was 13 with a Savage youth 7mm-08 and killed several animals with it. A few years later he shot my Browning 300 WSM and decided he liked it better. Now when no one is looking I hunt with the Savage.

[TeacherMan]

My 11 year old daughters who is now 68 lbs has been shooting a Ruger Hawkeye Laminate 7mm/08 Compact Matte Stainless Bolt Action Rifle - 16.5in. with Leupold 3-9 on it for the last two years. As for growing out of it, well when she’s not using it it’s my favorite deer rifle 😂

[Antlershed]

My son started shooting a Ruger American Compact in 6.5CM when he was 8. This year he’s 11 and just shot his buck with my Seekins Havak PH2 in 6.5 PRC.

[280ackley]

I bought mine a Rem 700 then put an aftermarket youth stock on it.  When she outgrew the youth stock I put the original back on.

[HawkCreek]

The Ruger American 2 has an adjustable stock. Comb height is also adjustable.

[DeerThug]

I got my daughter a savage 243 when she was 14.  A little big at that time and I had to carry it some of the time - part of being a dad hunting with your kid. By 16 about right and now she is 26 and still hunting with it.  I would not go with a youth model.  Compensate with a tripod or other rest to shoot off of.  Help as needed as she grows into it.

[ctwiggs1]

When your kids outgrow it, oil it and put it away for the future grandkids. 

[Dan-o]

When your kids outgrow it, oil it and put it away for the future grandkids.

 

I had a Remington 600 Mohawk in 243 that my kids used.   
When they outgrew it I traded it away.

I've regretted that several times already.

[Shooting Stix]

My son started with his rifle at 10ish as a 4ft nothing little guy. He is now 16, 5'7 160 and still shoots his Savage Compact 7mm-08. Next year probably moving to an adult rifle but the Savage compact still gets it done. I have a Ruger American Compact also in 7mm-08 that you can feel free to take to the range with the her and shoot if you like. (Rounds not included 😁)

That would be much appreciated once the season is over I want to make sure I buy my daughters the right rifle for the future and just want to buy one gun to shoot anything in the lower 48

[C-Money]

My daughter is an adult now. She is tall, but not very big. She still uses her youth model .243 when she hunts. I agree, If the daughter ever wants a different rifle, that youth model is going in the safe for future family members.

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

I will also throw in a vote for the Ruger American Gen II.  I picked up a 7mm 08 for my kids and it is great.  Easy for them to handle, recoil is light, and that rifle is accurate, sub 1 in groups at 100yds. 

[Shrimper]

My son started with his rifle at 10ish as a 4ft nothing little guy. He is now 16, 5'7 160 and still shoots his Savage Compact 7mm-08. Next year probably moving to an adult rifle but the Savage compact still gets it done. I have a Ruger American Compact also in 7mm-08 that you can feel free to take to the range with the her and shoot if you like. (Rounds not included 😁)

My son is the same just a little taller at 16 and wanted to keep his using Savage Compact 7mm-08 but the stock was just to short.  We got a new mapul stock for it and he loves it even more now.  Had to get a new magazine for it too becasue the Savage mag didn't fit the new stock but the new Magpul magazine is way better than the Savage one.

This stock is cheaper on ebay:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/326061450832

[bearhunter99]

Years ago I bought my wife a TC Encore with a 7mm-08 barrel.  Single shot and very lightweight.  Between her and the daughters I can't count how many deer that gun has taken.  I bought a couple of Howa 1500 bolt actions in 7mm-08 and they all still fight over the TC...

[addicted]

 

The Ruger American 2 has an adjustable stock. Comb height is also adjustable.

 

I'm starting to look around for my 5 year old boy now and the ruger checks a lot of boxes even though it would give me a rash to buy a ruger.  My buddy just got one for his kid in 6.5creed and the first 3 types of ammo he tried couldnt get under 1.5MOA so thats not promising.

I have half a mind to just build him something on a custom or tikka action so its easier for him to rebarrel later. Buy once cry once.

[okie john]

My son started hunting big game when he was 13 with a Savage youth 7mm-08 and killed several animals with it. A few years later he shot my Browning 300 WSM and decided he liked it better. Now when no one is looking I hunt with the Savage.

Same. I use a Tikka Compact in 308. It's sub-7 lbs. with a 4x Leupold.


Okie John