Your Opinion... Gun for 12 yr Old Girl...

[Hornseeker]

Ive got two daughters, 8 and 10... in two years the older will be hunting. They both shoot my little 22 now and will continue to do so... but I am looking to get them both a rifle real soon so they can be comfortable with it in 2 years...

Primarily...I'm sure they will be after deer and antelope, but there is certainly possibilities of elk in their future...or even bear...

I've been hunting since ever and have shot everything and know ballistics just fine...but am still curious what all your opinions are. My buddies daughter has killed 4 does this year, she is 13 and is shooting a little 7mm-08... He swears by it. My first thoughts were a 243... and I know it works fine on elk in the hands of a competent hunter...but I really like the idea of a little more bullet weight...

Anymore ideas? I want something with as little kick as possible. I am also wondering what "rifle" to get... who is making little featherweights or youth models??

THanks all!

Ernie

[Gobble]

The 243 should be fine. You can buy "reduced recoil ammo" that will cut the recoil down to nothing. I would highly recommend that.

[KillBilly]

There is a real nice Youth .308 Remington in the Classifieds right now. 30 cal. is hard to go wrong with.. add a limbsaver butt pad and they should be able to handle it well.

[jackelope]

we got my buddy's kid a .243 H&R youth handi rifle. it is tiny and shoots really well. he's a little squirt of an 11 year old and handles it great. i do think because it's so small it kicks a little, but it's really not bad. there's also a youth remington 700 in .308 in the classifieds for like $250 or so which seems like a screaming deal.

[HUNT]

I bought my kids a remington model 7 and put a synthetic stock on it.  The recoil is very manageable in 243.  At 8 years old both of my sons started shooting it.  the 243 is a great caliber for kids and adults alike.

[burrheadcountry]

The 243 should be fine. You can buy "reduced recoil ammo" that will cut the recoil down to nothing. I would highly recommend that.

I would have to agree with Gobble on the 243. They are a very lite and accurate gun.

[JackOfAllTrades]

When my boys were smaller I started them out on Rossi single shots with three barrels. Rimfire, 20ga and .243win and kept them to iron sights for the first hunt/kill then scoped them. The 243 is quite adequate for Deer. Maybe the H&R has a better recoil pad, dunno, but the Rossi could use some better tech. My objective was to get each boy something light enough that they didn't get tired carrying it in the woods, yet be comfortable enough with the recoil when fired. A lighter rifle has a little more snap to the kick than a heavier one that could absorb some of the recoil. My youngest boy (that hunts more), has moved on to a Marlin XL7 in .270. Just a tad heavier with an excellent recoil system.  7mm-08 or .243 will get the job done on Deer. Mathematically the 7mm develops a little more felt recoil. The .243 is a little more versatile for varmint shooting, and if you hand load you can load up lighter plinkin training loads for your girls.

-Steve

[jackelope]

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,36653.0.html
couple pics of the handi rifle in that thread.

p.s. that deer was shot and died directly where it stood with the 243.

[PolarBear]

The 243 should be fine. You can buy "reduced recoil ammo" that will cut the recoil down to nothing. I would highly recommend that.

Or a .375 H&H Youth model.

[M.Tumlinson]

I have a Browning Lever action .243 and I love it to pieces. It has the thumb stock not the pistol grip. It's a great gun mine took down an elk, so they do have power just not much kick.

[Hornseeker]

I was considering the 375 H&H, but wasn't sure I could find one in the youth model...soooo....

A lightweight gun that they can carry for a while will certainly be important.....

I know for a fact the 308 would be intimidating....

What about the other "short mags'?? Like that 25 winchester?? or what about a 25-06? How do they kick??

Thanks all...keep the info coming!!!

[Holg3107]

My first rifle was a Remington model 7 youth 6mm, it is still my favoritve rifle in my gun cabinet because of its accuracy and size. It has identical dimesions to a ruger 10/22 and has taken down 10 deer, and 3 elk. I absolutely love it. Good luck to the new hunters.

[Gamblin Guy]

I started my son with a .243WSSM at 10 years old, dont handload so just shooting factory loads but it's been a great gun for him.  Very little recoil out of a Winchester SuperShadow. 

Neighbor started his kid with a Weatherby Vanguard in 7mm-08, his son is on the smallish side and that thing kicks like a mule.  Kid doesn't like to shoot it at all.  Joe's was selling them for a pretty reasonable price with two stocks (youth and fullsize) and a scope. 

[C-Money]

Remington model 7, or Rugers youth rifle. Cal? .234, 257 roberts, .260, 7mm-08 would be where I would be looking for kids. Any of these cal's would be great for adults!

[Holg3107]

Does TC make an Encore with a youth stock? that would be a great gun with the versitility of the different barrels and would save some money in the long run only having to buy a $250 barrel instead of a new .22, 20ga shotgun, and then when she puts on a few pounds it would be an easy transfer to a .270 or a .30 caliber. Just a thought after reading another Encore forum. I also think learning to shoot with a single shot rifle is a great idea.