rifle for a 10yo

[toyman2]

So i went looking for a rifle for the kid today and found a few that struck my intrest.
1 was a marlin 30-30 lever action(my all time fav. gun)
the other was a salvage 243 bolt action
this will also kinda be a varment gun for me and a deer rifle for her,they are both about the same size and she can hold them both.
theres about $200 or so diffrence in price but thats not to much of a issue.
just kinda hard to decide so im asking for a little input.

[Galpster]

Marlin 336 30.30 all the way. I have a Marlin 336 30.30W, all the W means is it was sold at Walmart. It is the same rifle that they sell everywhere else except maybe not as good wood. Love it and so does the 10 year old boy.

[jrebel]

Can't go wrong with either.  My   243 is a more versatile caliber.  I really like the savages and the Remington Model 7 youth.  My wife shoots the remington model 7 and loves it.  The .243 is more forgiving i.e. flat shooting between 100-200 yards.  Sight it in at 200 and anything less just put the cross hairs on....the rest will be history.  

[toyman2]

dam you 2 just cancled each other out,

[Machias]

One thing to look at for young kids is forward weight.  Even the .30-.30 is too heavy for most kids to shoot accurately.  Great option is the H&R single shot with the synthetic stock.  Get the .243 and you got a GREAT kids rifle, cheap in price (around $220 for a new one), very easy for them to shoot accurately and they make great varmint rifles.

[Skyvalhunter]

If you plan on taking him hunting where he can make longer shots a .243 is the way to go. He will out grow the 30-30 unless he chooses to hunt something like blacktail on the west side in thicker surroundings the rest of his life. Chances are the .243 will be more accurate and especially when he wants to put a scope on it.

[Galpster]

But the 30.30 is a legend. And it is accurate with a scope on it. Get one of those new Redfield scopes and it will be dead on out to 150 yards. Perfect for all kinds of game here in the NW. It is also alot of fun to shoot. Next to no kick and the lever action is smooth and fun.

Everyone should own a Marlin 30.30!! Just my 

[carpsniperg2]

243 all the way i don't know how much she has shot and what her build is but a 30-30 would probably be a bit much and you will get more range with the 243 me my brother and wife all shot are first deer and a few more with the 243 very good deer cal and also a great deer gun as well you would be very happy with that cal. and a 30-30 is not that great of a varmit gun better brush gun than anything. allot of your yotes will be 150+ and i don't like the 30-30 past 150 myself i hunted with one for 2 years when i was 12-14 then got my 30-06

[robescc]

Go with the 30-30.  The new hornady leverevalution ammo turned a 150 yard max gun into a 300 yard tack driver. 

[alecvg]

I personally would go with the the 30/30 for him, but I think the perfect gun would be a .270 WIN... great round, and not to hard to control.  Thats what I used to get my first deer when I was 11, I did bleed from the scope, but thats because I had the stock on top of my shoulder to see better.   

[Skyvalhunter]

Bet that taught you a good lesson

[Shootmoore]

I would suggest the bolt gun.  It will be easier for the kid to shoot groups with.  The problem with a lever gun for kids is due to strength issues they have to bring the gun down to work the action, where they can stay on the gun and work the bolt.  I started with a model 99F in .243 and while i could shoot it well at 8, I noticed a degree if confidence and accuracy when I went to a bolt gun at 10.

Its not that the lever gun is not accurate, I just feel it is easier to build confidence with the bolt on a young shooter with limited strength.

Shootmoore

[Huntbear]

Does the lever gun have a good safety?  Been awhile since I looked at a Marlin, so asking.  Does it have a "half cock" or a cross block bolt?  If it is the former, get the bolt gun.  Safety issues will cause problems.

[toyman2]

5 to 3 for the 243.
everything sayed her i agree with,my kid is a her and she is very strong and in shape(doing ballet for 4 years).
i want the the 30-30 but the 243 i think is a smarter choice.i dont know what to do,want over desire kinda sucks.
the 30-30 has a good safty

[700xcr]

243win would be a good deer and varmint combo in a bolt action. I started out with a 7x57 mauser deer hunting at the age of 14yrs. old.

[Shootmoore]

5 to 3 for the 243.
everything sayed her i agree with,my kid is a her and she is very strong and in shape(doing ballet for 4 years).
i want the the 30-30 but the 243 i think is a smarter choice.i dont know what to do,want over desire kinda sucks.
the 30-30 has a good safty

I would see if she can work the action of the lever gun while keeping the rifle on the shoulder.  I love lever guns, but there can be issues especially in cold weather with the ease of chambering the round on the shoulder. 

Shootmoore

[nwhunter]

My ten year old prefers my old 3030 lever over the 6mm with a scope I got him for deer and bear hunting here on the coast. Its a great gun for here but if it were open country and longer shots he would be packing something with a scope. Anything I look at for a kid I want the safest action possible and my 3030 where you have to let the hammer down after you jack in a shell is not the easiest thing for a kid to do vs a bolt action that has a 3 pt safety. For an all around gun that would be the most versatile and safest my vote is with the 243. nwhunter

[wrangler]

But the 30.30 is a legend. And it is accurate with a scope on it. Get one of those new Redfield scopes and it will be dead on out to 150 yards. Perfect for all kinds of game here in the NW. It is also alot of fun to shoot. Next to no kick and the lever action is smooth and fun.

Everyone should own a Marlin 30.30!! Just my 

just cause its a legend doesn't mean its not a pos caliber. if its between those 2 it's not even close, get the .243.

[elksnout]

I purchased the Remington Model 7 Youth in .243 for my son. I think he was ten or eleven at the time.  Great little handling rifle. Maybe a little safer then a lever gun with regards to the safety ?? Now it's in my cabinet, awaiting grand children.

[jackelope]

I gotta believe a 30-30 would rock a 10 year old. We picked up a H and R youth handi-rifle in .243 for my buddy's little 11 year old boy(he's a little *censored*) and he shoots it all day long. I bet it weighs about 6 pounds all up and disappears in the scabbard of my eberlestock pack its so tiny.

[jackelope]

p.s. wrangler, a 30-30 is far from a p.o.s. caliber...lets keep it realistic.

[high country]

I am in the bolt gun camp......less things for a young kid to remember. there is no half cock and cross bolts, hammers accidentilly falling......

[jackelope]

for size comparison

[toyman2]

lots of good points here.
i hunted with a 243 for awile but never killed anything with it.
most all the shots around here are about 75-150yrds.i think the longest shot i ever have took was 300yrds.
who woulda ever thought this was such a tough decision

[WonkyWapiti]

Keep up the advice guys, I'm also thinking of getting a rifle for my 12 yo dau.  I wanna get her something that she will enjoy shooting, I am gonna get her into hunter ed this year.  I also like the idea of a .243 as a backup varmint rifle for me.  

[toyman2]

that is what its all about,what a cool pic thank you.(assuming the little man shot him)

[MissinCaliBlacktails]

I got a 243 for sale in the classifieds section. Take a look.

[toyman2]

no pics can u E-mail some to me  mmcp15@q.com

[700xcr]

Kids like camoflouge guns. So does the adults while coyote hunting. A Remington model 7 Predeator in 243win. It is shorter in length of pull and overall. heres a link to see.
http://www.remington.com/products/firearms/centerfire/model-seven/model-seven-predator.aspx

[timberghost72]

I really like shooting my Marlin 30-30 with open sights but the .243 is probably a better choice.  How about just buying both  They're both great guns to own.

[toyman2]

id love to but not enough money on hand

[MissinCaliBlacktails]

Do you still want pics? You could always make me an offer

[Pathfinder101]

I vote for the .243 instead of the 30-30.  I shot my first buck with a 30-30 Model 94, and to be honest I outgrew the thing pretty fast.  I saw a mention earlier about a special ammo that turned it into a 300 yard gun, but I haven't seen that.

For what it's worth, I just gave my 11 year old a .308 win for his birthday this morning.  I got him a Marlin XS7Y bolt action.  I got him the .308 so he can use it for deer, bear and elk.  He shoots my .270 win all the time, but it's too long and heavy for him to pack, so I got him a youth model.  Problem is that I had to pick from the short action calibers, since they don't make youth rifles in .270
That left me with .243, 7mm08, or .308.  I decided on the 308 because I wanted him to be able to use it for elk, because the ammo is cheaper so he can afford to shoot more, and the wide range of bullets available.  Recoil is not an issue with him, since he shoots my rifle all the time, and the Marlin came with a nice recoil pad.

Between the .243 and the 30-30 I would go with the .243, but if you are looking for a pleasant to shoot youth rifle for deer, I would take a long look at the Marlin XS7Y in 7mm08.
Just my  

[jackelope]

that is what its all about,what a cool pic thank you.(assuming the little man shot him)

the kid shot that buck. it was his first animal. his dad (on the right) had come home from Iraq a month before opening day. that was opening day this year.
about an 80 yard shot down outside of pomeroy.

[toyman2]

yea id like pics and mabey a phone number

[alecvg]

Bet that taught you a good lesson

Ya, still have the scar to prove it!  Never have done that again.   

[ICEMAN]

Savage .243 bolt synthetic stock youth model for the young ones.... Proper pull length, light weight, manageable, tang safety for ease of use...  Also, the stock has a removeable section to shorten now, then reinstal later as the child grows. 

[hard hunter]

Thanks for all the info...Got my 10 yr old enrolled in hunters ed (April) and am also looking for a rilfe for him.  I apprediate the info, though I am also thinking .270

[Pathfinder101]

Thanks for all the info...Got my 10 yr old enrolled in hunters ed (April) and am also looking for a rilfe for him.  I apprediate the info, though I am also thinking .270

If he can handle a full sized rifle, you will have no problem finding a .270 for him.  I couldn't find one in youth model though.  Short actions only.

[toyman2]

lots of good thoughts and opinions thanks everyone.

[Straight Shooter]

.243... more versatile.

[AWS]

One thought on a 270.  I used to have a gunshop and range up in NW MN and did a lot of scope mounting and sighting in.  One of the meanest rifles I ever had to shoot was an early Rem 700 in 270 Win, it hurt.  My personal guns at the time were a Ruger #1 300 Win Mag and a Custom 358 Norma Mag.  I had alot of experience with recoil but that 270 was just mean.  My wife shot a Rem 760 in 270 and I had a Custom Mannlicher stocked Mauser carbine in 270 and neither of them were uncomfortable to shoot.

AWS

[Wazukie]

My son has been hunting with the old Win model 94 (made in 1941) since he was about 10.  He uses it for deer, elk and bear.  I think its one of the fastest to get on target over any gun I own.  Besides, it won the west  

[Pathfinder101]

One thought on a 270.  I used to have a gunshop and range up in NW MN and did a lot of scope mounting and sighting in.  One of the meanest rifles I ever had to shoot was an early Rem 700 in 270 Win, it hurt.  My personal guns at the time were a Ruger #1 300 Win Mag and a Custom 358 Norma Mag.  I had alot of experience with recoil but that 270 was just mean.  My wife shot a Rem 760 in 270 and I had a Custom Mannlicher stocked Mauser carbine in 270 and neither of them were uncomfortable to shoot.

AWS

Must have been that particular gun.  I have a Remington 700 in .270 with a factory R3 Recoil pad, and it shoots softer than any centerfire rifle I have ever owned.

Also, my son's first gun was the Rossi Trifecta.  Came with 3 barrels; a .22, a 20 ga, and a .243. 
Advantages:
1.  Price (only about $250 for 3 guns)
2.  Because it was the same gun with 3 barrels, I was able to "ease" him into shooting the shotgun and the 243.  We did a lot of shooting with the .22 first, got him used to the gun and the fundamentals of marksmanship, THEN, after he felt confident, we moved him to the stuff that kicked.
3.  Single shot taught him to make each shot count.
4.  Was an effective gun, killed his first deer and plenty of grouse with it.
5.  Light and short, easy for him to handle
6.  Easy assembly, disassembly, cleaning

Disadvantages:
1.  He outgrew that single shot pretty quick
2.  Short barrel, short range.  Tough to keep it on target past 150 yards (a better scope probably would have helped).
3.  Had to replace the recoil pad
4.  The shotgun barrel seems to shoot consistantly high.  He has overshot some birds, including his turkey last year.  Don't know if it's just our gun, or that model.

We camo'ed it ourselves, he thought that was pretty cool.  This is him with the buck he took with it in 2008.