rifle for a 10yo

[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.