youth hunting rifle

[salmonslayer1]

well guys I'm getting my nephew a rifle for Xmas.he is 10 yrs old and i want to get him hunting next year.i was leaning towards the Remington 710 youth model in the 308 caliber or the model 700 youth.i know alot of you dads out there should have some good tips.i would appreciate any info you guys/gals might have.thanks.

[cohoho]

A friend just bought his son (won't say who in case his kid reads this).  A combo gun has 410, a .22 and 243 with different barrels, pretty cool little gun for sure.  Great for a kid to learn the basics on and without the cost of three guns..  I think it was under 350...

My kid utilized a 243 for everything in AK from the age on 10 till he moved here at 15...  243 is great caliber to introduce kids to shooting and will take any game down here with proper placement. 

[washingtonmuley]

Check out the remington youth 770.You can find them new with a bushnell scope for under $300.00.I purchased one for my son & daughter and that thing is a tack driver.The only draw back other than the cheaper but functional scope is that it is a little heavy but that does dampen the recoil.
Good Luck

[Bob33]

.308 is a good caliber. Don't go too small, which is conventional wisdom for youth.  There are several "reduced recoil" ammunition lines out today that make the recoil of a 30-06 equal to a .243.

[salmonslayer1]

thanks guys good info like the idea of 3 guns in one.

[rasbo]

The remington 125 grain core-lokt factory ammo is a good one for the 06,kicks like the 100 grain 243...Plus would be the 30-06 is just plain the best all around gun made,,IMO  Ive killed a lot of mulies,yotes and blacktail with that round and it works great

[Alchase]

Keep your eye on Walmart. They have youth model 70s and Remington's mounted with scopes for hundreds less then Sportco or Cabelas sells the same model for. I snagged a .243 Model 70 youth model for about $295.00 out the door.

[Alchase]

I also bought a youth Model 70 Black Shadow in .243 WSSM with scope about 6 years ago at Walmart for $230.00 plus tax.

[Magnum_Willys]

If he might hunt elk go with the 7mm-08 or .308

[Pathfinder101]

I got PathfinderJR a .308 for his birthday last year (11 years old).  I really liked the new Marlin Bolt action XS7Y.  Just the right size for him, came from the factory with a really nice recoil pad (very important for a kid's gun), comes with a great trigger setup (similar to the Savage accu-trigger) and it's a tack driver.  When he was zero-ing the boresite, his second 3 shot group at 25 yards could have been covered with a quarter (and that's an 11 year old shooting).  He loves it.
I am a huge Remington fan myself (Rem 700 that is), but I can't remember the difference between the 710 and the 770, but I have heard a lot a bad things about whichever one of those is the "cheapie" with the removable magazine.  If money is not a concern, then I would go with the kids model Rem 700.  If money is a concern (and it certainly was with me), then take a good look at that Marlin XS7Y.    

[thinkingman]

I would not consider a 710 for a minute.
770 for 2 minutes.
Savage or Marlin, yes.
In re cartridges, you can always move up in power but a flinch from shooting too much power lasts a long time and will always be in the back of their minds.
.243 is a good starting point, 7-08 is the best all-round cartridge there is (that will start a little conversation!)
.308Win is a great all-round setup.
Do not buy too much cartridge for the kid.

[Machias]

The absolute perfect youth gun is a single shot H&R Handi rifle, in .243.  Caliber is not nearly as important as being able to shoot accurately and consistently.  Most weapons for youth are toooo heavy in the front.  Most youngsters can handle .30-.30, .308 etc.  What they have alot of trouble with is they are not strong enough to hold the front of the weapon steady.  The H&R with a synthetic stock is so easy for them to handle and shoot accurately out to comfortable ranges.  Then when they outgrow it you got a great little coyote thumper.

[Bob33]

I would not consider a 710 for a minute.
770 for 2 minutes.
Savage or Marlin, yes.
In re cartridges, you can always move up in power but a flinch from shooting too much power lasts a long time and will always be in the back of their minds.
.243 is a good starting point, 7-08 is the best all-round cartridge there is (that will start a little conversation!)
.308Win is a great all-round setup.
Do not buy too much cartridge for the kid.

What is too much cartridge?  If a 30-06 kicks like a 243, is that too much cartridge?

[birdwacker]

I purchased a howa youth 7-08 for my grandson at sportco in Fife .It comes with a scope and 2 hogue stocks one a youth size and one an adult size. The howas are great guns they make the weatherby vanguards. The whole package was under 400.00 and the gun shoots MOA.

[sdwwaverider]

I bought my 9 year old son a Rossi Trifecta. Comes with 3 barrels. 243, 22LR, 20g. It's a single shot break action w/ a great safety system. He handles well. Hiked miles and never complained. Shoots well out to 200 yds (dinner plate). Haven't shot it further yet. We may reach out coyote hunting this winter. Never complained about recoil, comes with a cheek pad (removable). I'm happy with it till he grows some more. Heck I like shooting it.