Youth Rifle Recommendation / Advice

[Bob33]

If a tikka will fitter i would get her a t3 lite in the 7mm-08. A great caliber with low recoil and has enough puch to take any animal around here.

My 9 year old son shoots my T3 and also a Win Mod 70, both in 30-06. The key is using very mild ammunition.  A 30-06 with very mild ammunition has recoil that matches a 243...just something to consider.  I hope that whatever you end up with makes your child a happy hunter for life!

[TeacherMan]

I love the 243. I have killed deer and elk with that caliber. Great gun for under 300 yards on large game. Best whitetail gun I own, before people go off I do not recommend it for elk, that was back in the day when both species where open at the same time and we just happend upon a group of elk while deer hunting. I would get the longest barrel that your daughter can comfortable handle. I love the 80 gr. federal load or if you hand load 85gr loads are great. I can't say enough about this caliber. Good luck, there is very little kick but I still would put or have put on a Sims Recoil Pad. Recoil can make bad habits. Good luck, I can't wait until my two daughters are a little older.

[bearpaw]

I love the 243. I have killed deer and elk with that caliber. Great gun for under 300 yards on large game. Best whitetail gun I own, before people go off I do not recommend it for elk, that was back in the day when both species where open at the same time and we just happend upon a group of elk while deer hunting. I would get the longest barrel that your daughter can comfortable handle. I love the 80 gr. federal load or if you hand load 85gr loads are great. I can't say enough about this caliber. Good luck, there is very little kick but I still would put or have put on a Sims Recoil Pad. Recoil can make bad habits. Good luck, I can't wait until my two daughters are a little older.

I agree, 243 or even a 7mm/08 in a remington model 7 or similar is an excellent kids gun.

[demontang]

I bought a mossberg youth 243win and I have to say it will shoot clovers with my hand loads and about 1/2 moa with factory ammo. I have noticed its seems to be a savage action and the newer ones have the savage accutrigger too. They are over looked rifles but so far mine has been a great cheap starter rifle.

[Raul Duke]

I picked up a Remington model770 .243 @ BiMart with a box of ammo for under $300
Great 1st gun for my little guy, shoots straight and I don't feel bad about getting rid of it once he out grows it.
Only thing I dont rally like id the way the bolt action works. But new out of the box for under 300, I can't complain.

[Emptyhanded]

I started out with a Remington Model 7 in .243 and it was a sweet little gun. If i wear to buy a youth rifle today i would buy another model 7 or a Ruger Compact. If money was a concern i would buy a Marlin XS7 in .243. What ever you end up choosing try feeding it 85 TSX's... awesome bullets.

[Pathfinder101]

PathfinderJR just got a Marlin XS7Y in .308 for his last birthday.  He loves it, it shoots great and I am impressed with it. 

[TeacherMan]

I started out with a Remington Model 7 in .243 and it was a sweet little gun. If i wear to buy a youth rifle today i would buy another model 7 or a Ruger Compact. If money was a concern i would buy a Marlin XS7 in .243. What ever you end up choosing try feeding it 85 TSX's... awesome bullets.

I really like the fit of the ruger compact, and just the overal feel of it but the barrel length is to short. The extra 2-4" of barrel is very important in this caliber. The compacts barrel is only 16.5" You will have a much better gun if you can push that 20" mark.

[Emptyhanded]

I started out with a Remington Model 7 in .243 and it was a sweet little gun. If i wear to buy a youth rifle today i would buy another model 7 or a Ruger Compact. If money was a concern i would buy a Marlin XS7 in .243. What ever you end up choosing try feeding it 85 TSX's... awesome bullets.

I really like the fit of the ruger compact, and just the overal feel of it but the barrel length is to short. The extra 2-4" of barrel is very important in this caliber. The compacts barrel is only 16.5" You will have a much better gun if you can push that 20" mark.

I hear ya on that one. My buddy has one and that little barrel "barks" quite a bit, to say the least. I think my Model 7 had an 18" barrel. Handled really well and carried even better.

[TeacherMan]

I had a buddy that had a single shot handi rifle in a 243 that I believe had around a 20" barrel on it and it was a tack driver. Nice inexpensive little gun.

[birdwacker]

Howa who makes weatherby rifles for them makes a 2in 1 rifle that comes with 2 hogue stocks one for youth and the other for adults also comes with a decent scope for under 400.00. The are imported by www.legacysports.com and sold at sportco in Fife and other large stores.

[Gotm4]

My 10 Y.O Daughter is shooting a Synthetic stocked Remington model7 youth in 7mm-08 and loves it this next year will be her first year hunting. My 7 Y.O. daughter wanted to start shooting a centerfire, I found her a used model 7 youth, wood stocked .260 rem. She shoots that with no problem at all. We have been shooting along with handloads, remington corelocks (Yellow and green box). I went with these two calibers mainley because of the bullet weight choices over the .243.  And after shopping around I liked the Remington, Ruger and Browning best for thier quality. I did not like the rossi as it came off as very cheap. (quality and price) I wanted to spend just a little more on the rifle knowing they would probably be shooting these rifles into adulthood, on the model7 they can change the stock if needed for a longer LOP. And both calibers can handle elk and smaller size game with excellent long range capabilities. Take it slow get the word out there on what your looking for and the right deal will show up!!!