Rifle for my son?

[turkeyfeather]

I need help guys and gals. My 9yr. old will be going out for his first deer season this year. I have been trying to find a used youth rifle but having no luck. I didn't want to have to spend the extra $ to buy a new one. Does anyone have one they would like to sell? Can I trim down an adult rifle to fit him better? And lastly I have been thinking about a .243 or.25-06 which do you think? I don't want him to be afraid to pull the trigger. Thanks for the help.

[Axle]

A 257 Roberts would be perfect for the young one. I still use mine.

[Emptyhanded]

I love the .243! That's what my first deer rifle was (Remington Model 7) and my main deer rifle now is a .243 as well. I would lean toward the .243 if it was me, but there's nothing wrong with the .25-06 either. I'd be looking for a used Ruger Compact or a new Marlin XS7 if i was in your position. The Marlin usually runs right around $300. Hope this helps.

Jesse

[SemperFidelis97]

I bought 2 of the Marlins in youth .243 a couple years back for my kids my son was nine at the time I think I got them on sale at Cabelas for 289.99 wont find a used one for that cheap.  That is my son in my signiture with the buck he shot with his the next fall.

[mallard79]

Remington 770 youth in .243. My 8 yr old loves his. Under $300 with a scope. Not the best scope but it will get him started. It also comes with spacers to lengthen the stock as he grows. Our gun is gunna be used for deer and coyotes. It groups factory 100gr bullets arountld an inch at 100 yards. I did up some handloads for yotes that are shooting 3 shot groups that are inside a dime at 100. Great guns for the $$$ as far as I am concerned. 

[Wenatcheejay]

These threads come up alot. The most accurate gun that you can afford and that doesn't make your child flinch is the right one IMO. My son shoots a 7mm-08 youth Beretta T3 and heck, I love it. If you are in Wenatchee you are welcome to have your son shoot it. I plan to buy one LH for my daughter as soon as she takes Hunter Safety. There is nothing better than letting him try out a few before committing. I am sure there are a few guys in Spokane that are on the board that might do this. You can also tailor loads to what he can handle if you handload or there are Federal rounds that are mild if you don't for nearly any caliber. I also like all Remington 700's for their after market upgrade capabilities.

Hope this helps 

[sebek556]

i have a ruger m77 m11 that doesnt kick, but it's a bit long for kids, my son shot it at 7 a few times. my daughter (12) has a 308 semi with a limbsaver recoil pad on it and it works for her.  wife(she's only 5'2") has a ruger gunsite scout in 308 and it is really smooth. I also have a older break action 243 with a bull barrel on it for the kids to shoot. and my first rifle a lever action 30-30. Spokane area, so if yah wanna do a range test let me know.

[C-Money]

Remington Model 7 youth would be a great rifle. Heck... Ruger, Howa, Marlin, Rem they all make great rifles youth rifles. I think you will like them all!

[arees]

I got a Remington 700 in .270 for my 7 year old son.  I have taught him to reload with Trailboss powder.  Using this powder lets us drop the power down to something he is comfortable shooting.  We can load it up later as he develops more tolerance.

[carpsniperg2]

7mm-08 hands down. It will take any animal he wants to shoot. A great gun is the tikka t3 affordable and a tack driver.

[Recurve-Elk]

A great gun is the savage Axis XP series.  I have one in .223, originally wanted the .243 but it wasn't in stock locally.  You can find em' for about 300 bucks at sports authority, they come with a scope.  The .243 would be a great gun to learn how to shoot comfortably.  Very little recoil yet still very powerful.  There was a post in the elk section about a kid that took a spike elk with a .243 no problem. (although I wouldn't use it for elk, personally.)

PS - mine is extremely accurate.  Smooth, and well built.  I would definitely recommend if you don't want to break the bank!

Here is the youth model.
http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/70939-1.html

[superdown]

How about a H&R youth 7mm-08 for $228.85 NEW from these guys you cant beat the simplicity of a break action single shot for a beginner  http://www.tacticaloutpost.com/servlet/the-43091/H%26R-1871-Handi-Rifle/Detail

[Recurve-Elk]

How about a H&R youth 7mm-08 for $228.85 NEW from these guys you cant beat the simplicity of a break action single shot for a beginner  http://www.tacticaloutpost.com/servlet/the-43091/H%26R-1871-Handi-Rifle/Detail

Another good choice.  I've got Three of their guns. 

[CedarPants]

Turkeyfeather - have you checked out Northwest Pawn on Pines and Broadway?  Keith always has a nice selection of used guns with a good amount of calibers available in what you are looking for.  Very reasonably priced as well

[spookgus]

I also like the Marlin and Savage youth models because the barrels are 22 inches long. Part of the flinch in new shooters is the muzzle blast.

[Kowsrule30]

I swear by my 243 I got when I was 11.... I'd still use it today on deer and elk if I didn't get into ML.... They are light.... Very accurate.... Minimal recoil.... And good ammo won't break the bank.... 

[WA hunter14]

i have a weatherby vangard 7mm-08, got when i was 9 an got my first deer with it the next year. im 14 now an love the gun, was to much recoil for me though the first year i started shooting it(9) caused me to jerk the trigger an was hard for me to get over that when i was little

[youngbull]

Dude i gopt a 30 30 marlin thats great for bt I have shot a few with.  If you dont have a rifle yet let me know we can work something out so he can shoot it before the season starts

[Emptyhanded]

I was at Cabelas today messing around with a Marlin XL7 in .30-06. I was really surprised at how well the gun was built and it felt. For around $300 you are getting a lot of gun for not much $$, in my opinion. I have held the Savage Axis/Edges in the past and to me the Marlin feels much better. The main thing I didn't like about the Axis was the plastic clip on the magazine. It seemed cheap and could see it breaking off with time (my 1st impression). Keep in mind i don't own either of these guns, this is just my impression of the 2. Nothing against the Axis or anyone who owns one but I think the Marlin is a better choice. 
PS: As stated above 7mm-08 is another great choice.

[coachcw]

I like a the modle seven youth . my son shot the .260 with 140 tbbc bullets it worked greaqt with many one shot kills . The .308 would also be a great choice and would work bettter on elk .

[kckrawler]

Stay away from the 770...the price tag is nice but the rifle is crap.   

[Recurve-Elk]

I really think a 243 is the ticket for a 9 year old.  Don't scare the guy off with some bigger rifle. 

[HUNT]

As some of you know my nine year old drew a youth moose tag for Mount Spokane.  I have a Remington model 7 in .243 that i started my other two kids shooting when they were 8.  Recoil is not bad at all.  My nine year old has been shooting it once or twice a week for about a month.  Knowing that a .243 is too small for hunting moose with I looked for a Remington model 7 in 7mm-08.  Recoil is a little more than the .243 but not much.  Very similar recoil if you look it up.  I loaded up some 120 grain bullets for him to shoot.  He says that it kicks less than the .243. 

I would probably go straight to a 7mm-08 if I were you.  Maybe borrow a smaller caliber rifle for your son to start on.  It wont be long at all before he can handle the 7mm-08.  It has much more knockdown.  The Model 7 is a great size for smaller shooters also because the length of pull is about 2 3/4 inches shorter than a standard rifle.  Wish I would have known more about the 7mm-08 in the past.  I would have owned one a long time ago.   

[DoubleJ]

My 9 year old shoots my .308 Savage Stevens that I got at Cabelas for $350ish.  Shot his first deer last year with it when he was 8.  Only modification I had to make was to move the scope as far back as it'd go.  Moved it about an inch back and locked the rings back up again.  I also got a .243 barrel for it.  He practices with the .243 so it doesn't kill his shoulder to shoot a box of ammo and then I put the .308 barrel back on it when we go hunting.

[DoubleJ]

Also remember when you're looking that, it's easier for a small kid to carry a synthetic stock through the woods but a wood stock kicks WAY less.  Make sure to take that into consideration.

[Pathfinder101]

I bought 2 of the Marlins in youth .243 a couple years back for my kids my son was nine at the time I think I got them on sale at Cabelas for 289.99 wont find a used one for that cheap.  That is my son in my signiture with the buck he shot with his the next fall.

I am going to second this advice.  I bought PathfinderJR the Marlin XS7Y (Youth Model) in a .308 for his birthday last year.  Less than $300 out the door.  It comes with a sweet recoil pad, stock fits great, it's got something like Savage's Accutrigger and man that thing is a little tack driver.  We have been shooting it every week at the range.
Last weekend we were up in Kettle Falls shooting with a buddy of mine and PathfinderJR made 2 shots in a row at 525 yards on a man-sized metal target.  His 100 yard group can easily be covered with a quarter.  I am VERY impressed with this gun.  All of his buddies that we take out to the range LOVE to shoot it because of the light recoil and the accuracy.  I hang clay pigeons on the 100 yard target stands and they have contests to see who can bust the most in a row.  I know of 3 of his friends that are begging their dads for one now (Marlin should pay me a finder's fee... ).
I just saw two at the White Elephant in Spokane in .243 and 7mm-08 for less than $300.  We got the .308 so he could use it for elk and bear as well as deer.
 I would buy it again in a heartbeat...

[Recurve-Elk]

Sure there is a lot of young guys out there that can shoot a bigger gun, but I know there is also a large amount who can't.  When I was 9 I was deathly afraid of my dads 30/06.  Shot it a few times then never touched it till I was probably 14 or 15.  I specifically remember tensing up while pulling the trigger and often closing my eyes in anticipation.  If he can handle it then go for it.  Maybe he should try a few calibers out at the range.  Just make sure he's comfortable.  I suppose he could indeed get a larger caliber and just shoot a lighter bullet.  That would be essentially the same as shooting a smaller caliber. 

Now that I think about it the cartridge could be actually what you need to look at not so much the caliber. 

[steen]

Our son has a youth model 243 and will never sell it.  He lets the girls use it and will keep it for his kids when he has them.  I'm sure his 5 yearold nephew will use it someday also.  Just nice to have around.  His Dad had him fold laundry for a loooong time to earn that rifle.  One of our girls bought one, used it once and decided not to hunt so she sold it which was a bummer.  I think she may regret it someday.  Her boyfriend of 2 years loves to hunt also.

[scottfrick]

Trying looking into the Harrison and Richardson rifles. My cousin that started back when he was 9, thats the gun my dad bought for him. Since then he's killed 2 bears over 200 yards, and 3 deer. The Guns are only single shot, but are cheap wonderful guns!!! Being the proud owner of a 300 rum, rem 7mm stw, and a rem 270 win mag, i'm now even starting to look into being one of these H&R Handi rifles.

[MIKEXRAY]

My first gun was a 270 cal and I think that is a great first bullet size, my first rifle when I was a youngster was a Winchester lighter bolt rifle ( forget the model ) .  As discussed it is a caliber that he can use his whole life for deer and elk. You can get factory ammo near 100gr  now for deer and go heavier when older. My only rifle in the house is still a 270 , might be old school to some but one I would at least consider. Mike

[huntnut]

I bought my son a Remington model 7 youth in 7mm-08,it is light ,shoots great and has lots of oomph for most animals. 140 grain bullets move along pretty well. The wife has also shot several deer with it.

[Pathfinder101]

Trying looking into the Harrison and Richardson rifles. My cousin that started back when he was 9, thats the gun my dad bought for him. Since then he's killed 2 bears over 200 yards, and 3 deer. The Guns are only single shot, but are cheap wonderful guns!!! Being the proud owner of a 300 rum, rem 7mm stw, and a rem 270 win mag, i'm now even starting to look into being one of these H&R Handi rifles.

I bought PathfinderJR a Rossi Trifecta (similar to the H&R) for his first gun in .243.  He still uses it with the shotgun barrel, but I don't recommend the .243 for much.  Particularly anything past 200 yards (which around here is a close shot).  He killed one deer with it (a very close range shot) when he was 9.  He carried it for the next two years, but actually shot his next two deer with my .270 because of the extended range (268 yards and 205 yeards).
Honestly, the Marlin is almost as light as that Rossi and has just as short a pull, it kicks less, has a much better trigger, is more accurate, holds more than one shot, and only costs about $30 or $40 more than the single shot Rossi...

[Kowsrule30]

Savage 243.... Mine is a model 110.... Big 5 usually has a decent sale with a scope....

[turkeyfeather]

Thanks for all the advice guys. My wife and I are both bowhunters and I know my son will want to bowhunt when he is strong enough to draw a bow. That is the reason I was thinking the smaller calibers, then I can pass it on to my two younger sons when the time comes. I have a tikka t3 lite in a .270 and it kicks pretty hard I don't think he is going to be to keen on that. CedarPants- yes I have been keeping an eye out at Northwest. YoungBull-Do you live in the Spokane area? If so PM me and we can set something up to take a look at your 30-30.