Gun for my boy

[MonkeyMan1]

My boy is getting his hunter safety finished up and I'm trying to figure out a good rifle to get him. I have a 30.06, but he is only 9. I'm not an expert on rifles, so does anyone have any good ideas of a rifle to get him for deer hunting. And any good places to get a new or used rifle for an affordable price?

[huntlakewood]

Depending what you are hunting. I would buy him a 243. My daughter has shot a 243 for years and loves it. If you buy him one of those dad can have a coyote gun to  . You can get a nice savage package deal from walmart. I dont know if they would fit you son. I bought my daughter a new england single shot youth size from Bulls eye here in tacoma for under 300 had to add a scope. Now she shoots my dads gun witch is a winchster ( my dad past away 5 years ago ) she has killed two deer since then. Gasman here on the forum his wife shoots a 257 roberts and she loves it to. I shot that once and it shoots like a 243 really easy kick.

[Bob33]

http://www.remington.com/product-families/ammunition/centerfire-families/managed-recoil.aspx

This will make a 30-06 recoil about like a 243.  When he grows up, no need for a new gun.

[bobcat]

You can't go wrong with a 243 (unless elk is one of the primary species on the menu). If you think you need more horsepower, jump up to the 308. Or as Bob33 posted, the 30-06 will work good with the special light recoil loads. Only problem I see with that is a 30-06 could very well be too long and/or too heavy for a 9 year old.

[DoubleJ]

I post this in all these threads but, my suggestion is to find a gun (hint: Savage) that you can buy an after market barrel.  A .308 and 30-06 have basically the same ballistics.  Buy a .243 then buy a .308 after market .308 barrel.  Those 2 rifles use the same action so a barrel swap and re-sighting in is all that's needed when he gets big enough to shoot a .308.  Barrel swapping is easy (Thanks for teaching me Yorketransport )

[DoubleJ]

How big is your son?  When my boy was 9, he was 95lbs (pretty big boy he is) and he handled the .308 just fine.  He has lots of cussion for the recoil though

[marlin]

I love my Marlin XS-7 .308

[Bob33]

You can't go wrong with a 243 (unless elk is one of the primary species on the menu). If you think you need more horsepower, jump up to the 308. Or as Bob33 posted, the 30-06 will work good with the special light recoil loads. Only problem I see with that is a 30-06 could very well be too long and/or too heavy for a 9 year old.

I only suggested 30-06 because he already has some.  Starting fresh I would get something based on the .308: either the .308 itself or the  7mm-08.

Gun weight and fit are very important.  Also, make sure he uses hearing protection, both to protect his hearing as well as addressing a major cause of flinching.

[KFhunter]

I just picked up a Remmy model 700 SPS .243 compact
 
come with a scope and screw on butt pads for my length of pull.
 
I tried out a savage axis - no thanks, was very bad.  I like savage too, but buy the better ones not the axis

[Biggerhammer]

http://www.remington.com/product-families/ammunition/centerfire-families/managed-recoil.aspx

This will make a 30-06 recoil about like a 243.  When he grows up, no need for a new gun.

 

[coachcw]

m77 youth .260rem

[DoubleJ]

http://www.remington.com/product-families/ammunition/centerfire-families/managed-recoil.aspx

This will make a 30-06 recoil about like a 243.  When he grows up, no need for a new gun.

Is anyone in stock of that stuff yet?  Everywhere I look for .308 managed recoil online has been sold out or backordered over a year now

[Biggerhammer]

m77 youth .260rem

Can't stand Browning A-Bolts myself, that's just me. But Browning A-Bolts in .260 fit the younger crowd rather well.

[gadwall]

m77 youth .260rem

 

I really like the 260.  We bought one for the kids a few years ago.  I loaded it down with 100 grain bullets at 2800 FPS.  My daughter has shot 4 deer with it and loves the gun.  She will be taking it to Wyoming this fall for antelope.

[huntinguy]

hand load an 06 with 125gr, if you are only hunting deer. The kid can grow into it. Or, not a thing wrong with a 270 Win. 130s now 150s later.