Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Deer Hunting => Topic started by: Dadbear on October 25, 2010, 10:41:09 AM

Title: .308 for youth
Post by: Dadbear on October 25, 2010, 10:41:09 AM: It's time for my soon to be 10 year old to get his own deer rifle. Any thoughts on the .308 youth models out there? I've heard great things about the Savage Accutrigger. My son has one in .22 rimfire and loves it. Which ones are made in USA? Thanks for any suggestions.
Title: Re: .308 for youth
Post by: remington300mag on October 25, 2010, 10:51:46 AM: I would go with a 7mm-08 instead of a .308....just my :twocents: Not near the recoil yet still plenty powerful for any game your going after!
Title: Re: .308 for youth
Post by: hoyt2002 on October 25, 2010, 10:55:09 AM: I'll 2nd the 7mm-08 its got plenty of power and less recoil and still be able to hunt elk with it.
Title: Re: .308 for youth
Post by: bobcat on October 25, 2010, 11:22:49 AM: I don't believe recoil is that much less with the 7/08. It all depends on what weight bullet you shoot. You can also buy the "managed recoil" loads in 308 until he gets older. I would get the 308. One real good reason- ammo is much cheaper and therefore he will be able to shoot more.
Title: Re: .308 for youth
Post by: Hunterman on October 25, 2010, 11:25:57 AM: I would have to agree with Bobcat..One otherplus for the .308 is that the ammo is available dang near everywhere..

Hunterman(Tony)
Title: Re: .308 for youth
Post by: DoubleJ on October 25, 2010, 11:29:04 AM: If you go with Savage, you can do like I have for my 8 year old. I also bought a .243 barrel for my .308. We swap the .243 barrel onto the gun for practice since it kicks way less and he can shoot it for longer periods. Then, when we go out into the woods, the .308 barrel goes back on. You'd need a good scope that holds zero and good quick release rings too. That way you can zero it for the .243, mark it's zero position and do the same for the .308.
Title: Re: .308 for youth
Post by: woodswalker on October 25, 2010, 11:35:45 AM: Quote from: bobcat on October 25, 2010, 11:22:49 AM
I don't believe recoil is that much less with the 7/08. It all depends on what weight bullet you shoot. You can also buy the "managed recoil" loads in 308 until he gets older. I would get the 308. One real good reason- ammo is much cheaper and therefore he will be able to shoot more.

That is what I've been doing with a new hunter...she is doing well! Starting hunting at 55~! She started with the Remington Managed Recoil fodder...and now also has the rifle dialed for 150s and 180s as well. They DO what Remington SAYS they do...hit within an inch or so of each other at 100 yards. She shoots a composite stocked Stevens in 308.
Title: Re: .308 for youth
Post by: CSOUTFITTERS on October 25, 2010, 12:34:19 PM: Either one would be just fine for elk or deer. Recoil isnt much different between the two. Ammo cost is pretty close as well.
Title: Re: .308 for youth
Post by: wapiti hunter2 on October 25, 2010, 12:42:13 PM: .308 has easy to find cheaper ammo. :twocents:

Cartridge (Wb@MV)      Rifle Weight    Recoil energy    Recoil velocity
7mm-08 Rem. (140 at 2860)    8.0      12.6      10.1
308 Win. (150 at 2800)      7.5      15.8      11.7
Title: Re: .308 for youth
Post by: jackelope on October 25, 2010, 12:50:47 PM: One thing I noticed is that with the little rifles, they kick harder than expected because naturally, they are lighter.
The .243 that my buddy's boy shoots kicks pretty good because the rifle is sooooo little.
Title: Re: .308 for youth
Post by: remington300mag on October 25, 2010, 12:58:48 PM: Quote from: jackelope on October 25, 2010, 12:50:47 PM
One thing I noticed is that with the little rifles, they kick harder than expected because naturally, they are lighter.
The .243 that my buddy's boy shoots kicks pretty good because the rifle is sooooo little.

I have noticed that...my dad shoots a super light Remington .280....and it feels as if it kicks as hard as my heavy Ruger .300 mag.....I know his bucks more!
Title: Re: .308 for youth
Post by: coachcw on October 29, 2010, 02:27:54 PM: Remington model seven youth .243 .260 .308 , we have the .260 a great little round .
Title: Re: .308 for youth
Post by: Bob33 on October 29, 2010, 02:30:29 PM: Quote from: bobcat on October 25, 2010, 11:22:49 AM
I don't believe recoil is that much less with the 7/08. It all depends on what weight bullet you shoot. You can also buy the "managed recoil" loads in 308 until he gets older. I would get the 308. One real good reason- ammo is much cheaper and therefore he will be able to shoot more.
Yes! My 9 year old shoots a 30-06 with no trouble. We use mild ammunition. AMMO, not the caliber makes the most difference. He can grow up with the 30-06. As he gets bigger and stronger he can use regular ammo. Don't sell yourself short.
Title: Re: .308 for youth
Post by: hendog on October 29, 2010, 03:33:15 PM: Quote from: Dadbear on October 25, 2010, 10:41:09 AM
It's time for my soon to be 10 year old to get his own deer rifle. Any thoughts on the .308 youth models out there? I've heard great things about the Savage Accutrigger. My son has one in .22 rimfire and loves it. Which ones are made in USA? Thanks for any suggestions.

I have a grey beard & have more rifles than I need, but I always grab one of my three Remington .308's for deer hunting. I hand load 165gn Hornady SST bullets, but have had great results with Winchester 150 Power point factory loads.
Title: Re: .308 for youth
Post by: texasbuckmaster on October 31, 2010, 02:38:38 PM: shot a .308 my whole life wouldnt have any other gun. lets just say it gets the job done :)
Title: Re: .308 for youth
Post by: CSOUTFITTERS on October 31, 2010, 02:51:01 PM: Another thing to consider is Remington's reduced recoil ammunition. I know they make it in 30-06 which is a great all round caliber. Ive never shot that stuff but the concept sounds good and i guess its pretty close to the regular ammo at 200 yds. I just dont know how much less recoil the reduced recoil ammo has over the regular ammo
Title: Re: .308 for youth
Post by: Wenatcheejay on October 31, 2010, 03:20:39 PM: My 12 yr old son has a 7mm-08 Tikia and loves it.
Title: Re: .308 for youth
Post by: snocobearhunter on November 11, 2010, 09:25:23 PM: 308 all the way thats what i got when i was ten and still shoot it today the recoil isn't that bad i know guys that let there kids shoot alot bigger clibers than that
Title: Re: .308 for youth
Post by: carpsniperg2 on November 11, 2010, 09:48:27 PM: if the tikka's will fit him they are they way to go. fantastic guns. 308 round is a good time tested round. i am on the 7mm-08 band waggon myself. either is a fine choice, ammo is not to much diffrence in cost unless he is planning on shooting A LOT. 7mm-08 are very close to the 308 in cost.
Title: Re: .308 for youth
Post by: Bob33 on November 11, 2010, 09:49:23 PM: Quote from: CSOUTFITTERS on October 31, 2010, 02:51:01 PM
Another thing to consider is Remington's reduced recoil ammunition. I know they make it in 30-06 which is a great all round caliber. Ive never shot that stuff but the concept sounds good and i guess its pretty close to the regular ammo at 200 yds. I just dont know how much less recoil the reduced recoil ammo has over the regular ammo
Much less. A 30-06 shooting Remington's managed recoil ammunition has noticeably less recoil than a 308 shooting regular ammunition. My 9 year old son shoots a 30-06 with it, with no recoil complaints.
Title: Re: .308 for youth
Post by: C-Money on November 11, 2010, 10:54:17 PM: I am kinda in the 7mm-08 boat too. My wife just got one and I have heard nothing but good things about the 7mm-08. Honestly, you cant go wrong with the 308 ether. I also like the idea of using managed recoil ammo in a 30-06. Tough choice! It sure is a good problem to have, trying to figure out what gun to buy! :chuckle:
Title: Re: .308 for youth
Post by: PA BEN on November 12, 2010, 05:43:12 AM: I have both and for kids a youth model 7mm-08 hands down is the best. I also had a youth model 243 for them. All girls, all killed there first deer at age 8.
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi154.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fs276%2FPABEN07%2F100_3527.jpg&hash=31ccd6ad50f1f6d626996d2e10463b3db9b0f103)
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(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi154.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fs276%2FPABEN07%2F100_3249.jpg&hash=89147a392a6865dbcfe7232fa2b8d47c03b70d8c)
Title: Re: .308 for youth
Post by: colockumelk on November 12, 2010, 06:19:05 AM: I don't have any experience with the 7mm-08. But I do have alot of experience with the. 308. My wife uses one and shoots the Hornady 150 grain interbond. It gets the job done. Also our sniper teams loved the. 308. In fact they chose that over the Barrett. 50 Cal. Our snipers had kills out to 1000 meters regularly. So it is a very accurate round and maintains its down range energy well. It also doesn't kick as much. Can't go wrong.
Title: Re: .308 for youth
Post by: GoldTip on November 12, 2010, 07:00:28 AM: Every one of my cousins back home in Montana started with a 308winny, served all of them well.
Title: Re: .308 for youth
Post by: General Disarray on November 12, 2010, 07:02:27 AM: I bought my son a NEF Handi-Rifle in 280 Rem that he has hunted with for the past two seasons. It's heavy which helps with managing the recoil and packs a punch enough for shots out to 200 or more if needed. That being said, I'm selling that gun and wanting to move him into a 308 so he has something more permanent that he can hunt with as long as he wants to keep it. I love the Remington Model 7 youth but am going to probably end up with a Savage Edge since you really can't beat what you get for the money there.

His first deer from the general hunt and he just filled his doe tag last Sunday. He's hooked.

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi318.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fmm440%2Fjberry870%2F025-1.jpg&hash=562bc55b411b08cf9bb54a6deb44a9c1f2fc704a)
Title: Re: .308 for youth
Post by: GoldTip on November 12, 2010, 07:05:44 AM: Good looking buck there General Disarray. I know the Spokane Warehouse sports, or whatever it is called now had some Remmy 700 adl in SS in 308winny just a couple weeks ago. Had'em listed at $429, couldn't pass them up so I picked up a 7mm08 myself.
Title: Re: .308 for youth
Post by: birdwacker on November 12, 2010, 06:36:12 PM: take a look at the Howa which is the maker of weatherby vanguards. They make a great youth gun which comes with 2 stocks, a youth size and an adult size he can grow into . I had one in 7-08 that shot great and had little recoil.