what youth cartridge for elk

[dk17hmr]

Another option maybe a 50 caliber muzzleloader, 75-80 or loose.

[JonD.]

Having read all posts, thank you all for your input. I'm leaning toward a new Handi barrel in 7-08 for her. Later on she can grow into my lever 30-30 and 06' semi-auto and I can get a new rifle for myself .

[petemi]

Now you're thinking like a true Handiholic.

[BBF]

 I have never bought or used the Factory Reduced Recoil type ammo, is it not meant to be for deer sized animals considering the light weight for dia. bullets they use? A 308 Win using 125 gr bullets when you would use 165 or 180 for elk in that instance?

I would not feel comfy using that type of bullet on elk. IMO of course

 In the US, is 30-30 ammo cheaper then 44 Rem Mag which can be gotten in 50 round packs? Just wondering.

[MTGlass]

Regardless of which cartridge you settle on, get her as much trigger time as possible with it.  A six pack of these elk x-ray targets help keep our practice sessions fun and interesting.  They also seemed to instill a better sense of where to aim on the animal, rather than just at the animal.  This season I repeatedly reminded my daughter to look for the elbow as a point of reference on where to aim.



The Perfect Shot, Mini-Edition North America (Paperback)
by Craig Boddington (Author) available through Amazon, Albris & others is another good shot placement guide.  I don't have one but it is on my Christmas list.

http://www.amazon.com/Perfect-Shot-Mini-North-America/dp/1571573208/ref=pd_bbs_sr_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1228752861&sr=8-3

Also consider adding some sort of comb raising device to the stock to get her eye in line with the scope.  I used this on on my daughter's Handi:
http://www.beartooth-products.com/shop/vmchk/comb-raising-kits.html

I bought hers at the factory in Bozeman but they're cheaper at Sportsman's Warehouse and elsewhere.

[mcwoodduck]

 BBF,
From what I have read about the reduced recoil loads they have a different bullet construction and are made for deer and larger game.
They are not the lite constructed 125 varmint rounds that were made to come apart that were out in the 80's for the Varmint 700's.
I would also like to thow as large of diameter bullet as I could for the kid.  Heck do they make a 35 Remington for hte handi rifles?

[quickdtoo]

  Heck do they make a 35 Remington for hte handi rifles?

No, it was canceled.

Tim

[Spanky]

45-70 TRAPDOOR LOADS


Spanky

[BBF]

It did not think that those light weight bullets are varmint bullets myself but more along the line of a Single Shot pistol type.
35 is a nice caliber, the only one that was ever chambered in the Handi is or was the 35 Whelen. It can be handloaded way down using H-4895. With a 180 gr bullet you can start with as little as 36 grains of that powder which will come very close to 35 Rem levels. As you princess grows, the performance can be increased.
Since you brought up you had a 30-06 Auto banger I wonder if you get a chance to load or have someone you trust make  some mild stuff just how low you could go for the action to cycle.
I have a 742 that cycles with 44.5 gr IMR 4895 pushing a 150 gr bullet. That is the minimum powder charge from a Sierra book for that powder. The semi action soaks up a lot of felt recoil.

Regardless of what you pick, the stock has to fit her that is more then half the battle.

[JonD.]

45-70 TRAPDOOR LOADS


Spanky

I don't know what is meant by "trapdoor loads" but the 45-70 is listed as having the highest recoil of all calibers in the FAQ's. I know it has more than my Handi .35 Whelen, and it's almost too much for me.  I bought a 45-70 barrel after I purchased my Whelen, and sold it after shooting the .35 and feeling the recoil, and I'm a big guy 6' 2" 350lbs. I definitely don't want her anywhere near that much kick, and scare her away from shooting.

[BBF]

Tim
Have you got the math or program that would show the recoil generated in the 35 Whelen using 36 gr of powder, 180 gr bullet at 2200fps out of a standard weight Handi ??

[quickdtoo]

Yes, I posted it in reply #15, but here it is again, in an 8lb rifle, recoil would be 11.55lbs.

Tim

http://www.handloads.com/calc/recoil.asp

[BBF]

 Those numbers would make me think that they are doable for that girl.

[striker525]

Personally, As a youngster growing up out in WA state I have hunted with both the 30-30 and the 308. The 30-30 in my opinion is just about the best gun for a kid to have and to shoot BUT having shot two elk with the 308 and 1 with the 30-30 I would be more apt to say the 308 does a better job at any distance and the recoil is so much more lucid so-to-speak than the 30-30. You daughter would benefit now and later on down the road with the 308 in my opinion.

[Lazermule]

The 308 is a great cartridge, but IMO the 7mm-08 is a better choice.  There are heavy and light loads available for the 7mm-08 (120-175 grains is what I have seen) and you get the better 7mm BC. 

I shoot 140 grain win ballistic silvers out of my Tikka T3 7mm-08 and there is very little recoil.

My buddy shot a 1000lb bull moose with a 7mm-08 and he said he never felt like he was limited on power with that gun.  2 hits in the vitals and the animal went down in less than 100 yards.

LAZER

[BBF]

Having lived in British Columbia for many years I know the 30-30 and 32 Win was used by many hunters. What is not so commonly known may be  how many moose did not get recovered. Light for the game cartridge and poor shot placement.