Author Topic: Perfect Youth Deer Rifle???  (Read 7672 times)

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Offline valvesinmyhead

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Re: Perfect Youth Deer Rifle???
« Reply #30 on: December 07, 2009, 12:04:44 PM »
6.8 SPC. No recoil so they can see the deer get hit.

Offline Tonk

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Re: Perfect Youth Deer Rifle???
« Reply #31 on: December 10, 2009, 07:31:25 AM »
Now as a general rule, (one must take in the size of the youth, not age so much) an 8 to 10 year old boy or girl should not be fitted with any thing larger than a .243 or 6mm Remington. Now 11 to 12 year olds can jump up to the 7 x 57 Mauser or even a .270 Winchester using 130 grn bullets, if they have the size, not so with young girls yet ok. They need to be kept in the .243 cal or .257-Roberts for the most part. Also don't be letting them shoot to far down range, under a 100yds on their first deer, or at least until their marksmanship is progressing up the ladder etc.  :)

Offline jwinva

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Re: Perfect Youth Deer Rifle???
« Reply #32 on: December 15, 2009, 03:34:53 PM »
30/30 gets my vote. If you use a .243, use good soft pt 100 grain bullets like Rem Core lokt. 6.8 sounds good but I don't know first hand.A NEF single shot with 4X scope would be nice.

Offline hunt-m-up

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Re: Perfect Youth Deer Rifle???
« Reply #33 on: December 15, 2009, 05:02:27 PM »
I really like my Vanguard compact in .308. Would be excellent in 7-08 or a used Rem 788 or Savage 340 bolt in 30-30.
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Offline FLNT4EVR

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Re: Perfect Youth Deer Rifle???
« Reply #34 on: December 16, 2009, 02:31:21 AM »
I highly recomend the .260 rem. Very low recoil ,can be had in a light easy to carry rifle(Rem M7) and enough power and penetration for deer ,black bear, caribou,and even moose. If you reload there is a great bullet selection from 90 to 160 grn.Brass can be formed from 243 and 7mm-08 quite easily,and a variety of powders can be used to tailor just about any load you would ever need.
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Offline yooper77

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Re: Perfect Youth Deer Rifle???
« Reply #35 on: December 16, 2009, 03:24:56 AM »
I have a T/C Encore and I have three rifle barrels for it as follows:

24”, 223 Remington wears a Weaver V10, 2-10x38mm matte with Leupold dual dovetail matte base and med rings.

24”, 243 Winchester wears a Leupold Vari-X II 3-9x40mm matte with Leupold dual dovetail matte base and med rings.

24”, 7mm-08 Remington wears a Leupold VX-II 3-9x40mm matte with Leupold dual dovetail matte base and med rings.

Anyway, I have an adult synthetic stock for myself and a cut down adult synthetic stock for my 11 yo daughter.

I cut down the adult stock and stuffed it with Wal-Mart bags and slipped on a Limb saver recoil pad, I was also able to keep the rear sling swivel.  This fits her perfectly and she has started out on the 223 Remington for paper to get her used to the shooting, but not making her recoil shy.

Next year she will be legal for deer hunting, so the 243 Winchester barrel is ready for action.  I reload so I can tailor the ammo for her.

I have the 7mm-08 Remington for myself, but in years to come she can use it too.

Nothing like having a very short rifle with a 24 inch barrel.

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Offline Coyote Hunter

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Re: Perfect Youth Deer Rifle???
« Reply #36 on: December 16, 2009, 06:32:21 PM »
This year I saw a 6x6 bull elk, cow elk and 4x4 mulie buck, all killed with a .25-06 by a 12 year old girl.

I would definitely stay away form anything with a muzzle break - too hard on the ears, especially if shooting near something that reflects sound (like a steep hillside or rock wall, etc.).  A few years back I shot my .357 Revolver while standing sideways on a hillside.  I forgot to put my muffs back on when I took a shot at a surviving water jug.  The sound reflected off the hillside and was quite painful, causing permanent hearing loss.

I will ditto suggestions for a .260 Rem, but a Roberts (mine is my favorite rifle but its definitely at its best with handloads), .25-06 and 7mm-08 are all good.
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Offline hunt4570

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Re: Perfect Youth Deer Rifle???
« Reply #37 on: December 21, 2009, 05:13:52 PM »
  My daughter was 11 and about 60 lbs when she started deer hunting.I set up a Contender Carbine with the youth buttstock and a 16 inch 223 barrel. Great lightweight simple little carbine.Loaded with 60 grain soft points it worked great.She NEVER missed or lost a deer she shot at.
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Offline no guns here

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Re: Perfect Youth Deer Rifle???
« Reply #38 on: December 21, 2009, 08:35:03 PM »
IMO nobody makes a factory youth deer rifle that is perfect.

Most factory rifle are in .243 which I don't like for kids.  Then most "youth" rifles are lighter than adult rifles which completely negates that light recoil.

Perfect youth deer rifle for me would be...

.257 to .30 in caliber
short but heavy barrel
box magazine or single shot
NO muzzle brake, but then I wouldn't have one on an adult gun either
very generous recoil pad
my wife and kids like the hogue overmolded stock

I can't find anyone who makes a factory rifle like this.


my second option would be
a lever gun in .30-30 or maybe in .357 mag
as heavy as possible


for shotgun only...
20 gauge USH... my daughter has shot one of these since she was 11.  She's 17 now and still only 5'2" and 110 lbs.  With the scope and that big honkin' barrel it's heavy and soaks up a lot of recoil.



Later,
NGH


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Offline hunt-m-up

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Re: Perfect Youth Deer Rifle???
« Reply #39 on: December 22, 2009, 04:16:02 AM »
IMO nobody makes a factory youth deer rifle that is perfect.

Most factory rifle are in .243 which I don't like for kids.  Then most "youth" rifles are lighter than adult rifles which completely negates that light recoil.

Perfect youth deer rifle for me would be...

.257 to .30 in caliber
short but heavy barrel
box magazine or single shot
NO muzzle brake, but then I wouldn't have one on an adult gun either
very generous recoil pad
my wife and kids like the hogue overmolded stock

I can't find anyone who makes a factory rifle like this.


my second option would be
a lever gun in .30-30 or maybe in .357 mag
as heavy as possible


for shotgun only...
20 gauge USH... my daughter has shot one of these since she was 11.  She's 17 now and still only 5'2" and 110 lbs.  With the scope and that big honkin' barrel it's heavy and soaks up a lot of recoil.


Later,
NGH



Howa has a 2 N 1 combo that is about as close as you get to this, heavy action, not heavy barrel, and  has hinged floorplate, but like I said, close to what you described and accurate
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Offline boaman88

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Re: Perfect Youth Deer Rifle???
« Reply #40 on: December 22, 2009, 04:45:02 AM »
Ruger Compact in 260 Rem or 6.8 SPC. As others have stated 250 yards may be a little much for a new shooter. At the bench is one thing but once your sights hit a nice deer and your heart is beating twice as fast as normal it becomes a little tougher. The 6.8 is a recent addition to the Ruger compact and should be a really nice choice for teaching children to shoot. Silver State Armory is offering very nice options for hunting ammo in that caliber. Their ammo seems to be very accurate and very affordable for premium type ammo.

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Re: Perfect Youth Deer Rifle???
« Reply #41 on: December 22, 2009, 04:50:32 AM »
Hunt-m-up,

     I know... i've been looking on line at the Howa's and trying to justify whether or not to buy my kid something that isn't exactly what I think it should be.  Savage has one that is pretty close too.  I forget the name... something like "precision hunter" or something like that.  Nobody has figured out that the .243, much like a .410 is NOT really a beginner's round.  But that's just my opinion...  I do have a 6.8 carbine barrel for my G2.  I think it will work but still haven't seen it.  It's at the in-laws and we are in Germany.  Maybe this summer...


NGH


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Offline yooper77

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Re: Perfect Youth Deer Rifle???
« Reply #42 on: December 22, 2009, 05:24:09 AM »
IMO nobody makes a factory youth deer rifle that is perfect.

Most factory rifle are in .243 which I don't like for kids.  Then most "youth" rifles are lighter than adult rifles which completely negates that light recoil.

Perfect youth deer rifle for me would be...

.257 to .30 in caliber
short but heavy barrel
box magazine or single shot
NO muzzle brake, but then I wouldn't have one on an adult gun either
very generous recoil pad
my wife and kids like the hogue overmolded stock

I can't find anyone who makes a factory rifle like this.


my second option would be
a lever gun in .30-30 or maybe in .357 mag
as heavy as possible


for shotgun only...
20 gauge USH... my daughter has shot one of these since she was 11.  She's 17 now and still only 5'2" and 110 lbs.  With the scope and that big honkin' barrel it's heavy and soaks up a lot of recoil.



Later,
NGH




Just curious would you choose a 250-3000 Savage or 6.8 Remington SPC over the 243 Winchester?

I know what you mean about youth rifles.  I had to make my own youth butt stock for my Encore so my daughter could use it.  T/C makes a walnut youth stock but it was too thick in the grip area for my daughter so I sold it.  My Encore setup for her weighs around 8lbs with the 24” barrel and scope mounted.  She really likes the setup and practicing with a 223 Remington is cheap on my reloading wallet and fun for her.  Just remember eye protection and proper hearing protection and warm clothes drinks and snacks and she is all set.  She will use the 243 Winchester for deer and then move over to the 7mm-08 Remington when she can handle the recoil.

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Offline tigercat

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Re: Perfect Youth Deer Rifle???
« Reply #43 on: December 22, 2009, 11:14:30 AM »
check out the marlin bolt action xs7c just bought one for my twelve year old daughter in 243

Offline tigercat

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Re: Perfect Youth Deer Rifle???
« Reply #44 on: December 22, 2009, 11:16:07 AM »
they do make it in a youth model too the last numder i mean letter would be a y instead of the c

Offline theduke

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Re: Perfect Youth Deer Rifle???
« Reply #45 on: March 03, 2010, 08:10:26 AM »
I would get 243 or 7mm08 either would be good for kid.  I have killed alot of deer with 243.  If you hit them correct then they die.  Kids don't need big rifle starting out.  Get them youth rifle and women can use to cause most women have shorter lenth of pull. 

Offline charles p

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Re: Perfect Youth Deer Rifle???
« Reply #46 on: March 03, 2010, 03:24:20 PM »
My son used his 243 Win Featherweight at age 10 to take several deer.  He used it for 2-3 years, then wanted to shoot the heaviest magnum in the closet.  Full auto would have been nice as well.

Offline Oldshooter

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Re: Perfect Youth Deer Rifle???
« Reply #47 on: March 03, 2010, 03:39:31 PM »
Well I was all set to say 44 mag, 30-30, or 35 Remy, but then I read "250 yards"

and I dont think 44 mag and 35 are considered small bore, but 30-30 is a good fit cept the 250 yard thing.

Maybe its just me but a kid shooting at 250 yards is a stretch! If they can do it at the range then its no problem I guess.
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Offline vabowhntr

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Re: Perfect Youth Deer Rifle???
« Reply #48 on: April 13, 2010, 08:40:06 AM »
I too would look at the Howa 2n1 combo.  Comes with the youth hogue stock and an additional adult stock for when they grow into it.  For whitetails, I really like the idea of a .25 to .277 diameter, 110-130 gr bullet in the 2500fps range.  And I would love a trim little bolt gun in something like a 7 tcu for work under 200 yards.  I love the idea of enough, but not too much gun.  Low recoil helps me put the bullet where I want.  Where I hunt a 100 yard shot is a long one, and I don't like too much recoil or muzzleblast.  If I need more gun I will get the 300 win mag out.

Offline jpred1

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Re: Perfect Youth Deer Rifle???
« Reply #49 on: April 13, 2010, 02:25:14 PM »
My son shot one ( his 2nd deer) with his brand new Rossi in 7mm-08 and it rocked the deers world and his.Im gonna have to put an extra recoil pad over the factory one or something. The Rossi youth seems to kick harder than my tc pistol in same caliber. Been looking for managed recoil in the 08 but hard to find.He is 10 and @ 68lbs. I wished Id gone with 243 0r 223 but I wanted something that would be a good shooter at any game. I believe the MR bullets will do the trick until he gets a lil tougher. I may wanna shoot it sometime too, its nice and short for a shooting house, no bumping the roof/walls in the heat of the moment. Mine came with a 20 and a .22 , the 22 has been great for pratice and for him getting familar with the gun/ scope/safety/hammer.
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Offline wreckhog

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Re: Perfect Youth Deer Rifle???
« Reply #50 on: April 13, 2010, 02:46:51 PM »
I think that it is easier to learn how to handle recoil than it is to shoot at 250 yards. Just get a few guns and, shoot thousands of rounds and get to where you can handle it. Nuisance shooters by me (the guys that get permits to shoot 100 deer in an orchard) use the 22-250 past 250 yards. But they have killed hundreds, maybe thousands, of deer. And they shoot outside of rifle season, when the deer at fairly dumb.

Offline rugerfan.64

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Re: Perfect Youth Deer Rifle???
« Reply #51 on: April 13, 2010, 03:58:22 PM »
I started my kids out with a 7mm-08. I took a Sierra 130 grain single shot pistol bullet and ran it about 2450 fps. My son is 16 and he's still shooting those loads because I had so many loaded. They stilll kill deer dead as a hammer for him. My daughter took her first deer at age 10 with that rifle and load. My son took his first deer with that same rifle and load at age 9,some 4 years later. My daughter graduated to a 260 Rem, and started out shooting Sierra 120 grain spitzers at around 2600 fps. After she finished high school I cranked the 260 to full throttle for her. She can nail gallon milk jugs at 300 yards with that rifle. So If you handload,I'd say either 7mm-08 or 260 Rem would be just the thing for a young hunter/huntress. But then again if you hand load you could do it with a 308 or just about anything else that wasnt a magnum. Good luck !!

Offline 4given

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Re: Perfect Youth Deer Rifle???
« Reply #52 on: April 14, 2010, 03:49:04 AM »
.243 works very well on deer.  A 100 grain hunting bullet seems ideal but I have a couple of friends that use 85 grainers on whitetail because that is what they get the best groups with in thier particular guns & they seem to have no problems.

I my wife & my son and many friends have shot & killed many deer with it. Very accurate, low recoil builds marksmanship and confidence. Young people can HIT what they are shooting at because of these attributes. A hit in the vitals with a .234 is worth more than a miss with anything else. A Remington Model 7 youth model in .243 is a dandy choice if you can find one. I had one for my wife (small gal) & she loved it and was deadly with it.

another plus: you can usually find .243 ammo no matter were you are.
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Offline dpastordan

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Re: Perfect Youth Deer Rifle???
« Reply #53 on: April 26, 2010, 05:32:23 AM »
Interesting topic.  I did get a Model 7 in .243 for my grandson.  I don't have any complaints about the .243.  I killed my first deer with a Remington 742 in .243.  My cousin has a 6mm Remington which he got when he was 14...he is now 54.  It is his number one rifle and has killed mule deer, whitetail and antelope with it.  It was a Remington 700 in a youth model.  His father bought it for him and was a big reloader - liked the capacity of the 6mm Remington over the .243.  I have another friend who has a Remington Model 788 which he used for over 30 years and accounted for over 40 deer - no losses.  Key is to use premium bullets - Nosler partitions are my preference - and pick your shot. 

My second choice would be a youth model lever action in .30-30.  I had a Winchester 94 in a youth edition that I put a receiver sight on.  It was deadly on boar and deer.  I loved it because it was 33 inches long and when I wore a heavy winter coat - it fit like a glove.

All the cartridges mentioned are good ones.  I like the 7mm-08 (gave my brother a Remington 788 in that caliber years ago  for his birthday - very accurate).  Another idea is to get a Remington semi-auto or Browning BAR (if it is legal) and have a shorter stock put on it.  The action takes up a lot of the recoil and you can jump up to a .308, .270 or .30-06.  When you take the youth hunting, put one round in the magazine.  Teach them to make one shot count.   :)

Offline bubbinator

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Re: Perfect Youth Deer Rifle???
« Reply #54 on: May 28, 2010, 08:51:37 PM »
My wife shoots a Ruger Compact SS in 7mm-08 and handles it well. Then I bought a Rem M-7 in .260 from a friend who needed money and she went and killed 4 deer with off the back porch!  (Ate her shrubs-Bad Deer).  She really likes the little Rem 7. I shot it too and I think it would be a fine rifle for a young female hunter, doesn't kick much at all, 120 gr. loads reduce recoil even more.  The 7mm-08 starts at a 140gr. bullet and does recoil more than the .260.  Recent trends in the shooting community have been giving high praise to the ballistics of the .260 when compared to other deer caliber rounds.  My friend picked her gun up at a Gun Show for about $300. in excellent shape. I gave her $400 for it with a Buckmaster 3x9x50 scope on it!  (That's what she wanted and I did kiss her too.)

Offline emsemt911

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Re: Perfect Youth Deer Rifle???
« Reply #55 on: May 30, 2010, 04:39:00 PM »
243, hands dows

Offline shot1

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Re: Perfect Youth Deer Rifle???
« Reply #56 on: May 31, 2010, 05:16:03 AM »
I would go with the Savage youth rifle with the accu-trigger in what ever caliber you choose. Later on you can pick up a full size stock, their cheap, when she grows up and put the action into it. Then you can get a barrel in any caliber that will work through the action and screw it on yourself. All you have to have is a cheap barrel nut wrench and vise with some wood block jaws that will hold the barrel tight. Unscrew the barrel nut then the action off the barrel and take the new barrel and put some never-seize on the threads place it into the blocks and screw the action part of the way on the barrel. Insert a full sized case or a loaded round with a piece of scotch tape on the base of the case into the chamber close the bolt and screw the action on until it comes up solid. Then put the barrel nut back on and tighten it up. You are head spaced and ready to go. You can get a good barrel for under $150 . Savage is the erector set for big boys.  ;D  If you put the bullet where it supposed to go a good 90 to 100 gr bullet from a 243 will kill a deer easy at 300 yards. Done it many a time.

Offline RaySendero

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Re: Perfect Youth Deer Rifle???
« Reply #57 on: May 31, 2010, 06:37:45 AM »
I'm searching for a good used deer rifle for my 10-year-old daughter. What's the consensus between the .243, .257 Roberts & 7mm-08??? (Her shots will be under 250 yards.)

I would like to find a used rifle but if I don't find someone with a good used rifle I'm leaning towards either the Savage youth (which comes with a muzzle-brake & their accu-trigger) and the Weatherby Vanguard youth (which comes with a full-sized stock to be used after she's no longer a youth). Thoughts on either?

What did your kids use??? (Is it for sale?)

Mined didn't start deer hunting till 16 yrs old - His rifle is a Rem M700 in 308 and still uses it.

However,   I’ve seen 5  different  set ups – 6 rifles (2 were 308s):

1) 243 with stock cut to fit 10 yrs old.

2) 25 WSSM – Win M70 with stock cut for 10 yr old.

3) Rem Youth in 7-08 for 11 yr old.

4) 2 Rem M7 in 308 with stock cut  for 10 yr olds – Begin with Rem Managed Recoil ammo and later switched to regular ammo as they grew up.

5) Sporterized 8mm Mauser with stock cut to fit 12 yr old - Begin with American  ammo and later switched to European ammo as he grew up.

They all worked to kill deer!
    Ray

Offline born-to-hunt

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Re: Perfect Youth Deer Rifle???
« Reply #58 on: May 31, 2010, 07:06:18 AM »
I would say .243 or maybe a 7.62x39 I would suggest a handi rifle they come in both of those calibers.
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Offline bubbinator

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Re: Perfect Youth Deer Rifle???
« Reply #59 on: June 02, 2010, 09:20:37 PM »
My wife's first bolt action deer rifle was Winchester M70 .243 in a Ramline stock cutdown for a youth.  She killed a bunch of deer with it, them graduated to a Ruger SS Compact 7mm08, w/ a Leupold  scope. Still killing lots of deer. My nephew, who killed his 1st deer w/ the M70 in the RAmline. has grown up, now is 20.  $70 bucks thru Midway put a new full size Ramline on the Win M 70 in about 5 minutes!  He was good to go, rezero-ed in 15 minutes and killed a nice AL 8 Pt. andf about 180 yds. the next day.  Buy a good caliber that will "grow" with the shooter and for next to nothing the stocks can be upgraded to fit them as they grow.