Author Topic: Perfect Youth Deer Rifle??? (Read 7634 times)

Buano · « **on:** December 12, 2008, 05:50:56 PM »

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?)

BBF · « **Reply #1 on:** December 13, 2008, 08:06:31 AM »

There are lots of .243 and 7mm-08 out there, not so with the Roberts. Without going into a ballistics program I am not comfortable on recommending a reduced load in the 7mm for 250 yards.
So that leaves the .243. or 6mm Rem. You are going to find a much divided camp here in regards to that cartridge for deer.
I would however throw three more cartridges in the basket for your consideration.

a. 260 Remington
b. 6.5X55 Mauser
No personal preference for those two.
c. 250 Savage( 250-3000) if you can find one

AtlLaw · « **Reply #2 on:** December 14, 2008, 05:58:40 AM »

Quote from: BBF on December 13, 2008, 08:06:31 AM

There are lots of .243 and 7mm-08 out there, not so with the Roberts.

+1 So few it's not really a viable entry. I love it, but it scarcity on the used rifle rack severely limits your choices.

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Without going into a ballistics program I am not comfortable on recommending a reduced load in the 7mm for 250 yards.

But, in my NSHO, the 7/08 is the only viable option... in your list. I have one in a Rem. M7 and it is one option for my granbabies. My youngest child is over 30!

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So that leaves the .243. or 6mm Rem. You are going to find a much divided camp here in regards to that cartridge for deer.

Good coyote round at 250 yds...

deer? at 50 maybe...

Private joke... I love taking a poke at they 243 fans! They go BONKERS!!!

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I would however throw three more cartridges in the basket for your consideration.

Good lad!

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a. 260 Remington

This would be my choice.

Got one in a M7 youth. The action is to be the base for a .250 project; not to worry, I've got a M700 in 260!

I wanted to hunt with it this year and just selected a mid-level load since I didn't have time to work one up. 120 PSPCL @ 2660 fps. NO recoil!

I may have to keep this as the Granbabies gun!

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b. 6.5X55 Mauser

Great caliber! I got 3 of them: military, custom sporting and a barrelled action (another project).
But your choice of used rifles may be limited.

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c. 250 Savage( 250-3000) if you can find one

I want a 250 real bad! It's kinda a tie for first place between this and the .260.

BUT, the "if you can find one" says it all.

The foregoing is just my opinion... And while my opinions are always correct, any opinion is kinda like a skunk's butt. It stinks to everybody but the skunk.

dpe.ahoy · « **Reply #3 on:** December 14, 2008, 10:56:37 AM »

Good, sound, solid advice on all of the above. (Ya had me worried for just a minute, hoped you didn't suggest the 45-120.

) DP

charles p · « **Reply #4 on:** December 14, 2008, 12:21:34 PM »

Your daughter will probably shoot what you recommend, but every male kid I've been around became facinated with rapid fire power first, then in their teen years they get magnumitus. Every miss or cripple is blamed on insufficient cartridge power. Of course, they flinch.

Troll64 · « **Reply #5 on:** December 14, 2008, 12:54:05 PM »

My brother just knocked off a couple of florida deer with a .243. Seems to think highly of it.

45-70.gov · « **Reply #6 on:** December 14, 2008, 01:39:44 PM »

260....be ahead of your time

right between 243 7mm-o8

243= 6mm
260= 6.5 mm
.284= 7mm

right in the middle 260 i predict to be the up and comming round

i want one too so send it this way when she out grows it for the advice

onesonek · « **Reply #7 on:** December 14, 2008, 02:23:57 PM »

Quote from: Buano on December 12, 2008, 05:50:56 PM

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?)

The .243 will likely be the most available in the the used market of the ones you mentioned, and a good(maybe best) starter for her. I too agree the .260 would be another good choice.

If you do use or get one with a brake,,,,just a reminder to use good hearing protection.

I started mine with a single shot TC Encore,,,,I would only sell it for what it it cost me to replace it/them with

Currently it's all I use for big game, and I have a grandaughter comming up,,,,err, make that 2 grandaughters

Dave

trotterlg · « **Reply #8 on:** December 14, 2008, 05:40:56 PM »

I have a little 25-20 lever gun that would seem just perfect. Larry

Old English · « **Reply #9 on:** December 15, 2008, 04:38:07 AM »

A friend of mine has an 11 year old son and somebody suggested a 7-08 which he loaned him. He and his dad came to my place to practise shooting it. I suggested he use my Marlin 30/30. The boy left with the 30/30, the 7/08 was too much for him. The opening day of youth hunt, he bagged a nice 6 pointer at 80 yards with the 30/30. Nice light rifle, low recoil, big killing power, perfect for a young'un, or old'un

Skunk · « **Reply #10 on:** December 15, 2008, 04:57:18 AM »

Quote from: Old English on December 15, 2008, 04:38:07 AM

I suggested he use my Marlin 30/30. Nice light rifle, low recoil, big killing power, perfect for a young'un, or old'un

There you go Old English. A 30/30, 336c, preferably with a Williams side mount rear aperture sight and a firesight up front - a near perfect Youth and Grownup Deer Rifle - at least in my neck of the woods (and swamp).

BBF · « **Reply #11 on:** December 16, 2008, 07:53:55 AM »

Dang it: I did forget the 25-06 if a longish barrel isn't a problem.

One Eye · « **Reply #12 on:** December 16, 2008, 12:05:09 PM »

My daughter is 14. She has killed two deer in the last 3 years with a borrowed .243. This years kill was a 90 yard shot through both lungs that dropped dead after one hop. Her first reaction was, "Dad, I didn't even feel the gun kick." This gun was an adult sized gun that was a very poor fit for her, at best. She loves the caliber, has confidence in it, and that is what I will buy her for her first rifle.

I too am on the same quest that you are. For me, the .243 caliber was the easy choice. The right rifle is the part that is giving me fits, as she is on the small side and will not be getting much taller. I am leaning towards the Rem Model 7 Youth or the Weatherby Vanguard Youth. My local gun shop has the Savage Youth like you describe, but the stock is very "clunky" (or thick in the grip area) and I don't think she will like the muzzlebreak. Don't need one on a .243 anyway.

Good luck and let us know what you decide upon.
Dan

Snowshoe · « **Reply #13 on:** December 17, 2008, 12:33:00 PM »

"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 shorten the range down to 100 yards, and get the rifle/cartridge combination that fits best. In my opinion a new hunter should not be shooting that far. I see far too many animals wounded due to poor hits at long range. even from older hunters.

Nova · « **Reply #14 on:** December 17, 2008, 05:48:55 PM »

I've seen the ol' 6mm Rem. take down a few deer in my day. Amazing the damage caused to the vitals from a 100gr PSP bullet. Just goes to show, proper shot placement is key. Go for a .243, has to be plenty of them out there on the used market and if you don't handload ammo is an easy find from any manufacturer at any sporting goods store. If she decides that she doesn't like the caliber in the future, you'll have a nice varmint gun if nothing else!

BBF · « **Reply #15 on:** December 18, 2008, 09:25:03 AM »

One Eye:
For the price of a Savage, get one with the wooden stock that has the grip you like and cut off what she doesn't need on the butt end

Ahshucks · « **Reply #16 on:** February 10, 2009, 12:59:55 PM »

Remington has managed recoil loads for the 7mm-08. Rather than buy a rifle for my daughter, I sized up the stock and used managed recoil loads for the 308. The result is half the recoil in a 125gr PSP bullet with the same accuracy & hit @ 100yds as a regular PSP 150gr. They do tend to drop off down range a little quicker though.

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #17 on:** February 10, 2009, 01:44:42 PM »

+1 for what AWE SHUCKS just wrote.
But if you are limited to the Wally world ammo department I would look for a 243 win with soft points. DID I just say that? Not a fan of little bullets for kids. I think the bigger the hole the more likly it is to hit something vital. Do not rule out 30-30, 7-30, or 35 Rem not to mention 357 mag 44 mag or 45 colt for short range (75 yards)rifle. you really do not need a super power house to kill whitetail. Just a hole in the lungs. Give the deer a few minutes (say 25) to drown and climb out of the stand and look for the der.
In the used rifle bin/ rack any short barreled bolt or break top will work. Order a new/ used stock for it and cut it down to fit her and then go another 1" and get a decelerator pad added. Actually any of the rounds that Altlaw suggusted would work well. You may want to add some weight to the rifle in the rear to help shift the center of gravity aft. with less developed upper bodies even a short barrel is front heavy for a kid. And they tend to lean back instead of into the gun. The added weight will help suck up some of the recoil as well.
One of the things I have learned with teaching kids to shoot was position. Get them into proper position and it too will suck up recoil, rather than have them behind the gun at the bench.

charles p · « **Reply #18 on:** February 10, 2009, 02:52:53 PM »

Get something cheap and cut the stock back. After a few years, put it back in the safe for a future grandchild. What maters most of all, is that you get something the kid can shoot.

no guns here · « **Reply #19 on:** February 10, 2009, 10:35:11 PM »

I just bought a 6.8 spc barrel for my T/C G2 for exactly this purpose. I got the bull barrel to keep a bit of weight since I'm going to have the barrel cut back to about 16.5-18 inches. I've got a youth sized walnut stock for it. Next I need the right forend for a bull barrel. I'll stick a decent scope on it and then I'll have a good rifle for my 5'3" daughter, my 5'2" wife and my 9 year old son. I've got plenty of full sized rifles for them but I've never gone to a smaller one. Guess I'll need to build up a couple more... ahhh the fun never ends huh?

ngh

sachel.45 · « **Reply #20 on:** February 11, 2009, 08:21:44 AM »

just an FYI howa makes a 6.5x55

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #21 on:** February 11, 2009, 01:49:17 PM »

just an FYI howa makes a 6.5x55

Cool And my Birthday is 6 days away. guess I need to order me one. Someone figure out how 6.5X55 can =41.

super mario · « **Reply #22 on:** February 11, 2009, 05:32:08 PM »

deer are just not that hard to kill, a .22 mag throught the lungs and they dont go far.
A .243 is perfect for deer and gets my vote. i hav been using one on and off for 30 plus years. My kids have used it wth zero problems on deer and hogs. A .22-250 worls well too. I saw a rem 799 in 22-250 at bass pro for 399.00 I almost bought one.
My friends daughter took her first deer this year with a 243 using 55gr BT's right throught lungs and it hopped a few and dropped.
55 gr at almost 4k fps doesnt matter if it comes from a .22 or a .24 it leaves some nasty damage

CWT · « **Reply #23 on:** February 12, 2009, 02:06:45 AM »

My daughter now 11 uses a T/C Encore 7mm-08. Killed her first deer at nine with that rifle. I think the perfect youth round is either a .260 or 7mm-08. I set a maximum range of 70 yds for her first two years. This was determined through practice. Now I'll let her go 100-125 yds. I think 250 is way to far for a youngster to take a shot at game.

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #24 on:** February 12, 2009, 06:33:08 AM »

Last night while digging around I was looking at a Magnum action and it dawned on me that the action is huge but the rest of the gun is normal sized for your average person.
Why do the gun companies not take this same approach to a youth rifle?
To me the 375 H&H Kicks but is managable due to the stock.
When I was 14 and was shooting Dad's 308 with the dreaded 180 grain bullets it seemed to be more recoil than I feel now with the 375.
Why not apply all the dangerous game rifle technology and the changable pistol back straps to a kids designed stock and make it in three sizes for as the kid grows or bolt on additions. Molded plastic stocks with three or four different length of pull options wiht big soft recoil pads?

Skunk · « **Reply #25 on:** February 12, 2009, 07:01:17 AM »

Quote from: mcwoodduck on February 12, 2009, 06:33:08 AM

Last night while digging around I was looking at a Magnum action and it dawned on me that the action is huge but the rest of the gun is normal sized for your average person. Why do the gun companies not take this same approach to a youth rifle? Why not apply all the dangerous game rifle technology and the changeable pistol back straps to a kids designed stock and make it in three sizes for as the kid grows or bolt on additions. Molded plastic stocks with three or four different length of pull options with big soft recoil pads?

There's your opportunity Woodduck. Design a new youth stock and get that baby to market. It's a great idea.

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #26 on:** February 12, 2009, 08:43:50 AM »

OK in my free time I will.
I'll send my idea to Pachmyer and see what they say.

no guns here · « **Reply #27 on:** February 12, 2009, 10:52:40 AM »

Hogue has overmolded stocks, they aren't youth model but their website says that the screw holes are long enough to be cut down 1" and the put the pad back on. FWIW...

ngh

Skunk · « **Reply #28 on:** February 12, 2009, 11:06:22 AM »

Quote from: mcwoodduck on February 12, 2009, 08:43:50 AM

OK in my free time I will. I'll send my idea to Pachmyer and see what they say.

Sounds good. And when you are the Millionaire McWoodDuck, don't forget your old pal Skunk back at Graybeards who made the suggestion to you.

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #29 on:** February 12, 2009, 11:16:03 AM »

Unfortunatly when ever I have a good Idea and come up with something i think can help I offer it free of charge.
If I patentant it now one will build what is needed.
So far S&W and Ruger have built what I came up with.