Need a good youth gun for hogs and deer

[malibumike]

My friends boy is in need of a rifle so he can start hunting with us. He is 9 and would like a caliber that can take out small blacktails and 100 pound hogs without blowing him of his feet. Anybody rec. any make and caliber for this? The youth 710 Remington looked good. Is a .243 going to work?

http://www.remington.com/products/firearms...h/model_710.asp

 

[Rancho Loco]

.30-30...Millions of kids got their start on it for a reason.

 

[Roscoe.]

My 60 yr old uncle has hunted deer and hogs with a youth model .243 for several yrs and he really likes it. He loves the size of the thing. More than adequate to take down the game and not too much kick either. I have my son started out on hogs with a 22 hornet. So far he has missed once. Kinda neat to see him all nervous and everything. Reminds me of me and my Dad years ago.

 

[Uncle Ji]

I would second the .243 for a youth rifle, and would also suggest a single shot young model available from both Rossi, and NEF. I own both Rossi and NEF single shots and for all practicle purposes they are identicle in design and quality of workmanship though detractors from both parties will favor their own. The Rossi is lighter by over a pound due to smaller frame size and thinner barrel so for a 9 year old easier to carry in the field though may kick a tad more because of this. I don't think you'll go wrong with either, and the price is right.

Rossi Braztech Youth 243
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=46435000
NEF Handi Rifle Youth .243
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=46486187

 

[CaliDuckPro]

I will also agree with the rest that said .243.

 

[Coues]

Remington Model 7 - 7mm/08

 

[SDHNTR]

The .243 is fine especially if he is a little guy. But coues is on to something. the 7mm/08 of .260 will give him more versatility and will be better suited to handle that 200lb boar that might step out. The recoil is not much more than a .243. Also I'd suggest getting a standard size rifle, having the stock cut to fit him, and then later you can replace the stock back to original size once he grows. This will give him something to grow into that he could use the rest of his life.

Stay away from the 710, do a search and you'll find out why.

 

[wmidbrook]

I'll toss a few more calibers out there to consider--nothing wrong with the .243 at all...it would be a good choice. If he doesn't flinch with a .22 cal or a .243, the following might be decent choices too.


I'm a big 6 mm Rem fan (about 200 fps more than the .243 and very little kick for same bullets).

Check out recoil tables...these are only 25% more felt recoil @ most--I'd say the 7mm-08 is the most versatile cal. of the bunch for the recoil...room to grow into...can take moose one day--it's just not a "long range" rifle...good out to 200-300 yds. max.

http://www.chuckhawks.com/recoil_table.htm

Better for hogs...
.257 Roberts
.25 WSSM
.25-06
6.5 x 55
.260 Rem
7mm - 08 Rem

 

[Coues]

Recoil is really only a problem for most people when shooting off of a bench. When you are shooting off shooting sticks, kneeling, or sitting, the felt recoil is very minor.

You could always sight the rifle in for your child off a bench and let him/her practice shooting with it in real field shooting positions and not have to worry about the kick nearly as much.

I started my 10 year old son with a .308 and it was a little much off the bench but very manageable for him in the field.

 

[SDHNTR]

Or look at some of the new Managed Recoil loads out from Remington. A .308 or .270 reduced load would kick about like a .243 and would allow him to move up to standard rounds as he grew.

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/template...=0006398215597a

 

[Franklin3]

I started my grandson on the Rossi brazetech single shot matched set.
great price and as he moves up theres more grandkids on the way right behind him do the rossi will continue it's work for many more years.

 

[malibumike]

Thanks fellers. I think he ordered the 710. It will do for a while and then they will step into what ever gun would be the next logical step as he grows. I'm just stoked my buddy is so pumped about getting his boy involved. He said 5 friends are now getting rifle and taking the classes with their kids. I'm determined to convert Malibu into a hunters paradise!

 

[Common Sense]

.243 is more than enough gun, and probably the best choice. But like Rancho said, millions of kids started on a 30-30, and it worked for them. My son took his first deer with a 30-30 at the age of ten. My grandson started shooting the 30-30 when he was 8, now that he is 10 he wants to use the 30-40 krag, even though I try to tell him the .270 is better. My son graduated from the 30-30 to the krag too, them young ones like those old military rifles.

 

[larrysogla]

There was a time in the early 1960's when one could hunt in Malibu itself. Of course, those carefree days are long gone. What with overcrowded California and the U.S.A. itself. Good move whenever the youth is being encouraged to enter into the hunting sports. It is really a decent and worthwhile activity. One that involves harvesting game that will die from predators or from teeth loss at an early age and thus weakened condition and then fall prey to disease. Hunting is a very good wildlife management tool. The recquisite hunter safety courses teaches respect and appreciation for wildlife. Congratulations on bringing the youth to our noble sport. God Bless.

 

[rtbx15]

I just bought my 10 year old son a 6.5x55 Swedish Mauser carbine (18.5" barrel). Very low recoil and a very good caliber for deer and pig. He loves to go to the range and shoot plastic water bottles! In two years when he can go after big game with me, I think he will be more than ready. By then he will be a pretty good shot (he does okay now) and I will have made up a good size batch of accurate handloads for him.

 

[baboltin]

I have a .270 model 710 and it seems to work fine SDHNTR and doesnt have much recoil.

 

[spectr17]

6.5x55 Swedish Mauser carbine

Luv them.

 

[code3punk]

gotta go with the 30-30 too..... watch that bolt on the .710... I had alot of probs with mine... Before I took it back and got rid of it...maybe good for a kid though...C3P

 

[larrysogla]

6.5X55 MM Swedish Mauser gives good penetration on big game. The sectional density(ratio of mass or bullet weight and the bullet frontal area) on most 6.5MM(.260 caliber) bullet weights is outstanding. The higher the sectional density(more bullet weight on a given frontal area) the more the likely penetration on big game. The bullet has to penetrate the tough and thick gristle plate(the boar's armor like shoulder shield), the shoulder bone(if necessary or by pure chance), the vitals and then exit(just my 2c opinion of course) and all this time expanded and ripping a jagged and torn wound channel inside the big game animal. This takes a lot of impact energy to accomplish. The high sectional density pushes the bullet to deeper penetration. The 6.5MM's are a sledgehammer. 'Nuff said.

 

[Gyopo]

Have you looked into the T/C Encore series?
They have youth stock/forend sets.
Start w/a small caliber barrel and buy barrels as the kid grow, if need be.
This way big kid (dad) and little one can all shoot it.
T/C also offers shotgun and blackpowder barrels.
If you handload there are some neat wildcat cartridge barrels available.

The Rossi and NEF sound good also. I think they are less expensive also.

I love the older cartridges like 6.5 swede and 7 mauser.
Mild and effective.
My buddy dumped a muley w/some 6.5 mag a season or so ago.

Don't overgun a kid. They will develop a flinch.
My buddy "old timer" gave his son the riot act for letting the little one shoot "too much" gun.