.243 or 22-250, or a .270

I'd buy a Thompson Center Venture Youth gun, with the adjustable stock insert, that converts it from a 12 1/2" LOP to a 13 1/2 LOP. About the same bux as a RAR, lot's better ergo's and MOA guaranteed + comes with a Lifetime Warranty. Look at Bud's for a deal & good selection with free shipping. www.TCARMS.com
Ron

Sounds like you done sold off the perfect gun for the boy! Go get it back.

My 10 yr old son has been shooting my AR-15 in 223 and 300 blk out very well. It has the 6 position stock, which will fit him very well. I also like the shorter barrels, since it allows him to control the rifle better.

Bullfrog, the model 7 wasn't user a rifle I cared for.

minus the user, don't know where that came from

What was wrong with the model 7?

I have 3 daughters and all of them have hunted with a 25:06, starting at 10-12 years of age. I have shot at least 200 animals with it myself from my ranch in Texas to Wyoming. It's a great flat shooting, low recoil gun. I have a pretty much all the calibers and for whitetail-antelope-mule deer-hogs it is great. I shoot it out to 400 yards no problem. 100 grain Barnes TTSX at about 3300-3350. It is killer on hog behind the ear shots. My BIL shot a 400 pound boar behind the shoulder and it only went about 50 yards last year. That one even surprised me. He shot 3 behind the shoulder same hunt. The other 2 were 200 and 100 pounds all only went about 50 yards. Yes I have a hog problem. He is not confident enough to try a head shot from 150 yards so I told him to shoot behind the shoulder.

http://texashuntingforum.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/5687736/$75_REBATE_on_TC_Ventures_star#Post5687736

I've heard nothing but good things from folks who have the Ventures...with that rebate that is the direction I'd go for a hunting gun for a 10 year old. A single shot wouldn't be a bad option either and probably a little safer with a hammer to pull back. You could always buy/build him a nicer one as he gets older and is more experienced (read safe).

Good luck! I started with a single shot on everything before Dad upgraded me.

How about a Thomson center contender handy rifle you can find them used with a lot of caliber choices an barrel length an weights.
You said he cannot handle your AR 10 in in 243 maybe you can find a setup that will work.
The other option is a short action 243 or 22-250. A savage axis might fill the bill.

Model 7 was not to accurate and recoil was a bit much.

Another vote for a 6.8 spc ar15. Collapsible stock will be easy to set a proper length of pull, and he won't outgrow the rifle.

Install an adjustable gas block to turn off the gas if you don't want him handling a semi-auto for a while. Either that, or buy a bob sled to only load single shots until he is safe and ready.

^^^^^This times 10!!!

the model 7s are also the "new remingtons" not made in New Haven or wherever in Ammerica they were made and lack the quality. Remington is no longer the old Remington...for American made, go Ruger or Savage, even Winchester is foreign made.

Decided on a Ruger American Predator in 6.5 creedmoor.

I had to start my daughter out with an AR15. For some reason the stocks on rifles just didn't work for her. A AR with collapsed stock does though. This year I have setup her a 6.8 with 18" barrel. Still doing load work for it though. I started out buying one of those model 7 compact's to try before heading down the AR road.




This was the first trip to the stand last season. We had to get it up in the window to make sure it was even possible for her. She handled it like a pro when it came time to get some dinner. I wish I would have gotten it on video. 125 yard shot clean on a decent little doe. The 223 did the job but just not my first choice for deer hence moving up to the 6.8

My oldest son killed his first 3 deer with a AR but is limited to certain stand locations because of the distance of some of the shots. My youngest will be shooting the AR this year and will be limited to the same stand locations. The oldest was shooting a model 7 .260 but I didn't feel comfortable with the 300 yard groups, I must have loaded over 50 different loads with nothing satisfactory, the gun was old and has been shot alot so I think it may have been burnt from years of shooting.

thats a novel idea, lol yup da turdy turdy is small light not much recoil and hits with authority. a 243 is another choice in a ruger american

Another vote for 30-30. My son started using mine when he was 11 or 12. A couple of years ago I gave him a choice for his first deer rifle. I was thinking of a bolt action in 243 or 7mm-08 but he opted for a Marlin 336 in 30-30. I found an older JM stamped Marlin in great condition for him and pulled a scope from another rifle for it.

It shoots 3 shot groups under an inch at 100 yards consistently, which is the limit of his ability right now. He shot his first deer with it last season. He may want something more powerful in the future but at 14 he still loves that rifle.

My son wants the same gun as daddy if you can relate so the lever action is out. We shoot nearly every evening when I'm home so he's pretty educated and hooked on burning ammo so I feel comfortable let him stretch out to 300 yards which is not a uncommon shot on our lease plus I love the look on other peoples faces when he stacks them at 300 with an AR.