I'm going to buy a rifle for my 8 year old grandson and was thinking of this: CVA Hunter Compact in 243, but I am open for any suggestions that you may have. He has only shot 22's. He is of average height and weight for an 8 year old.
http://www.cabelas.com/product/CVA-HUNTER-COMPACT-SINGLE-SHOT-CENTERFIRE-RIFLE/1994641.uts?searchPath=%2Fbrowse.cmd%3FCQ_refinements%3D~brand%253dCVA%26CQ_search%3D243%26CQ_st%3Db%26categoryId%3D734095080

I know this will probably turn into a debate on calibers, but I honestly believe a 223 is a great youth gun. There seems to be less flinch and better shot placement. I think the importance of accuracy out weighs the 30 grain difference in bullet size.

If he can handle the slight recoil of the .243 during practise at the range IMO it is the best youth cal. available.

I agree .223 will be good. I hunted with a .222 at that age. I remember in junior high talking to a classmate who hunted with a 30-06. He would tell me a few times about the deer he missed/wounded. As I've gotten older I think it might be cause he hunted with a30-06 as a young kid and was scared of the recoil. Just my 2 cents.

.223, .222, or 22-250 are all great kid guns and deer slayers.

Often over looked and a close cousin to the .223 is the 6MM Remington. To me almost more important than the caliber is the fit.

Yes I shot a semi-auto 6mm till I was 17, great gun with very little recoil. I think I shot 90 grain through it.

.250 savage is perfect for a kid

If the gun doesn't fit, it will smack the snot out of his cheek and there is absolutely no way that he'll ever hit anything with it. Find a gun that fits then worry about the cartridge.

Unless you are ready to get him into a 223 or 22/250, the 243 is your best choice. If you decide to go the 243 route, I'd strongly suggest that you get with Chad on here and see if he can offer you some low recoil loads. They will go a long way towards accuracy.

I would agree. The fit makes all the difference on the felt recoil.

You can get a larger caliber for them to grow into but shoot the reduced recoil loads out of them that will make the recoil felt much less. Nothing wrong with a .222, .223, .22-250, .243 or 6mm. I have some Remington reduced recoil ammo for my .270 when I have a new hunter learning to shoot or shooting their first deer.

AR-15 223, will be the best fit for him unless he is exceptionally large. Choose a good bullet you'll be fine. Mys boys have killed plenty with a AR 15 at that age, I hand loaded 62gr barnes TSX.

Thank you all for your advise, I value everyone's opinion.

Hornady offers a lower recoil version of their .243 ammo that would make the caliber an even better choice for an eight-year-old.

I had a Remington Mohawk 600 in 243 at that age....nice short rifle. Still love it today.

9 year old daughter shoots the Mossberg 243 super bantam witch's has a extra butt plate for when she grows. Put a Witt machinery bolt on muzzle break and she has no issue with kick actually sent 25 rounds down it at the range last week and never complained once even stopped wearing the shooting pad she always wore before the muzzle break

243

I think 243 is great.

Personally for a first deer gun I would buy him something more traditional, a Remington, savage, ruger, wby vanguard, Winchester etc. in a wood stock.

But I'm weird and traditional like that.

An AR-15 in 6.8 with adjustable stock and plastic/lightweight hand-guard.

This is what we let the youth and women that come hunt with us shoot. It is adjustable and easy to hold. It is also familiar to the kids because it is what they use in the games they play. I have 2 topped with Leupold VX3 1.5-5x20 with heavy duplex reticle that are suppressed with SilencerCo Harvestor(s) on 16.5 inch barrels. These are the ones that get used the most. I have had 15-20 kids uses these guns to take whitetail, hogs and, exotics. Mine are Wilson Combat but any of the AR platforms would work.

There is little kick, the gun grows with the kid and can be used for the rest of his life. Plus, high cool factor...

I would assume the 6.5 Grendel in an AR platfrom would be good as well.

My boys both hunt with 223 just make sure that they are well practiced and use correct bullets. We use 64 grain speer gold dot soft points and to date have not had a deer take a step after being shot. I have them shoot my AR-15 because there is no recoil and you can collapse the stock to fit them. If you are not keen on 223 I like the 257 roberts also. If you are going to go with a semi auto make sure there are set rules. My boys are young and usually sit on my lap to shoot, that being said I work the safety for them and they know not to touch the trigger until dad has taken the safety off and they are on target and ready to shoot. Following the shot they take their finger off the trigger and dad puts the safety back on before they move a muscle. It takes lots of practice and time and ingraining those safety values so they are second nature.

+1 on this. It's what I have my kids shooting in their Weatherby S2 in 243.

I also bought a replacement, adjustable stock for the rifle. It has some recoil reduction built into it as well. If I remember correctly, I picked up the stock at Optics Planet.
http://www.blackhawk.com/Products/Long-G...ifle-Stock.aspx

The downside is that the stock above is limited to Howa/Weatherby and Remington

My first at age 10 was a Remington 788 in .243, which we still have in the family. It's getting a new Leupold this week and dad will likely hunt with it this weekend. TONS of memories!

We (my small 9 year old)have been working with an AR just to build confidence. They are just too easy to adjust fit as well as the more than manageable recoil. Not to mention it will never be "outgrown ". Just my 2 pesos.

CVA in the 7mm-08 makes for a great youth gun. I bought one for my 8 yr old last year and it is extremely accurate. You can buy the reduced recoil ammo by remmington, which makes the recoil feel like a .223. Two deer have been taken with it so far and the farthest went 30 yards.

A Howa Ranch Hand .223
Sweet little shooters