Need help with set up for kiddo

My oldest son is going on 7 and chomping at the bit to shoot his first deer, pig, and or turkey. He had a pretty decent growth spurt this summer and starting to look more comfortable holding a rifle. I want to get him set up with something that wont scar him for life, but i want to hear from the THF. He has a youth model .243 and i bought a box of 100 grain, yet i think the recoil could be too much. We have several other larger calibers and have entertained lower recoil rounds, or smaller grain bullets.
So,
Option 1: use a gun from the safe with lower recoil rounds, lower grain.. (if i go this route, whats the smallest grain you'd shoot out of a .243)
Option 2: Start from scratch and spend some time shopping this weekend. (what would you recommend- looking for complete set up here)

I dont need to hear "he's to young", practice/practice/practice, or shot placement.. yadayadayada.. I'll be the judge and understand the importance of practice/shot placement...

We're in the hill country and have an area to set up a in a 40-75 yard range.

What did you start your kid on?
Maybe i should just pick up a crossbow so we can both enjoy..

What has he shot to date, caliber-wise? Do you have anything between a .22 and the .243 that he could practice with? If he is eager, and has been around guns some, I don't think a .243 would be too much unless he's really sensitive. If you think there's an issue but don't have a .22 centerfire for him to try, get a box of Hornady Custom Lite .243 87gr SST.

I bought him a ruger 10/22 takedown 2 years ago and he shoots the mess out of that.. very comfortable with it. He's been sitting with me in the stand for the past 3 years and goes to the range everytime I go, so he's been around larger caliber rifles, just never shot anything bigger than the .22. With that said though, he's grown a lot this summer and just now at the point where he can properly hold a larger rifle.. I have an adjustable stock on the .22.

kind of kicking myself for selling the 22.250 a few years back..i dont have anything less than the .243 at this time.

A lot of good reviews on this ^^.. thx.!

I always thought a heavy barreled 223 is an good option. The weight of the rifle will help with the recoil with the obvious disadvantage of having to lug around a heavy rifle. Also, seems like 223 in a bolt format is the most forgiving in terms of accepting the vast variety of bullets and loadings.

If u have a 243, going down to 22-250 doesn't seem like it's worth spending the extra cost in return of perceived recoil difference.

I'd agree.. use to have one and would be nice if i still did, but not going to pick up another..

I've never owned an AR, so there's a whole other world to explore...

We started my nephew off on a AR15, it was really nice for him because of the adjustability of the stock and low recoil. He has taken a few does and many pigs with it.

So .243 with hornady custom lite 87 grain.. and AR.. maybe i need to go look at that R-25..

Get some reduced recoil 243 from chad

Say what you will, but I do not enjoy recoil. Using a good butt pad makes a huge difference for me, and makes shooting larger (more potent) calibers enjoyable. I think you will have to judge what he can handle, but I think a .243 with managed recoil rounds would be fine.

My skinny 7yr old son shot his first deer last fall with my bolt action 308 with factory 150gr ammo. Difference was that my suppressor was on the end of the gun. Takes all the recoil out as well as the noise. He didn't know the difference between it and his .22.

i thought for sure someone would have
posted .300 BO by now

Don't over think this.... the .243 with a Hornady custom lite 87 grain should do fine and you already have the rifle.....try that first UNLESS the stock and length of pull doesn't fit your son. Then I would "maybe" think about the AR-15 with adjustable stock.

Let him shoot the .243. If it's too much, look at something else. I personally think a .243 is on the light side as it is, and definitely wouldn't want to run a light bullet or slow down a heavier one. Put a decent recoil pad on the rifle and let him have at it.

I will be starting my girls off with ar15's. I will turn the gas off and use a bob sled instead of a magazine. Combine that with a collapsible stock, and you have a recipe for success.

I like your thinking.,,


Thanks for all the replies guys.

I'd go with the 243 and see how he handles the recoil. If it's too much there's always the Mossberg MVP Flex ( http://www.mossberg.com/category/series/mvp-series/mvp-flex/). My 5 yo grandson took his first deer last fall using the 223 and proper bullets at about 75 yards. Gives you the collapsible stock of the AR and the bolt action operation he'll soon be using. Not to mention, they are very accurate and reasonably priced. Stock goes from the 'short' side with an 11.25" LOP on up so it can 'grow' as he does.
You might need to carry it for him the first year but I'd wager pride in getting 'his' first rifle won't let you carry it much.