I have a 12 year old son who is built like a bean pole but wants to start hunting deer and hogs with me. He shot an AR15 yesterday in .223 caliber and liked it. I want to get him a "Deer" rifle not a "Combat" rifle. Looking for caliber recomendations and brands of safe, reliable manufacturers that won't break the bank.

Calibers I have been thinking of are .223 .243 and maybe 25/06. don't know much about the 25/06

Brands I have been thinking about are Remmington, Savage, and Rossi.

I could spend weeks looking at technical specs and still learn more in a shorter time asking experienced shooters on THF.

Thanks for the help!

I highly recommend the 7.62X39 for young shooters. This is the one I bought my son, except his is solid black with the wood stock and handles. My boys have killed two deer, and one hog with it. Very little recoil.

http://www.remington.com/products/firearms/centerfire_rifles/SPR_models/SPR18.asp

I like the 243 for young shooters. I dont like the 223 for deer but that is just my opinion. My son is 9 and has shot a 243 since he was 7. He shoots a 100 grain hornady boat tail round.

helomech, just saw your post, congradulate him on that fine hog. I was a little shy of the .223 myself too SaginawHunter, but wanted to get some more opinions. Gonna be a while b4 i get him one, so please everyone, post your suggestions on caliber and manufacturer.

Thanks

Buy him a 7mm-08 and get some Remington Reduced Recoil loads for it (they kick about like a 243). When he can handle it, regular 7mm-08 loads will allow him to use it on just about anything up to an elk. All the brands you mentioned are fine but I'm partial to the Remington Model 7.

243 is a great gun for a young man to start on. My son & daughter both started with 243, son has gone to 25-06, & 300 win mag, but always comes back to 243 for someone new to hunting/shooting

My oldest boy keeps the reloader (me) busy with his .257 Roberts. I love the round but factory ammo is not always available. My youngest boy loves his 7MM mauser - otherwise known as 7X57MM mauser. My daughter (8) uses a .243. IMHO, anything based on .308 brass should be a great choice. More and more folks really love the 7MM-08.

On brands of rifle, I have always been a Winchester Model 70 man. That said, they are very pricey when going for a kids gun.

243

.308 w/reduced loads then progress to full loads. No problem with recoil.

The 308 is probably one of the most versatile and he could shoot anything he wants with it with very managable recoil. There are tons and tons of ammo choices and tons of scopes that ballisticaly match the ammo.
Gun wise Im partial to the Remington's. Someone mentioned a model 7 which is an awesome handling gun. Another new one out is call a Remington VTR, it comes in 308 is short and has an integrated muzzle brake which is a plus. The Remington ADL's are their low end and they will work as well. The 2506 is a cool caliber but not quite as versatile as the 308 but a great round. I would not get a 12 year old a 223 because it is not forgiving if he makes a bad shot like some of the other with a little more umph.

Totally agree. The Remington VTR in .308 is perfect. Never shot one but has everything you need or want for a fair price.

I'll give my opinion so that the more knowledgeable can tell me how stupid I am.

For your son, 243/257 Roberts/7mm-08/25-06/308.

None of those should be too big and he should be able to use any of them for years.

WOW, such awesome response. Looks like i need to find someone in my area and buy them a box of shells for him to try. Are the reduced loads for the .308 available on the market or only from a reloader? Also, i have a savage .270, can reduced loads be purchased for it? and would recoil pad ans muzzle brake make it managable for him?

If he is 12 and a boy he can probably handle the 308 anyway. As far as managed loads I think maybe Remington might have some.
Your 270 will work with a muzzle break for sure; as far as the recoil pads the best one seems to be the limbsaver. They make slide on pads, usually available at Academy.
My lady is under 100lbs and shoots a 308 sometimes.

cool, I have a 30/06 that i haven't been able to use since my 2nd shoulder surgery. Maybe a muzzle break on it will tame it down for me enough that i can pass the 270 down to him with a muzzle break and save me some cash for shells at the range.

That ammo is made my Remington not hornady. If you plan on hunting this season I would get those muzzle brakes going; the gunsmiths are about to get busy.

.243 hands down

257WBY in a remington sps

if you don't have fun shooting a AR then you are not normal!

i would lean towards a model 700 in 7mm-08. great caliber with plenty of knockdown, not alot of recoil.

i feel ( thru many, many deer killed on hunts i have guided or been a part of) that a .243 is just too small to assure a drt kill for a inexperianced hunter.

if you can get him a brake on that .270 then that would be perfect. i started shooting a .270 when i was 12 and about 75 lbs. did't have a problem with it at all.

im not sure why you'd start on something unique at all, I would always think main line ammunition .243 or .308 becuase perhaps the ammunition is left at home and walmart doesn't have 7mm-08 then whats the kid to do when he can't hunt with his rifle.

I think the 7-08 is a great caliber, but you are also pretty much limited to about two gr. choices 140 and something else UNLESS you reload. Most of the time at the store they only have 140. I think that is what bothered me most when I had one.

257 Roberts Ack Imp. or 25-06,

JMO

God Bless Our Troops

243 or 25-06. I have both, if you live close to me let me know and I will let him shot both and see which on he shots better.