I would like to get my two girls a rifle this spring for them to start shooting. They are 10 & 8 and I would like for them to get their first deer next year. Any suggestions , they have never shot a gun. Im going to start them on 22 first. Thanks in advance.

22 is a good place to start. See if you can find a little single shot 22 that is loaded manually and must be cocked each time. That is what I started with and what I started my son with. Another possibility is a 22 Hornet or .222. They both should be manageable for a child of average stature.

Other then starting them off with a 22 to learn I would do the NEF trio rifle and do the 22/410/243 kit.

pink cricket

243

+1

22 bolt gun with a 3x9 scope
then a cz 7.62x39 bolt gun 0r a 22-250

7mm/08

X2

243 or 6.8 spc

Single shot 22.

X3

22-250

you can get 2 .243 win youth
handi rifles and buy or trade
up to adult stocks as they grow.
that'll help teach to make the first
shot count and they're built
plenty stout. 2 chambered the
same would simplify ammo worries.
the money saved on the rifles could
be spent on quality glass. i
wouldn't be afraid to hunt any part
of texas myself with one.

Start with rifle handling, safety with a 22 on the range, knowing this is not a deer cartridge, but to get them used to handling safely. I would recommend multiple trips to the range to drill home handling and safety. Once they have the basics you can work on sight picture, trigger pull, etc. Then you should be able to go to .223 or 22-250 and even 243 at the range. With the larger calibers give them a good rest at the range so they don't feel the difference so much. Keep preaching safety, all the time. How to carry, when to chamber, etc..
Sorry to be preachy, I am sure you know all this. Practice, practice, practice.

Good answer.

243 might be a little much for an 8 y/o female. 223 is what I'd work up go from 22.

If you can find one, a Marlin model 883 is a great starter .22 caliber gun, single shot bolt action, tube loaded. It is accurate so they will see success, bolt action trains them for later rifles, and it is usually cheap.

243 Howa Youth Mode. Comes with 2 stocks. Bought one for granddaughter and she loves it. Light recoil so she is not afraid of it.

Preach on brother. Too many parents ignore the fact that hunting and shooting are separate sports, with each requiring knowledge and skill. Teach them safe marksmanship first, as it will be something that would be valuable when hunting and for personal protection later in life. My girls never took much to hunting. But they expanded on their rifle shooting skills they first learned to become quite proficient with a handgun.

Hopefully, you have already been teaching them the basics of being a good hunter by helping them understand animal behaviors and why they do the things they do. Too many kids today equate hunting as nothing more than waiting for an animal to show up and eat.

243, 6MM, 223WSSM, 243WSSM, 25WSSM, and 257 Roberts would be the ones I would be looking at.

x2 with 60gr partitions it can do the job.

A Henry mini bolt in 22LR and both my 300 blk out's (Rem model 7 and AR-15) my 8 year old son shoots all the time. 300 blk out is a great round with enough power to hunt Texas game with low recoil. Add a suppressor, and it reduces the recoil and makes it quieter.

It depends on the kid, really.

My daughter killed her first deer this year with my .243. She is six. But my niece who is the same age would shy from shooting a .22.

Now, I've had her shooting for about a year now and the first thing she ever shot was a .22. In that time we worked on the importance of safety and how to properly shoulder the weapon. She was unable to shoulder it and grab the forearm like me and you would, but she would rest it herself, and with her off hand she would just reach over and hold the stock just behind her trigger hand.

It was a bit much gun for her, but she knew what it was before the hunt since I had her shoot it at the range. She only wanted to shoot it once, lol. But the scope on the single shot .223 we were going to use wouldn't hold zero. So she said she would just shoot the big one, lol.

You just need to judge the kid. You don't want to "ruin" them and set them back a couple of years.

Here is a thought. Get a Handi rifle in 357 maxi. Practice with light 38 specials and hunt with 357 mag or 357 maxi. Easily kill deer out to 100 yds. My Grandsons (10 and 6) both got there deer with this type gun this yr. It is a fun gun to shoot and cheap hunting.

If you hand load, or know somebody that does, my advice would be to lie to your children. Whatever caliber you choose, load up some low power rounds for plinking and practice. Resight the rifle prior to season with hunting loads and they will never know the difference when shooting at game.

My son started at age 10 with Ruger compact in 7mm-08, but thats probably a little much for a lot of kids.