Looking to get my son a new caliber. He’s shot a few 243, 30/30, 223. He’s most confident and consistent with a heavy barrel 223. Without getting into caliber debate on what’s best, what are some low recoil options. He doesn’t seem recoil sensitive but I don’t want to develop a flinch either. I don’t feel like a 223 is best for deer. Sure it will do the job but I’d feel better with more. He shot a decent size hog and it killed it.

I’m considering a 6.5 grendel, 6.5 Creedmoor, maybe 7mm08, a better 243, 25-06 and maybe a few others. It will be a bolt gun. Most likely threaded so I can add a brake if needed until I get around to a suppressor.

What’s some lower recoil rounds?

I’d go 6.5 or 7-08.

I know a 243 has killed a lot of deer, but I like a little bigger/heavier bullet. How old and big is your son?

Agree.

I am using the 6.5 Grendel mostly these days. The 7mm-08 will work and the Hornady reduced recoil loads make recoil for it not bad at all. if shots are not much over 100 yards I often carry a 357 Lever action

The neighbor’s youngest daughter shot my 223 without any problems. Then she moved up to a 243 and shot it great. A 243 would be a good choice for a recoil sensitive kid. Also, I know for a fact that a 6.5 CM shooting 100 gr Nosler BTs has very little recoil. If a 243 shoots a 100 gr bullet at 3000 FPS, it seems reasonable to assume that a 6.5 CM shooting 100 gr bullets at 3100 FPS won’t kick enough more to notice. I’d go for the 6.5 CM and light bullets. And if you reload, you can scale down the loading to reduce recoil further. Or get ChadTRG42 to load up what you need.

Creedmoor with 120 gr will get it done. My circle of friends with grandkids have shot well over two hundred deer and hogs using 120 gr AMax over past few years.... longest kill 1153 yards on Antelope.

My favorite as a young shooter was the 243. Kicked less than my 30-30 or at least it seemed to be less recoil. 6.5 is about the same recoil as the 243 round to me. I have two minor rotator cuff injuries on the same right shoulder [self healed] that prefer the lower recoil.

Any of the bigger rounds can easily be loaded as a reduced recoil option, also. Options for caliber is wide open.

.243 is plenty.

He’s turning 12 in a couple of weeks. Skinny as can be. So far not recoil sensitive and I’m trying to keep good shooting habits which is why I’m not trying to jump up to much yet. Creedmoor has my attention. We typically hunt East Texas so nothing long shots over maybe 100 yards in most situations. Do hunt west Texas occasionally so want the ability to go 2-300 at some point.

I’ve used reduced recoil in the 243 and 30/30 and he has done fine with those. Just for grins and to see how he handles it may mix in a full power round next time we go out.

The 25-06 is a very capable low recoil round for deer and pig sized game. With a good bullet inside of 500 yards it will do anything you want it to do. The 25 is often overlooked on this forum.

7mm-08 with 120 grain bullets.

Every American needs a 7mm-08. It will do it all, and with low recoil. To really make it shine, you need hand loads. So, the next best thing is the 6.5 Creedmoor.

No one needs a long action anything for up to 200 yards, if they can shoot worth a damn.

That would be my choice as well. IMO, it's the most under-rated caliber available.

Of course, whatever the caliber, the best way to overcome flinching is lots of time at the range to condition the body to accept it. IMO, it's much like a catcher being conditioned to ignore the swing of the batter's bat. For 99.99% of people, it will never happen until they become conditioned to it through lots and lots of repetition.

I bought both my boys and my wife a 7mm-08 each. Started them out with Hornady Custom lite ammo now using the full power nosler accubond loads.

Imo its the best combination of punch, low recoil and bullet selection available.

The 6.5 creedmoor is another low recoil round that would be great for deer, but I just don't consider it a do-all (that's my personal opinion). I would feel much more comfortable shooting an elk with a 7-08 than a 6.5 creedmoor.

If its strictly a whitetail gun, either the Creedmoor or the 7mm-08 will be fine. If you ever want to hunt a bigger animal, I would get the 7mm-08.

7-08 gets my vote, out of the options listed above.

Just sighted in my Encore with 120 ballistic tips and a reduced load of H4895 (27 grn) for my daughter. The 120 is a pretty tough bullet so it will be fine as load increases as she gets older. Very mild recoil at this load, pretty close to my Ruger American 223.

If you don't reload, Hornady used to have a managed recoil option in some calibers, I think Remington did as well. Not sure how mild those are.

Any you listed will work, especially with a brake or can. Good old 308 is mild with a good brake or can and will do it all too.

Goes without saying, good hearing protection regardless of brake or not and I would do plugs and muffs as that cuts flinching and perceived recoil more than anything else in the lighter calibers.

There are lots of choices that will do you fine. I think the following would all work

25-06
270
7mm08
243
260
6.5 CM
308

My first pics would be 308, 6.5 cm, and 7mm08 in no particular order.

I started shooting a 270 at 8-9 and hunting with one at 10 no problems.

Everybody is gonna have an opinion.

My son started with a .243 at 10 years old, (skinny as a rail & short) that particular rifle was a poor choice as it was about as light weight as a .243 can get.
Then I let him use my .257 Roberts, which he & everyone that has shot the rifle fell in love with.
No doubt, it is in the top 3 or 4 of the most accurate rifles I've ever owned or shot.
He used it until I got him a 7-08 at 13 which he used until he was 18.
At 18 still skinny & small for his age he got a 30-06 that he still uses today.

My daughter started with the .257 Roberts at 14, she was tiny, like everyone else loved the rifle, she could shoot a box of 20 practicing with not a flinch or recoil reaction, she bought a 7-08 at 21 and still uses it when she hunts.

I have nothing against the 6.5 creedmoor, absolutely a good choice, there's just too many fine caliber selections to chose from.

My opinion, hard to go wrong with a 7-08 or .308, always a good choice.

While it isn't a popular or 'newest bestest' whizz bang gotta have caliber and some maybe quick to tell you how bad it sucks and is a horrible choice the .257 Roberts has started more kids & wives in my extended family and several friends hunting than all other calibers combined. To me it is the most forgiving & easiest caliber to reload for, almost impossible to find a combo it won't shoot extremely well.
I know men & women in their late 60's ~ 70's that bought one a long long time ago and still use them to this day & never had need for anything else.

How low of recoil do you want to go? My son is very recoil sensative. He does not like my 6.5CM, and it is a really heavy beast. I got him a .357 mag. Pistol caliber carbine. I fell like it has almost no recoil. He will only shoot it a few times before he calls Uncle. 300 Blackout is what he shoots best and likes the most. Very low recoil.

Is it the recoil or the noise?

I have a 13yr old bean pole (but he's wirery) and a 10yr old that's well built...……..13yr old has been shooting 6.5CM for 3 years and he's very comfortable with it. My 10yr old is still on a AR (224 Valkyrie) running barnes TTSX without any problems or wounded animals. My 10yr is a south paw too, he shot an old 6.5x284 I have and wasn't comfortable with the right hand bolt so I'm getting a 6.5x284 built in left hand for him, should last him until he can but his own.

You can go for a 243, 7-08, 6.5, or 270. I use a 270 and it's my preference. It's a really solid all around rifle. Plenty for deer and hogs and he can even go for elk with it too. 6.5 is newer than 270 and I've heard it's similar to 270, but if you're looking for a good all around rifle to get him, I'd go for a 270. Try to check to find a good used one because you'll probably get a great deal on it. If you're wanting some heavier, you can go for a 308, but it is heavier so that may be something you might want to avoid for him. Please let us know what you end up getting for him and post a pic or two! Good luck!

Maybe my bad luck but every .270 I’ve ever shot had more recoil than any .308 I’ve ever shot. The weight of the rifle has everything to do with the rifle and nothing to do with the caliber. Sorry RPG, not a jab at you, I just do not agree.