Forums46
Topics537,992
Posts9,731,477
Members87,053
|
Most Online25,604 Feb 12th, 2024
|
|
|
First hunting rifle - 7yr old
#7797912
04/06/20 10:25 PM
|
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 245
E-Tx
OP
Woodsman
|
OP
Woodsman
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 245 |
Looking for some opinions. My 7yr old shot his first deer that past season when he was 6, got a nice little spike. He shot it with an old Ruger .223 of mine at about 30 yards. I'm looking for some opinions on a good caliber and rifle options to get him started with his first hunting rifle this coming season.
No no no, he's not getting mine. I'm still alive and kicking, he'll get it someday when I'm dead or close to it. That Ruger of mine looses accuracy pretty quick at 200 yards.
My mom has an old .243 she got when we were kids and has never used, other than taking us to get us started. Shes open to giving/selling it cheap to us for him to have.
Give me some ideas. I'm looking for something he can take deer and hogs with and wont wear him out. I know there are LOADS of options out there, that's why I'm looking for some opinions here.
|
|
|
Re: First hunting rifle - 7yr old
[Re: E-Tx]
#7797933
04/06/20 10:48 PM
|
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 28,031
skinnerback
THF Celebrity Chef
|
THF Celebrity Chef
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 28,031 |
Hard to go wrong with a 243. My youngest Son was 7 when he shot his first deer with a 243. 3 out of 4 of my kids all killed their first deer and pigs with a 243 and use them still. My youngest daughter isn't ready yet. I have a lot of rifles in different calibers that I like to hunt with, but my go-to hunting rifle is still my old ugly Savage 110 in 243. I am also a big fan of the 22-250. Not a dang thing wrong with a 223 as long as you stay within your limits.
|
|
|
Re: First hunting rifle - 7yr old
[Re: E-Tx]
#7797953
04/06/20 11:07 PM
|
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 32,501
kmon11
junior
|
junior
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 32,501 |
I am still enjoying my little 6.5 Grendel, Howa makes a youth model bolt action or a light weight AR
lf the saying "Liar, Liar your pants on fire" were true Mainstream news might be fun to watch
|
|
|
Re: First hunting rifle - 7yr old
[Re: E-Tx]
#7797964
04/06/20 11:16 PM
|
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 7,937
bigjoe8565
THF Trophy Hunter
|
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 7,937 |
243 with 100 grain Hornady American Whitetail ammunition. Bad mojo for any game.
|
|
|
Re: First hunting rifle - 7yr old
[Re: E-Tx]
#7797965
04/06/20 11:17 PM
|
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 15,567
TexFlip
THF Celebrity
|
THF Celebrity
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 15,567 |
My 7 year old shoots a 16" Contender in 300 Blackout with a Vortex Sparc II. 110 grain black tips are hell on deer and hogs at any range she's good to shoot at.
Just to make sure that it is done thoroughly, I go both ways.
|
|
|
Re: First hunting rifle - 7yr old
[Re: E-Tx]
#7797970
04/06/20 11:19 PM
|
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 11,658
GusWayne
THF Celebrity
|
THF Celebrity
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 11,658 |
I’d stick w AR platform
Low recoil, adjustable stock and several good calibers to chose from
My daughter is 13 now and will be 14 for deer season
She’ll be hunting w a 6mm bolt gun for the first time this coming year
But years 10-13, I think the AR platform really helped her
She’s smaller framed
My .02, it’s worth what you paid
|
|
|
Re: First hunting rifle - 7yr old
[Re: TexFlip]
#7797984
04/06/20 11:26 PM
|
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 28,031
skinnerback
THF Celebrity Chef
|
THF Celebrity Chef
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 28,031 |
My 7 year old shoots a 16" Contender in 300 Blackout with a Vortex Sparc II. 110 grain black tips are hell on deer and hogs at any range she's good to shoot at. Hell yeh. Very Nice. I love the 300 blk. I screwed up and let my little boy get behind my suppressed 300 blk after shooting the 243. He doesn't want to shoot the 243 anymore lol. The 110 Barnes is nasty medicine on pigs.
|
|
|
Re: First hunting rifle - 7yr old
[Re: E-Tx]
#7797998
04/06/20 11:42 PM
|
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 5,174
scottfromdallas
THF Trophy Hunter
|
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 5,174 |
Ruger American Ranch in 300 Blackout, 7.62x39 or 6.5 Grendel would be a great for that purpose.
|
|
|
Re: First hunting rifle - 7yr old
[Re: E-Tx]
#7798022
04/07/20 12:14 AM
|
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,448
aggiehunter03
Veteran Tracker
|
Veteran Tracker
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,448 |
AR platform has been the best thing ever for my kids. First buck, first boar and first aoudad fell to a 65 grain Gameking.
|
|
|
Re: First hunting rifle - 7yr old
[Re: E-Tx]
#7798101
04/07/20 01:20 AM
|
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 29,609
SapperTitan
Taking Requests
|
Taking Requests
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 29,609 |
AR platforms are great for kids as you can adjust the stock for different lengths of pull. My 7 yr old son has been shooting my 6.8 SPC AR since he was 6 and now shoots my 308 and 6.5 Creedmoor. Great thing about the AR is you can pick from multiple calibers that are great for deer and hogs.
|
|
|
Re: First hunting rifle - 7yr old
[Re: E-Tx]
#7798158
04/07/20 01:58 AM
|
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 35,126
Brother in-law
THF Celebrity
|
THF Celebrity
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 35,126 |
I would 6.8 spc suppressed ar platform
Or
A Remington 700 action in 6.5 creed suppressed
Fitting the stock and the suppressor will help a lot more
|
|
|
Re: First hunting rifle - 7yr old
[Re: E-Tx]
#7798228
04/07/20 03:07 AM
|
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 3,711
10 Gauge
Extreme Tracker
|
Extreme Tracker
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 3,711 |
I remember when I was 7. Unless he is big for his age, stick to the .223 or maybe step up to 300 BO.
Otherwise, good luck finding rifles that offer both the light weight and handling characteristics a 7 year old can deal with comfortably, that also offers more power than that.
Something like a Ruger American in .243 will kick his tail unless he is HIGHLY MOTIVATED.
1 Thessalonians 4:11-14
|
|
|
Re: First hunting rifle - 7yr old
[Re: E-Tx]
#7798242
04/07/20 03:23 AM
|
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 9,930
unclebubba
THF Trophy Hunter
|
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 9,930 |
As others have mentioned, AR platform or other semi auto platform is great for kids. Personally, i would opt for larger than .223. The semi-auto soaks up a ton of recoil. My boy loves my BAR in .270, but won't touch Gammaws a-bolt in .270.
|
|
|
Re: First hunting rifle - 7yr old
[Re: E-Tx]
#7798270
04/07/20 04:08 AM
|
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 52
TGillar
Outdoorsman
|
Outdoorsman
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 52 |
I am a Heritage guy. Get him Grandma's 243. Get reduce recoil ammo to practice with. Then for deer hunting put in a100 grain bullet. He will never know. I did that to my daughter. She only knows because I told her. She laughed. While I am not the biggest fan of the 243. I have Killed deer with my son model 7 243 and my daughter m77 compact 243.
My 2 pennies vote for grandma's 243. He will never regret it. Both my son and daughter started shooting 243 at 7.
|
|
|
Re: First hunting rifle - 7yr old
[Re: E-Tx]
#7798279
04/07/20 04:31 AM
|
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 15,642
QuitShootinYoungBucks
THF Celebrity
|
THF Celebrity
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 15,642 |
My 6.8 is stupid accurate to 200 yds and feels like it has less recoil than my 5.56. With the can it’s also quiet. BUT, my first rifle at age 9 was a Rem 788 in .243. Either cartridge would be great, as would the 300BO.
https://web.archive.org/web/20170223065011/http:/www.rrdvegas.com/silencer-cleaning.html
|
|
|
Re: First hunting rifle - 7yr old
[Re: E-Tx]
#7798339
04/07/20 11:12 AM
|
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 14,207
Hudbone
THF Celebrity
|
THF Celebrity
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 14,207 |
22-250. Tack driver accurate.
|
|
|
Re: First hunting rifle - 7yr old
[Re: TGillar]
#7798364
04/07/20 12:27 PM
|
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 12,221
wp75169
THF Celebrity
|
THF Celebrity
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 12,221 |
I am a Heritage guy. Get him Grandma's 243. Get reduce recoil ammo to practice with. Then for deer hunting put in a100 grain bullet. He will never know. I did that to my daughter. She only knows because I told her. She laughed. While I am not the biggest fan of the 243. I have Killed deer with my son model 7 243 and my daughter m77 compact 243.
My 2 pennies vote for grandma's 243. He will never regret it. Both my son and daughter started shooting 243 at 7. I am not at all a .243 fan but I hold with the above statement. If the rifle is not too heavy that would be the way I would go. Choose the appropriate load for recoil. I have and shoot my grandfather’s Stevens 22. To me it’s the most valuable gun I own. Reality says it’s worth $250-300.
|
|
|
Re: First hunting rifle - 7yr old
[Re: E-Tx]
#7798365
04/07/20 12:30 PM
|
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 14,207
Hudbone
THF Celebrity
|
THF Celebrity
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 14,207 |
You should never ever teach a kid to shoot a rifle when you are worried about recoil - never!
|
|
|
Re: First hunting rifle - 7yr old
[Re: E-Tx]
#7798386
04/07/20 12:52 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 7,759
snake oil
THF Trophy Hunter
|
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 7,759 |
My son started with a TC contender 16" .223 and shot a few deer.
"You may all go to hell and I will go to Texas".
|
|
|
Re: First hunting rifle - 7yr old
[Re: E-Tx]
#7798462
04/07/20 01:58 PM
|
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 245
E-Tx
OP
Woodsman
|
OP
Woodsman
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 245 |
Thanks for the info so far. I prefer bolt actions for myself, but the AR would offer more options down the road. We've got a few popup blinds for hunting, all are within 30-125 yards. I've got one of those tripod gun rests I got to use with him, so the weight doesn't end up being much of a factor once we get to the blind. He is taller for his age, but skinny.
|
|
|
Re: First hunting rifle - 7yr old
[Re: E-Tx]
#7798595
04/07/20 03:17 PM
|
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 18,951
ChadTRG42
THF Celebrity
|
THF Celebrity
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 18,951 |
I would do 2 things. First, I would go with a bolt gun. Even the kids know they have a full mag on tap and are less likely to get that first round on target knowing they have extra rounds to fire. So the mentality of accuracy is lost with the thought of more rounds. Both my son and daughter thought this when shooting the AR. Having a bolt gun changes their mentality of making that first round count. And one fact that I have seen in all of my shooting and being a range officer- AR's just make you miss faster!! I've seen MANY shooters shoot way too fast and miss almost every shot. Give them a bolt gun and they get more hits overall with less rounds fired. That's a fact! Plus, it's easier to teach them the functionality of a bolt gun over an AR. And it's quieter.
Second, caliber choice isn't that important as the fit of the rifle is to the child. You can ALWAYS dial down the ammo for a reduced recoil load and make ANY caliber adequate for a youth shooter. Get a rifle that fits their size. The Tikka compact rifles are great. I have 2 and they have worked well from when they were young enough to get behind a rifle.
|
|
|
Re: First hunting rifle - 7yr old
[Re: E-Tx]
#7798731
04/07/20 05:25 PM
|
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 2,675
Txhunter65
Veteran Tracker
|
Veteran Tracker
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 2,675 |
Agree the .243 for a youngster is hard to beat. He’s two for two with his .243, both one shot kills, both went less than 40 yards.
|
|
|
Re: First hunting rifle - 7yr old
[Re: E-Tx]
#7798794
04/07/20 06:19 PM
|
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 14,207
Hudbone
THF Celebrity
|
THF Celebrity
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 14,207 |
I didn't get to shoot a deer that big until I was thirty.
|
|
|
Re: First hunting rifle - 7yr old
[Re: E-Tx]
#7798822
04/07/20 07:02 PM
|
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 18,709
Roll-Tide
THF Celebrity
|
THF Celebrity
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 18,709 |
|
|
|
Re: First hunting rifle - 7yr old
[Re: Hudbone]
#7798825
04/07/20 07:07 PM
|
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 8,462
freerange
THF Trophy Hunter
|
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 8,462 |
I didn't get to shoot a deer that big until I was thirty. Didn't GET to or weren't ABLE to?? Just curious. Nice deer for youngster for sure.
At some point in life its time to quit chasing the pot of gold and just enjoy the rainbow. FR Keep your gratitude higher than your expectations. RWH
|
|
|
Moderated by bigbob_ftw, CCBIRDDOGMAN, Chickenman, Derek, DeRico, Duck_Hunter, hetman, jeh7mmmag, JustWingem, kmon11, kry226, kwrhuntinglab, Payne, pertnear, rifleman, sig226fan (Rguns.com), Superduty, TreeBass, txcornhusker
|