Looking to buy a deer rifle for my 9 year old son. .243, .223 etc. Don’t need anything fancy, just a safe, reliable gun to teach my son and have him learn. Thanks
Not to tell you what to do but he can likely shoot a 30-06 or 270 already. I was pretty small for my age and started still hunting at 8. My first year I used a 30-30 with iron sights and did so well my dad gave me a 25-06. I grew up around guns and never had fear of the recoil and never had a scope even graze me. I realize that a 25-06 shooting 120-140 grain is a little lighter recoil than a 30-06 but it’s not a huge difference. 30-06 and 270 ammo is abundant though.
First, Most, Biggest
Why make a 9 year old, whose level of recoil sensitivity we don’t know, shoot a heavier recoiling .270 or 30-06 when a considerably lighter recoiling .223, .243 or a 7mm-08 will and do kill deer just as dead? One quick way to chase a child/new shooter away from shooting sports is to make them fear recoil. You can’t assume everyone is going to respond, or not respond, to recoil the way you did/do.
God bless the “ignore” function.
bangstick everyone in the Carolina’s know you have to shoot a deer with at least a .30-06 & no less that 180gr bullet preferably Winchester Power-Point ammo. Either that or you tracking it and good luck finding a blood trail.
All joking aside -I use to be a fan of .223 for deer & hogs but have come to realize that it just isn’t enough bullet to humanly do what I think a deer/hog round should do.
7mm-08 & the rest of the short action 6.5 family should get a hard look as well. I haven’t gotten into the 6.5 creedmoor(yet) but my .260 is an easy shooter. I have a 7mm-08 weatherby youth model for my kids that I carry into the stand when I pistol hunt. It seams to be pretty well put together for a lower end gun.
Sabalo 21 150 Yamaha
Key West Stealth 150 V-max (SOLD)
I am selling a Stevens 200 .308 with Bushnell 3-9x scope if you’re interested. I hesitate to say it would be a “good” gun for this purpose though because .308 may recoil too strong for that age. I agree that it may do more scaring him away than anything else.
Regardless of what you buy, there are a lot of companies that now sell muzzle brakes that do a gray job of recoil reduction.
That’s why I preface it with “not telling you what to do”. For 9 year old males I was probably in the bottom 20% in both height and weight. The only thing that ever made me uncomfortable shooting was if my chair wasn’t tall enough for me to see over the shooting rail. I believe my experience is relevant and worth noting, kinda what this site is meant for. I stacked up 4 a year from 9 to 17. The kids shooting conditions matter too.
If he’s hunting from box stands with good shooting rest (hopefully he is at 9) the weight of the gun doesn’t really matter. You can buy or modify a bigger gun so it’s heavier to reduce recoil. If you make your own ammo you can always make a lighter load. Teaching proper form, added padding on the butt, and a scope with a higher eye relief will reduce fear of kick. I’ll note that when I started wearing glasses (age 23) I became a lot more aware of the eye relief distance. If he wears glasses pay attention to your scope.
I would also argue that a good way to chase a kid away from hunting is having him shoot a deer with a less effective round and watching it suffer or tracking it 200 yards through the woods at night.
I’m just throwing it out there. It might save Neil some money by not buying a gun he won’t need when the kid is 30lbs heavier 3 years from now. In the end his son is the one who will really decide.
First, Most, Biggest
Rem. 243 with shortened syn. stock , vair. scope , hard case , sling , and a hundred or so rounds…Soft recoil and a real nail driver ;;PM if interested!!!
Hey guys, thanks for the response and suggestions. I too shot a .30-06 for my first deer rifle at a young age. I also remember the recoil caused the scope to bust open my eye and my mom giving my dad hell for it! My son is smaller framed than I was at that age and do not want to scare him away from learning how to shoot/hunt. Seems like kids these days are hard enough to get excited about the outdoors with all the tech crap and I sure don’t want to make it a bad experience out of the gate.
“Jesus turned water into wine…Hilbillies turned water into SHINE!”
quote:
Originally posted by sb86I am selling a Stevens 200 .308 with Bushnell 3-9x scope if you’re interested. I hesitate to say it would be a “good” gun for this purpose though because .308 may recoil too strong for that age. I agree that it may do more scaring him away than anything else.
Regardless of what you buy, there are a lot of companies that now sell muzzle brakes that do a gray job of recoil reduction.
Sounds like a nice little gun but I think the .308 would be a little hard hitting. Wouldn’t mind it for myself if the wife would give me more $$. Thanks again though for the post.
“Jesus turned water into wine…Hilbillies turned water into SHINE!”
Mossberg Patriot Bantam in .243 or 7mm08. Growa with the kid and not a bad little rifle at all. My boy’s will shoot about 1" at 100 with handloads I worked up for another gun. Won’t break the bank either.
Mark
Pioneer 222 Sportfish Yamaha F300
Yeah, but do you consider a dog to be a filthy animal? I wouldn’t go so far as to call a dog filthy but they’re definitely dirty. But, a dog’s got personality. Personality goes a long way.
“Life’s tough…It’s even tougher if you’re stupid” John Wayne
I’m full grown and love my 7mm-08. No need for a 30-06 here since all of the elk and bison are gone.
26 Seahunt
Angler’s Dream
I have one of these in a .270 that my Pops bought me when I was about 10 or so, great rifle. still shoot it from time to time now and will be teaching my daughter, who is now 7 to shoot it in the next year or so. If I were looking for something this is what I would buy.
http://www.hr1871.com/Firearms/Rifles/youth.asp
15’ HIGH TIDE 40 YA
quote:
Originally posted by Drake043I have one of these in a .270 that my Pops bought me when I was about 10 or so, great rifle. still shoot it from time to time now and will be teaching my daughter, who is now 7 to shoot it in the next year or so. If I were looking for something this is what I would buy.
http://www.hr1871.com/Firearms/Rifles/youth.asp
15’ HIGH TIDE 40 YA
Ditto! My first gun was a New England Firearms shotgun which is exactly the same as that handi rifle. Awesome weapon to learn on and they handle great.
26 Seahunt
Angler’s Dream