rifle for a 11 year old girl

[218buck]

I'm looking for a gun for my daughter to hunt big game she is small for her age. I want something she can shoot that will not have to much recoil but enough power to take deer and elk. I would appreciate any help i can get thanks

[SunDevil]

http://forums.coueswhitetail.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=32961&hl=

[Airbusdriver]

I was in the same boat you are about 6 months ago with my son. He is 11 also. We we ended up going with a .243. He handles the recoil with no problem, and should have plenty of punch for deer within reasonable yardage. I'm told that the .243 may be a bit of a stretch for elk, unless the shot is dead-on the kill zone.

 

FWIW, he bought the Weatherby Vanguard II (.243) with a Vortex 4-9x40 scope, out the door for less than $600. I am amazed at the accuracy of this gun at 200 yds. I was so impressed, I went out and bought one in 30-.06 as my first h/p rifle.

 

Someone on this board has a Rem 700 youth model with scope for $425. Might be worth a look. If the recoil is too heavy, try a Limb Saver slip-on recoil pad; it's amazing how effective they are at reducing recoil.

 

Now if I could just get my son motivated to finish the hunter safety course!

 

Good luck in your quest.

[sjvcon]

I'm told that the .243 may be a bit of a stretch for elk, unless the shot is dead-on the kill zone.

 

i would second this, unless you like to wound animals. I am sure there are many out there who would say a .243 is plenty of gun for elk, and that this guy or that guy they know took an elk with a .22-250, etc., etc., etc. Let's talk reality. Kids are not generally crack shooters, so hitting vitals is not necessarily guaranteed. With a .243, you better hit vitals on an elk. If you don't, you may wing 'em enough that they run off and die unrecovered. That is no good. Ethics dictates that you use enough gun for the game, and that you use enough that a good, ethical shot will take the game down and provide a clean kill (yeah ... I know ... you could hit a squirrel with a .338 Win Mag and not kill them every time ... but MOST of the time you would). This includes evaluating the shooter's capabilities. When I was buying for my boys, smallest I looked at was 7-08, which many resources (including one from AZGFD) listed as a dead minimum for cow elk. This year, they were drawn for bull elk (which the 7-08 was not listed for) ... the 7-08's are staying home in favor of a .280AI and a brake'd .30-06. With those, we will have enough energy at "reasonable distances" to provide for a clean kill.

 

My suggestion is to either get a deer gun for now (.243) and forget elk (you could just put in for bonus points for the time being), or get a gun she can grow into and get a good brake installed. Brakes aren't an issue at the range where hearing protection is required, but take ear plugs when you hunt unless you want to learn sign language!!!

 

That is just my two coins worth ... go ahead folks ... let me have it ... I know it's coming ... someone out there loves a .243 for White Rhino and anything smaller ...

[WHT_MTNMAN]

I'm told that the .243 may be a bit of a stretch for elk, unless the shot is dead-on the kill zone.

 

i would second this, unless you like to wound animals. I am sure there are many out there who would say a .243 is plenty of gun for elk, and that this guy or that guy they know took an elk with a .22-250, etc., etc., etc. Let's talk reality. Kids are not generally crack shooters, so hitting vitals is not necessarily guaranteed. With a .243, you better hit vitals on an elk. If you don't, you may wing 'em enough that they run off and die unrecovered. That is no good. Ethics dictates that you use enough gun for the game, and that you use enough that a good, ethical shot will take the game down and provide a clean kill (yeah ... I know ... you could hit a squirrel with a .338 Win Mag and not kill them every time ... but MOST of the time you would). This includes evaluating the shooter's capabilities. When I was buying for my boys, smallest I looked at was 7-08, which many resources (including one from AZGFD) listed as a dead minimum for cow elk. This year, they were drawn for bull elk (which the 7-08 was not listed for) ... the 7-08's are staying home in favor of a .280AI and a brake'd .30-06. With those, we will have enough energy at "reasonable distances" to provide for a clean kill.

 

My suggestion is to either get a deer gun for now (.243) and forget elk (you could just put in for bonus points for the time being), or get a gun she can grow into and get a good brake installed. Brakes aren't an issue at the range where hearing protection is required, but take ear plugs when you hunt unless you want to learn sign language!!!

 

That is just my two coins worth ... go ahead folks ... let me have it ... I know it's coming ... someone out there loves a .243 for White Rhino and anything smaller ...

 

I started using electronic ear protection, you can take in a quite voice and give directions all the while protecting the shooter. I am a huge fan of the brake, I would put a brake on a 223 if I thought a youngster needed it to shoot better.

[sjvcon]

Been meaning to try those. That good?

 

I agree. Brakes are great tamers of recoil when you need them.

[STOMP442]

Look into the 250 savage. Less recoil than a 243 with a bit more punch. 115 grain berger at 2800 will get the job done. The old timers back in the early 1900s used them for elk all the time with a 87-100 grain bullet. No need for a brake and easy on the ears.

[ready2hunt]

+1 to the 30-06.

 

I cannot think of a better gun to start with due to the versatility in cartriage range. If your daughter is smaller frame just buy one with a wood stock and have it modified a bit. (We had to do this with my nephew a few years back). He still uses the same gun and when the day comes and he needs something to fit his frame he can always buy a different stock. The gun he is using is an old Remington 700.

 

With the right recoil pad and muzzle brake (as previously mentioned) your daughter will be able to avoid developing a huge flinch against the recoil and can enjoy shooting it because it will fit her grip

[naturegirl]

I'm looking for a gun for my daughter to hunt big game she is small for her age. I want something she can shoot that will not have to much recoil but enough power to take deer and elk. I would appreciate any help i can get thanks

 

I personally don't feel a 30-06 is a great choice for a small statured young lady of 11. I shot a 30-06 on my bull hunt a few years ago and I have a lot of upper body strength but it does have quite a bit of recoil. I feel too much for a young girl. you don't want her to anticipate the recoil .

 

I feel a 270 is a good choice. it's excellent for deer. for elk it would need to be a good vital shot but they all should be good vital shots anyhow and the closer the better. I had an old 7mm converted to a 270 and I love it. smooth shooting and not anywhere as much recoil as the 30-06.

 

also my son took his first elk when he was 12 with a 30-30. it was a close about a 20 yard shot and she didn't move but 3 feet.

 

if you have friends who own any of these guns it would be good to have her try out a few at the range. you may need to buy or borrow one for now and one for when she's older. there will be a big difference between what's comfortable at 11 and what's comfortable at 16. She will grow a lot in those years and also her strength will change quite a bit.

 

the key is you want her to be comfortable and confident with whatever she shoots. Definitely want her to like and enjoy what she's doing.

[Md2Hunt]

I like a .308 for kids.The 150 gr bullet mirrors the .30-06 150 gr specs without as much kick. Just something to think about.

[Gr8 White Jr]

I'm looking for a gun for my daughter to hunt big game she is small for her age. I want something she can shoot that will not have to much recoil but enough power to take deer and elk. I would appreciate any help i can get thanks

 

My girlfriend's 11 year old son shoots my .270 and he shoots it very well. The recoil isn't bad for him as long as I limit the amount of shots taken when we practice.

 

Where are you located? If you are not sure about caliber and recoil for your daughter and you are in the Phoenix area let me know and maybe I can meet you at the range with a few rifles for her to test out. I can bring a .270 and a .243 for her to shoot. Could even bring a 30.06 but I really don't think that would be the way to go with a youth hunter. Anyway, something to consider if you are interested.

 

-Tracy

[DUG]

Most girl hunters especially young ones are very patient and don't have bad shooting habits. A .243 is perfect for deer out to 200 yards for a young girl. For elk you would want to keep a .243 under 150 yards and use a heavy bullet or move up to a .270.

[twigsnapper]

My wife rifle hunted her first elk a few years ago and she shot a .270 with no problem. She is 5'2" and 110lbs so she is not very big. Here is what I did though. I have a .17 Remington model 700 BDL and she practiced with that at first, then she shot the .270 which was also a model 700 BDL for the hunt. She was very comfortable handling the .17 before she ever handled the .270. I told her what I was doing and why so she didn't get nervous or freak out shooting the .270

[deercrazy]

Look at the Remington model 7. It is a 700 action in a smaller size rifle. I have on in .243 that is sub moa at 200 yards, and is nice and light. I carry it as a Coues gun because it is so handy to pack in.

[Red Rabbit]

I would get a youth rifle in 7mm-08, have the stock cut to fit her and a Simms recoil pad installed. Shoot the Remington Managed Recoil ammo if you do not reload. You may need to get another stock as she grows.

A bolt action .22 or .223 in a rifle fit to her would be good for practice and also. A low power scope will help with target acquisiiton.