loco4coues Report post Posted March 2, 2013 Nothing wrong with the weatherby vanguard or the .270. That is what my 10 year old boy shoots and he shoots it sub MOA out to 200 yards and is confident out to 400. We shoot the 150 grain Berger VLD. Killed three coues with it last year and it more than got the job done on all 3. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Couzer Report post Posted March 2, 2013 Look at the Remington model 7 in .243 or 7mm-08, Nice light gun with the better action than the lower priced Remingtons. + 1 I have a 243 model seven waiting for my boy Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kaffer62 Report post Posted March 2, 2013 I have a 243 savage (w/ accutrigger) that is a tack driver. Would be perfect for a kid. Very low recoil. My dad shot a deer with it @354 yards and dropped it. It's one of my favorite rifles to shoot. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rcdinaz Report post Posted March 2, 2013 I will second the Tikka T3 243 which is what we bought for the kids. I still cant believe how it shoots with nothing done to the rifle not even bedded and it is as light as the Win Featherweight for half the price. 25-06 is a fantastic caliber as well and will reach way out there with heavier bullets that have great BC's. Maybe somewhat limited on off the shelf ammo choices though. My buddy shoots his for pretty much everything and he has 6-7 very nice rifles. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
singleshot Report post Posted March 2, 2013 7mm-08, especially if you hand load. My daughter started with an H&R single shot which she has taken deer, elk, Javis coyotes etc. I bought her another one in the Marlin X7. Very nice rifle for the money. She weighs about a buck ten and the recoil has never bothered her. I can't fathom hunting with ear plugs around my neck just for a muzzle break but to each his own. Be sure and check out the trigger on some of the cheaper Savages and Remingtons, the $350.00 savages have about a seven pound pull on them. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
firstcoueswas80 Report post Posted March 2, 2013 25-06 can do 300 with out even breaking a sweat. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sjvcon Report post Posted March 3, 2013 The .25-06 is a great round. Basically the same case as a .270 but with a quarter bore (the .25-06, .270, .280, .338-06 and .35 Whelen are all based on the .30-06). It is one I don't have in the safe yet, but it's coming soon. A little south of the .257 Weatherby on juice, but effective none the less. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MRL1984 Report post Posted March 3, 2013 I don't understand what the hang up is with needing ear plugs for a break. If you shoot anything you need ear plugs that simple. That is the dumbest excuse to write off a break. NO one should be shooting without hearing protection. I learned that the hard way. If you aren't shooting at running game, it's not too big a deal to take 3 seconds and put in some plugs. I know they are heavy and all that though... I think the caliber portion has been covered, but Ill add a nickle. It really depends on the kid as well as the gun. Seems a 243 kicks a lot more now than I remember as a kid. I know a 270 has more recoil than any other gun I shot, mainly because I have a whole one shot with the ruger boat oat stock. The lady hunter in 308 kicks real good compared to the SPS varmint I had. How about some managed recoil loads for practice then slip the full house load in on the hunt. They won't feel the extra bump during the adrenaline dump on the hunt. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pine Donkey Report post Posted March 3, 2013 I started my kids off with a .243 cut down to fit them. It was my wife's rifle as a kid. At age 10 my daughter drew a youth elk tag. I had her try a .308 one day. It has been her favorite gun ever since and she has taken many animals with it. Caliber is important, but a gun that fits, and a child who knows the proper way to hold and shoot is also very important. A child who is not willing to firmly hold a rifle cab be scoped by a .223. Form, body position, and technique are skills that need to be learned. Take your time and teach these before you worry about accuracy. Do not start a kid off shooting at a zero target, start them off shooting at a hillside or the bank of a wash while you teach them how to shoot the gun. Once this is in place, then begin to develop accuracy. Teaching a kid to shoot is great fun and memories, enjoy every second. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tjhunt2 Report post Posted March 3, 2013 I started my kids off with a .243 cut down to fit them. It was my wife's rifle as a kid. At age 10 my daughter drew a youth elk tag. I had her try a .308 one day. It has been her favorite gun ever since and she has taken many animals with it. Caliber is important, but a gun that fits, and a child who knows the proper way to hold and shoot is also very important. A child who is not willing to firmly hold a rifle cab be scoped by a .223. Form, body position, and technique are skills that need to be learned. Take your time and teach these before you worry about accuracy. Do not start a kid off shooting at a zero target, start them off shooting at a hillside or the bank of a wash while you teach them how to shoot the gun. Once this is in place, then begin to develop accuracy. Teaching a kid to shoot is great fun and memories, enjoy every second. Pine Donkey is right on. Seems like all I hear any more is how far I shot this and far I shot that. There will be exceptions but the average kid doesn't need to know anything about long range shooting before he is taught the skills to stalk and take game at close range. Period! Done! Over & Out! TJ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sherman Report post Posted March 3, 2013 IMO the 25-06 has the same recoil as the .243. I even gave my friends son that had only shot his .243 and he said the same thing about the same or a little less for him. I also shoot hand laods and it will kill deer out to 600 yards with the right hold over. IMO it is a better all around cal then the .243 if you live close to me i will be more then happy to go out with you and let you try it. My .02 is it is an AWSOME cal. let me know if I can help Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sam Report post Posted March 3, 2013 My daughter uses a .270 Remmington 700 BDL. She started when she was 10 with a youth stock. I actually had to cut the youth stock a little bit. She is now 14 and has outgrown the youth stock. I may put the wood stock back on or get another synthetic stock. As far as the rounds, she started shooting Reduced Recoil Core Lok - they are only 100 grains and I think it is fine for deer. Out to 100 yards, maybe 150 yards. This year, on the elk hunt, she used 150 grain. In the field, she noticed no difference at all in the recoil. My vote, get a caliber that has reduced recoil now and then move up to regular rounds as they get older. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
palivs2hnt Report post Posted March 4, 2013 Interesting topic. I am also sitting in this same boat. I am leaning towards the 7mm-08, but am now questioning the 25-06. For those experts out there, what are the big differences and limitations between the two. The rifle would also wear a break. IMO with or without break the kiddos gotta have ear protection! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Couzer Report post Posted March 4, 2013 I don't understand what the hang up is with needing ear plugs for a break. If you shoot anything you need ear plugs that simple. That is the dumbest excuse to write off a break. NO one should be shooting without hearing protection. I learned that the hard way. If you aren't shooting at running game, it's not too big a deal to take 3 seconds and put in some plugs. No more ear plugs for me, they will be a waste of time. A can works much better. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MRL1984 Report post Posted March 4, 2013 I don't understand what the hang up is with needing ear plugs for a break. If you shoot anything you need ear plugs that simple. That is the dumbest excuse to write off a break. NO one should be shooting without hearing protection. I learned that the hard way. If you aren't shooting at running game, it's not too big a deal to take 3 seconds and put in some plugs. No more ear plugs for me, they will be a waste of time. A can works much better. Touché. The can will also help take the recoil down. I will however say with my lack of machine skills, ear plugs are far cheaper. The stamp alone would buy more plugs than I need the rest of my life. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
