Best youth deer rifle

[Win.308Stealth]

I started my first 2 children on 6.5 Grendel AR15's. 16 in. barrels, 6 position adjustable stocks. They got to keep the rifles as they got older, and still hunt with them. This is whitetail deer hunting in MN. I did teach them, and still stress, just because they can shoot fast, doesnt mean they should. Anf they have been good about it. Usually just one shot, and if they missed amd deer starywd running, it's a big no no to shoot again.
Worked for my kids.

 

[jarnold37]

Grandson turning 12 and expected to grow another foot. Happy to look at all options. Looking for a accurate deer rifle and perhaps one that the LOP can be increased as he grows. Probably 243 but not stuck on it. Thanks.

In the years past deer season was always a family event and we hunted more from a rest and longer ranges. My sons started at age 7 and I was careful not to ruin them with to much recoil and found that 700 Rem in 25-06 with 87 grain bullet with 3450 muzzle velocity had little recoil and seemed to have quicker kill than 7mm mag with 140 grn and even 30-378 with 150grn and 180grn. Used 700 Rem stocks are readily available for low price and the wood stocks very easy to shorten at butt end. Just glass bed and go. As longer stock is needed buy another stock and make length as needed. As their experience increased longer range became the norm and we shoot very long range guns and just increase the weight as we usually shoot from a rest (probably should not shoot even shorter ranges from offhand). 1000 yrd gun and no recoil. If any of us do go walking in the woods we have a carry gun with lower power scope but none of seem to want to do that as we enjoy shooting at longer ranges. However the 25-06 with light bullet is very effective out to 400 yrds and light recoil good for a new or young shooter.

 

[PendletonCowboy]

.243 was my choice for both my son and daughter. She got a youth model and he got a Tikka.

 

[Blacktail]

My daughter started shooting her 7/08ai when she was 11 we push a 120 ttsx 3160 behind 47 grains fo varget and its probably hair under 8 lbs scoped and minimal recoil pad and she loves it. no brake and shes now 14 and 120 lbs and still loves it. I am actually going to start working on a load for my 11 year old sons 6.5 saum. I wanted to get him a gun to grow with and figured i can help manage recoil wiht a brake and loads.

 

[jshepherd61]

Grandson turning 12 and expected to grow another foot. Happy to look at all options. Looking for a accurate deer rifle and perhaps one that the LOP can be increased as he grows. Probably 243 but not stuck on it. Thanks.

Just went through this myself with my nephew. Ended up going with a standard REM 700 in 6.5 Creedmoor, purchased a AT-1 stock from Boyd's with the adjustable comb and length of pull. Stock is under $300.00 with many options including grip size. Shoots great. Topped it with a Vortex HS-T 6x24x50. Almost want to keep it!!!

 

[Buano]

I picked my daughter up a used Remington Model 7 in .260 Rem with a "youth" stock when she started hunting (at age 10). It was a perfect choice as swapping for a full-size stock would have made it fit her forever. Sadly, she stopped hunting after 2 deer when she bagged a boyfriend that doesn't hunt. I should sell the rifle with scope & ammo.

 

[J Doss]

Grandson turning 12 and expected to grow another foot. Happy to look at all options. Looking for a accurate deer rifle and perhaps one that the LOP can be increased as he grows. Probably 243 but not stuck on it. Thanks.

Does he shoot now - shotguns or 22?
When my kids were very young, 2 and 5 years old, I came across a deal on a pair of Rem 600's in 243 and bought them. I took them to a smith to get the actions checked because of the recall. Both guns had to be reworked, Remington covered the costs on both. They have worked well. Being so short barreled, they are loud so I made sure they were shooting with ear protection.
You could also look at a Rem 700 youth model in 243, 6mm or 6.5mm creedmore - not sure what Rem has available now in the Youth model. As they grow, just restock it to a standard 700 wood and cut it down to pull length. With bedding and float, he will have a gun for the rest of his life.
My son is 35 now and one of his friends borrowed his old Rem 600 243 for his 10 year old son to take on his first muley hunt. Worked great, one shot, one decent buck.
We mostly use the 600's for varmit hunting now. Calling competitions. Use them for longer shots over our ARs.

Keep taking the kids to the woods.

It's our legacy!

Good Luck!!!

 

[glide71]

Grandson turning 12 and expected to grow another foot. Happy to look at all options. Looking for a accurate deer rifle and perhaps one that the LOP can be increased as he grows. Probably 243 but not stuck on it. Thanks.

At 12 I got my son a 270 and loaded it with Barnes 110 gr bullets. 3000 FPS. He has taken whitetail, Mule deer and Pronghorn. Everyone was one shot kills. The cartridge is one of the most versatile out there.

 

[Mustang72]

Buano---or you could keep it and enjoy it for yourself! There is hope that one day you might have a grandkid that likes to hunt.

Rem model 7 is my favorite. Anything that fits and functions good will work. any caliber from 223 up to 308 will work with the proper load. 243, 260, and I hate to say it 6.5 creed are ideal and 7/08 right there with them if you reload.

 

[seattleman1969]

I got a 7mm-08 for both my wife and my son in the Weatherby Vanguard, Camilla for the wife, and the standard for my son with an after market adjustable stock. Good for just about anything that walks here in Montana under 300 yards (Well, except for Grizzlies but we aren't hunting them!) which is a stretch for either of them. With a brake the recoil is less than a .243, extremely manageable.

My son is about 48.5 Inches and 50 lbs at 11, he is very small for his age. But it is still very comfortable for him to shoot.

Also, +1 for the at one stock, that's what my son's rifle wears!

 

[greenejc]

Get him a Ruger American in 243, 7mm 08 or maybe 25-06. All are great deer rounds, with the 7-08 being a good elk round inside about 250 yards or so. You can get it with a youth stock and buy a standard stock later, or just buy the standard stocked rifle now. All these chamberings are very controllable, with the larger calibers giving a little more range/impact for anchoring deer. Get him a Luopold VXII or III scope, Millet Angle Lock rings, and zero for 200 yards. Everything will be line of sight out to at least 275 yards, and he'll love the accuracy. The 25-06 or 243 will double as a varmint round, too, so he'll get to use it for more than just one hunt.

 

[RAGGED EDGE]

In this day and age picking or putting together the right load is as important as picking the right caliber. Case in point, the .22-250 loaded with a partition or a ttsx, pointed correctly, will kill a deer or pronghorn at any reasonable range like lightning.

 

[greenejc]

On second thought, I shot my first deer in Utah at Lamar State Park when I was 18, using my dad's Winchester model 94 and 170 grain ammunition. It was a 140 yard shot with open sights and the old rifle worked just fine. My brother still has and uses it. That was 1969. You could just get him a Marlin and use leverlution ammunition. Let him learn open sights. Or not. Just a thought. Personally, I've been playing around with a '92 in .44 mag just because its fun. Of course, its a good deer rifle out to about 125 yards, too. Ask him what he wants to use. If you get him what he wants, in the caliber he wants, you won't be far off, and he'll love the rifle for ever.

 

[jamesboles]

What a wonderful response to my inquiry. I will look into them all. Thank you.