Son's first elk gun

[VinceMule]

Consider his length of pull and his strength to hold up a full-size rifle as the first things to address this issue. By the age of 14, he will have changed a lot.

I would refrain from getting a rifle that just beats him up in recoil, as unintended consequences may happen. Whatever you get him, get him to the range and shoot often which will be incredible "quality time" for the both of you.

Model 7's in 7/08 with a Gentry muzzle break is what we now start our young members in the family out with. These rifles are not too heavy for them to handle and feel confident with. Peltor Tac 6 electronic ear muffs add a new dimension to hunting for youngsters.

We spend a lot of time with the youngsters with bolt action single shot and tube feed 22s and 22 Magnums. Shooting at animal crackers glued to cardboard at 50 yards is a good time at the rifle range! Then move to the 1 3/4
mini clay pigeons at 100 yards.

 

[Bob Milek]

Or, possibly use the existing stock. Drill 2 1/4" holes from the butt about 3" deep, where they don't interfere with the holes for the recoil pad. Cut the stock to whatever LOP he needs. Save the piece you cut off- 1/4" dowels will orient it to the stock correctly in the future. Install a new recoil pad, leaving the original on the piece you cut off. All it will take is some sanding in the future to lengthen back to the original (less 1/4" for the cut made). Old school method, but has worked many times over the years.

 

[skipglo]

The creedmorenwould be fine for head and neck shots..but not somthing I want him doing quite yet that's why I thought the bigger 280ai would work well without alot of recoil..plus I have a pretty good supply of 150 and 160grn .284 cal bullets

How's the supply of 280ai brass these days?

 

[skipglo]

Don't know the make of your gun but you could sure take a look at MDT chassis and Stocks. Incredible quality and workmanship

 

[jasgus]

I put a the Boyd AT One family of stocks on my wife and daughter's rifles and highly recommend them for kids to grow into.
My girls all shoot 7mm/08s

 

[Frog4aday]

.280AI for a 12 y/o?
Are you putting a muzzle break on this?
Are you putting a suppressor on this?
I respect you want more horsepower for elk but a .280 is too much gun for a 12 y/o.
He hunts with and hits with a 6.5 Creedmoor successfully now. That is more than enough HP for an elk using the right bullet. (Nosler Partition, Swift Scirocco, Nosler Accubond, Barnes TTSX.)
Try to go back to age 12. Less kick = more fun = more success.
I vote for the 6.5 Creedmoor for now.
Guess what would be an AWESOME 18 y/o graduation or birthday gift? A nice .280 AI rifle

 

[memtb]

.280AI for a 12 y/o?
Are you putting a muzzle break on this?
Are you putting a suppressor on this?
I respect you want more horsepower for elk but a .280 is too much gun for a 12 y/o.
He hunts with and hits with a 6.5 Creedmoor successfully now. That is more than enough HP for an elk using the right bullet. (Nosler Partition, Swift Scirocco, Nosler Accubond, Barnes TTSX.)
Try to go back to age 12. Less kick = more fun = more success.
I vote for the 6.5 Creedmoor for now.
Guess what would be an AWESOME 18 y/o graduation or birthday gift? A nice .280 AI rifle

You may be correct… I started out with a 7 lb., Model 88 Winchester in .308 Win., as a skinny kid of 14. It came with a plastic butt, and didn't gain any weight (a scope) until many years later. I actually shot it pretty darn well with open sights.

But, my life was forever changed. It "rattled my cage" so badly…..I constantly wanted bigger and more powerful cartridges!

It's all about what the young man wants and can handle! Who knows…..as a man he may want something more than a "man bun"! memtb

 

[VinceMule]

How tall and how much does this 12 year old weigh?

 

[neilbfree]

Consider a Savage Ultralight. 280AI is a great cartridge.

 

[duramaxfxr2]

Gun will be suppressed..as I said he has shot my 300wm suppressed at the range with no problems..he's creeping up of 5ft and weights about 130..definitely not a little kid..as far as recoil goes and remembering when I was his age..I bought a 7rem mag at 13 and it was my only gun to shoot tell I was probably 20

 

[Frog4aday]

Sounds like you've got it all figured out then. Suppressed will help a lot.

 

[Goldengun]

Frog4aday has the right philosophy regardless of what calibers you end up using.

 

[Husky user]

First thing the needmoor is not an elk gun!
The old 30-06 is a good elk gun.
Fancy it up with a nice adjustable stock and a break!

 

[jjmp]

Remember the 6.5 was Grand Fathers gun ,can't leave Him hanging, he's our Cook Extraordinaire,& Grand Story teller.
Who do you think the OPs mentor was ?!!!.