Youth deer rifle.

[JimmyCP]

No kid less than ten years old needs to own anything more than a rimfire. Anyone who buys a baby a centerfire has an ego problem. For very small kids they need to be able to progress through BB guns into pellet guns before they ever get into rimfire. Everyone needs a chance to progress and grow in the world of firearms. Buying a 7 year old a 243 is just nuts. Just watch, the same guy is going to by his kid a new corvette as his first car while in high school. 243 for a 12 year old only if he has been through the progression of pellet and rimfire guns. Kids need to do a lot of plinking.
first with BBs, pellets and then rimfire.

My son was shooting bb guns at 3, 22 at 5, 410 shot gun at seven. Being he grew up in the country and at times out with me in isolated areas cutting wood he had a 357 on his side and learned how to drive me out of the woods incase I got hurt at the age of 8.
During a hunt with older kids he shot his first 7mm mag at camp after all the older kids missed it at 100 yards and won the $20 pot at the age of 8.
He went through the Az game and fish hunters safety course at 9 after I bought him a 6.5x284. Didn't want the recoil to mess up his form so I opted for a caliber that had range and low recoil. Killed his first elk @ 186 yards at the age of 10. Killed a mule deer at ll.
At the age of 12 he paid for half of the 338 lapua mag for his birthday and spent half his savings from working od jobs to buy a Gen 1 hd razor 6x25x50 to put on top of it.
As far as the corvette now that he's 15 goin on 16, I don't think they make them in 4 wheel drive so I don't think he'll be intrested.
He's currently working a job ar the maximum allowed hours by the state for his age earning mony building his 82 chevy 4x4 and 72 4x4 stepside frame up restoration.

Some of us still raise kids to learn responsibility and take pride in blistered hands from a hard day of work.

 

[preventec47]

Every parent that leapfrogs all the normal entry level progressions and starts with hi power at a young age is guaranteed to kill the childs interest in the activity at a later age. Why ? Because in everything that we do we become complacent and bored with things that we do frequently. If there isn't a "next level" to lure, excite an move up to
it will become boring. For a young kid a hi powered rifle will be no more exciting than a pellet or BB gun. In fact the amount of plinking available with a smaller gun with cheap ammo will allow for a hell of a lot more shooting enjoyment. From there, there will be multiple levels of increase as the kid grows. For an 8 or 10 year old with a 243, there is no "next step". He's maxed out from the start and will be done with shooting in a few years. I realize that nothing in this thread has prohibited involvement in many levels of performance at the same time such that most of the shooting could be pellet gun or rimfire with the centerfire only used for big game hunting and that could be ok.... So long as the 10/12 year old is
positively and closely supervised during hunting activities. I am not thrilled about the prospect of walking through any woods knowing there are 10 year olds out there with 243 rifles wanting
to shoot something. Anyone want to get on a road that has 10 year old kids driving around ? Same thing with rifles except that the rifles are many times more lethal. Any adult that would send a kid into the woods to hunt without close ( fifteen feet ) supervision should go to prison for minimum of one year.

 

[Wild Monkey]

My Sons 1st Rifle will be a 5.56 AR. That being Said I'm convinced 6.5CM will be his 1st Bolt & .243 Kicking and Screaming a close 2nd.

 

[6mm06guy]

My son is currently 9 and has been hunting since he was 6, I bought a cheap savage axis in 223 and switched the barrel to 6.8spc (cheap blemish barrel I found for $119) cut the stock down and hes been smokin deer ever since. I also have a 6.8spc in an ar15 and he handles both guns very well. Tons of knock down with the little 6.8 and almost no recoil.

 

[GonzoK34]

When my son was 9 I got a savage TH 111 6.5x284. Gun smith tried talking me out of putting a muzzle break on it. Did it anyway. Ended up getting 2 more for the girls. Killed multiple elk and deer. View attachment 135150 View attachment 135150 View attachment 135152

OUTSTANDING My son built a gunwerks 6.5x284 and it's a shooter. Pass it ON

 

[GonzoK34]

Every parent that leapfrogs all the normal entry level progressions and starts with hi power at a young age is guaranteed to kill the childs interest in the activity at a later age. Why ? Because in everything that we do we become complacent and bored with things that we do frequently. If there isn't a "next level" to lure, excite an move up to
it will become boring. For a young kid a hi powered rifle will be no more exciting than a pellet or BB gun. In fact the amount of plinking available with a smaller gun with cheap ammo will allow for a hell of a lot more shooting enjoyment. From there, there will be multiple levels of increase as the kid grows. For an 8 or 10 year old with a 243, there is no "next step". He's maxed out from the start and will be done with shooting in a few years. I realize that nothing in this thread has prohibited involvement in many levels of performance at the same time such that most of the shooting could be pellet gun or rimfire with the centerfire only used for big game hunting and that could be ok.... So long as the 10/12 year old is
positively and closely supervised during hunting activities. I am not thrilled about the prospect of walking through any woods knowing there are 10 year olds out there with 243 rifles wanting
to shoot something. Anyone want to get on a road that has 10 year old kids driving around ? Same thing with rifles except that the rifles are many times more lethal. Any adult that would send a kid into the woods to hunt without close ( fifteen feet ) supervision should go to prison for minimum of one year.

 

[Orange Dust]

Dont know about other states but care the definition of close supervision is arms length. They cannot be further without passing the hunters ed course. There is no other age restrictions other than they have to buy a license at 16. Under 16 their first buck of the season can be any buck, but the second has to be legal. Game and fish believes pi parental responsibility and creating as much opportunity for youths as possible. Should be that way in every state IMO.

 

[GonzoK34]

My parents took us every where from the day we were born. Camping, fishing, hunting, gigging for frogs, rabbits, squirrels; you name it. At 5 we were shooting BB guns, 22s and 410 shotguns. When my brother turned 8 he learn to drive my dad's Oldsmobile. Later when I was 8 Dad taught me as well. My parents were responsible teaching us to survive and stand on our own two feet. If we did something stupid we got our butts whipped and put on restriction.
My Brother is 76 and I'm 73. He retired as a Master Sergeant USMC. I served 5 years USMC. We both served in Vietnam him in artillery 1 tour and I in infantry/recon 3 tours. We're both 100% Disabled Combat Veterans. Our children grew up learning the same principals Our parents instilled in us. Being Marines we MADE SURE they respected firearms and how to handle them and keep them clean.
Our grandchildren (boys and girls) are just as squared away. They have and are serving in The U.S Military of their choice, and we're proud of them.
My brother and I, now share our knowledge, skills and abilities in teaching our grand kids the love, respect and joy of the outdoors, hunting, fishing and respecting other individuals.
Service Members of all branches of the Military have been protecting your rights and opinions for decades.
However watch the toes you step on today, because they maybe connected to someone that can step back on yours.
Robert W. Gonzales
Sergeant of Marines Retired

 

[LVJ76]

My parents took us every where from the day we were born. Camping, fishing, hunting, gigging for frogs, rabbits, squirrels; you name it. At 5 we were shooting BB guns, 22s and 410 shotguns. When my brother turned 8 he learn to drive my dad's Oldsmobile. Later when I was 8 Dad taught me as well. My parents were responsible teaching us to survive and stand on our own two feet. If we did something stupid we got our butts whipped and put on restriction.
My Brother is 76 and I'm 73. He retired as a Master Sergeant USMC. I served 5 years USMC. We both served in Vietnam him in artillery 1 tour and I in infantry/recon 3 tours. We're both 100% Disabled Combat Veterans. Our children grew up learning the same principals Our parents instilled in us. Being Marines we MADE SURE they respected firearms and how to handle them and keep them clean.
Our grandchildren (boys and girls) are just as squared away. They have and are serving in The U.S Military of their choice, and we're proud of them.
My brother and I, now share our knowledge, skills and abilities in teaching our grand kids the love, respect and joy of the outdoors, hunting, fishing and respecting other individuals.
Service Members of all branches of the Military have been protecting your rights and opinions for decades.
However watch the toes you step on today, because they maybe connected to someone that can step back on yours.
Robert W. Gonzales
Sergeant of Marines Retired

Thank you and your brother for your service, it is greatly appreciated.

 

[JimmyCP]

Every parent that leapfrogs all the normal entry level progressions and starts with hi power at a young age is guaranteed to kill the childs interest in the activity at a later age. Why ? Because in everything that we do we become complacent and bored with things that we do frequently. If there isn't a "next level" to lure, excite an move up to
it will become boring. For a young kid a hi powered rifle will be no more exciting than a pellet or BB gun. In fact the amount of plinking available with a smaller gun with cheap ammo will allow for a hell of a lot more shooting enjoyment. From there, there will be multiple levels of increase as the kid grows. For an 8 or 10 year old with a 243, there is no "next step". He's maxed out from the start and will be done with shooting in a few years. I realize that nothing in this thread has prohibited involvement in many levels of performance at the same time such that most of the shooting could be pellet gun or rimfire with the centerfire only used for big game hunting and that could be ok.... So long as the 10/12 year old is
positively and closely supervised during hunting activities. I am not thrilled about the prospect of walking through any woods knowing there are 10 year olds out there with 243 rifles wanting
to shoot something. Anyone want to get on a road that has 10 year old kids driving around ? Same thing with rifles except that the rifles are many times more lethal. Any adult that would send a kid into the woods to hunt without close ( fifteen feet ) supervision should go to prison for minimum of one year.

Raised the same as I was and my dad's proud of me and my kids. @ 70 years old he's still building guns and was raised the same way. It's all about the values you raise your family with.
GOD, GUNS AND GLORY

 

[280remington]

Get what you think they can handle. The more they shoot, the better they will get. With a BB, pellet, or .22, they can shoot 100 rounds a day, not so much with a centerfire. At least I couldn't afford to pay that bill.

 

[LVJ76]

At age 4 my dad started me with a Remington semi-automaric .22 rifle, at age 6 I shot my first 12 ga shotgun, a Browning with the recoil absorbing barrel system and also with a .223. At age 6 got to hunt for the first time, duck hunting, with that shotgun and I will say that those were some of the best hunting times of my life. My dad drinking his coffee black and I was drinking hot cocoa at 10 to 15 degree weather. I still remember the blind we made from branches every season.

At age 8 got my first Javelina with a .223 and got to hunt dove, quail and ducks with a single shot 20 ga shotgun. At this same age I got my first mulie with a 7mm-08. At age 9 another mulie with a 270. At age 10 got my first coues deer also with a 7mm-08 and amother mulie with a 270. I was shooting a 270 and 280 at age 9 and I loved it. I atvage 10 I went through 100 12ga shotgun shells in a day with my a Mosberg 500 shotgun. We hunted ducks in the early morning and then moved down the road to get the doves coming down to the water and feed. We usually rounded up about 40 to 50 ducks and about 150 doves between my dad, my cousin and me, a few quail and a couple rabbits. Recoil was fun, still felt it the next day but it reminded us of the great times we had.

I learned how to respect a gun at an early age, they were not toys, they were tools and we treated them like such. If my brother and I screwed up we paid the price and never did it again. We were raised and though right.

I plan on doing the same with my son, heck he is barely going to turn 2 and I already have a Ruger 10/22 ready for him, and an H&R bolt action .22 for later on to shoot silhouettes (like the one I am holding on the picture at 8 yrs old or maybe 7). Also working on loads for him to use my AR in 223/5.56 and provably get him a 410ga or 20ga single shot shotgun for rabbits and quail.

 

[LVJ76]

Forgot to mention, the shooting amd hunting for my brother and me wasn't free, we had shores and helped in mamy ways. I also used to help my dad reloading, lubricating the cases, seating bullets, etc. Especially for the shotguns, we went through a thousand rounds each every season. We knew everything has a prize. I did not own a game system growing up or fancy expensive toys, my christmas' were something related to guns and wouldn't have it any other way.

 

[DWier]

As this is a long range site I'm assuming that there may be interest in eventually shooting further. While the 243 would get him started, that 80 gr. Bullet at 3400 drops below 1000 ft.lbs. Before 400yds.

The creedmoor set up I'm going to run can be loaded down to 243 recoil level now but loaded up later. It will push a 131gr. bullet over 2900 fps. That will maintain 1000 ft.lbs out past 800yds and be much better in the wind.

If it's going to be a cheap semi disposable rifle to be used until he grows out of it, go 243. If you are going to invest more, buy a gun in a cartridge he won't grow out of.

Like all of us, when he gets bigger he is going to want a more powerful gun. Not that he will necessarily need it but if he grows up hunting he'll get another gun. I'd go with 243 or 6.5 creedmoor. Not a lot of recoil and deadly.