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Rifle for my son

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Dogariffic

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Aug 21, 2012
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Posted on this last year but my sons 243. Was stolen last year. His grandfather replaced it with a Savage 270 and i am not sure this gun was the proper option. My son has a difficult time hitting targets and he actually missed out on a couple of 6 points while we were in Texas the other week.
Experimenting with low recoil loads but wondered what the group thinks about this rifle compared to others and or low recoil ammo.

Edited to say my son is 13 and weighs about 110 lbs.
 
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AlSwearengen

Redshirt
Aug 22, 2012
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300 blackout (new .30 caliber round) could be a good option. You can shoot it from an AR15 platform or they make a bolt action for it also. Same low recoil as a .223 or 5.56 round but with more punch.

I'm not a big hunter, but the 300 blackout is pretty popular for killing hogs and deer among people who are ar15 enthusiasts. More humane than .223 also.
 
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o_LandDawg

Redshirt
Sep 1, 2009
339
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7mm-08 with reduced recoil round

Not sure how old he is, but best all around rifle for whitetail IMO. I'm 32 & still shoot 1.
 
DirtyDog

DirtyDog

Redshirt
Aug 24, 2012
520
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Not to sound flippant but my 9 year old shoots a .270 Remington 700 Mountain Rifle (lighter weight barrel) with deadly accuracy. He killed his first buck, a 9-pt with 24-in. main beams at 8, and a 9-pt and an 8-pt last year along with many does. The .270 is a great round that he can grow with. He can use that his whole life if he chooses. I would stick with the .270 and just practice a bit more with ear muffs. If you aren't hunting stands/blinds where he can prop the barrel up, then that will help him too. Sounds like he may be a bit scared of it and jerking the trigger. Sorry if this sounds simplistic, but I don't think its the weapon. He just needs more practice and some confidence in the rifle. I grew up with a lever action 30-30 Marlin that never did me wrong for short-med range shots. It's good in the brush but not great over 150 yards if you are hunting open country.
 
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Dogariffic

Redshirt
Aug 21, 2012
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I agree practice is important. He was accurate with his 243 so practice with a new gun is key. Purchased some low recoil rounds and we are headed back out to a range this weekend. Plan to shoot regularly to give him some practice.
 
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Joe Schmedlap

Redshirt
Aug 11, 2010
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7mm-08 or a 6.5x55 Swede

in a nice bolt action would be my vote. Both are lights out on whitetails up to 300 yards. Keep the .270 in case he wants to go elk hunting later in life. The 7mm-08 and 6.5x55 are fine rifles for any age, and they both have less recoil for a skittish shooter.

Stay away from a 300 blackout - extremely fun on hogs with a suppressor, but not particularly useful for anything over 150 yards. The ballistics look like a slingshot past that range.
 
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drail14me

Redshirt
Jul 20, 2008
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I don't know about the "More Humane" part but I agree with this. The 300 Blackout is what I use for hogs and it works great! It does have a little more kick and a louder report than my .223/5.56mm. Because of this, I'm sticking with the .223/5.56mm as my suggestion as a youth rifle.

Add a suppressor to that .223/5.56 and it's quieter with less recoil but a MAJOR cool factor for a kid to shoot.
 
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MagnoliaHunter

All-Conference
Jan 23, 2007
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7mm-08

My son has hunted with his youth model 7mm-08 since he was 7. Use the Remington 120 hp bullet. The lighter bullet will make a big difference in recoil. and this bullet will put the deer down quick. I killed a 250 lb buck with it and it didn't make it out of the food plot. Put a limbSavers recoil pad on it and go. When practicing let him shoot out of a lead sled or something similar at first. Then start making a game of practice with points for hitting certain targets. Start out shooting close, like 25-30 yards close. When he shoots at a deer he wont notice the recoil.
 
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Truereb13.sixpack

Senior
Nov 19, 2013
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I bought my daughter a 7mm-08 when she was 13. It has been a GREAT gun. You have the option of buying a reduced recoil bullet in which I have bought for her each season. Last year she dropped a 210lb 6 point opening day morning and then a 202lb 8 point that afternoon. My son also shoots it some and he is 12 now and 95 lbs
 
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Dental Dawg

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Dec 6, 2008
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I started hunting with 6.5x284 Norma (great for kid or adult). I no longer hunt with magnum cartridges. Very little recoil. 6.5's have one of the highest BC's you can get in a bullet. I can hit a pie plate past 1000 yards (with little to no wind). The only negatives for most hunters is that you need to hand load (best option) or buy your ammunition online (HSM makes a good bullet), and barrel life is around 1200-1500 rounds.
 
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Dogariffic

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Aug 21, 2012
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I shoot a 6.5x55 Swede as well.....original heavy stock....and like it a lot...accurate. My son shot it this past week and like it as well.

Joe Schmedlap said:
in a nice bolt action would be my vote. Both are lights out on whitetails up to 300 yards. Keep the .270 in case he wants to go elk hunting later in life. The 7mm-08 and 6.5x55 are fine rifles for any age, and they both have less recoil for a skittish shooter.

Stay away from a 300 blackout - extremely fun on hogs with a suppressor, but not particularly useful for anything over 150 yards. The ballistics look like a slingshot past that range.
Click to expand...
 
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Wooly17er

Redshirt
Dec 15, 2011
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I say go back with a .243

I shot a Remington .243 probably until I was 16 or 17 and still have that gun. I can't wait to pass it on to my son. It was very accurate and a great shooting gun.

I weighed the exact same as your son (soaking wet) when I was 13. I have great memories of my .243 and think my dad picked the right gun for me.
 
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UnknownDawg

Redshirt
Mar 3, 2008
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Agree with dirtydog--270 is a fine shooting gun and shoots flatter than many. The issue is likely more of the "anticipation " of the recoil. Both of my boys shoot 270s with a muzzle break. The muzzle break eliminates the bulk of the recoil if not altogether. (a gunsmith can order & install) It is louder & ear protection should be used but it was a game changer for my boys when they were 12-13. Another item to check is the trigger weight. If the trigger is too tight, they tend to pull rather than squeeze which can "pull" the gun off target. A gunsmith can check the tuning on the trigger easily & if need be drop it to 3lbs (which is about what they need).
 
Uncle Ruckus

Uncle Ruckus

All-American
Apr 1, 2011
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I'd go 243 just because of the availability and selection of ammo. 7-08 is great but the ammo variety isn't as good as the 243 and can be hard to find sometimes
 
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Poundtowndog

Redshirt
Oct 11, 2014
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243. I dont know why more people dont shoot these. Pretty cheap ammo shoots flat out to about 300yds. Not much recoil and will kill the **** out of a deer.
 
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MagnoliaHunter

All-Conference
Jan 23, 2007
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I love my 25-06 sniper rifle, but i dont think it is good for a kids gun

I love my 25 and have killed over 200 deer with it, plus many coyotes and several pigs. but I don't think it make a good kid's gun.

1. it really needs at least a 24 inch barrel to make the most of it's potential, which makes it difficult for smaller framed kids such as the OP's kid, to handle in hunting situations.
2. it is REALLY loud, much louder than it's parent, the 30-06. the noise WILL cause kids, and a lot of grownups, to develop a flinch.
 
DirtyDog

DirtyDog

Redshirt
Aug 24, 2012
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Make sure you bring good earmuffs for him on the range as target shooting seems a lot louder than when aiming at a deer. I forgot the muffs one time and my daughter was scared of her gun after a trip to the range without muffs. Took her a little while to regain confidence that it wasn't too much for her.
 
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GreaterCowbell

Redshirt
May 3, 2011
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Another vote for the 7mm-08.

MagnoliaHunter said:
My son has hunted with his youth model 7mm-08 since he was 7. Use the Remington 120 hp bullet. The lighter bullet will make a big difference in recoil. and this bullet will put the deer down quick. I killed a 250 lb buck with it and it didn't make it out of the food plot. Put a limbSavers recoil pad on it and go. When practicing let him shoot out of a lead sled or something similar at first. Then start making a game of practice with points for hitting certain targets. Start out shooting close, like 25-30 yards close. When he shoots at a deer he wont notice the recoil.
Click to expand...

All three of my kids (ages 7-13) have piled them high with this round with no complaints.
 
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gptdawg

Redshirt
Jan 23, 2007
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Palmettodog said:
25-06 All day every day. Do some research and you'll find this is the best deer rifle out there. Even if you're 13 or 75.

http://www.buckmasters.com/the-25-06-deadly-on-deer.aspx
Click to expand...


I've had a Ruger 25-06 for over 20 years and killed many white tails and mule deer with it. Highly recommend it. You can drive nails at 100 yards with it. I have not noticed the loud report mentioned below.
Got interested in it after mule deer hunting in Utah and watching guys kill deer at 300 yards plus. Of course they had bull barrels.
 
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1984dog

Redshirt
Apr 4, 2014
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.243, 7mm-08 and .308 all have the same brass with different sizes of bullet - this round has some knockdown power with a little less recoil that the .270/30-06.
25-06, .270, and 30-06 all the same brass with different sizes of bullets - this round has higher velocity with a little more recoil

I have hunted with a .270 for nearly 30 years and purchased a .308 last year. The .270 is a flatter trajectory than the .308, but the .308 has much less recoil.

Try adding a limbsaver to your .270 from www.midwayusa.com and you will be surprised with the reduction in recoil. You might also try some of the light load ammo in the .270 for a while until you son grows up a bit. The 270 with the lighter load will work well out to say 200 yards. I can not scientifically prove this, but my guess using the light load and a limbsaver, the 270 will kick about like a 7mm-08 using a standard load.

gptdawg said:
I've had a Ruger 25-06 for over 20 years and killed many white tails and mule deer with it. Highly recommend it. You can drive nails at 100 yards with it. I have not noticed the loud report mentioned below.
Got interested in it after mule deer hunting in Utah and watching guys kill deer at 300 yards plus. Of course they had bull barrels.
Click to expand...
 
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cowbell88

Senior
Jan 11, 2009
3,242
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I started out at 13 with a 270 (which I mowed grass all summer to be able to pay for. That gun is retired to gun safe now, and I'm sure my son will get the pleasure of hunting with it also.

The 7mm-08 round wasn't around then, but I would seriously consider it for a first rifle. Know several kids that are now adults that still carry their 7-08 on regular basis.

One suggestion to try while at the range to see if your child is anticipating the shot and flinching; is to hand rifle to them (with safety on) without a round chambered. You can watch and observe the "flinch factor"much easier when it goes click instead of boom. Repeat process several times alternating between round chambered and not. As always treat rifle as It was loaded putting safety back on and keeping muzzle pointed in safe direction while carefully handing back to child. This is how I broke my cousins bad habbit of jerking trigger.
 
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Maroonandwhite

Redshirt
Jul 19, 2014
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I'm like a lot of others on here. The 270 produces about 17 lbs of recoil vs. 12 lbs for 7-08, and 7 to 11 lbs for the 243. That's considerable for a kid weighing 110 lbs. Personally, I would go w/ another savage in 7-08. You get slightly heavier bullets, almost the same recoil as the 243, and just better overall versatility. Also, Savage 111 is one of the best values on the market. Much better factory barrels than ruger, Remington 700, or browning x-bolt. The accu-trigger is great for prevention of jerking the trigger. Many of my adult buddies have left the higher recoil (expensive) rifles chambered in 270, 30-06, 300 win mag, etc for the 7-08.
 
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