243, 270, 30-06, 7mm

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.243

I started using my Rossi .243 when i was 9 and it was perfect. It was a single shot break action rifle and you could get a 20 gauge barrel that i inter change able. I shot to deer with that gun and both nice deer and they never went more than 10 feet. I hope i could help
 
I think the 7mm-08 would be your best bet. For Winchester cartridges (the cheapest) they run $20/20. And for the hunting cartridge I use (Federal Fusion) they are $25/20.

Really not too bad.
 
Rifle action type may help a bit for a heavier recoiling caliber. My 90ish lb daughter shoots a Remington 742 (autoloader) in 30-06. It's more of a prgressive push than my bolt action .308 which thumps my scrawny shoulder pretty good. I think it is available in most popular calibers; 243, 270, 30-06, etc.
 
Browning 7mm Magnum. I was 13 when I got my first rifle, it was that rifle. My younger brother got a 7mm. The browning kicked less than my brothers Remington 7mm due to the muzzle break. It is still my favorite rifle as it is accurate and powerful enough to drop everything from a deer to a water buffalo. Only downside is the rounds can be somewhat pricey, $25 for 20.
 
I got my daughter a 7-08 when she was 12 and never complained about recoil. But you did say cheap ammo and it would be hard to get ammo any cheaper then 30-30 in the area I live in. My last box was less than $10.00.
 
I'd be all over the 243, either a mossberg superbantam, with adjustable add on buttstock pieces, that he can add on as he grows, or a remmy model 7, proly the nicest of all the shorties.
 
.308 or 7mm-08. If you can find reduced recoil loads (or reload some yourself) for either caliber then your little brother will then just need some good coaching (on a .22LR if you've got one) and he'll have a rifle he won't outgrow or find wanting in power.

By the way, spend a couple hundred more while you're at it and buy a decent .22 rifle if you don't have one already. Cheap to shoot, and very very good training.
 
The issue is not whether or not the boy can take the recoil of a heavier caliber. I am sure there are lots of kids out there who could deal with it or even like it. But just because he can force himself to shoulder it and shoot it doesn't mean it isn't teaching him bad habits. My rifle shooting was seriously hampered by just a few rounds of .300 Mag when I first started out.

I think the .243 is a good choice for him. I don't know why everyone acts like it is some kind of child or wife gun. The .243 is a serious cartridge and will put any deer or hog walking in this country on the ground.
 
"...for the next ten years and not outgrow..." In 10 years he can buy his own rifle. He'll be 23. However, he's going to out grow any rifle you buy him. Especially if your ma keeps feeding him. You planning on paying for his Hunter's Safety course too?
Anyway, Remington makes a .243 Win(yep, go with a .243) Model 700 in a 'youth' size. Savage makes a couple of 'em. One as a package. Comes with a scope. Another option is a CMP M1 Rifle. Hoops to jump and they're not exactly light weight rifles, but he'll have a bit of history with not a lot of felt recoil.
"...honestly don't think a 30-06 has much recoil..." Felt recoil has to do with the stock design and the weight of the rifle. Mind you, when I commanded a CF Army Cadet Corps, long ago, I had a small statured female cadet(I suspect she weighed a bit more than 87 lbs though. But not by much.) who could shoot circles around most of the big strapping teenaged guys with either a .303 No. 4 Lee-Enfield or a 7.62NATO FN C1A1 battle rifle. So your bro just might surprise you.
"...a few rounds of .300 Mag..." That'd throw anybody off. There's no game in North America that needs a magnum anything to kill either.
 
Recoil tolerance definetly varies a lot from person to person. I'm 145lbs soaking wet, and can go through 20 rounds of .300 Mag at the bench without so much as soreness. Then again, maybe I have just became accustomed to it, as I shoot it weekly, sometimes 3 times per week, atleast 10 rounds per session.
 
Then on the non-traditional side of things there is always an SKS. They can be bought cheap, shot cheap and recoil seems very minimal to me.
I doubt you could ever find a deal on a 7mm or 257 roberts but they would be perfect. Other than that the 243 or managed recoil loads for a 30/06 he can grow into the std loads with.
 
Where is he hunting? For dense bush country, a 30-30 is hard to beat. Excellent for shots up to 75-100 yards and the lever action is great for follow-up shots, just in case you need to shoot a charging pig.
 
"...it's hard to beat the 30-30..." One of my first rifles as a Win 94. The felt recoil was far too heavy for the power of the cartridge. A Win 94 is a 6.5 lb rifle with a narrow butt stock. It'll pound an 87 pound shooter hard.
 
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My first rifle, after the 22 LR, was a marlin 336 at the age of 14. I can't say I ever felt the recoil to be unmanageable. I may have been 100 lbs, though, but I think the excitement to hunt made up for everything else. My first bb gun was a daisy lever gun, so marlin felt good.
 
You have a lot of choices. All are good.
You might think about buying a NEF in whatever caliber you decide on, that way you can VERY cheaply swap to a heavier caliber without spending a lot of money on a new rifle.

I would say your best bet will be a .243, good round up to a very large deer, very versatile, great for long range plinking, almost no recoil, I have a 243 with a steel butt pad, it kicks less than my 30-06 with a decelerator pad. A 30-30 is also a super cartridge for short range hunting, out past 200 yards.
 
Thinking a Model Seven Remington in .243
Mostly because it is a handi rifle that he will keep for good. He can move up to the larger calibers later. But the smaller lightweight carbine is a great brush gun that is great for plinking or woodchucks with a 60 grain bullet. And more then capable of something Whitetail size with a 100 grain. Come to think of it, it just might be one of the best calibers out there.....

Giz
 
It is always a new member who drags something out of the basement on a topic they like. The original post was two-years ago. Figure he probably made up his mind by now on which caliber. :)
 
If in 10 years your boy is going to step up to Elk hunting, or larger game, then get the 30-06 and buy the managed recoil loads, or reload lighter loads yourself. If your boy is going to stay in the deer size game arena, then the 243 would be a great choice.

My vote would be for the 30-06, in case your boy wants to branch out to larger game later on, your never gonna outgrow an '06.
 
I suggest getting a modest 243 that fits well. Recoil won't be much of an issue, he can learn to shoot and shoot it often. IF, he continues on shooting, it give's him a great excuse to buy another guy when he gets 18+. Why try to predict the future and limit yourself to one gun.
 
Just a few considerations:
I pondered some of these same questions when I decided on my oldest grandson's first 'deer' rifle. I eventually settled for a Model 7 Youth rifle in 7mm-'08. The .243 is a great caliber in experienced hands but can be a bit iffy on less than perfect shots (quartering) in the hands of a novice. I settled on the '08 but in hind sight I wish I had spit the difference at bought the same rifle in .260.
The problem with my grandson was that his 55.lb frame was a not up to the recoil/barrel-whip on the 7mm-08 which may/may not be a consideration in your case. I did replace the factory recoil pad w/ a limbsaver and this helped tremendously. No doubt he'll grow into the rifle as he adds bulk but after his initial 'experience' at the range he's a bit 'tentative' about firing it. I did try some reduced handloads using IMR 4895 ( a great powder for reduced loads) over 120 grain noslers which helped somewhat.

Good luck, Ron
 
I'll put in another vote for 7mm-08. It has all the stopping power he'll need for a good-size hog or buck but recoils modestly and is widely available. If he would be open to a lever gun, .30-30 is another great choice.

I'm a big fan of both .30-06 and .308, but I don't know if I'd start a novice 13-year-old on them as his first centerfire.
 
Maybe you could join a club with a range. I know at mine the people are overly enthusiastic to help the young. Maybe some guys would let your little bro shoot some of the calibers. That way he can see what recoil he can handle and go from there. That way if your looking used you might have more than one caliber to choose from to make it easier.
 
this started November 11th, 2006,

surely he has bought the rifle or given up on it?
 
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